LAST WHITE SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT DIES AT 85

Former South African president Fredrik Willem De Klerk has died Thursday morning at the age of 85, after a battle with cancer his foundation announced.

A statement from the former president’s F.W De Klerk Foundation on Thursday read: “Former President F.W De Klerk died peacefully at his home in Fresnaye (Cape Town) earlier this morning following his struggle against mesothelioma cancer.”

Born in the economic hub of Johannesburg in March 1936 into a family of Afrikaners politicians, a white ethnic group descended mainly from Dutch colonisers, his father was a leading apartheid senator who served briefly as interim president.

De Klerk studied law, before being elected to parliament as a member of the National Party that instituted apartheid.

He held several ministerial positions before taking over from Pieta W. Botha as the head of the National Party in February 1989 and became President in September 1989.

In 1990 he announced he was releasing anti-apartheid Leader Nelson Mandela, leading to multi-party polls and handed over to Mandela after the first democratic election in May 1994.

He is most remembered for his famous speech delivered on February 2, 1990, announcing the lifting of a ban on the African National Congress (ANC) and other liberation movements.

De Klerk had announced his diagnosis on his 85th birthday, on March 18 this year.

He is survived by his wife Elita, children Jan and Susan, and grandchildren.

Obaseki appoints political adviser, 72 others

Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has appointed Princess Philomena Ihenyen as his Political Adviser.

Governor Obaseki also appointed 72 Senior Special Assistants (SSAs) and Special Assistants (SAs), consisting of 21 Senior Special Assistants, and 51 Special Assistants, from Ihenyen’s Edo Central Senatorial District.

The appointments were contained in a statement endorsed by Secretary to Edo State Government (SSG), Osarodion Ogie, Esq.

The appointment, according to the SSG, was consequent upon harmonisation by leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo Central Senatorial District of the state.

Obaseki, last month, appointed 11 Special Advisers bringing to a total of 12 Special Advisers so far appointed.

PDP CANDIDATE CONGRATULATES SOLUDO

Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the just concluded Anambra Governorship election, Valentine Ozigbo, has congratulated the winner and candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Chukwuma Soludo.

The PDP Candidate disclosed that he called Professor Chukwuma Soludo on phone and congratulated him after being declared winner of the Anambra State Governorship elections wished him well and as well prayed for his success.

Ozigbo, however, alleged that there were shortcomings at the election, emphasizing that the Independent National Electoral Commission presented poorly trained staff who could not operate the voting machines in many places.

“This election was fraught with a lot of shortcomings on the part of various government institutions,” Ozigbo said.

According to him, “failed woefully in providing logistical support for their staff and so elections started very late in many places and did not hold in many others.”

Soludo won with 112,229 votes beating Ozigbo, who polled 53,807 votes, and Andy Uba of the All Progressives Congress who got 43,285 votes. Ifeanyi Ubah of the Young Progressive Party polled 21,261 votes came fourth, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

KANU’S LEGAL TEAM PROTESTS BEING DENIED ACCESS INTO COURTROOM

Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, has again adjourn trial of Leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, to January 19 and 20, 2022.

The court adjourned the case when Kanu’s team of Lawyers staged a walk-out on the court over refusal by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), to allow some of them to gain access into the courtroom.

The IPOB Leader protested refusal by security agents to allow some members of his legal team, especially his lawyer from the United States of America, Bruce Fein, to enter the Courtroom.

Kanu told the court that Mr. Fein, who he said was handling a case for him in the US, was around to witness his trial.

He added that in the previous sitting, his foreign lawyer, Fein, was also denied access

“I have an ongoing case in the US. I have not been allowed to see him. He is here to see me and to observe the proceedings.Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Mohammed Abubakar, told Justice Binta Nyako that Kanu’s counsel, led by Ifeanyi Ejiofor, staged a walkout because some of the lawyers, including the American lawyer, Bruce Fein, were denied access into the Courtroom.

Justice Nyako then adjourned the matter until Jan. 19 and Jan. 20 for trial continuation.

COURT REMANDS FAKE “PASTOR IZE-IYAMU’ REMANDED FOR FRAUD

One Tope Jimi Fagun who allegedly impersonated Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has to dupe the sum of 70 million naira, has been docked before a Borno State High Court, presided over by Hon. Justice Aisha Kumaliya.

The Defendant was docked before the Court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Borno State Zonal Command on a-two count charge of impersonation and obtaining N70 million by false pretense.

He was alleged to have between July and August 2020, allegedly presented himself as Pastor Ize-Iyamu to the Borno State APC Chairman, Alhaji Bukar Dalori and fraudulently induced him to tender the money under the pretext that for the All Progressives Congress 2020 gubernatorial election campaign in Edo State.

