Category: News

Justice Yusuf Halilu of a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has discharged Senator Rochas Okorocha of corruption charges filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ((EFCC).

This is the third time Okorocha has been freed by courts in respect of alleged fraud and corruption said to have been committed as Governor of Imo State between 2011 and 2019.

Justice Halilu freed the former governor from the charges after dismissing the suit filed by the anti-graft agency for being an abuse of court processes.

According to the court, it was wrong for the EFCC to continue to file similar charges against a defendant in different courts, particularly when a court of competent jurisdiction had already decided on the matter.

Justice Stephen Pam of a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt had, in a judgment in 2021, quashed the EFCC’s charge against Okorocha after it declared as illegal, unlawful, null and void the investigation upon which the charge was based on.

The judge subsequently made an order prohibiting the EFCC from further prosecuting the former governor over any alleged offence relating to the said investigation.

However, the commission had on May 24, 2022 arrested Okorocha after over six hours of siege at his Abuja residence, and subsequently arraigned him and six others before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

They were alleged to have embezzled the sum of N2.9 billion belonging to the Government of Imo State.

However, Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a ruling delivered on February 6, struck out the charges for contravening section 105 (3) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, which gives the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) the power to recall a case.

Justice Ekwo held that the directive of the AGF in a letter dated September 12, 2022, to the EFCC to forward the case file with its comments on the issues for consideration and review, was binding on the commission.

The court agreed with Okorocha that the earlier judgment of a court of coordinate jurisdiction sitting in Port Harcourt in suit number FHC/PH/FHR/165, between him and EFCC, restraining the agency from further proceeding on the alleged offence subsists.

Dissatisfied, the commission approached a High Court of the FCT and instituted another set of charges against the former governor.

But Okorocha through his lawyer, Chief Ola Olanipekun (SAN), in an application, challenged the competence of the charge, claiming it was an abuse of court processes.

Delivering ruling in the application on Friday, Justice Halilu held that it was wrong for the EFCC to bring a suit which has already been decided by a court of coordinate jurisdiction, especially when there was an order of court restraining the anti-graft agency from prosecuting Okorocha over the outcome of an investigation which has been nullified by the court.

The judge noted that there is nothing more that described court abuse than the action of the commission by going ahead to file same suit in three different courts.

Justice Halilu, while noting that the agency by law is conferred with wide range of investigatory and prosecutorial powers, maintained that the commission must learn to operate within the law, adding that the EFCC being a creation of law must be a respecter of the law.

The court noted that the evidence before it showed that a Federal High Court had in 2021 freed Okorocha from fraud and corruption charges brought against him by the EFCC.

He noted that while the commission did the right thing by appealing the judgment, it ought not to have approached another court of coordinate jurisdiction to file a similar charge against Okorocha.

While warning that nobody or agency is above the law, the court advised the anti-graft agency to accept that there must be an end to litigation.

“Once a case of abuse of court processes is established, the best thing to do is to dismiss the charge. The first defendant is hereby discharged,” the court held.

This Day

…enjoins citizens to erase everything about sit-at-home from their memories

…as PGs pledge support to end sit-at-home

Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has assured residents and visitors carrying on businesses in the state of their safety, stressing that his administration had already placed security agencies on the highest level of alert to forestall security breaches and sefeguard their lives and property.

The governor who further enjoined them to erase everything about sit-at-home in the state from their memories, said the government was doing everything necessary to liase with other neighbouring states in order to dislodge criminals from all their hideouts.

Governor Mbah gave these assurances on Thursday in Enugu at a meeting with the Presidents-General (PGs) of all the autonomous communities in the state, even as they pledged their support to end the illegal sit-at-home order being enforced by hoodlums, and make the state attractive to investors.

He bemoaned the devastating impacts of the unlawful sit-at-home, such as impoverishing citizens and scaring potential investors, saying that his administration would deal ruthlessly with criminal elements disturbing the peace of the state.

According to him, there’s a comnection between sit-at-home and poverty among the people, warning that security operatives would continue to strike hooligans victimizing the public over a wrong and unjustifiable cause.

