The Osun election has come and gone, with the PDP winning. It’s another round of upcoming suffering for the Osun people, the name of the sufferer just changed, but that’s not my focus in this post. 
In this just concluded election, though late, I focused my gaze on the alternatives or parties that are posing to be alternatives to APC and PDP, that are always fighting one another on social media, and that’s Omoyele Sowore’s AAC and Peter Obi’s LP. Many have argued that structures win elections and I think I would agree now more than before. 

As a close observer of both parties, it didn’t take time for me to realize the low visibility the AAC has in many areas of the state. During my investigation, I found out that the party was in court almost after the general elections of 2019 and the name of the candidate for the Osun elections was supposedly that of an impostor.  I also confirmed from Juwon, my friend in Ife, who is a close ally of Sowore, the position of things. 
When the party won in court against the hijackers, it was late already to change the name of the impostor candidate in Osun. The morale was low after AAC stakeholders realized the INEC thing. The party barely campaigned. Even the social media engagement that it is known for, was low. I learnt all these were in protest of the inability of INEC to change the name of the impostor candidate after the party was rescued in court on June 3, 2022. 
Olufemi Johnson, the substantive candidate of the AAC, contested against a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Lasun Yusuf, who one time was in APC, another time PDP. This is important to note and I hope you are following. 
Now to the results. 
Sowore’s party polled 2,148 
while Peter Obi’s LP polled 2,729
That of the AAC could be understood. But what could have been the reason for the woeful performance of Obi’s LP despite fielding a “grassroot politician”? Did the Obidients think they can win Presidency for Obi without showing strength in Osun or there are no Obidients in Osun? Even in student areas where they have data to be on Twitter Spaces, Obi’s party performed woefully. 
Mind you, Peter Obi was present at the “Mega Rally”. 
Sowore didn’t lift a finger, didn’t come to Osun for any mega rally, no posters…yet polled more votes in many areas than a Peter Obi candidate, a former deputy speaker who campaigned throughout. Even In Osogbo, the capital, AAC polled 130 against LP’s 79. The gap in many LGAs was reasonable. For both of them, there were no party agents to monitor the process. These things matter. 
But from these results, it is clear that if there were no interruptions in the operations of the AAC party for those 3 years, with government agents trying to hijack the party, it is most likely SOWORE’S AAC will beat the Obi’s LP silly and might wrestle with the PDP and APC in their strongholds. And this talk about “vote for candidate, not party” is a narrative of political neophytes. Party matters. The ideology of the party matters. Candidates also matter. 
Now tell me objectively who has structures? Who should collapse his structure to support the other, as many have been calling? 
Nigerians who seek alternatives to PDP/APC must get serious before the 2023 elections, to avoid cries of rigging after the election. 
Akinrinade Jamiu writes from Ede, Osun State.

 

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Justice C.C Ani of Udenu Judicial Division of Enugu State High Court has barred the State Ministry of Education from imposing, demanding or collecting fees for basic education examinations in the state.

Justice Ani gave the order while ruling on a motion for an interlocutory injunction sought by the Enugu State Proprietors Association of Private Schools (PAPS), a copy of which was sighted by SaharaReporters on Sunday.

The plaintiff (PAPS) through its Counsel, Mr JMCC Ogbuka dragged the state government and Ministry of Education to the court presided over by Justice Ani, in a suit numbered 0B/22/2022, challenging the legality of the collection of the fees - "Common Entrance Examination, First School Leaving Certificate Examination, State Uniform Examinations and the Basic Education Certificate Examination."

 

Ogbuka argued that the imposition, demand and extortion of various sums of money from basic education class pupils in the state for any of the mentioned examinations is not only unauthorised by any law in the state and therefore illegal, but also contrary to the trenchant provisions of the Compulsory Free Basic Education Act 2004 as well as the Child Rights Acts 2003 which are extant laws made by the National Assembly.

 

He argued that the Common Entrance Examination, the First School Leaving Certificate Examination and the State Uniform Examination ceased to enjoy the force of Law with the introduction of the 9-3-4 system of education in place of the obsolete 6-3-3-4 system of education under the compulsory free Basic Education Policy of the Federal Government of Nigeria as provided under the UBEC Act 2004.

 

Justice Ani, ruling on the interlocutory injunction, ordered the state government to stop further imposition, demand, or collection by force or extortion of various sums of money from primary 1 to Junior Secondary School 3 classes in all public and private schools in the state pending the determination of the substantive suit.

 

Reacting to the order of the court, the President of the Proprietors Association of Private Schools (PAPS) Dr Ejiofor Godwin described the order as justice for parents and school proprietors who are unjustly forced to part with their hard-earned money.

 

He said, "Enugu State Ministry of Education, in 2019, introduced the Compulsory State Uniform Exam for all the private and public schools in addition to the Common Entrance and First School Leaving Certificate Examinations at a huge cost for each of them which most private school proprietors did not receive with open arms.

 

"To make the matter worse, the state Uniform Exam was made a condition for registering candidates for such national and external exams as BECE, NECO (National Examination Council) and SSCE (Senior School Certificate Examination) or WAEC (West African Examination Council). The Uniform Exam puts a lot of pressure, stress, suffering and financial loss on both parents and proprietors of private schools in Enugu State.

 

"For example, the exam was introduced with the payment of N300 per child but now costs N700 per child. They also collect the sum of N3,000 per pupil for the common entrance examination and the First School Leaving Certificate Examination respectively and N6,000 for the BECE exam.

