Flowerbud News

Category: Judiciary

  • Appeal Court affirms Ndume, Lawan as validly elected senators

    Appeal Court affirms Ndume, Lawan as validly elected senators

     

     

    The Court of Appeal, Abuja, on Thursday, affirmed the election of Sen. Mohammed Ndume and Sen. Kaka Lawan of Borno South and Central Senatorial Districts respectively.
    The three-member panel, presided by Justice Biobele Georgewill, held that the two appeals against the lawmakers lacked merit.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC had, on Feb. 25, declared the duo of Ndume and Lawan as the winners of the National Assembly election into the two senatorial districts.

    Dissatisfied with the declaration, Muhammed Kumalia and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenged the election of Lawan while Kudla Satumari and PDP filed petition against Mohammed Ndume at the state’s election tribunal.

    The Borno National and State’s Election Petition Tribunal dismissed the two petitions.

    Not satisfied with the judgments of the tribunal, Kumalia and Satumari lodged appeals before the Court of Appeal in appeal number: CA/G/EP/SEN/BR/7/2023 between Mohammed Umara Kumalia & another Vs. Kaka Shehu Lawan and others, and appeal number: CA/G/EP/SEN/BR/04/2023 between Kula Satumari & another Vs. INEC and others.
    While Yusuf Ali, SAN, represented Kaka Shehu and APC, Johnson Usman, SAN, appeared for INEC and Marcel Oru, SAN, represented Ndume in the two appeals.

    The senior lawyers urged the court to dismiss the appeals for lacking in merit.

    Delivering the judgments, the Court of Appeal upheld the submissions of the learned senior counsel to the respondents that the two appeals lacked merit and dismissed same while affirming the election of Lawan and Ndume respectively.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng) /Flowerbudnews

  • NOTICE OF PENDING LITIGATION IN RESPECT OF PLOTS 580 & 581, KUGBO DISTRICT, ABUJA BEING MARKETED AS PROMISELAND ASOKORO HILLTOP

    NOTICE OF PENDING LITIGATION IN RESPECT OF PLOTS 580 & 581, KUGBO DISTRICT, ABUJA BEING MARKETED AS PROMISELAND ASOKORO HILLTOP

    CAVEAT EMPTOR

    LAND NOT FOR SALE

     

    NOTICE OF PENDING LITIGATION IN RESPECT OF PLOTS 580 & 581, KUGBO DISTRICT, ABUJA BEING MARKETED AS PROMISELAND ASOKORO HILLTOP

     

    This is to notify the general public that Plots 580 & 581, Kugbo District, Abuja being marketed as Promiseland Asokoro Hilltop is not for sale to the public as the lands are subject of litigation in Appeal No. CA/ABJ/PRE/ROA/CV/708MI/2023; SUNRISE ESTATE DEVELOPMENT LIMITED V. PRACO NIGERIA LIMITED, ENGR SUCCESS OBIOMA, MINISTER OF THE FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY, DIRECTOR OF LAND ADMINISTRATION and others at the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, SUIT NO. 6419/2023; SUNRISE ESTATE DEVELOPMENT LIMITED V. THE MINISTER FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY, THE FEDERAL CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AND UNKNOWN PERSONS and SUIT NO. FCT/HC/CV/7813/2023; SUNRISE ESTATE DEVELOPMENT LIMITED V. THE MINISTER, FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY, FEDERAL CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AND PRACO INTERNATIONAL LIMITED at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

    These cases instituted by Sunrise Estate Development Limited who is the legal allottee of the said Plots are still pending at the Court of Appeal, Abuja and High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja respectively.

     

    In view of the pending litigation, the principle of lis pendens applies to the Plots in question. The general public is hereby warned not to deal with Promiseland Asokoro Hilltop or any other person advertising to sell lands in Plots 580 & 581 as they risk losing their money, and may be committed to prison for contempt of court.

     

    Please be aware!

    Signed

    Sunrise Estate Development Limited Management

  • Rivers Chief Judge pardons 53 inmates

    Rivers Chief Judge pardons 53 inmates

    Rivers State Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Amadi, on Thursday, granted pardon to 53 inmates at the Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre who are standing trial for various offences.

