StallionTV

• 

Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti state has called on the state police Commissioner, Mr Amba Asuquo, to expose those behind the killing of two students of the Federal University, Oye Ekiti (FUOYE) during a protest.

Fayemi, who made the call in a broadcast on Monday, said a Judicial Panel of Inquiry would be constituted to probe the incident, as demanded by student union bodies.

He said the state government would compensensate families of the dead as well as foot the bills of those injured.

The governor also lauded the exoneration of his wife, Bisi, from cause of the deaths.

He said it was wrong for anyone to terminate the lives of students holding a lawful protest over poor electricity supply to their campus.

“I have in the last few days agonised over the incident that took place at FUOYE on Tuesday, Sept 10, 2019

“Until the multiple investigations already set up are completed, I am necessarily constrained from talking about the details of what transpired

“I, however, do not need to be constrained about the emotions a tragedy like this evokes

“Any death is a tragedy. Any shooting arising from legitimate protests diminishes our fledgling democratic dispensation and calls to question, our commitment to fundamental human rights

“Having heard from all parties to the incident, it is pertinent that I now personally convey my deeply felt sorrow for the loss of two promising young lives and for those who suffered injuries

“Our government prides itself on its strict adherence to the rule of law. The right of citizens to protest on any issue relating to governmental actions or inactions is a fundamental component of our good governance agenda

“We could not therefore under any circumstances, have directed that deadly force be used on any of our citizens freely expressing their right to protest

“Even before the conclusion of the investigations into this matter, we have taken a number of steps; a high level government delegation has visited the families of the deceased

“This will not be a one-off intervention. We will stand firmly with, and support the families at this time. Those persons with varying degrees of injuries will also be given support whilst their hospital expenses will be defrayed by government

“I have directed the State Commissioner of Police to urgently commence an investigation into the circumstances that led to the unfortunate shooting incident with a view to identifying possible culprits within and outside the Force

“Taken together with the ongoing investigation by the University management, we will consider the need for an independent panel of inquiry, if necessary once these fact finding investigations are concluded,” he said.

The governor said he had suggested to police authorities to explore the use of non-lethal rubber bullets in managing public protests, vowing that the Nigerian Governors Forum would take this up at the highest level.

“I note the initial public statement by the University authorities and its Students Union body. We welcome the conclusion that neither the wife of the Governor nor any Government official directed the shootings

“Indeed it is obvious that the wife of the Governor and those on her entourage are victims of this unfortunate incident.

“The issue that led to the protest has been the subject of intense disagreement and negotiations with BEDC since I became Governor

“Only last week, my Commissioner for Infrastructure and Public Utilities was still in Benin to see BEDC management on the matter of inadequate and inconsistent supply of electricity in Ekiti State

“Though Governors do not have any control over privatised power distribution companies, the four Governors from the states covered by the Benin DISCO have consistently expressed dissatisfaction with the services of BEDC and taken the matter up with the Vice President who chairs the Privatisation Council

“In addition to this, I have been talking to the Rural Electrification Agency about including FUOYE in the next round of their University Electrification Project,” the governor said.

He appealed for calm and caution as government awaited the reports of the various investigations, saying no persons or group should attempt to use the tragic incident to destabilise the peace and progress of the state

The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Ibadan will on Monday deliver its judgment in the petition filed by the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Bayo Adelabu, against the election of the state governor, Mr Seyi Makinde.

The tribunal had fixed today for the judgment after adopting the written addresses of the parties to the petition.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Makinde of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the election conducted on March 9, 2019.

According to the results declared by the commission, Makinde scored 515, 621 votes to defeat Adelabu, who polled 357, 982 votes.

However dissatisfied with the result, Adelabu filed a petition before the tribunal, alleging irregularities in the conduct of the election.

In the petition, Adelabu listed INEC as the first respondent, while Makinde and the PDP are second and third respondents, respectively.

The parties to the suit had at the last sitting adopted their written addresses with the APC’s candidate urging the tribunal to upturn the victory of Makinde.