 

"In addition, the Uniform Exam has never been used by the State Ministry of Education for the purpose of evaluation and promotion of pupils for which it was said to have been introduced because of no or late publication of the result of the exam.

 

He also said that proprietors of private schools, after paying the fee for the Uniform Exam also spend more money on making photocopies of the question papers and uploading their candidates' names with their photos to a portal owned by a group of people who make a lot of money from every transaction made on the portal.

 

"To prove that the uniform exam was introduced to make money from parents and proprietors of private schools, the Ministry of Education, Enugu State compels proprietors who refuse to participate in the exam to pay the fees before they are allowed to register their candidates for any external exam in the state.

 

"Furthermore, with the introduction of the 9-3-4 system of universal basic education in replacement of the old 6-3-3-4 system, writing of Common Entrance and FSLC Examinations are no longer necessary and constitute a waste of money on the part of parents and unnecessary stress for the proprietors of schools.

 

"With this new system, basic education starts from basic one and terminates with basic nine in this order: primary 1-3 is lower basic, primary 4-6 is middle basic and JS 1-3 is upper basic. It is ridiculous for a child to take an entrance exam (Common Entrance) to enter into basic education he or she started in basic education one which he or she is to complete in basic education nine which is JS three.

 

"With this new system also, the first certificate a child should have now, is Basic Education Certificate which is issued after writing the Basic Education Certificate Exam in JS 3. This makes the FSLC examination written in primary six unnecessary and a waste of money and time.

 

Godwin further explained that "what pupils need as evidence that they attended a particular primary school is the school's testimonial which can be given to those who are still in the old testament of primary school education”.

 

"But as far as basic education policy is concerned, what we have now is basic education of nine years, senior secondary education of three years and university education of four years," he added. 

 

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The Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos has restrained First Bank Holding Plc, from implementing all the decisions taken at its 10th Annual General Meeting recently held in Lagos.

 

The AGM was held at Oriental Hotel, Lagos on June 20, 2022.

First Bank Holdings PLC is the controlling owner of First Bank of Nigeria Plc.

 

Specifically, Justice Akintayo Aluko on Friday granted an order directing FBH Plc and all the respondents in the case, to maintain the status quo ante bellum prevailing before the AGM was held on June 20, 2022, effectively putting on hold the appointment of Nnamdi Okonkwo as the Group Managing Director and Julius Omodayo-Owotuga, as Non-Executive Director respectively.

 

The Court also stopped the respondents from raising or issuing shares and from implementing any of the resolutions reached at the 10th AGM.

 

Named as respondents in the suit are First Bank Holdings Plc; Alhaji Ahmed Abdullahi, Chairman of the Board of Directors; Julius Omodayo-Owotuga, Non-Executive Director and Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo, Group Managing Director.

 

Justice Aluko granted the order after hearing arguments from human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, on behalf of the Petitioner.

 

The suit was filed by Olusegun Onagoruwa, an aggrieved shareholder of First Bank Holding Plc, in which he claims that the affairs of the company are being run illegally and oppressively.

 

Principally, he is contending in the suit that he was not served with a statutory notice for the 10th AGM.

 

Arguing the case on behalf of the Petitioner, Adegboruwa contended that his client by law entitled to be served with notice of the AGM and having not been served, there is a case of breach of his constitutional right to a fair hearing.

 

The senior lawyer argued that the law is settled that once a breach of fair hearing has occurred, any decision taken pursuant to such breach must be set aside by the court.

 

Furthermore, it was Adegboruwa’s argument on behalf of the petitioner that the decisions and resolutions of the 10th AGM, especially in relation to the appointment of Directors, were null and void as shareholders were not given the opportunity to know and approve the new Board of Directors appointed for the company by the Central Bank Governor and that the powers of the CBN Governor to sack or appoint directors for the company did not take away the powers of shareholders to confirm such directors.

 

The order of the court followed a motion ex-parte filed on July 6, 2022, seeking to preserve the subject matter of the Petition before the Court. In a 52-paragraph affidavit in support, the Petitioner stated that he is a shareholder of First Bank Holdings Plc and was not served with notice of the AGM held on June 20, 2022, at Oriental Hotel.

 

The petitioner also stated that the AGM had not confirmed or approved the appointment of the Board of Directors constituted by the Central Bank governor before the said Board proceeded to appoint Nnamdi Okonkwo as Group Managing Director and Julius Omodayo-Awodugba as Non-Executive Director. The Petitioner filed an affidavit of urgency in support of the application.

 

According to the affidavit filed in support of the motion, the petitioner averred that the kernel of the matter is the decision and resolutions reached at the just-concluded Annual General Meeting of the 1st Respondent held on Monday, June 20, 2022.

 

That the Applicant's rights as expressed in the Petition which include the Applicant's right to be personally served with Notice of the Annual General Meeting of the 1st Respondent, have been breached, hence the instant application. And that it is imperative to allow the Court to determine all issues and reliefs sought on the merits without any interference from any party implementing, with respect to the meeting, acting on, and executing decisions reached at the General Meeting of the 1st Respondent held at Oriental Hotel, Lagos held on Monday, June 20, 2022,

 

The petitioner averred that there is a binding obligation upon the Respondents to maintain the status quo of the subject matter of the Petition and not to take any step that may overreach the petition or foist a situation of complete helplessness upon the Court in the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice for interlocutory injunction and the Petition filed herein, as any step taken by the Respondents to further implement or execute the decisions and resolution reached at the said Annual General Meeting of the 1st Respondent held on the 20 June 2022 will undoubtedly usurp the constitutional powers and authorities of the Court to determine the real issues and subject matter of the case already submitted to it by the Applicant.