     

     

     

    Amadi said that the pardon was part of the week-long programmes put in place by the state judiciary to herald the 2023/2024 Legal Year.

     

     

     

    He stated that the development was also a move toward discongesting the maximum correctional centre in Port-Harcourt.

     

     

     

    Amadi said that the release of the inmate was in line with the provisions of section 34(1) of the Criminal Justice Law of Rivers and the Special Provision Law of the federation that empowers the chief judge to grant such pardon.

     

     

     

    He said that the release of the inmates had become imperative to ensure that justice was rightly served as well as for decongestion of the correctional centres.

     

     

     

    He called for effective synergy among all stakeholders in the criminal administration system.

     

     

     

    According to him, the judiciary, correctional services, law enforcement agencies, legal organisations and community leaders must work hand-in-hand for justice to prevail in the society.

     

     

     

    Amadi said that a stakeholders’ meeting was held prior to the goal delivery exercise in order to scrutinise the list submitted by the correction centre and the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).

     

     

     

    This, he said, was to ascertain those who had no question to answer but were languishing in jail in the correctional centre.

     

     

     

    He also called on the police to do discreet and thorough investigation in order to have enough evidence before charging any suspect to court.

     

     

     

    The chief judge advised the released inmates to turn a new leaf and be of good behaviour, stressing that they might not be lucky next time if they were caught engaging in any crime and brought back to the correction centre.

     

     

     

    “I came here for an exercise just to make you better citizens. No one wants you to die; you must have learnt something here; I urge you all to leave evil.

     

     

     

    “As you go back to the village, let the change be seen in you; don’t go back to eat your vomit; go back and find something to do; you can engage in farming, fishing or learn hand work,” he stated.

     

     

     

    Earlier in his remarks, the Comptroller of Correctional Service in the state, Mr Felix Lawrence, commended the effectiveness of the Criminal Justice Administration System in the state in the decongestion of Port-Harcourt Maximum Correctional Services.

     

     

     

    Lawrence said that he met more than 4,000 inmates when he assumed duty in June 2022, adding, however, that the number had dropped due to the consistent goal delivery exercise by the chief judge.

     

     

     

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the inmates granted pardon had been in the correction centre for between five and nine years awaiting trial. (NAN)

  • Court acquits Chinese directors of alleged forgery

    Court acquits Chinese directors of alleged forgery

     

    Abuja: A Federal High Court, Abuja has discharged and acquitted two Chinese; Hao Aijun and Liu Yangxi, and a Nigerian, Obi Anthony-Chibuzor, who were charged with conspiracy, forgery and fraud.

    Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, in a judgment, upheld the arguments of the lawyer to Hao and Liu , Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, and counsel to Chibuzor, Anozie Obi, that the prosecution, represented by M. O. Omosun, failed to prove its case.

    According to Justice Dimgba, from the totality of the evidence given in this case, most especially the testimony of the 1st prosecution witness (PW1), PW2 and PW5, none of their testimony has been able to link the defendants with any act of forgery.

    The News Agency iof Nigeria (NAN) reports that the defendants, who were directors of BN Ceramics Industry Nigeria Limited, were accused among others, of forging the company’s board’s resolutions.

    A 13-count charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/77/2017 was preferred against them by the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police.

    At their arraignment, they pleaded not quilty, following which the trial was conducted and the defendants made a no-case submission, which was partially upheld by Justice Dimgba.
    The development led to the striking out of eight out of the 13 counts.

    The defendants subsequently entered defence in relation to the remaining five counts.
    Delivering the judgment, Justice Dimgba discharged and acquitted them on the five counts.
    Justice Dimgba upheld the arguments of counsel for the defendants that the prosecution failed to prove its case.

    “Even the testimony of the handwriting experts and the reports of their findings, as manifested in Exhibits HA4, HA5, HA11 and HA13, did not link the defendants to the document, the signature of the PW1 said to have been forged,” he said.