Adopting his final written address, the counsel to INEC, Akinolu Kehinde (SAN), urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition for being grossly unmeritorious and lacking in substance.

Kehinde said that the instead of proving their allegation before the panel, the petitioners erroneously put the burden of proof on INEC whereas the responsibility of proof lies on the petitioners.

He said that the petitioners complained of irregularities in 1,334 polling units and only called 38 polling unit agents out of which majority of them confirmed that the election conducted by INEC complied strictly with the Electoral Act.

Also, counsel to PDP, Nathaniel Oke (SAN), while adopting his final written address, urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition on the ground of inadequacy of evidence and for lacking in merit.

But the counsel to Adelabu and APC, Yusuf Alli (SAN), urged the court to hold that the petition was meritorious and that other witness not called have their statement properly laid before the tribunal.

Alli said that under the law the number of witnesses called cannot override what had been properly laid before the tribunal

• 

While speaking in an interview on Stallion TV, celebrity’s Corner. Mc Bigjohny Da Talkative says he will choose to be invisible. See his interview questions and answers below.

Can we meet you ?

Bigjohny: Okay, my name is Ojiebun John Taiwo, a lot of people call me Bigjohny now anyways. I am a professional Events Host, Stand up Comedian and a certified wedding MC, I’m a graduate of Mass Communication, Poly Ibadan and university of Ilorin, native of Edo state but I based in Ibadan, I do Events management, HOT Events NG and I’m the host of the fastest growing family comedy show in Ibadan, CLAP

Wow! You just answered more than we expect from you, But you said you’re a Stand up comedian, is there any difference between a stand up comedian and a Comedian.?

Bigjohny: Yeahh, as the name implies, stand up comedy, you’d have to stand in front of an audience to do it but for comedian, either it’s via audio, video, text or drawings, in as much it makes people laugh, you’re a comedian

Oh, noted sir. 
What got you into comedy sir

Bigjohny: Well I’ve always been into acting drama from when I was younger, church basically, before I joined a comedy drama team in poly Ibadan named Original Mad Men.
When I gained admission into university of Ilorin, I hosted an event in our fellowship and that was all, before I knew it more kept coming in.y

Original Mad Men , But why are you a mad man?

Bigjohny: The mad was more of an acronyms, Making A Difference

Oh, I see. How do you now discover your passion for comedy?

Bigjohny: Comedy has always been part of it, I just didn’t discover till I found a way to express it, that was around July 2014.

What type of comedy do you do sir ?

Bigjohny: Well, I talk more about family and lifestyle, and I do just clean, ethical jokes only

Do you observe situations and create comedy or you create comedy just in your head ?

Bigjohny: It’s mostly observing situations actually, they might just be random situations but twisting it a little and adding humour does all the Magic.

We find out in our research that you do Comedy titled BABA IBEJI, but recently we stop seeing baba Ibeji and people are asking why, can you please explain why sir ?

Bigjohny: Well I’ve been kinda Veeeery busy, moving around a lot too, but soon enough baba Ibeji would be back, very soon.

I guess, your fans out there will be happy to hear that from you, most of them can’t wait to see BABA IBEJI in action again.

Bigjohny: Very soon

Is it true that comedians offstage are generally loners and fairly quiet ?

Bigjohny: Everyone sometimes want time to themselves, that doesn’t make them loners, actually it makes us more of being humans. So yeah, we’re fairly quiet when we’re off the stage, the stage is a business, whatever happens behind it is a personal life that doesn’t affect each other

Oh before I move on people out there send us to asked, if you’re really born a twins sir? It has become argument among your fans can you please tell them the fact now sir ?

Bigjohny: Yeahhh, am a twin, we don’t look alike at all actually, looks more like we were adopted. His name is Jacob and he’s pretty much around, he has not traveled to Lagos like people literally ask.

Lolz, is he into comedy too ?

Bigjohny: Nahh, he’s not, he’s a pharmacist actually

People can now see why you guys are not so close since your profession Is very different

Bigjohny: Everyone has a path to trend and ours is totally different, so all we have tried to do is embrace it actually.