 

Some of the decisions taken at the AGM which the petitioner alleged would infringe on his right and overreach him if not stopped include Declaration and payment of dividend of the 1st Respondent - FBNH, Presentation of Audited Accounts of 1st Respondent to members. Election of 3rd Respondent - Mr. Julius B. Omodayo-Owotuga as a Non-Executive Director and the 4th Respondent - Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo, as the Group Managing Director, both of whom were said to have been appointed by the Board of Directors of FBNH. The steps also include approval of the shareholders to the Board of Directors of FBNH to issue the outstanding un-issued shares in the authorised share capital of the 1st Respondent in compliance with Section 124 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020 (“CAMA 2020"), appointment of the 1st Respondent’s Audit Committee members. Remuneration and expenses of the 1st Respondent's Auditors, Remuneration of Managers of the 1st Respondent.

 

After granting the order to maintain the status quo ante bellum, the judge adjourned the case to July 22, 2022.

 

 

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Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, on Sunday lost his younger sister, Aishatu Yahaya Umaru, SaharaReporters has learnt.
Umaru, 48, reportedly died in the early hours of Sunday, July 17, 2022 in Gombe after a protracted but undisclosed ailment.

The Director-General, Press Affairs to the Governor, Ismaila Uba Misilli, in a statement announced the death of the governor's younger sister.
”It is with total submission to the will of the Almighty Allah, that the family of the late Alhaji Yahaya Umaru regrets to announce the demise of our beloved sister, Hajiya Aishatu Yahaya Umaru who passed on today following a protracted illness.
“The funeral prayer (Janazah) for the late Aishatu will be held today at 1pm at the Federal Teaching Hospital (FTH), Gombe.  
“We pray to Almighty Allah to forgive her shortcomings and admit her in Jannatul Firdaus,” the statement read in part.  

 

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The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, has deleted a cryptic post in which he reacted to the defeat of Governor Gboyega Oyetola in Saturday's governorship election in Osun State. 
The former Osun governor had said in a viral post on Sunday morning, "Aregbesola said, "'This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.' – (Daniel 4:17)."

In a statement, the Media Adviser to the Minister of Interior, Sola Fasure, said the deleted post was not authorised, Sunday PUNCH reports. 
The former Osun State governor, who was absent from the election, had kept mute on development in Osun State after his comments against the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress and his political boss, Bola Tinubu, in February 2022.

SaharaReporters had reported that the Independent National Electoral Commission on Sunday morning declared Ademola Adeleke the Governor-Elect of Osun State after garnering a majority of votes cast in the governorship election in the state.

The victory came for Adeleke nearly four years after failing by a small margin in his bid to govern Osun State.
Aregbesola earlier said no more of politics of godfatherism and enthronement by some leaders who equated themselves to the status of a god.

The minister had said he trusted Tinubu, but the ex-governor of Lagos State repaid him with betrayal.

Aregbesola, who was the Governor of Osun State from 2010 to 2018, accused Tinubu and ex-governor of Osun State, Bisi Akande, of forcing the current governor of the state, Gboyega Oyetola, on the people against popular will.

Instead, the minister then asked the party members in Osun to support a former Secretary to the State Government, Moshood Adeoti, who was later defeated in the primary election.

Aregbesola's moves to later reconcile with Tinubu yielded no result.

Before Saturday's election, a faction of the APC led by the minister, the Osun Progressives, released a statement noting that despite the feud, its members would remain in the APC.

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Former Nigerian Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, has congratulated the Osun State governor-elect, Senator Ademola Adeleke on his victory in Saturday's governorship election.
Saraki, who came third in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential primary election in May with 70 votes, commended the electioneering processes in Osun that led to the victory of Adeleke. 

Commending Nigeria's electoral body, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the security agents for ensuring adequate security during the election and the people of Osun, Saraki expressed optimism that the main opposition party will return to power at the federal level in 2023.
The former lawmaker who prayed for the governor-elect on his verified Twitter page said, “Again, my heartfelt congratulations go out to my dear friend, Sen. A. Adeleke, who understood the lessons from 2018 and worked to build stronger coalitions across the state and the nation. You have demonstrated that you are truly the leader that Osun needs at this crucial time.
“As we prepare for the 2023 General Election, I am optimistic that by appealing to the best interest of all Nigerians — as partners and stakeholders in the development of our dear nation — our party is well-positioned to reclaim many of our states and the federal government.
“With this winning strategy, moving forward, our objective is clear: Together, we must fix Nigeria, rescue it from the failures of the past 7-years, and work to elect our former Vice-President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, as the next President of Nigeria.
“I pray that Almighty Allah blesses the incoming Governor of Osun State, Sen. A. Adeleke, the great people of Osun, and the entire Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“I commend INEC and the security agencies, who largely were impartial and allowed the votes of the people of Osun to be reflected in the actual results. #OsunDecides
“I commend all the polling unit agents and the young people in the Official PDP Nig situation room who stood their ground to ensure that the votes were counted and uploaded in line with the electoral act and INEC guidelines. #OsunDecides
“After training our determined polling unit agents earlier this week, and spending yesterday with the young and excited people that manned our situation room, I am more than optimistic about our party’s chances in 2023. 
“When we work together, the Official PDP Nig is unstoppable!”