He wondered why those sitting at the comfort of their homes somewhere overseas would be hurting innocent people in a sponsored bid to distabilize the region, saying it’s only those living in delusion that would hide under the guise of fighting for Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s release to commit atrocities.

Mbah reiterated his resolve to make the state attractive for private investors, create jobs, train the youths on digital transformation, and restore the lost glory the state was known for through his programmes and policies.

“It is time to take ownership of our future. It’s time to say enough is enough to this menace because we’re using the sit-at-home to marginalise ourselves. How does this illegal sit-at-home by criminals affect the Federal Government, or the economic planning in Abuja? Don’t be deceived by people who want to make you believe they’re fighting for your cause. They’re criminals sponsored to distabilize our state, our region and our people. We must resist them and say, enough is enough. We must erase everything about sit-at-home from our memories and go back to our culture of industry, creativity and commerce.

“We did say to you that we have plans to move the state from public sector to private sector driven economy by growing the gross domestic product sevenfold. We can only achieve this humongous and ambitious plan in an atmosphere of peace and security.

“So I call on you to galvanize your communities and take the message to them that there is no such thing as sit-at-home whether it is on Monday or any other days.

“With our resolve here today, we can collectively end sit-at-home by overcoming fear and by not allowing anyone to make us inferior without our consent.

“With peace and security, we can generate enough wealth, create employments, engage our people meaningfully, and achieve our promises to the people,” the governor added.

Responding to the governor, Sir Eze Solomon, one of the PGs who spoke on behalf of the association of town unions in Enugu West Senatorial Zone, commended the governor for his proactive approach to curbing insecurity and ensuring citizens were protected from hoodlums.

He, however, lamented the dearth of police presence in rural communities, urging the state to deploy more numbers of security agencies to strengthen the confidence of the people.

On his part, Dr. Barth Nwankwo, appreciated Mbah for the plans and policies his administration had rolled out just a few days in office, maintaining that they were ready to partner with both the state government and the local government to flush out marauders in their localities.

While taking turns to talk, Hon. Isaac Onyia, Hon. Ejike Iloh, Hon. Ogbodo Arinze, Chief Bony Edeh and Barr. Paully Eze urged the governor to embark on aggressive sensitisation programme particularly in rural areas to educate the people on the need to go about their normal businesses as sit-at-home had become a thing of the past.

“We want to assure the governor that we are in support of the decision to end sit-at-home and we will work to deliver on that,” they said.

The PGs further appealed to the governor to reorganise, train, equip and strengthen community policing through Neighbourhood Watch, Forest Guard and vigilante groups.

Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra state has vowed that the state and its residents will not obey any illegal sit-at-home orders.

Soludo stated this following the state government’s directive that, henceforth, residents should ignore the sit-at-home order by unauthorised individuals or groups in the state.

The directive was contained in a statement issued by the Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Christian Aburime on Thursday.

According to the statement, the decision was necessitated by a recent order to sit at home given by Simon Ekpa.

The state government described the order as illegal, as it urged residents of the state not to comply with such directives from non-state actors or blame themselves for such compliance.

The statement partly reads, “Such directives should be completely ignored by the citizens of Anambra and, by extension, the entire South East.

“As for the imposition of sit-at-home orders by unauthorised individuals or groups, this is a clear violation of the law.

“Anambra State will never observe any sit-at-home order. Our markets, schools, businesses, and other social activities will remain open.

“Anambra State will never be a breeding ground for anarchy, fear, or lawlessness.”

Vanguard

South-east governors and other Igbo leaders are set to meet President Bola Tinubu over rising insecurity in the region, Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State said on Thursday.

Mr Uzodinma disclosed this while speaking with reporters shortly after meeting with Mr Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The governor recalled that he and other governors from the five states in the South-east and the leadership of the Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, had resolved to meet with the president over the insecurity in the region.

He explained that he was at the Presidential Villa to secure an appointment for the meeting between the South-east leaders and Mr Tinubu.

“My visit has to do with the security situation in the country. The South-eastern part of the country, of course, you are aware, has been bedevilled with this high level of security ranging from banditry, kidnapping activities of unknown gunmen,” he said.