Can you name someone who has had a big impact on you as a comedian ?

Bigjohny: A lot of them actually, from Seyi Law to Dr Smile, Mc Ajele, Bash and a few others

Since you mentioned multitude of people here now I will want you to tell us who’s currently the best stand up comedian in Nigeria ?

Bigjohny: Well, I wouldn’t say there is best actually, this just an individually preferred comedian, because we like someone doesn’t make him the best and because he’s our best doesn’t make him the nation’s best. There’s just amazing guys out there doing amazing jobs and the nation is proud to have them all.

You celebrities sha, you won’t want to mention name when it comes to that question

Bigjohny: Well me I don’t even know what you’re talking about 

What’s your greatest and worst experience as a stand up comedian ?

Bigjohny: All experiences have been great actually, they were more like a build up, they’ve made Me become better at what I do so all the experiences have been great. The worst one was sometimes around 2015, kai kasamadupe oo.

Can we know what actually happened ?

Bigjohny: Well, you know, very flat performance that was eventually accompanied by an audience who wanted me out of the stage immediately, kai, me seff no wan remember. Let’s sha be grateful to God, Ati lo ati de lol.

 What are the struggles of being a stand up comedian?

Bigjohny: Platforms basically, no one wants to try you if they’ve not seen you and I wouldn’t blame them. Once you’re are good and you grow daily, the easiest way to accelerate your growth is platforms to show yourself to the world, it’s a big struggle for a lot of people

Hmmmm, getting more interesting I’m sure people out there will be smiling by now with your response
Is comedy carrier good enough and paying enough to be able to pay all your bills ?

Bigjohny: LOL, Well. For now, I do just comedy, so yes, it pays all the bills, no one is just a comedian, a lot of people eventually go into investing, acting, modeling, becoming brand ambassadors, getting an actual job and so on. I’m open to these things and definitely would be going into some of them soon.

Amen sir. But sir how much do you charge to host an event ?

Bigjohny: There’s a lot of things that determine that tho, when you’re ready to get married tho, we can talk about that.

Omg! Does it shows on my face that I’m single ?

Bigjohny: Shows from your handwriting too actually .

So since July 2014 that you started this comedy, that’s over 5yrs now, how many weddings have you host ?

Bigjohny: Hosted my first wedding April 2015, Since then, I should have hosted more than 80, to the glory of God.

Wow! Glory to God. We’re going to the end of the program actually. Assuming you’re in the midst of the deaf and dumb how do you make them laugh to your comedy?

Bigjohny: I will just wake up from the dream, Olorun oni jeka ri labor.

, You’ve been given a lion, you can’t sell it or give it away, what will you do with it ?

Bigjohny: Loool, let’s just hope it’s not around Ileya, Odun ti dun niyen o, that would be the best Sallah ever

What type of man are you self ? All this your response get has e be oo

Bigjohny: Lool

Now if you had a choice between two super powers, being invisible or flying which would you choose ?

Bigjohny: Fly bawo, that invisibility ehn, forget it, Central Bank straight!! .

What if you could compare yourself with any animal, which would it be and why?

Bigjohny: I’m not even sure o, maybe Goat, because I love food o

Now let me ask you a secret questions no one would hear or see it. Who do you have crush with ?

Bigjohny: DJ Cuppy & Yemi Alade

What was the last gift you gave someone ?

Bigjohny: A bottle of Fanta actually

Now to the last segment sir, people are actually waiting for you to say something about your annual comedy show CLAP, what ginger you into it ? Why CLAP ? what does it mean?

Bigjohny: Well CLAP, Comedy, laughter, Appreciation and Praise was born out of creating an avenue for friend to hang out together, family and friends to thank God for the year and have fun Together and we’re having the 4th edition this year and God’s grace, it’s coming out stronger.

We heard you’re planning to change the date for this year edition how true is that?

Bigjohny: For now, the date still stands, December 26

Can we know what you tagged this year show ?

Bigjohny: It’s called My Ibadan experienceand it’s aimed at sharing our experiences, good bad and ugly, since we’ve been here in this Ibadan. Let the world know that Ibadan isn’t as bad as they think, we have a lot of good things happening here too

Wow!, If you’re not a comedian what will you be?