    The judge added that the prosecution failed to call necessary witnesses, who would have supplied vital evidence.

    “Consequent on the above, I hereby find the defendants not guilty of the charges preferred against them.

    “I hold that the prosecution has failed to prove the offence of conspiracy against the defendants by the standard required by law, which is beyond reasonable doubt,” he declared.

    NAN reports that the police had filed the charge upon a complaint by one of BN Ceramics’ directors, Zhang Xing, following a boardroom disagreement.

    In an earlier judgment, Justice Donatus Okorowo of FHC stuck out the civil suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/606/2016 filed against other directors of BN Ceramics by Xing.

    Listed as defendants in the suit were: BN Ceramics, Hao, Chen Enlai, Liu Yangxi, Zhang Qide and the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

    Justice Okorowo held that the suit was incompetent and that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear it, the plaintiff having failed to comply with the condition precedent to initiating such an action.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)/ Flowerbudnews

  • Appeal Court sacks Suswam from Senate

     

    By Taye Agbaje

    Abuja:. The Court of Appeal, Abuja, on Wednesday, nullified the election of former Governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam, as senator representing North East Senatorial District of the state.

    The appellate court, in a unanimous decision by a three-member panel of justices, said it was satisfied that Suswam was not the valid winner of the senatorial election that held on Feb. 25.
    It faulted the judgement of the Benue State National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal which returned Suswam of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Senate, after it nullified the election victory of Emmanuel Udende of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    According to the appellate court, the tribunal wrongly evaluated the evidence that was presented before it by the parties in the matter and thereby arrived at an erroneous conclusion that upheld the petition Suswam filed to challenge Udende’s election victory.

    Consequently, the court voided the judgement of the tribunal, saying it found merit in the appeal that was lodged before it by the APC candidate.

    “The judgement of the tribunal delivered on 8th of September, 2023 is hereby set aside.
    “The return of the appellant as the winner of the Benue North East senatorial election that was held on February 25 is hereby affirmed.

    “Parties are to bear their respective cost,” the court held in its lead verdict that was delivered by Justice Abimbola Adejumo, who led the panel.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)!reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Udende as winner of the senatorial election after he polled a total of 135,573 votes to defeat Suswam who garnered 112,231 votes.
    Not satisfied with the outcome of the election, Suswam approached the tribunal on the ground that it was marred by over-voting, irregularities, alterations and falsification of results.
    In its judgement, the tribunal held that Suswam successfully established his case that irregularities took place in five out of seven LGAs in the senatorial district.
    The tribunal cancelled 51,895 votes entered for Udende and also cancelled 21,229 votes entered for Suswam.
    After subtracting the padded votes, Suswam was left with 90,590 while Udende scored 82,699 votes.
    The tribunal, headed by Justice Ori Zik-Ikeoha, entered judgment in Suswam’s favour, a decision that was vacated by the appellate court on Wednesday.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)/ Flowerbudnews

  • Absence of witness stalls Mompha’s alleged N6bn money laundering trial

    Absence of witness stalls Mompha’s alleged N6bn money laundering trial

    By Adenike Ayodele

    The trial of the social media celebrity, Ismaila Mustapha (alias Mompha), charged with six billion Naira money laundering, before an Ikeja Special Offences Court,  was stalled due to the absence of prosecution witness.

    When the case was called on Wednesday, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Counsel, Mrs Bilikisu Buhari, informed the court that the prosecution’s next witness was not in the country.

    Buhari  also urged the court to allow the witness to give his evidence via virtual hearing.

    “My lord, we are sorry our witness could not make it to court today because he is out of the country for a training.

    “We, however, apply that the witnesses evidence be taken virtually,”she said

    The defence counsel, Mr Kolawole Salami, however objected to the prosecution submission.

    Salami argued that the prosecution had ample time to prepare and brought their witnesses.

    “My lord, the prosecution  had enough time to prepare and bring their witnesses only to make application for virtual hearing this morning without any notification.

    “We ask that their oral application be dismissed,”Salami said.