Mr Uzodinma regretted that the insecurity in the region had persisted despite resources and community efforts invested to quell the situation.

The governor said the leaders would request the president to support them in addressing the insecurity in the region.

At the meeting, the Igbo leaders are expected to continue their demand for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the separatist leader who is being prosecuted by the federal government for treason.

There have been recurring sit-at-home orders in the South-east, often declared by a faction of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Simon Ekpa, the leader of Autopilot, a faction of the IPOB, has been issuing the orders despite opposition by the IPOB faction led by its detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

Days after a one-week sit-at-home order ended in the South-east, Mr Ekpa declared another two weeks’ lockdown in the region.

The latest order, according to the pro-Biafran agitator, would hold from 31 July to 4 August and continue from 7 to 11 August. The action, which the group plans to violently enforce, would then end on 14 August.

But Mr Uzodinma said the sit-at-home orders were not sanctioned by either the various state governments in the region or the federal government, adding that those who obey the illegal order do so out of fear.

“The situation is that because of the indiscriminate killing of people and high level of insecurity, our people are so afraid to come out, not only because there’s any sit-at-home order. It is perception management that we’re trying to do.

“So, they (enforcers of the orders) have put too much fear into the people. Otherwise, how can non-state actors give a sit-at-home order and it will be obeyed? People are scared. People are afraid because of what they’ve seen in the past. And nobody wants to die,” he said.

Mr Ekpa, the controversial agitator, hails from Ngbo, a community in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. But he lives in Finland, a North European country.

Asked if the Igbo leaders were exploring some “diplomatic options” to stop Mr Ekpa’s actions in the region, Mr Uzodinma stressed that he and other governors in the region would not be able to carry out such action because “diplomacy and the foreign policy programmes” can only be executed by the federal government.

“We are worried by the level of insecurity in the region, (and) the contributions of some people within and outside the country. Federal government still remains the only platform that can address both foreign and local content contributors to this problem,” he stated.

‘I don’t operate security vote in Imo’

In Nigeria, the federal government often allocates security votes to state governors, a monthly allowance for funding security expenditures within the state.

The act is not backed up by any Nigerian law.

Mr Uzodinma said his administration does not “operate” the security vote in the state.

“Security vote, I’m not against it, but I don’t operate it in Imo state. Again, you should find out from my parliament, I don’t operate it in Imo State but I still think that governors should be given a headroom, governors should be allowed a window to have funds they can use to manage security issues,” he said.

“So, it is then important that governors who have been elected, sworn in to manage the resources and the mandate of the people, be given latitude to operate so that they’ll be able to provide results.”

Premium Times

President Bola Tinubu has declared an immediate State of Emergency on food insecurity to tackle the increase in the prices of food, his spokesperson has said.

Presidential spokesperson Dele Alake said in a Thursday statement that Mr Tinubu is “not unmindful of the rising cost of food and how it affects the citizens.”

Food prices have been on the rise across Nigeria and got worse after some government policies including the removal of subsidy on petrol.

Mr Alake said some of the government’s steps as part of the state of emergency would be in the short, medium and long term.

“In the immediate term, we intend to deploy some savings from the fuel subsidy removal into the Agricultural sector focusing on revamping the agricultural sector,” he said.

The president also directed that “all matters pertaining to food & water availability and affordability, as essential livelihood items, be included within the purview of the National Security Council.”

Read Mr Alake’s full statement below.

TEXT OF MEDIA BRIEFING BY MR. DELE ALAKE, SPECIAL ADVISER TO THE PRESIDENT ON SPECIAL DUTIES, COMMUNICATIONS AND STRATEGY ON THE DETAILS OF PRESIDENTIAL INTERVENTION ON FOOD SECURITY, FOOD PRICING & SUSTAINABILITY ON THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2023

Gentlemen of the press, I welcome you once again to this press conference to update the public on President Bola Tinubu-led administration’s immediate response to the current food inflation in the country.

As a hands-on- leader who follows developments across the country every day, Mr. President is not unmindful of the rising cost of food and how it affects the citizens. While availability is not a problem, affordability has been a major issue for many Nigerians in all parts of the country. This has led to a significant drop in demand thereby undermining the viability of the entire agriculture and food value chain.