Bigjohny: Most likely be a journalist

What advice can you give to upcoming stand up comedians with your experience so far ?

Bigjohny: Learning, personal development and Consistency is key, people want to see you growing, once you consistently grow, it increases your value and directly brings more traffic towards your brand. If others can make it to the top, we all can.

If you’re elected as a president of this country what are the things you’ll do ?

Bigjohny: Yeahhh, I’m not too much of a political fan

We’re sorry to take much of your time sir. Hope when next we invited you, you’ll be here for us ?

Bigjohny: Yehhhhhhhh, Yes I will be

Good evening sir, On behalf of StallionTV management, I welcome you to Celebrity’s Corner.

This is the segment where we invite our celebrities according to our viewers demand for interview, knows about their background, their career life and lots more.
It’s a privilege for me to be hosting a professional event host as the first Celebrity on this program . You’re an history maker🙈 welcome once again sir

Bigjohny: Good evening everyone, It’s nice to be here, It’s an honour

Alright sir, Straight to business sir, Can we meet you ?

Bigjohny: Okay, my name is Ojiebun John Taiwo, a lot of people call me Bigjohny now anyways. I am a professional Events Host, Stand up Comedian and a certified wedding MC, I’m a graduate of Mass Communication, Poly Ibadan and university of Ilorin, native of Edo state but I based in Ibadan, I do Events management, HOT Events NG and I’m the host of the fastest growing family comedy show in Ibadan, CLAP

Wow! You just answered more than we expect from you, But you said you’re a Stand up comedian, is there any difference between a stand up comedian and a Comedian.?

Bigjohny: Yeahh, as the name implies, stand up comedy, you’d have to stand in front of an audience to do it but for comedian, either it’s via audio, video, text or drawings, in as much it makes people laugh, you’re a comedian

Oh, noted sir.
What got you into comedy sir

Bigjohny: Well I’ve always been into acting drama from when I was younger, church basically, before I joined a comedy drama team in poly Ibadan named Original Mad Men.
When I gained admission into university of Ilorin, I hosted an event in our fellowship and that was all, before I knew it more kept coming in.

Original Mad Men 🙈, But why are you a mad man?

Bigjohny: The mad was more of an acronyms, Making A Difference

Oh, I see. How do you now discover your passion for comedy?

Bigjohny: Comedy has always been part of it, I just didn’t discover till I found a way to express it, that was around July 2014.

What type of comedy do you do sir ?

Bigjohny: Well, I talk more about family and lifestyle, and I do just clean, ethical jokes only

Do you observe situations and create comedy or you create comedy just in your head ?

Bigjohny: It’s mostly observing situations actually, they might just be random situations but twisting it a little and adding humour does all the Magic.

We find out in our research that you do Comedy titled BABA IBEJI, but recently we stop seeing baba Ibeji and people are asking why, can you please explain why sir ?

Bigjohny: Well I’ve been kinda Veeeery busy, moving around a lot too, but soon enough baba Ibeji would be back, very soon.

I guess, your fans out there will be happy to hear that from you, most of them can’t wait to see BABA IBEJI in action again.

Bigjohny: Very soon

Is it true that comedians offstage are generally loners and fairly quiet ?

Bigjohny: Everyone sometimes want time to themselves, that doesn’t make them loners, actually it makes us more of being humans. So yeah, we’re fairly quiet when we’re off the stage, the stage is a business, whatever happens behind it is a personal life that doesn’t affect each other

Oh before I move on people out there send us to asked, if you’re really born a twins sir? It has become argument among your fans can you please tell them the fact now sir ?

Bigjohny: Yeahhh, am a twin, we don’t look alike at all actually, looks more like we were adopted. His name is Jacob and he’s pretty much around, he has not traveled to Lagos like people literally ask.

Lolz, is he into comedy too ?

Bigjohny: Nahh, he’s not, he’s a pharmacist actually

People can now see why you guys are not so close since your profession Is very different

Bigjohny: Everyone has a path to trend and ours is totally different, so all we have tried to do is embrace it actually.