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A legal practitioner, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), has urged the Osun State governor-elect, Adeola Adeleke to fashion out programmes that will have a positive impact on the people, noting that the period of dancing ended with his election on Saturday. 
Adeleke, known for dancing at campaign rallies and parties, defeated the incumbent governor, Gboyega Oyetola on Saturday in the state governorship election. 

Adeleke is an uncle of David Adeleke, more popularly known as Davido, one of Nigeria's most famous singers. 
Davido and some fellow singers were in the state to sing and garner support for Adeleke during his campaign. 
According to the lawyer, Adeleke needs to know party time is over and that it is now time to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people of the state. 
"The only way that the governor-elect can merit any commendation is for him to go back to the drawing board and fashion out programmes that will deliver development for the people of Osun. The period of dancing ended yesterday; we want to see results," the lawyer advised. 
Adegboruwa also accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of not having any developmental plans aimed at ensuring the growth of Osun State ahead of the election.

The Senior Advocate, therefore, urged the governor-elect, Adeleke, to avoid all unnecessary distractions and be concerned about visible plans that would drive the state forward.
He said, "The governorship election that was held in Osun State on Saturday, July 16, 2022, has produced some very disturbing results that have several lessons for Nigeria.

"The election was not won on the basis of programmes, policies or ideologies. The two major political parties, the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party both imported musicians to sing and dance for the people as if entertainment is the engine of good governance. They had no concrete plans for the people of Osun beyond the usual soap box rhetoric.

"If we can guarantee the independence and autonomy of INEC, to conduct elections in an atmosphere of freedom, liberty and fairness, the will of the people will become established in the leadership recruitment process.
 
"The deployment of technology in aid of free and fair elections is crucial to the success of the electoral process, especially in the accreditation of voters, the voting proper and the transmission and collation of election results. The same day that the people of Osun elected their governor, lawyers all over Nigeria also elected members of the Executive Council of the Nigerian Bar Association. The election was being monitored as voting progressed and winners were announced immediately after the election. There is no need to give room for election riggers and manipulators to corrupt our electoral system.
 
"If elections can be free and fair in Nigeria and become the outcome of the genuine will of the people, politicians and leaders will strive to do better. There will be accountability, respect for voters and performance will become the order of the day. These are some of the factors that drive development in other climes.
 
"The reign of godfathers in the Nigerian political space can and should be terminated and then Nigeria will witness some progress. No leader that has emerged through the ballot process will ever take the people for granted if there is a credible process of change. Should the governor-elect fail to perform after he assumes office, it should not be difficult for the people of Osun to reject him as they have done to the incumbent governor, four years from now. That should be the hallmark of democracy.
 
"The role of civil society, activists, Non-governmental organisations and security agencies is crucial for free and fair elections. We can all team up to hold INEC accountable if there is the will to do so.
 
"When people are determined they can never be defeated. Once we have made up our minds as a people to protect and defend our votes, the process of manipulation will be difficult to perfect." 

The lawyer congratulated the "good people of Osun for their tenacity and peaceful conduct". 
He also commended "INEC, the election monitors, the security agencies and indeed all those that made the Osun election possible." 
 

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NDA

A pregnant woman was on Sunday abducted by terrorists at Lema community in the Mando area of Kaduna State. 
The community is opposite the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in the state.

NDA
SaharaReporters learnt that seven other persons were kidnapped by the terrorists who broke into three houses around 1:00 am on Sunday.
A resident of the area, Musa Danladi, said residents of the neighbourhood were terrified during the attack by the terrorists, adding that rattling gunfire could be heard for a long period. 
“They came around 1 am and took away eight residents including a pregnant woman that came to visit her sick mother in the community. This is not the first time bandits would attack our community,” Danladi said.
Residents called on the authorities to come to their rescue, but there was no response.
When SaharaReporters contacted the spokesperson for the Kaduna State Police Command, DSP Mohammed Jalige, he said, "I will find out and get back to you". 
He, however, had not got back as of the time of filing this report.
 

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The All Progressives Congress Women Leader for Southwest Nigeria, Chief Kemi Nelson is dead. 
She was 66 years old.

SaharaReporters learnt about her death on Sunday. 
A source in the party confirmed her death to SaharaReporters, describing it as a huge loss to the party, which had just suffered a loss in Saturday's governorship election in Osun State. 
"Yes, she is dead; it is very sad because she was a good party woman and she will be greatly missed," the source said. 
Another source in the party told SaharaReporters that the late Mrs Nelson had been "battling a terminal ailment for years". 
"She had not been feeling well at all,ć the source added. 
Nelson, a politician and socialite, was born on February 9, 1956. 
She was the Executive Director of the Nigerian Insurance Social Trust Fund (NSTIF).
She was the senatorial candidate for the Lagos West Senatorial district in 1992 and was defeated at the polls by Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the APC presidential candidate in the 2023 election. 
In 1998, during the regime of General Sani Abacha, Nelson contested for the Ikeja Federal Constituency in the House of Assembly. Though she won the election, it was truncated by the death of Abacha. 
In 1999, she joined Alliance for Democracy (AD) and from 1999 to 2003, she served as the Lagos State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation when Tinubu was governor of Lagos. 
She later served as the Women Leader of Lagos State Chapter of APC and was later made the South West Women Leader of the party. 
She was married to Adeyemi Nelson, a retired director of the Federal Ministry of Internal Affairs.