    Justice Mojisola Dada overruled the submission of the prosecution and adjourned the case until Dec. 19 for continuation of trial.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that EFCC had on Sept. 18 tendered some of documents through an Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent, Mr Ayotunde Solademi against Mompha.

    The documents were reports by the FBI and an investigative report on Mompha’s iPhone which the agency claimed was used for fraudulent activities.

    NAN also reports that Mompha’s trial in absentia started on June 3 when a compliance officer with Access Bank testified against him.

    Prosecution had informed the court on May 15 that it had secured his in collaboration with its international partners.

    The court, on Sept. 21 ordered the commencement of trial of the defendant in absentia after he failed to appear before it.

    The EFCC had, on Jan. 22, arraigned Mustapha alongside his company, Ismalob Global Investment Ltd., on eight counts bordering on six billion Naira laundering.

    The court had, on June 22, issued a bench warrant for his arrest following his absence in court.

    Dada also revoked the bail she granted the defendant.

    The social media celebrity was equally absent in court on June 16.

    On  June 10, EFCC accused him of flouting the court’s order by travelling to Dubai with a new international passport.

    The charges against Mompha include conspiracy to launder money obtained through unlawful activities, and laundering of money obtained through unlawful activities.

    The others are retention of proceeds of criminal conduct, use of property derived from an unlawful act, possession of a document containing false pretences, and failure to disclose assets.

    NAN

  • Breaking: Arrest warrant::Court gives Emefiele Jan. 25 to appear over $53m debt

    Breaking: Arrest warrant::Court gives Emefiele Jan. 25 to appear over $53m debt

     

    Abuja:  A Federal High Court in Abuja has given former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, until Jan. 25 to appear in court to explain circumstances surrounding the 53 million dollar-judgment debt arising from the Pars Club refund.

    Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a short ruling on Tuesday, gave Emefiele another opportunity to appear in court in person or an arrest warrant issued against the ex-CBN governor.

    The development followed a plea by Emefiele and CBN’s counsel, Audu Anuga, SAN, that all efforts to ensure that his client appeared in person on the order of the court were unsuccessful as he was still in custody.

    Anuga informed the court that an affidavit to show cause on why arrest warrant should not be issued against Emefiele was filed on Oct. 30.
    Justice Ekwo then asked I.A. Nnana, the lawyer who represented Mr Joe Agi, SAN, the judgment creditor/applicant in the suit, if he had been served with the affidavit
    .
    Nnana responded that they were served on Monday, almost at the close of work and that they would like to react.

    The judge, who cautioned Anuga against late filing of processes, reminded that the matter came up on July 19.


    The senior lawyer, however, explained that all efforts were made until Friday (Oct. 27) to ensure that Emefiele was released on order of the court but the order was not complied with, which necessitated the filing of the affidavit.

    Anuga, however, told the court that since parties had been exploring settlement before and the CBN had a new governor, they should be allowed to explore settlement option.
    But Justice Ekwo insisted that Emefiele must appear in the next adjourned day.

    “As for the 4th respondent (Emefiele), I have always said, contempt proceedings follow a person whether the person Is still there or not.
    “In this case, I have given this particular person so much liberty, so much leniency and the situation does not seem to change.

    “I will adjourn the matter because the other side says they want to react to the process so there is no much talk.

    “Order of court must be complied with and even if no one complies with the order of the court, the court must comply with its order.
    “I will give you sufficient time,” he said.

    The judge, consequently, adjourned the matter until Jan. 25 for Emefiele to show cause why arrest warrant should not be issued against him.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that in the affidavit deposed to on Emefiele’s behalf by Jeremiah Utaan, a legal officer in the Legal Department of CBN, he said Emefiele was willing to appear before the court as directed but for his continued detention by the Department of State Service (DSS).

    He said the information was of public knowledge from June 10 till date that had made it impossible for Emefiele to physically appear before the court on July 19, the last adjourned date.

    Utaan, in the affidavit, averred that Emefiele’s absence at the proceedings was not out of disrespect to the court but rather due to circumstance beyond his control.
    “I verily believe that the cause of justice will not be served should the Honourable Court proceed to issue a Warrant for the arrest of Godwin Emefiele,” he said.