Count one reads: “That you, Tope Jimi Fagun sometimes between July and August, 2020 in Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court and with intent to defraud induced the Borno State Chairman of All Progressive Congress Party (APC), one Alhaji Ali Bukar Dalori to cause the gross sum of Seventy Million Naira (N70,000,000.00) only (both in Naira and Dollar currencies) to be delivered to you in cash and via Bank transfers under the false pretence that the said sum was to be utilized in promoting the APC campaign activities in the Edo State 2020 gubernatorial election which fact you knew to be false, thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under sections 1(1)(b) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 respectively.”

The second count reads: “That you, Tope Jimi Fagun sometimes between July and August, 2020 in Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court falsely impersonated Pastor Ize-Iyamu, the then All Progressive Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate in Edo State 2020 gubernatorial election and in such assumed character induced the Borno State Chairman of All Progressive Congress Party (APC), one Alhaji Ali Bukar Dalori to cause the delivery unto you the gross sum of Seventy Million Naira (N70,000,000.00) only (both in Naira and Dollar currencies) with the view to enriching yourself fraudulently and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under sections 179 of the Penal Code Law Cap 102 Laws of Borno State.”

The defendant pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the charges and the Prosecuting counsel, Alqasim Jafa’ar prayed the court to remand the Defendant and fix date for commencement of trial.

Defence Counsel, Alli Apanisile told the court that there was a pending application for bail of his client which has been duly served on the prosecution and prayed the court to allow him move his bail application.

Hon. Justice Kumaliya declined the prayer of the defence. And remanded the Defendant in the Correctional center while the matter was adjourned to November 24, 2021 for hearing of the bail application.

43-YEAR-OLD MAN SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR DEFILING 10-YEAR-OLD GIRL

An Ikeja Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court on Wednesday sentenced Friday Imoh, a 43-year-old auto-mechanic to life imprisonment for defiling his 10-year-old neighbour (name withheld).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Abiola Soladoye sentenced Imoh after finding him guilty.

He was found guilty of a two-count charge of defilement of a child and threatening violence contrary to Sections 137 and 56 of the Criminal Law of Lagos 2015.

“The prosecution has established beyond reasonable doubt the guilt of the defendant. The conduct of this defendant is most cruel, callous, despicable and condemnable in all ramifications.

“Having unlawful sexual intercourse with a 10-year-old clearly shows that the defendant is morally corrupt and indeed pure evil.

“He should be made to pay for his conduct with the hope that this sanction will serve as a deterrent to other prospective paedophiles to keep off from sexually molesting children in this state of excellence.

“The survivor, in this case, has been physically abused and psychologically traumatised.

“Consequently, the defendant having been found guilty as charged is sentenced to life imprisonment in respect to count one: defilement.

“In respect to count two: threatening violence, he is also sentenced to the maximum under the law which is a year imprisonment.

Both sentences are to run concurrently,” Soladoye said.

The Judge did not hear the accused (plea for mercy) of the defence counsel, Mrs Jenifer Ekweokporo.

According to the lead state counsel, Mr Olusola Soneye, the defendant committed the offence on Jan. 31, 2019, at Ajegunle, Lagos.

“Imoh sent the underage child of his neighbour to buy some sachet water and apples. When she went to his apartment to deliver the items, he forcefully had unlawful sexual intercourse with her.

“After committing the offence, he threatened to kill her if she told anybody about what transpired however, the child informed her mother,” Soneye said.

NAN reports that four witnesses – the minor, her father, a medical doctor and the Investigating Police Officer – testified for the prosecution.

Also, two witnesses – the defendant and his mother, Mrs Matilda Imoh- testified for the defence.

Matilda in her testimony claimed that the minor’s father had approached her son for an N100,000 loan which was refused.

She alleged that upset over the refusal of the loan, the father of the minor falsely reported her son to the police that he defiled his daughter.

Matilda also claimed that her son was at her home when the alleged crime occurred.

The defendant in his testimony corroborated his mother’s claim and denied the allegations.

He told the court that he was not at home when the alleged offences took place but was at his mother’s apartment.

Soladoye in her judgment, however, faulted the claims as well as the alibi of the duo.

“The defence of alibi of the defendant cannot fly as it was an afterthought.

“If truly he was at his mother’s place on the date of the incident, he would have stated so at the police station not just raising it at the trial stage.

There is no documentary evidence to prove that the victim’s father loaned the defendant N100,000.
“The testimony of the defendant’s mother as well and that of the defendant were nothing to write home about.

“It was a lie galore laced with contradictions and at best should be discountenanced by this court,” she said.

CRYING OVER ELECTORAL ACT AMENDED BILL 2021

*APC, PDP JOIN FORCES FOR A SHOWDOWN WITH THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

There are indications that the two main political parties; All Progressives Congress’s and the people’s Democratic Party, may stage strong resistance against the just passed Electoral Act Amended Bill, 2021.

The reason the parties are crying foul is clause 87 of the amended Bill which provides for direct primary for political parties in nominating their candidates for elective position.