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has been declared winner of Saturday's governorship election in Osun state. 
He will be succeeding the incumbent governor, Gboyega Oyetola in office. 

Below are 5 things to know about the governor-elect:

1. School Certificate Scandal

Senator Adeleke was accused and charged to the Osogbo High Court by Rasheed Olabayo and Oluwaseun Idowu for allegedly falsifying his secondary school testimonial and West African Senior School Certificate Examination results. 

It was alleged that the testimonial Adeleke submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) dated July 20, 1988, reads Ede Muslim Grammar School, Osun State, when at that time, Osun state was not in existence. 
It was argued that another testimonial that also reads Ede Muslim High School, dated 2018, indicates that the principal who signed the 1988 testimonial also signed the 2018 testimonial. This resulted in the arrest of the principal. 
According to the plaintiffs, Adeleke did not take WASSCE in 1981 as claimed, since there was nothing like the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination as that time.

They also alleged that the National Examination Council (NECO) examination that Adeleke claimed he took could not be genuine, considering that the body was not in existence at the time the Adeleke said he sat the examination.

Meanwhile, Adeleke's lawyer, Mr Edmund Boriomoni, in his defence claimed the secondary school had not come out to deny his testimonial. 
He therefore asked the court to dismiss the case.
The court dismissed the suit stating that the plaintiff could not prove Adeleke's forgery despite witnesses telling the court that they didn't see Adeleke in the examination hall. One of the witnesses said he would have recognised him since he is a public figure.


2. One of Adeleke's children is B-Red, a Nigerian singer.

B-Red was featured on two tracks from Davido's debut studio album, Omo Baba Olowo (2012). Primarily known as Davido's cousin and hype man, his career as a solo act started in 2013 with the release of the single "Insane Girl". 
The song features vocals from Davido and was produced by Shizzi. In 2016, he released his debut EP, All the Way Up. 

3. He Was A Businessman And Administrator 

He served as an executive director of Guinness Nigeria Plc from 1992–1999, where his co-directors included General Theophilus Danjuma; he was the group executive director at his brother's company, Pacific Holdings Limited from 2001 to 2016. Before joining Pacific Holdings Limited, Ademola worked with Quicksilver Courier Company in Atlanta, Georgia, US, as a service contractor between 1985 and 1989. He later worked at Origin International LLC, Atlanta, Georgia, US, a flavours and fragrance manufacturing company as vice president from 1990 to 1994. 
4. He Is A Former Senator Representing Osun West

He contested in the 2017 Osun West by-election after the death of his brother, emerging as the winner on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.

On 23 July 2018, Adeleke emerged as the governorship candidate of the PDP in Osun State after defeating Akin Ogunbiyi by seven votes.
5. He Was A Member Of The APC He Defeated On Saturday 
Ademola was a member of the All Progressives Congress he defeated on Saturday. He defected to the Peoples Democratic Party from APC in April 2017. 

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The Alliance on Surviving Covid-19 and Beyond (ASCAB) chaired by human rights activist and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has described the appointment of Interim Administrators to run the affairs of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) as illegal. 
The group also knocked President Muhammadu Buhari's administration for reconstituting the members of the North-East Development Commission (NEDC) and failing to appoint the Board of the NDDC. 

It described this as "illegal, discriminatory and sectional". 
Also according to the Falana-led group, the "illegal appointment" of Interim Administrators to run the affairs of the NDDC contradicts may cause a breach of peace in the Niger Delta region. 

In a statement signed by Falana on the behalf of the group and obtained by SaharaReporters On Sunday, the action of the Buhari government also violates the "valid and subsisting order of the Bayelsa Judicial Division of the Federal High Court which has restrained President Buhari from further appointing Interim Administrators to manage the NDDC". 

It reads in part, "The initial reason for not reconstituting the Board of the NDDC was that the accounts of the agency had been subjected to forensic auditing due to allegations of corruption and gross mismanagement of public fund earmarked for the development of the oil-producing communities in the Niger Delta region. 
"Even though the report of the forensic audit was submitted to President Buhari over 10 months ago the Federal Government has not deemed it fit to issue a White Paper on it. As if that is not enough, the President has continued to appoint Interim Administrators to manage the NDDC without any legal justification. Such appointment or renewal of same constitutes a violent violation of the valid and subsisting order of the Bayelsa Judicial Division of the Federal High Court which has restrained President Buhari from further appointing Interim Administrators to manage the NDDC.  
"With the plan to appoint another Interim Administrator or extend the illegal tenure of the incumbent a number of groups have threatened to embark on mass actions that may cause a breach of peace in the Niger Delta region. It is hoped that the Federal Government will urgently douse the growing tension in the area by reconstituting the Board of the NDDC without any further delay. 
"We also call on the Federal Government to release the report of the forensic audit of the NDDC and a White Paper on the recommendations of the Audit Firm. In particular, the contractors that have been indicted by the Audit Firm for abandoning projects in the oil-producing communities should be summoned and directed to complete them while those who engaged in the criminal diversion of the fund budgeted for the development of the Niger Delta region should be prosecuted and made to refund the looted fund.
"However, if the Federal Government does not put an end to the impunity it is undoubtedly clear that the appointment of the Interim Administrators and the actions taken by them including the award of contracts are liable to be set aside by the Federal High Court, sooner or later. 
 