Can you name someone who has had a big impact on you as a comedian ?

Bigjohny: A lot of them actually, from Seyi Law to Dr Smile, Mc Ajele, Bash and a few others

Since you mentioned multitude of people here now I will want you to tell us who’s currently the best stand up comedian in Nigeria ?

Bigjohny: Well, I wouldn’t say there is best actually, this just an individually preferred comedian, because we like someone doesn’t make him the best and because he’s our best doesn’t make him the nation’s best. There’s just amazing guys out there doing amazing jobs and the nation is proud to have them all.

You celebrities sha, you won’t want to mention name when it comes to that question

Bigjohny: Well me I don’t even know what you’re talking about 😋

What’s your greatest and worst experience as a stand up comedian ?

Bigjohny: All experiences have been great actually, they were more like a build up, they’ve made Me become better at what I do so all the experiences have been great. The worst one was sometimes around 2015, kai kasamadupe oo.

Can we know what actually happened ?

Bigjohny: Well, you know, very flat performance that was eventually accompanied by an audience who wanted me out of the stage immediately, kai, me seff no wan remember. Let’s sha be grateful to God, Ati lo ati de lol.

😂😂😂😂 What are the struggles of being a stand up comedian?

Bigjohny: Platforms basically, no one wants to try you if they’ve not seen you and I wouldn’t blame them. Once you’re are good and you grow daily, the easiest way to accelerate your growth is platforms to show yourself to the world, it’s a big struggle for a lot of people

Hmmmm, getting more interesting I’m sure people out there will be smiling by now with your response
Is comedy carrier good enough and paying enough to be able to pay all your bills ?

Bigjohny: LOL, Well. For now, I do just comedy, so yes, it pays all the bills, no one is just a comedian, a lot of people eventually go into investing, acting, modeling, becoming brand ambassadors, getting an actual job and so on. I’m open to these things and definitely would be going into some of them soon.

Amen sir. But sir how much do you charge to host an event ?

Bigjohny: There’s a lot of things that determine that tho, when you’re ready to get married tho, we can talk about that.

Omg! Does it shows on my face that I’m single ?

Bigjohny: Shows from your handwriting too actually 😁.

So since July 2014 that you started this comedy, that’s over 5yrs now, how many weddings have you host ?

Bigjohny: Hosted my first wedding April 2015, Since then, I should have hosted more than 80, to the glory of God.

Wow! Glory to God. We’re going to the end of the program actually. Assuming you’re in the midst of the deaf and dumb how do you make them laugh to your comedy?

Bigjohny: I will just wake up from the dream, Olorun oni jeka ri labor.

😂😂😂😂, You’ve been given a lion, you can’t sell it or give it away, what will you do with it ?

Bigjohny: Loool, let’s just hope it’s not around Ileya, Odun ti dun niyen o, that would be the best Sallah ever

What type of man are you self ? All this your response get has e be oo😂

Bigjohny: Lool

Now if you had a choice between two super powers, being invisible or flying which would you choosei ?

Bigjohny: Fly bawo, that invisibility ehn, forget it, Central Bank straight!! 😁.

What if you could compare yourself with any animal, which would it be and why?

Bigjohny: I’m not even sure o, maybe Goat, because I love food o😂

Now let me ask you a secret questions no one would hear or see it. Who do you have crush with ?

Bigjohny: DJ Cuppy & Yemi Alade

What was the last gift you gave someone ?

Bigjohny: A bottle of Fanta actually

Now to the last segment sir, people are actually waiting for you to say something about your annual comedy show CLAP, what ginger you into it ? Why CLAP ? what does it mean?

Bigjohny: Well CLAP, Comedy, laughter, Appreciation and Praise was born out of creating an avenue for friend to hang out together, family and friends to thank God for the year and have fun Together and we’re having the 4th edition this year and God’s grace, it’s coming out stronger.

We heard you’re planning to change the date for this year edition how true is that?