Accordingly, in line with this administration’s position on ensuring that the most vulnerable are supported, Mr President has declared, with immediate effect the following actions:

• That a state of emergency on food security be announced immediately, and

• That all matters pertaining to food & water availability and affordability, as essential livelihood items, be included within the purview of the National Security Council.

As a direct and immediate response to this crisis, a number of initiatives will be deployed in the coming weeks to reverse this inflationary trend and guarantee future uninterrupted supplies of affordable foods to ordinary Nigerians.

As with most emergencies, there are immediate, medium- and long-term interventions and solutions.

In the immediate term, we intend to deploy some savings from the fuel subsidy removal into the Agricultural sector focusing on revamping the agricultural sector.

In an earlier meeting with Agriculture Stakeholders (today), we drafted a memorandum of partnership between the government and the individual stakeholder representatives that encompasses the decisions taken and actions proposed from our engagements.

The immediate intervention strategies are as follows:

1. We will immediately release fertilizers and grains to farmers and households to mitigate the effects of the subsidy removal.

2. There must be an urgent synergy between the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Water Resources to ensure adequate irrigation of farmlands and to guarantee that food is produced all-year round.

As a country, Mr. President has made it clear that we can no be comfortable with seasonal farming. We can no longer afford to have farming down times.

3. We shall create and support a National Commodity Board that will review and continuously assess food prices as well as maintain a strategic food reserve that will be used as a price stabilisation mechanism for critical grains and other food items.

Through this board, government will moderate spikes and dips in food prices.

To achieve this, we have the following stakeholders on board to support the intervention effort of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu: The National Commodity Exchange (NCX), Seed Companies, National Seed Council and Research institutes, NIRSAL Microfinance Bank, Food Processing/ Agric Processing associations, private sector holders & Prime Anchors, small holder farmers, crop associations and Fertilizer producers, blenders and suppliers associations to mention a few.

4. We will engage our security architecture to protect the farms and the farmers so that farmers can return to the farmlands without fear of attacks.

5. The Central Bank will continue to play a major role of funding the agricultural value chain.

6. Activation of land banks. There is currently 500,000 hectares of already mapped land that will be used to increase availability of arable land for farming which will immediately impact food output.

– Mechanization and land clearing- The government will also collaborate with mechanization companies to clear more forests & make them available for farming

7. River basins- there are currently 11 rivers basins that will ensure planting of crops during the dry season with irrigation schemes that will guarantee continuous farming production all year round, to stem the seasonal glut and scarcity that we usually experience.

8. We will deploy concessionary capital/funding to the sector especially towards fertilizer, processing, mechanization, seeds, chemicals, equipment, feed, labour, etc.

The concessionary funds will ensure food is always available and affordable thereby having a direct impact on Nigeria’s Human Capital Index (HCI). This administration is focused on ensuring the HCI numbers, which currently ranks as the 3rd lowest in the world, are improved for increased productivity.

9. Transportation and Storage: The cost of transporting Agricultural products has been a major challenge (due to permits, toll gates, and other associated costs). When the costs of moving farm produce is significantly impacted- it will immediately be passed to the consumers, which will affect the price of food- the government will explore other means of transportation including rail and water transport, to reduce freight costs and in turn impact the food prices.

As for storage, existing warehouses and tanks will be revamped to cut waste & ensure efficient preservation of food items.

10. We will Increase revenue from food and agricultural exports. As we ensure there is sufficient, affordable food for the populace, we will concurrently work on stimulating the export capacity of the Agric sector.

11. Trade Facilitation: Transportation, storage and export will be improved by working with the Nigerian Customs, who have assured us that the bottlenecks experienced in exporting and importing food items as well as intra-city transportation through tolling will be removed.

These are some of the immediate interventions this government will put in place to tackle this crisis.

Principally, one of the major positive outcomes of these interventions will be a massive boost in employment and job creation.