"At the appropriate time, the NDDC will be made to pay general and aggravated damages for the wanton impunity of the Federal Government over the refusal to reconstitute the Board of the NDDC." 
 

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The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has declared Tuesday and Wednesday, July 26 and 27 respectively as a national day of protest against the ongoing strike action embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
The National Secretariat of the NLC disclosed these dates and days in a letter to the chairpersons/secretaries of NLC State Councils dated July 15, 2022, which SaharaReporters sighted on Sunday.

The letter tagged: "National Protest To Get Our Children Back To School," was jointly signed by NLC President and Secretary General, Comrade Ayuba Wabba and Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja respectively.
It partly read: "We bring you fraternal greetings from the national secretariat of the
Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
"In line with the decisions of the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the Nigeria Labour Congress held on the 30th of June 2022, we have scheduled as follows the National Days of Protest to get our children back to school and support our unions in Nigeria's public universities fighting for quality education.
"Dates: Tuesday, 26th July 2022 and Wednesday, 27th July 2022. Venue: All the State Capitals of the Federation and Abuja the Federal Capital Territory.
"Take off Point: NLC State Secretariats and the Labour House, Abuja
"You are requested to immediately convene the meetings of your SAC to disseminate this information and to fully mobilize workers in the States for this very important protest for good governance."
Lecturers in Nigerian federal and state universities have been on strike since February 14, 2022, to force the government to implement agreements reached by both parties in 2009 among other demands. 

Education News AddThis :  Original Author :  Sahara Reporters, New york. Disable advertisements : 

A woman who exposed a 38-year-old man identified as Detayo, who repeatedly assaulted a 13-year-old girl at Ilogbo Elegba, along Alaba International Market Road in Lagos State has cried out that she is in hiding to keep safe. 
She said she has been receiving threats from neighbours and friends of the suspect.

SaharaReporters reported how the suspect, Detayo allegedly sexually assaulted the minor repeatedly until his friend who found out and said he wanted to speak to the little girl to stop the act, took her to his room and also sexually assaulted her. 
On finding out, Detayo reportedly became furious with his friend and also beat up the victim’s mother when she confronted him (Detayo) about the abuse suffered by her daughter. The woman reported the matter to the police who reportedly arrested the suspect.
SaharaReporters made several efforts to speak with the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Lagos State Police Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, but he neither answered calls made to his official mobile phone number nor replied to the text message sent to him.
But the lady who exposed the crime told our reporter that the suspect’s friends had teamed up and secured his release. 
She added that she has been receiving threats from neighbours and friends of the suspect who blamed her for exposing the crime to the media.
“They're blaming me because they were about to sweep the case under the carpet by going to bail the man.
“The neighbours kept saying the victim was the one coming to him and I insisted it was rape, they started sending subtle threats. It became more serious after the story went viral. I don't know the name of the person who went to bail him but I can describe where he stays,” the woman said.
She added that they made it look like she was a snitch. 
"Even some people on Twitter are finding ways to blame the victim because she is Igbo, the indigenes are trying to bail the guy and close the case,” she said. 
The woman said she had to leave the area and go into hiding to ensure her safety. 
“I just heard the accused has been granted bail,” she said, adding, “I have been getting a series of threats and I don’t think my life is safe now, I had to find a way to leave the place because I don’t want to regret making it (the crime) known, trying to save a victim. I don’t know what to do now but I want to get everybody’s attention and in case anything happens to me, you know what to do.”
The lady said she was afraid that something bad could happen to her considering the mysterious way she lost her parents within seven days and her nephew and 37-year-old brother within a few weeks later about five years ago in the same area.
“This place is very bad. I lost my mum and dad in 7 days, and my nephew and 37-year-old brother a few weeks later.
“My mum was sick briefly. Dad slept and didn't wake up 7 days later. My nephew had a headache and died 4 days later. My brother too said he had a headache on Sunday and died on Thursday,” he said. 
Unfortunately, at the time of filing this report, efforts to reach the police spokesperson had not been successful. 

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The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has elected Mr Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, as its 36th President.
Maikyau emerged as the NBA president on Saturday during an election conducted by the legal body after getting a total of 22,342 votes to defeat two other contenders. 