Bigjohny: For now, the date still stands, December 26

Can we know what you tagged this year show ?

Bigjohny: It’s called My Ibadan experience and it’s aimed at sharing our experiences, good bad and ugly, since we’ve been here in this Ibadan. Let the world know that Ibadan isn’t as bad as they think, we have a lot of good things happening here too

Wow!, If you’re not a comedian what will you be?

Bigjohny: Most likely be a journalist

What advice can you give to upcoming stand up comedians with your experience so far ?

Bigjohny: Learning, personal development and Consistency is key, people want to see you growing, once you consistently grow, it increases your value and directly brings more traffic towards your brand. If others can make it to the top, we all can.

If you’re elected as a president of this country what are the things you’ll do ?

Bigjohny: Yeahhh, I’m not too much of a political fan

We’re sorry to take much of your time sir. Hope when next we invited you, you’ll be here for us ?

Bigjohny: Yehhhhhhhh, Yes I will be

On behalf of StallionTV management, crew, and fans we really appreciate your heart of humility to honour our invitation thank you so much sir.

Bigjohny: You’re welcome sir

And this the end of tonight’s interview on Celebrity’s Corner, meet us again next week for another edition.

Till then I remain your main man Ayodeji Olalekan Ayobami (PKA Shemariah)

LOVE YOU ALL

• 

The Oyo State Governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde, Wednesday disclosed that the wage bill of workers in the state increased by N1 billion shortly after the governorship election of March 9, 2019.

Makinde, who made the disclosure during an interactive session with workers in the employ of the state government, said the development increased the wage bill to about N5.2 billion from March 10.

A statement from the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, also confirmed that Makinde increased the car loan to civil servants from N500,000 to N750,000 and the housing loan from N2 million to N3 million in order to assist the civil servants in the state.

The Head of Service, Mrs. Amidat Agboola, in her speech at the session, disclosed that the governor had approved a monthly grant of N20 million for car loan for the state workers; N15 million as car loan for Teaching Service Commission staffers and N20 million for housing loan to ensure that more civil servants benefited from the schemes.

According to Adisa: “Between March 10 when we were declared the winner of the election and May 29 when we eventually got into office, the salary bill of Oyo State increased by N1billion but we paid it and some questions are being asked. We promised oneness and, for us, that is the path we are going to continue to tread on.”

The governor further declared that his administration would embark on a verification of workers in the state to ensure that the payroll is not suspicious, adding that the state government would “remain committed to the welfare of workers in the state because as a son of former civil servants, he was fully aware that workers need the support and assistance of the state government to do good things.”

He also enjoined workers to ensure that the verification would be completed within the shortest period of time. “The not-so-good news, which will be good in the end, is that, we have to carry out a verification exercise. This is not to witch-hunt anybody but to convince ourselves that we don’t have fraud in our payroll system. If we are able to save money through that exercise, we can also utilise it to take care of the welfare of the workers and use the rest for the generality of the people of Oyo State.

“So, I want to solicit for your cooperation, involvement and support to carry this out within the shortest period of time. This exercise will free us some money that can make us do some of the things you are asking for; by training, both local and foreign. So, I am assuming I will have your support concerning the issue of the payroll.

“The federal allocation is a little short of N5billion naira but the salary is N5.1 to N5.2billion naira for the state workers in Oyo State. For the local government teachers and others, it is about N3billion naira. On a monthly basis, we have to look for N8billion naira to make payment for the salaries.

“The good news is, one, the Federal Allocation into the local government is around N5 billion as well and they are paying N3billion for the teachers, workers, traditional rulers and it all comes to about N3.2 billion or thereabout. So, the good news is that the local government, at this point, is able to cover their wage bill.

“Also, the good news since we came in is that we have not embarked on any serious capital project at the local level because there are still things to sort out at that level of governance. With the extra N2 billion we get on a monthly basis, we must have accumulated N8billion naira sitting in the local government account.

“The internally generated revenue (IGR) is about N2 billion. We do take from the IGR to augment salaries. Of course, we have to do things for the generality of the people of Oyo State. We have to carry all the capital projects. We also have to do things that will expand our economy to make our IGR go on,” he said.