Indeed, agriculture already accounts for about 35.21 percent of employment in Nigeria (as at 2021), the target is to double this percentage to about 70% in the long term.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s mandate to create jobs for our teeming youth population will be achieved with between 5 to 10 million more jobs created within the value chain, working with the current 500,000 hectares of arable land and the several hundreds of thousands more farmlands to be developed in the medium term.

In closing, this administration understands that food and water are the bedrock of survival and therefore is calling on all Nigerians to partner us in ensuring the success of this strategic intervention. This administration is working assiduously to ensure that Nigerians do not struggle with their essential needs.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu wishes to use this medium to continue to assure Nigerians that this administration will not relent in its efforts until all strategic interventions are deployed efficiently and effectively and until every household is positively impacted. Our president is the president of all Nigerians and the father of the nation. The renewed hope mandate remains alive and no one, absolutely no one, will be left behind.

Premium Times

The State Security Service (SSS) has announced that it has charged the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, to court.

SSS spokesperson Peter Afunanya, in a Thursday statement, said Mr Emefiele was charged in compliance with a court order.

Mr Afunanya’s statement, released hours after the court order, did not provide details of the charges against Mr Emefiele or the court where he was charged.

“Sequel to an Abuja High Court Order of today, 13th July, 2023, the Department of State Services (DSS) has confirmed that Mr Godwin Emefiele has been charged to court in compliance with the Order,” Mr Afunanya wrote.

“In a statement, the Force public relations officer Peter Afunaya, recalls that the Service had, in 2022, applied for a Court Order to detain him in respect of a criminal investigation.

“The statement notes that though Emefiele obtained a restraining order from an FCT High Court, the Service, however, arrested him in June, 2023, on the strength of suspected fresh criminal infractions/information, one of which forms the basis for his current prosecution.

“The Service assures the public of professionalism, justice and fairness in handling this matter and indeed the discharge of its duties within the confines of the law,” the spokesperson wrote.

Premium Times

The House of Representatives has amended the 2022 supplementary appropriation act and approved President Bola Tinubu’s request to source for 500 billion naira from the approved budget to provide palliatives for Nigerians following the removal of petrol subsidy.

This amendment comes 24 hours after the president’s request and was speedily taken through 2nd and 3rd reading which according to the lawmakers was in line with the need to urgently cushion the effect of the removal of subsidy.

The lawmakers urged the president to ensure judicious use of the funds as requested.

Meanwhile, President Tinubu has said 12m families will get N8, 000 over a period of six months to ameliorate the hardships faced by Nigerians as a result of subsidy removal.

According to a letter to the House of Representatives read by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas during plenary on Tuesday, Tinubu said it was support to enable poor and vulnerable Nigerians cope with the cost of meeting basic needs.

The letter was for approval of additional financing for the national social safety net programme scaled up by the National Assembly. The President said this would have a multiplier effect on about 60 million individuals.

In his opinion, digital transfers would be made directly to beneficiaries accounts as to ensure that the process is credible and fair.

Channels TV

The Senate, on Thursday, approved President Bola Tinubu’s request for the sum of $800 million loan as additional fund for the financing of the National Social Safety Net Programme set up by the National Assembly.

The Senate also amended the 2022 Supplementary Budget.

This followed Tinubu’s request for the approval. The President’s request was contained in a letter he forwarded to the upper chamber through the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, which was read on the floor of the Assembly during plenary.

Tinubu explained that the Federal Executive Council led by ex-President Muhammadu Buhari had approved an additional loan facility to the tune of $800 million to be secured from the World Bank, to finance the Social Safety Net Programme.

The President noted further that the purpose of the facility was to expand coverage of shock responsive safety net supports for all and vulnerable Nigerians to meet the cost of their basic needs.

“Request for approval of additional financing of the National Social Safety Net Programme set up by the National Assembly. It is with pleasure that I refer the above matter to you,” the statement partly read.

“Please note that the Federal Executive Council led by President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR had approved an additional loan facility to the tune if USD800 million to be secured from the World Bank to finance the Social Safety Net Programme, copy of the Federal Executive Council is extract is attached here.

“You may also wish to know that the purpose of the facility is to expand coverage of shock responsive safety net supports for all and vulnerable Nigerians and the cost of meeting basic needs.