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the elections which were conducted electronically were held from 12.00a.m. on Saturday to 11.59 p.m.
Maikyau contested the presidential election with the Chairman of the NBA Securities Agencies Relations Committee, Joe-Kyari Gadzama (SAN), and a former General Secretary of the NBA, Jonathan Taidi.
Chairman of the NBA Electoral Committee, Mr Ayodele Akintunde (SAN), announced the results at a hybrid press briefing on Sunday.
“A total of 59,392 records were received as people on final voter register, and we were able to upload 59,388 records with four records being invalid contact information.
“A total of 34, 809 votes were cast representing 58.61 per cent of the total number of eligible voters, while 1,314 ballots opened but were not cast,” he said.
He said that Maikyau polled 22,342 votes representing 64.6 per cent of votes cast for the office of the president, while Gadzama polled 10,842 votes and Taidi polled 1,380.
Akintunde also declared Mrs Linda Bala as the winner of the NBA First Vice President with a total of 21,717 votes representing 66.3 per cent of votes cast for the office.
Mr Clement Ugo was elected NBA Second Vice President with a total of 11,377 votes representing 38.6 per cent of votes cast for the office.
Mrs Amanda Demechi-Asagba, President of the African Women Lawyers Association, emerged as NBA Third Vice President with a total of 19,602 votes representing 64.6 per cent of votes cast for the office.
Mr Adesina Adegbite won the election for the office of NBA General Secretary with a total of 18,536 votes representing 56.2 per cent of votes cast for the office.
Mr Daniel Kip emerged as NBA Assistant General Secretary with a total of 10,071 votes representing 31.7 per cent of votes cast for the office.
Mrs Caroline Anze-Bishop was elected NBA Treasurer with a total of 12,012 votes representing 37.4 per cent of votes cast for the office.
Ms Chinyere Obasi emerged as NBA Welfare Secretary with a total of 10,452 votes representing 32.4 per cent of votes cast for the office.
Mr Habeeb Lawal was elected NBA Publicity Secretary with a total of 17,650 votes representing 53.5 per cent of votes cast for the office.
Mr Charles Ajiboye won the election for the office of NBA Assistant Publicity Secretary with a total of 17, 811 votes representing 57.1 per cent of votes cast for the office.
Maikyau succeeds Mr Olumide Akpata who was elected in 2020.
Akpata made history as the only NBA President in the past 10 years who is not a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

Legal News AddThis :  Original Author :  Sahara Reporters, New york. Disable advertisements : 

The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, has deleted a cryptic post in which he reacted to the defeat of Governor Gboyega Oyetola in Saturday's governorship election in Osun State. 
The former Osun governor had said in a viral post on Sunday morning, "Aregbesola said, "'This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.' – (Daniel 4:17)."

In a statement, the Media Adviser to the Minister of Interior, Sola Fasure, said the deleted post was not authorised, Sunday PUNCH reports. 
The former Osun State governor, who was absent from the election, had kept mute on development in Osun State after his comments against the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress and his political boss, Bola Tinubu, in February 2022.

SaharaReporters had reported that the Independent National Electoral Commission on Sunday morning declared Ademola Adeleke the Governor-Elect of Osun State after garnering a majority of votes cast in the governorship election in the state.

The victory came for Adeleke nearly four years after failing by a small margin in his bid to govern Osun State.
Aregbesola earlier said no more of politics of godfatherism and enthronement by some leaders who equated themselves to the status of a god.

The minister had said he trusted Tinubu, but the ex-governor of Lagos State repaid him with betrayal.

Aregbesola, who was the Governor of Osun State from 2010 to 2018, accused Tinubu and ex-governor of Osun State, Bisi Akande, of forcing the current governor of the state, Gboyega Oyetola, on the people against popular will.

Instead, the minister then asked the party members in Osun to support a former Secretary to the State Government, Moshood Adeoti, who was later defeated in the primary election.

Aregbesola's moves to later reconcile with Tinubu yielded no result.

Before Saturday's election, a faction of the APC led by the minister, the Osun Progressives, released a statement noting that despite the feud, its members would remain in the APC.

Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  Sahara Reporters, New york. Disable advertisements : 

The Anambra State Police Command has confirmed the killing of two of its operatives and one civilian, whose job was to track stolen vehicles with technology. 
The state police command said the three were killed by criminals at Amukabra Achalla Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra.

Although the command didn't disclose the identity of the civilian involved, it was gathered he was a businessman who ran a car tracking company in Enugu.
The spokesman for the police command, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, who announced the killing of the trio in a statement in Awka, on Saturday, said the victims were killed after they were abducted while on a mission to recover a stolen vehicle.
Ikenga said the incident happened on Friday, July 15, 2022.
He said immediately after the incident, the command launched a counter-attack during which it uncovered that the two policemen and the civilian had been killed and their bodies set ablaze.
The statement read in part, “The police team was on a recovery operation of a Toyota Sienna Space Wagon vehicle earlier snatched at gunpoint on July 9, at Oye-Agu Abagana community.
“Four of the police operatives escaped the ambush, while two of the police operatives and the car 'tracker' were captured by the criminals.
“During the counter-offensive operation, police neutralised some of the armed men and destroyed three of their camps."
It added, “Unfortunately,  some of the hoodlums escaped with bullet wounds, haven (sic) already murdered their captives and set their bodies ablaze.
“The remains of the two murdered police officers and the civilian 'tracker' have been recovered and deposited in a morgue, while police operation is still ongoing in the area to track the fleeing gang members,” he said.
The command spokesman also said they recovered one human skull, and two locally made Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs).
Other items recovered were one single-barrelled gun, bandolier (a pocketed belt for holding either individual bullets, or belts of ammunition), one Toyota Sienna, one Mercedes Benz Formatic SUV, and two cylinders.
He further stated that the team also recovered a huge quantity of hard drugs of different kinds, and one police beret and belt.
The statement quoted the Commissioner of Police, (CP) Echeng Echeng as offering his condolences to the families of the murdered civilian and police operatives. 
He also vowed to flush out criminals in the state.
 

News AddThis :  Original Author :  Sahara Reporters, New york. Disable advertisements : 

The Anambra State Police Command has confirmed the killing of two of its operatives and one civilian, whose job was to track stolen vehicles with technology. 
The state police command said the three were killed by criminals at Amukabra Achalla Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra.