    The judge had, on July 19, threatened to issue a warrant of arrest against Emefiele over his failure to appear in court.

    He said he was minded to exercise a restraint in the proceeding to give the ex-CBN boss an opportunity to explain himself.

    NAN reports that Justice Ekwo had, on Oct. 20, 2022, ordered the CBN governor to appear in court on Jan. 18 over his alleged refusal to obey the order of the court for the payment of the judgment debt in favour of a legal practitioner, Joe Agi, SAN.

    Agi had dragged Linas International Ltd, Minister of Finance, CBN and Emefiele to court as 1st to 4th judgment debtors respectively, following an application for garnishee made by him as judgment creditor in the case.

    However, on the Jan. 18, proceedings could not go on as scheduled when the matter was called, prompting the court to subsequently adjourned the case until March 20, before it was fixed for June 6 again.

    NAN reports that the judge, on June 6, ordered Emefiele to appear before it on July 19.

    But President Bola Tinubu, on June 9, suspended him as CBN governor and he was directed to transfer his responsibilities to the deputy governor, operations directorate.
    No sooner had Emefiele was suspended than the DSS, on June 10, announced his arrest and detention.

    It was also reported that Emefiele was arrested and detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Oct. 26 less than an hour after the DSS released him.

    The EFCC was said to be probing him over alleged impropriety during his term as the head of the apex bank.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)/ Flowerbudnews

  • #ENDSARS: NHRC receives panel reports from 16 out of 29 states

    #ENDSARS: NHRC receives panel reports from 16 out of 29 states

    By Edith Nwapi

    The National human rights Commission (NHRC) has received reports from 16 states out of 29 on the #ENDSARS panels.

    The Executive Secretary of NHRC Mr Anthony Ojukwu, SAN said this in Abuja at an event to mark three years of #ENDSARS and submission of report on the protest by Enough is Enough (EIE), a non governmental organisation.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the panels were set up to investigate violations of human rights by the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and other police units.

    NAN reports further that the panel was set up by the Federal Government in Nov. 2020 under former vice president, prof Yemi Osinbajo following the “ENDSARS Protest” which was triggered by nationwide allegations of Police brutality.

    NAN reports that 29 states set up panels at the state levels and FCT which was an Independent panel  set up by NHRC.

    Speaking at the event, Ojukwu commended EIE on their efforts at coming up with a review of the #ENDSARS protest and report.

    He recalled that compensation of over N530 million was given to victims or families of the victims as a healing process.

    ” It is a very important step taken by EIE which is to commemorate the 2020 #ENDSARS protest. It is one of the efforts to keep #ENDSARS alive.

    ” About 29 states set up state panels and NHRC automatically was made a member, a panel was also set up in Abuja as an independent Investigation panel by the Commission.

    ” Today, EIE has taken a giant step towards compiling this report. The effort gears towards police reforms and I urge the states who have not submitted their reports to do so.

    ” 16 states have submitted their reports and when the remaining states do same the Commission will do the comprehensive review and report” he said.

    Speaking also, Mr Chino Obiagwu, SAN, the panel counsel during the Abuja sitting, said many lessons are there to take from the #ENDSARS protest.

    ” There are petitions which was over 6,000 mainly from the poor, calling out for justice, who later suppressed or withdraw their petitions for fear of reprisal attacks from the police.

    ” There were no lessons from the #ENDSARS protest, the Nigeria police have been emboldened, because they are not called to order .

    ” It made the citizens to loose the essence of the protest and none of the police indicted was prosecuted” he said.

    He said inquiries should be hold into human rights abuses by the police and all the indicted officers should be punished.

    ” Speaking of judgment debts against the government, the money should be taken from the budget of the department that cause the problem that attracted such debts so that the people involved can feel the liability.

    ” There should be a revamp of the syllabus in police training schools.

    ” The police service Commission, the inspector general of police and NHRC should engage the officers frequently with training on best practices ” he said.