“You may further wish to note that under the conditional cash transfer window of the programme, the Federal Government of Nigeria will transfer the sum of N8,000 a month to 12 million poor and low income households for a period of six months with a multiply effect on about 60 million individuals.

“In order to guarantee the credibility of the process, digital transfers will be made directly to beneficiaries accounts and mobile wallets .

“It is expected that the programme will stimulate economic activities in the informal sector and improve nutrition, health and education outcomes for beneficial households.

“Giving the above, I wish to invite the Senate to kindly grant approvals for additional loan facilities of USD800milliom to be secured from World Bank for the National Social Safety Net Programme.

“While hoping that this submission will receive an expeditious consideration by the Senate, Distinguished Senate President and distinguished members, please accept the assurances of my highest regards.”

After reading the letter, the President of the Senate referred the letter to Committee of a Whole for further legislative action.

The Committee, upon deliberation, amended the 2022 Supplementary Budget and approved Tinubu’s request.

Channels TV

President Bola Tinubu has requested the House of Representatives to amend the 2022 Supplementary Appropriation Act for subsidy palliatives.

Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, has issued a one week ultimatum to the Department of the State Security Service (DSS) to either charge the detained suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele to Court or set him free.

The Judge issued the order while delivering ruling in a fundamental human rights suit instituted against the DSS and others by Emefiele.

The judge said Emefiele hasn’t shown that his arrest and investigation is unlawful, but noted that it is within his right to get fair hearing.

Justice Muazu further stated that the suspended CBN governor can’t remain in detention without a formal charge, adding also that the DSS can’t use the period of Emefiele’s detention to search for evidence against him.

Justice Muazu held that the DSS has power to carry out its constitutional duties of making arrest, detain and ensuring prevention of internal crime but however said that such duties must be carried out within the law.

Justice Muazu held that the Nigerian Constitution was founded on the rule of law which he said pre-supposed that everything must be done according to the law.

“Detention, no matter how small can amount to a breach of fundamental rights,” the court held, adding that since allegations against the embattled suspended CBN Governor contained bailable offences, the DSS ought to grant him administrative bail, pending his prosecution.

Nevertheless, the court, said that there was evidence before it to show that there was an order from an Abuja Chief Magistrate Court that permitted the security agency to detain Emefiele for a period of 14 days to enable it to conclude its investigations.

It held that Emefiele did not establish that his arrest, detention and investigation was unlawful since it was based on a valid court order.

Describing the DSS as a reputable institution mandated to guarantee internal security of the country, Justice Muazu, said it must conduct its operations with strict adherence to provisions of the Constitution.

“Though I am in sympathy with the Applicant (Emefiele), but my sentiment will not go far to deliver judgement by granting all the reliefs sought by the Applicant.

“The Applicant has not shown that his arrest, detention and investigation were unlawful.

“However, I am concerned that the application is not without merit. The Applicant is entitled to fair hearing.

“At this point, the continued detention of the Applicant cannot be justified in the absence of any charge against him.

“At the very least, justice demands that Applicant should be released on administrative bail.

“Consequently, I hereby make an order, directing the Respondents to within one week, charge the Applicant to court or release him on administrative bail,” the court held.

Emefiele had sued the Attorney General of the Federation AGF, Director General of the DSS, seeking enforcement of his fundamental human rights to freedom of movement and dignity to human life.

In the suit, the suspended CBN Governor had applied that his arrest and detention since June 10 without valid order of court be voided and set aside.

Emefiele demanded a compensation of N5M as exemplary damages for his alleged unlawful detention.

He was suspended as CBN governor on 9th June and arrested in the early hours of June 10 at his Ikoyi, Lagos home.

Shortly after President Bola Tinubu suspended him, the DSS had on June 10 arrested the apex bank governor who has been in detention since then.

Channels TV/Vanguard

A subpoenaed witness from the Independent National Election Commission (INEC) called by the governorship candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Chijioke Edeoga, on Tuesday told the Enugu State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Enugu that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate submitted to the commission by the Enugu State governor, Dr Peter Mbah, was certified by the NYSC.

