No fewer than 2,300 soldiers will be deployed for the November 11, 2023 governorship election in Imo State. The Imo Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Professor Sylvia Agu, disclosed this yesterday, during a media round table, organized in Owerri for journalists, by the International Press Centre, IPC, in collaboration with the European Union, EU. Her words: “Insecurity, no doubt, remains an issue. It is, however, a thing of joy that the Commander, 34 Artillery Brigade, Obinze, Brigadier General Sani Suleiman, has promised to deploy enough security personnel to ensure a hitch-free election in the state. “Indeed, he promised that over 2,300 soldiers will be deployed to the state, during the November 11, 2023, gubernatorial election. He made the promise when the Commission had a meeting with security agencies in the state.” Irregularities marred general polls Reacting to queries raised by discussants, Professor Agu admitted that the last Presidential, National Assembly, and House of Assembly elections in the state were marred with irregularities and insecurity. Her words: “I acknowledge that there were observable irregularities and security issues, during the last Presidential, National and State Assembly elections. “I urge the Imo electorate to avail themselves of the forthcoming electoral opportunity, to exercise their franchise, without any fear of molestation by the non-state actors. “Amid insecurity in the state, we did our best to ensure a seamless and hitch-free election. I came to Imo State, one month before the general election and I was getting myself acquainted with the political environment. The burden was too much on me. 65per cent of INEC staff withdraws services “My staff is apprehensive of the security situation in the state and I tell you right now, about 65 percent of my ad-hoc staff have withdrawn their services because of insecurity. We are starting all over again to recruit new officers for the forthcoming election. “I will tell you without mincing words that the last election in the state was not influenced by any individual or group. The only challenge INEC had was the issue of insecurity, as I said earlier.”

  Justice Nicholas Oweibo of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, yesterday, noted that the Federal Government has shown signs of not being law-abiding and has no respect for the court.   The judge made the pronouncement, while striking out the firearm possession charge against the suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mr. Godwin Emefiele. The charge was brought against Emefiele by Department of State Services, DSS. Justice Oweibo, struck out the charge for want of diligent prosecution, noting that the Federal Governnment had shown signs of not being law-abiding and had no respect for the court. Meanwhile, the scheduled arraignment of Emefiele, on a fresh 20-count charge, was, yesterday, stalled following the absence of one of the defendants in the case. Though Emefiele was brought to court by DSS, who are still holding on to him before an Abuja High Court sitting at Maitama, to enter his plea to the fresh charge against him, the court was told by the DSS that the 2nd defendant, Saadat Yaro, was unavailable. Court strikes out firearms charge Justice Oweibo, who struck out the charge for want of diligent prosecution, following the withdrawal application made by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Ministry of Justice, Mohammed Abubakar. At the last adjourned date, the DPP made an oral application to the court to withdraw the charges against Emefiele. He argued that the application was informed by emerging facts and circumstances that need further investigations and urged the court to grant the application. Abubakar said the application was pursuant to Sections 174 (1) (c) (2) and 108 (2) (4) But Emefiele’s counsel, Mr. Joseph Daudu, SAN, opposed the prosecution’s oral application, arguing that because the government was in disobedience of the court’s order granting Emefiele bail, its application could not be taken. He contended that there was no application before the court and not disputing the facts that the state can withdraw any charge before the court against any person. He cited Section 174 (3) of the Constitution that the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, has power that can be devolved to any of its officers. “We have an application that the AGF has flouted the court order which says the respondent/ defendant should be remanded in prison custody granted but they are not obeying the order. “The court granted the order of substituted service to be published in three National dailies and after they brought an application of stay of execution of the bail and we say unless they obey that order section 174 (1) can only be by nolle prosequi. “It must be in writing, I have never heard of the withdrawal of a case without a nolle prosequi for the interest of justice we need to prevent abuse of legal processes. “I urge the court to reject the application and order the learned DPP to go on with today’s business,” he said. Ruling, yesterday, Justice Oweibo noted that the application by the Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, seeking the withdrawal of the case was found in Section 108 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, which empowers him to withdraw the charge and there was no requirement for the application to be in writing. Granting the application, the judge wondered what good it would do to the defence if the court does not allow the withdrawal. The court, said: “The prosecution has shown signs that they are not law-abiding and have no respect for the court. The court cannot force them. What good will it be for the defendant who is in custody? Of what benefit will it be to keep the file in the court’s docket? “I believe the proper thing is to allow them to withdraw the charge. They can simply abandon it and the court will still have to strike it out for lack of diligent prosecution. The application to withdraw is hereby granted,” Justice Oweibo said. Fresh arraignment over alleged N6.9bn fraud stalled Meanwhile, the planned arraignment of Emefiele, on a fresh 20-count charge, was, yesterday stalled due to the absence of one of the defendants in the case. The FG told the court that the 2nd defendant, Saadat Yaro, was unavailable, though Emefiele was brought to the Abuja High Court, to enter his plea in the fresh charge against him. The Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, DPPF, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, who is prosecuting the case for the Federal Government, told Justice Hamza Muazu that Mrs. Yaro took ill and was not able to make it to the court. He applied for a new date, a request that was not opposed by Emefiele’s lawyer, Mr. Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN. Consequently, Justice Muazu adjourned the case till August 23. Immediately the matter was adjourned, armed operatives of DSS, whisked Emefiele away from the court.