    Similarly, Mr Samson Itodo, Yiaga Africa called for an apology from the states to the victims of police brutality and the people.

    ” States should apologise to the wounded and the offended.

    ” The streets are the platform where people come out to protest but they are afraid to come out because they are not protected.

    ” Justice is not just paying compensation but goes beyond that, ” he said.

    The highlight of the event was the digital presentation of the report covered by Enough is Enough.

    The report was presented by Ms Yemi Adamolekun, executive director of EIE.

    (more…)

  • UPDATED- Bayelsa poll: Appeal Court reverses Timipre Sylva’s disqualification as APC candidate

    UPDATED- Bayelsa poll: Appeal Court reverses Timipre Sylva’s disqualification as APC candidate

     

    Abuja:   The Appeal Court, Abuja, on Tuesday, vacated the judgment of a Federal High Court, Abuja which nullified Mr Timipre Sylva’s candidacy for All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Nov. 11 Bayelsa governorship election.

    The three-member panel, in a unanimous judgment read by Justice Binta Zubairu, held that Mr Demesuoyefa Kolomo, who filed the suit at the trial court lacked locus standi (legal right) to institute the case, having not been an aspirant in the primaries that produced Sylva as party’s candidate.

    The panel agreed with Counsel for Sylva, Mr Ahmed Raji, SAN, that where a party lacked locus, the court had no jurisdiction to entertain the suit.

    “The issue of jurisdiction is fundamental and the bedrock of any trial. And a trial without juridiction is a nullity,” Justice Zubairu said.

    The judge held that the argument by Kolomo, that the suit was a constitutional one and of grave importance to him as a voter and other voters in the sate so that they would not vote for someone who was not qualified to contest in the poll and had their votes wasted at the end of the day, was of no relevance.

    “I do not think the position of Kolomo makes him an aspirant in the election.

    “All these are alien and not recognised in our electoral laws and electoral matters,” she said.

    She also said that Kolomo’s argument that the matter was a public interest suit had no basis.
    She further held that where a party lacked the legal right to file a suit, it would be an exercise in futility to consider other grounds of Sylva’s appeal.

    “The appeal of the appellant (Sylva) succeeds,” the judge ruled.
    Consequently, the appellate court, aside from setting aside the verdict of the trial court, awarded the sum of N1 million in favour of the appellant (Sylva) in the first appeal marked: CA/ABJ/CV/1060/2023 between APC and Kolomo.
    The panel equally awarded the sum of N1 million in favour of Sylva in the appeal marked: CA/ABJ/CV/1061/2023 between Sylva vs. Kolomo and two others.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Sylva’s appeals were against the Oct. 9 judgment delivered by Justice Donatus Okorowo of a Federal High Court (FHC), Abuja, which disqualified him as candidate in the Nov. 11 election.
    Kolomo had, in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/821/2023 filed on June 13, prayed the court to order the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to delete Sylva’s name from list of candidates contesting the Nov. 11 governorship poll.

    Kolomo had sued Sylva, the immediate-past Minister of State for Petroleum; APC and INEC as 1st to 3rd defendants respectively.
    Kolomo asked the court to determine whether Sylva is qualified to contest in the election, having occupied the office of governor of Bayelsa May 29, 2007 to April 15, 2008 and May 27, 2008 to Jan. 27, 2012.
    In the affidavit attached, Kolomo deposed that besides being an APC member, he was also a registered voter in the state.
    He said INEC recently published the names of governorship candidates for the state, including Sylva’s name.

    The plaintiff said he was motivated by the need to vindicate Sections 180 (2)(a) and 182(1)b) of the1999 Constitution, the rule of law and to know the applicability of same as it relates to Sylva based on the above facts.

    Kolomo also averred that the question raised by the instant suit was a constitutional one and of grave importance to him as a voter and other voters in the sate so that they would not vote for someone who was not qualified to contest in the poll and had their votes wasted at the end of the day.

    But Sylva, who was the immediate-past Minister of Petroleum, in a counter affidavit, prayed the court to dismiss the suit for lacking in merit.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)/ Flowerbudnews