The witness, Mr Dimas Friday Emmanuel, while under cross examination by Mbah’s lawyer, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), averred that Mbah’s NYSC discharge certificate was forwarded to the NYSC for authentication, stressing that the NYSC certifies only a document emanating from it.

Chief Olanipekun had said to the INEC witness, “Have a look at Exhibit EPT01/A, B, and C, particularly the NYSC Certificate there, that Certificate which you said Mbah forged was certified by the NYSC”, to which he replied in the affirmative.

“Am I correct to say that NYSC can only certify a document in its possession and a document emanating from the institution?” Again, he said “Yes”.

On further cross examination by the counsel to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Alex Iziyon (SAN), the witness, who is a legal practitioner, also admitted that Mbah’s NYSC Certificate carried a stamp of the NYSC, certifying the document.

“Look at Exhibit 08A and B, there is an NYSC Certificate, it carries a stamp of NYSC, certifying that document”, Iziyon had asked, to which the witness answered “Yes”.

The witness further confirmed that the name on the said certificate was Mbah Peter Ndubuisi, that it was dated 6th January 2003 and that the certificate number was also A808297.

It will be recalled that Mbah’s NYSC discharge certificate has been a subject of controversy between the governor and the NYSC, with the NYSC alleging that Mbah forged the certificate with number A808297 and that it was not issued by them, while Mbah insisted that it was genuine and issued by the institution.

Meanwhile, the witness, Mr. Emmanuel confirmed upon cross examination that LP’s governorship candidiate, Chijioke Edeoga’s name, was not contained in Exhibit 16, being the LP membership register for Enugu, which he also tendered.

Efforts by Edeoga’s lawyer, Ehitayo Fatomi, SAN, to have the court refuse the admission of the register was overuled by the court.

Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has sought the support and cooperation of the Nigerian Navy, the Air Force, and other security agencies towards ending insecurity in Enugu State and the South East.

Mbah also said that there was no place for sit-at-home in Enugu State under his watch, describing it as a disservice to the socio-economic prosperity of the state.

Mbah made the appeal during a visit to the Chief of the Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, and his Air Force counterpart, Air Vice Marshal Hassan Abubakar, at the Naval and Air Force Headquarters, respectively, in Abuja.

Speaking at the Naval Headquarters when he met with the top echelon of the service, Mbah said: “There is no way we’ll be able to achieve exponential picture we have painted if we don’t deal with that problem, tightening our security architecture, mobilising our security agencies in our state to be able to deal with it.

“Thus far, we are getting the required support from the security agencies and we are hoping to see more join hands with us to be able to deal with this big elephant, being insecurity.

“So, what in effect we are saying is that we look forward to partnering with the Navy in those areas that are necessary to do so in order to achieve one common goal of building one unifying country, peace and security”.

The Governor also appreciated President Bola Tinubu for appointing an Enugu indigene to head the Nigerian Navy, noting that such gestures of inclusivity would promote national healing, peace, and security.

“I want to, on behalf of the government and the good people of Enugu State, express our gratitude to the President for the honour he did to us by appointing our son the Chief of the Naval Staff.

“I also want to seize this opportunity to assure him that we and indeed our son will not let him and the country down because greatness and honesty run in the DNA of the people of Enugu State”, he said.

In his remarks, Rear Admiral Ogalla assured the Governor of his determination to help to end the menace of insecurity in the South East region and the nation, disclosing that the Navy was planning to establish a permanent base in the State in order to contribute to the peace and security efforts.

“The current security situation facing this government requires a whole of government approach. We don’t see them as purely naval challenges and that is why we have extended our operations to cover both maritime domain and even the land spectrum”, Ogalla stated.

On his visit to the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Vice Marshall Hassan Abubakar, Mbah said he was at the Air Force headquarters to felicitate AVM Abubakar on his appointment and to seek closer collaboration in the war against insecurity.

“Enugu State hosts Air Force Base and schools, and there is need to continue to strengthen relationship with the Air Force on internal security, education, and other areas of mutual interest”, Mbah said.

On his part, the Chief of the Air Staff pledged the support of the military service in Mbah’s determined efforts to make Enugu peaceful and suitable for socio-economic development and investments.