  A group, Like Minds Forum of Nigeria has criticised the Senate for withholding the confirmation of the former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, as a minister, describing it as procedurally wrong and politically defective. The Forum including some political appointees who served in the El-Rufai administration, observed that the process of El-Rufai’s confirmation as minister after being nominated by President Bola Tinubu has taken the shape of a conspiracy against the former governor. Addressing a news conference in Kaduna on Thursday, the convener of the Like Minds Forum of Nigeria and a former Commissioner for Education in the state, Professor Shehu Muhammad, wonders why security agencies have not arrested or charged El-Rufai to court based on the so-called petitions against him or the Senate being able to make the petitions public if indeed there is nothing fishy about the entire process. Describing the treatment meted out against El-Rufai as a desperation of certain interests seeking vengeance against El-Rufai, the Forum commended the three senators from Kaduna State, for their testimonies and unanimous support for El-Rufai to be confirmed as a minister. The group, however, called on the Senate to immediately clear and confirm El-Rufai as it did to other ministerial nominees in order to douse the rising tension and confusion in the North and other parts of the country.

  The Nigerian Navy has impounded a 350,000 litre-capacity vessel carrying what is suspected to be illegally refined diesel. Operatives of the Nigerian Navy Ship Pathfinder who are part of the maritime component of Operation Delta Safe (OPDS) impounded the Motor Vessel Cecilia carrying suspected to be illegally cooked diesel. According to the Commander of the Maritime Component of Operation Delta Safe, Commodore Adedokun Siyanbade, the operation which happened at Meco jetty in the Trans-Woji area of Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, was as a result of intelligence and surveillance. Commodore Siyanbade explained that the vessel which has a carrying capacity of 350,000 litres acts as a storage tank for the product. Speaking further, he promised that all involved in the operation will be arrested and brought to book. Operation Delta Safe is a Joint Task Force Operation to secure the oil infrastructure in the Niger Delta.

  The management of the University of Calabar has suspended the Dean of the Faculty of Law, Prof. Cyril Ndifon, over allegations of sexual harassment. Ndifon’s suspension, effective August 17, 2023, followed a probe by the management of the school into the allegations of sexual harassment levelled against him by female students of the faculty on Monday. A viral video on social media had shown the students of the faculty storming the office of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Florence Obi, bearing placards with inscriptions such as, “Ndifon must go for our sanity”, “We are tired of buying law journals”, “We are tired of lecturers not attending classes”, and “Law girls are not your bonanza; Prof. Ndifon should stop grabbing us and others.” However, in an interview with CrossRiverWatch, the professor denied the allegations, stating that the protest was orchestrated by individuals within the faculty who held a grudge against him. In a letter by the school registrar, Gabriel Egbe, made available to The PUNCH on Thursday through the university’s spokesperson, Eyo Bassey, the management said it was unsatisfied with the response to the query served on Ndifon. The letter partly read, “Please refer to our letter Ref UC/REG/DISC.45A dated August 14, 2023 on your alleged violation of the provisions of the extant laws and policies of the University and your response to the said letter, which was dated August 16, 2023. “The Vice Chancellor has gone through your written representations and is not satisfied with your explanations. “She has therefore directed that you be relieved of your position as Dean, Faculty of Law and placed on suspension while the matter is referred to a panel that will be set up to investigate these allegations. “The relief of position as Dean, Faculty of Law, and suspension from official duties takes effect from August 17, 2023 You are to hand over all University property in your possession, including all official responsibilities presently handled by you to the Sub-Dean of the Faculty before vacating office. “You are to stay away from the university premises except while responding to an invitation from the panel investigating these allegations.”

  The Federal Government has announced a N5bn palliative for each state of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory to cushion the impact of the removal of the petrol subsidy. The governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, made the announcement in Abuja on Thursday when he spoke to State House correspondents at the end of a National Economic Council meeting. Vice President Kashim Shettima presided over the meeting. The council is made up of the governors of the 36 states, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and other coopted government officials. Details later.

  Thursday 17 August 2023 Capsized oil rig operating illegally on Nigerian waters since 2016, says NIMASA Nigeriens call for war volunteers, Sahel Alliance seeks release of Bazoum APC considers ‘merger with opposition’ as Chidoka warns of PDP’s extinction Tinubu silent on petroleum ministry, assigns portfolio to cleared ministers B’Haram captures three ISWAP commanders, 57 fighters in Borno DSS warns of impending terrorist attack on Abuja-Kaduna train Administrative bail is free – EFCC Tinubu to swear in new ministers Monday NNPC secures $3bn oil-for-cash loan to stabilise the naira NDLEA: We seized N57m worth of illicit drugs under eight months in Abuja NESG: Nigeria’s economy likely to grow stronger for rest of 2023 Insecurity: Ribadu Present As Nigerian Govs Hold Emergency Meeting In Abuja ‘We Have No Other Country, We Must Support You,’ Patience Jonathan Tells Remi Tinubu ASUU Raises Alarm Over Teenage Pregnancy At Benue IDP Camps Aviation Employees Suspend Proposed Strike For One Week Police Confirm Kidnap Of Some Persons In Ebonyi Fee hike: Parents, students wait on govt for reversal of policy Sanusi to Nigerians: Don’t allow President, govs intimidate you Naira rebounds, trades 850/dollar at parallel market Founder flees as Anambra seals orphanage over illegal adoption Visit a newspaper stand this morning, buy and read a copy for yourself…