He also urged the civil servants to move in the same direction with his government because “if we all can work together we can really make giant progress. The political office holders cannot do it alone. If we have your support, we can together to achieve the desired result.”

He also warned those seeking to divide the people of the state along religious lines to desist from the bid. “Governance for us is beyond politics or religion. Nobody under my watch will be discriminated against because of political leaning or religion. So, those who want to divide us with political or religion sentiment should find another work to do.”

• 

Mr Frank Tietie, a human rights activist, says judgment of Presidential Election Petition Tribunal that affirmed election of President Muhammadu Buhari is based on existing laws on conduct of elections in the country.

Tietie, who was reacting to the judgment in Abuja on Wednesday said that the judgement had confirmed what many Nigerians had been thinking on the true position of the law. “Today’s judgment is based on the law as it is, not on what you wish the law should be .

“A Judge cannot go outside the law, no matter how morally sound or morally good an idea or argument is. court “However, unacceptable and unpalatable the law may be, with regard to issues like educational qualifications for contesting election.

“So, whatever Nigerians may have thought before is different from what the judment has confirmed.

”I have always known the position of the constitution that educational qualification is not a pre-requisite for contesting election in Nigeria,” he said.

He commended the panel of Justices for hinging their judgement on the existing law.

He said the judgment reflected that things could be better resolved using the judiciary.

According to him, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) did not commit any fundamental error by failing to transmit election results electronically.

“If INEC fails to do so, it did not commit any fundamental error, because there is no law now that mandates it,.’’ he said.

• 

Former Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has denied congratulating President Muhammadu Muhammadu Buhari on his victory at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.

He said this on his verified Twitter handle on Wednesday, after the five- man panel led by Justice Mohammed Garba dismissed the petition of the Peoples Democratic Party and that of its presidential candidate in the last general elections, Atiku Abubakar, for failing to prove the claims made in its petition.

Fayose tweeted, ” Nigerians should disregard any congratulatory message issued in my name on the outcome of the Presidential Election Judgment.

“My party has indicated its intention to appeal the judgment, and as a party man and believer in the PDP/ATIKU 2019 project, I can’t author such statement.”

See tweet:

Peter Ayodele Fayose
✔
@GovAyoFayose
Nigerians should disregard any congratulatory message issued in my name on the outcome of the Presidential Election Judgment. My party has indicated its intention to appeal the judgment, and as a party man and believer in the PDP/ATIKU 2019 project, I can’t author such statement.

• 

The First batch of 84 Nigerians evacuated from South Africa is expected to arrive in Nigeria on Wednesday at 2.pm local time via the Murtala Muhammed International Lagos in company of officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which disclosed this in an update made available to newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday, explained that although 313 Nigerians were confirmed as those to form the first batch of evacuees, only 84 of them would arrive on Wednesday because they were the ones cleared to embark on the flight to Nigeria.

According to the ministry, 640 Nigerians have indicated the desire to return from South Africa and have registered to do so.

The ministry added that the second batch of evacuees would depart Johannesburg for Nigeria on Friday.

“The Air peace aircraft which was scheduled to take off at 9. a.m local time was delayed due to the fact that checking in and clearance procedures by immigration are very very slow.

“There are complains of system failure and out of the 313 confirmed for first batch of evacuation today, only 84 are cleared so far.

“The more the Aircraft waits for the passengers, the higher the amount the Aircraft will pay for Parking,” the ministry stated.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that following the xenophobia attack on Nigerians in South Africa, Mr Allen Onyeama, Proprietor of the Airline volunteered to send an aircraft to evacuate Nigerians willing to return free of charge.

The process which was earlier scheduled to commence on Sept. 6 had stalled as it was reported that most Nigerians willing to return did not have valid passports or travel documents to complete immigration formalities.

source: 32fm

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A 24-year-old man, Ebenezer Olorunleke has been arrested by the Ekiti State police command for killing his brother and stealing his properties including a motorbike.