Some Governors on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have tried at various times to prevail on the National Assembly to halt the process, but the National Assembly on the other hand, muscled the courage to look the other way; passed the harmonised version of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2021, without batting an eyelid

They argue that it is the exclusive perogative of any political party to pick and choose either of the mode; direct or indirect mode of primary election, and as such, the option should be left open for the parties choose how to nominate their candidates for elective positions.

An area that obviously boxed the political parties to a corner is the fact that the National Assembly empowered INEC to go ahead with the Electronic Transmission of Election Results.

Another argument advanced against the Direct primary mode is that it will eat deep into the resources of INEC while playing its supervisory role when many political parties are doing their primaries.

The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) described the passage of the amended version as unacceptable, emphasizing that no party has the right to impose its will on another on the method to adopt in primary election.

The passage followed the consideration of the report of the Conference Committee of the Senate and House of Representatives, which was set up in line with the existing tradition, to carefully scrutinize, clause by clause, the merit and demerits of the Bill before it was passed and awaiting the assent of the President.

21 clauses were harmonised, including the controversial clause 52; which provides for Electronic Transmission of Election Result (ETR) and clause 87 which mandates political parties to adopt the direct primary mode of selection of candidates into elective positions amongst other clauses.

Direct primary gives right to the participation of all party members in the nomination process of party candidates, while the indirect primary is used at the whims and caprices of Governors or party leaders who recriuite their choice party leaders from the ward, Local Government and State executive members to function as delegates to nominate party’s candidates at a congress or convention.

The final harmonisation and passage of the Bill by the Senate and the House of Representatives is a process that started from the seventh, through to the eight and was concluded by the to the ninth Assembly.

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY PASSES ELECTORAL AMENDMENT BILL, 2021

The National Assembly, has passed Electoral Act Amendment Bill, 2021.

The passage of the Bill was consequent upon extensive deliberations by both the Senate and House of Representatives, in view of the report of the Conference Committee on the bill as the lawmakers resumed plenary after a three-week recess.

Leader of the Senate, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi (APC, Kebbi North), and chairman of the Conference Committee, while presenting the report, disclosed that the bill would regulate the conduct of the Federal, State and Area councils in the Federal Capital Territory elections when passed and subsequently assented into law by President Muhammadu Buhari.

In all, 21 clauses were harmonised, including the controversial clause 52; which provides for Electronic Transmission of Election Result (ETR) and clause 87 which mandates political parties to adopt the direct primary mode of selection of candidates into elective positions amongst other clauses.

Abdullahi disclosed that the committee at its retreat, considered and adopted 21 clauses in the bill, including controversial clause 52 that makes provision for Electronic Transmission of Election Result (ETR).

The successful harmonisation of the Bill by the Senate and the House of Representatives is a process that started from the seventh, through to the eight and was concluded by the to the ninth Assembly.

#AnambraDecides: INEC DECLARES SOLUDO WINNER

Jubilation in the early hours of Wednesday as INEC declares former the CBN Governor winner of keenly contested Governorship election

Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has been declared winner of the November 6 Anambra State Governorship election by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC

Prof. Soludo was declared winner having secured a total of 112,229 votes in 19 LGAs to beat his closest rival, Valentine Ozigbo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who polled 53, 807 in 1 LGA to emerge second, while Andy Uba of the All Progressives Congress (APC) garnered a total of 43,285 votes in 1 LGA to fall into the third place.

Candidate of the Young Progressive Party (YPP), Ifeanyi Ubah, emerged fourth with 21,261 votes.

Returning Officer for 2021 Anambra governorship election, Prof. Florence Obi, who is the Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, declared Prof. Soludo winner in the early hours of Wednesday at INEC headquarters, Awka.

#AnambraDecides: INEC SLATES TUESDAY FOR SUPPLEMENTARY ELECTION IN IHIALA LGA.

SOLUDO WINS 18 OUT OF 20 LGAs

The Independent National Electoral Commission,(INEC), has announced that supplementary election into Ilaiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, has been fixed Tuesday, November 9, 2021.

Returning officer for the Governorship election in Anambra State, Prof. Florence Obi, made the position known in the early hours of Monday, following suspension and declaration of the final results of Saturday’s election.

“I, professor Florence Obi hereby announce the suspension of results and the declaration of the winner until the supplementary election is held in the 326 polling units in Ihiala LGA. I have confirmed with the commission that supplementary elections will take place on Tuesday 9, November 2021.

While noting that collation shall resume after the supplementary election, Prof. Obi disclosed that the process was suspended because there was no election conducted in Ihiala Local Government Area because materials and personnel were not deployed to the area, even as there was serious security threat.

According to her, Clause 47 of the Revised Regulations and Guidelines for the conduct of elections provides for supplementary elections owing to logistic challenges on the part of the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Following announcement of results for all other Local Government Areas, candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance and Ex-Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Prof. Charles Soludo, won in 18 of the 20 LGAs as declared by INEC.