Parading the suspect before newsmen on Tuesday September 10, the State’s Commissioner of police, Mr Asuquo Amba said Olorunleke who is from Jege in Kogi State killed his brother on August 29 after he stormed his house at Abe Cocoa area of Okeila with three members of his gang now at large.

He reportedly stabbed his brother to death with a screwdriver and a knife, after which they stole his red coloured Bajaj motorbike with registration number ADK 100 UJ.

“They hit him in the stomach and pierced his intestine when his wife and children were not at home. He had confessed to have committed the offence, he said.

The suspect described his brother as “stingy” while narrating how he was killed. According to him, all they wanted was to take money from the deceased before their struggle led to his death.

“I did not follow them inside the room, but upon realising that my brother had been stabbed and was shouting, I rushed in and wanted to rescue him but he bit me and chopped off my finger.

“The guys later came to my house to attack me. They wanted to sell the machine, I resisted it. I was thinking of coming to the police to report when I was arrested with the machine”, he said.

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THE dispute over the last presidential election, won by President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on March 18, will come to a close today(Wednesday) before the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC).

The main opposition party – the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the election, Atiku Abubakar had filed the petition, in which they among others, queried Buhari’s qualification, victory at the election and sought to be declared winners. In the alternative, they prayed the court to void the election.

The PEPC, sitting at the Court of Appeal, Abuja, on August 21, and adjourned for judgment after entertaining final submissions from lawyers to parties.

The Presiding Justice of the PEPC, Justice Mohammed Garba, announced, while adjourning proceedings on August 21, that parties would be notified when the court decides of a date for judgment

Parties to the petition have, since then, waited with bated breath for the judgment, with the petitioners reportedly writing the court last week in relation to the pending judgment.

At about 12noon on Tuesday, information filtered in from the court that the much awaited judgment has been scheduled for today.

The spokesperson for the Court of Appeal, Mrs. Sa’adatu Kachalla confirmed the development in a brief message on Tuesday.

Mrs. Kachalla said: “Please be informed that notice has been given for judgment to be delivered tomorrow, September 11, 2019 at 9am in the presidential election petition.

Four petitions were originally filed against the election, including the one by Atiku and the PDP, marked: CA/PEPC/002/2019, filed on Marc 18, 2019.

There was the one filed by Hope Democratic Party (HDP) and Ambrose Owuru, who claimed to be the party’s presidential candidate. The petition, marked: CA/PEPC/001/2019 was filed on March 7 this year, before that of the PDP and Atiku, marked: CA/PEPC/002/2019.

The third, marked: CA/PEPC/003/2019 was filed by the Coalition for Change (C4C) and Geff Ojinika, who claimed to be the party’s presidential candidate.

The fourth petition, marked: CA/PEPC/004/2019, was filed on March 19 this year by the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) and Pastor Aminchi Habu, listed as the party’s presidential candidate.

Two petitioners, te C4C and PDM, at a point, withdrew their petitions, following which the court dismissed them.

The court, in a judgment on August 22, 2019 dismissed the petition by the HDP on the grounds that it was without merit, the petitioners having been unable to establish their claims.

While making their final submissions on August 21 this year in the petition by Atiku and the PDP, Buhari, the APC and the Independent National electoral Commission (INEC) – who are respondents to the petition, argued that the petitioners failed to disprove the claim that Atiku is not a Nigerian by birth and as such was not qualified to contest the election.

Buhari, APC and INEC described the petition by Atiku and the PDP, challenging the outcome of the election as worthless and time wasting. They noted that the petitioner, in prosecution the petition, starved it of necessary evidence and urged the court to dismiss the it with substantial cost.

They noted that while the petitioners made head wild allegations in their petition, they provided no single evidence in support of their claims and therefore, failed to meet the required standard of proof in relation to all the allegations.

At the August 21 proceedings, Wole Olanipekun (SAN) led Alex Izinyon (SAN) and other lawyers for Buhari; Yunus Usman (SAN) led INEC’s team; Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) led the team of the APC, while Livy Uzoukwu (SAN) led the petitioners’ team, which included Mike Ozekhome (SAN).