Although the command didn't disclose the identity of the civilian involved, it was gathered he was a businessman who ran a car tracking company in Enugu.
The spokesman for the police command, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, who announced the killing of the trio in a statement in Awka, on Saturday, said the victims were killed after they were abducted while on a mission to recover a stolen vehicle.
Ikenga said the incident happened on Friday, July 15, 2022.
He said immediately after the incident, the command launched a counter-attack during which it uncovered that the two policemen and the civilian had been killed and their bodies set ablaze.
The statement read in part, “The police team was on a recovery operation of a Toyota Sienna Space Wagon vehicle earlier snatched at gunpoint on July 9, at Oye-Agu Abagana community.
“Four of the police operatives escaped the ambush, while two of the police operatives and the car 'tracker' were captured by the criminals.
“During the counter-offensive operation, police neutralised some of the armed men and destroyed three of their camps."
It added, “Unfortunately,  some of the hoodlums escaped with bullet wounds, haven (sic) already murdered their captives and set their bodies ablaze.
“The remains of the two murdered police officers and the civilian 'tracker' have been recovered and deposited in a morgue, while police operation is still ongoing in the area to track the fleeing gang members,” he said.
The command spokesman also said they recovered one human skull, and two locally made Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs).
Other items recovered were one single-barrelled gun, bandolier (a pocketed belt for holding either individual bullets, or belts of ammunition), one Toyota Sienna, one Mercedes Benz Formatic SUV, and two cylinders.
He further stated that the team also recovered a huge quantity of hard drugs of different kinds, and one police beret and belt.
The statement quoted the Commissioner of Police, (CP) Echeng Echeng as offering his condolences to the families of the murdered civilian and police operatives. 
He also vowed to flush out criminals in the state.
 

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Following the wave of defections in the ruling All Progressives Congress recently, its National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, says the party cannot force any member to stay or leave. 
Adamu, however, boasted that even if people leave the party, it will win the 2023 presidential election.

The APC national chairman stated this after visiting Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule at the Government House in Lafia.
SaharaReporters reports that since last Sunday after the party's presidential candidate Bola Tinubu unveiled Senator Kashim Shettima as his running mate, a fellow Muslim, some party members had resigned their membership. 
There have been also condemnations across the country, especially by Christians over the party's decision to run a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket.
However, Adamu said while they would not want any member to leave the party, it would not stop anyone.
He said, “We don’t want to lose any member but if a member wilfully wants to leave the party without recourse, we can’t force anybody to stay or leave the party.
“The issue of defection, there is a season for it in politics particularly in developing countries, and it is not new in Nigeria.
“Anybody who is a member of this party is an adult and when an adult takes a decision, it’s either you convince him and if the decision is not favourable to you and he does his bidding, you leave him for God who decides everything.”
While boasting of the party's victory despite its Muslim-Muslim ticket in the 2023 presidential election and the internal wrangling, Adamu said it would remain focused.
“As for winning elections, we are working to win. By the grace of God, we will win the elections. We are going to work as if it is the last election we are going to handle,” Adamu added.

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A notorious terror kingpin, Ada Aleru, has been turbaned as the Sarkin Fulani (the chief of the Fulani) of the Yandoton Daji Emirate.
Yandoton Daji is one of the two new emirates created by the Zamfara government in May.

It was carved out from the Tsafe Emirate. The Emir of Yandoton Daji is Aliyu Marafa.
The decision to confer the title on the leader of a gang of bandits was premised on the role he played during a recent peace process locally arranged between the emirate and the bandits terrorising Tsafe Local Government Area.
The turbaning ceremony was held at the palace of the Emir of Yandoton Daji and was attended by the council chairman of Tsafe Local Government and the state Commissioner of Security and Home Affairs, DIG Ibrahim Mamman Tsafe (rtd).
The bandit leader was the arrowhead of a deadly raid on Kadisau, a community in the Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State, where about 52 people were killed.
He was declared wanted by the Katsina Police Command in 2019 with a bounty of N5 million put on his head.
Deadly attacks have raged across Zamfara state where bandits have thrived.
Agrarian communities in the state have long been terrorised by gangs who raid villages, steal cattle and kidnap residents for ransom.
In 2019, the state government signed a peace agreement with the gunmen.
About 15 brand new Hilux vehicles and cash gifts were also given to leaders of different 'repentant' gangs of bandits by the governor in 2020.
But despite all these, communities in the state are still being attacked and residents kidnapped and/or killed.

Insecurity News AddThis :  Original Author :  Sahara Reporters, New york. Disable advertisements : 

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged Professor Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure the arrest and prosecution of people engaged in buying and selling votes. 
SERAP urged the electoral body to “take responsibility and end impunity for vote-buying and undue influence in Nigeria’s elections by promptly ensuring the arrest and prosecution of suspected perpetrators of these criminal acts in the Osun State governorship election.”

There are reports of a brazen pattern of vote-buying and electoral bribery in several polling units particularly by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during Osun governorship election conducted on Saturday, July 16, 2022. 
The group noted that vote trading was witnessed in several polling units.
Therefore, in the letter dated July 16, 2022, and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “INEC seems to have furthered a general policy of impunity for vote buying and undue influence in elections by refusing to prosecute suspected perpetrators and their sponsors.”
“INEC has quite an impressive portfolio of powers of its own to curb and punish vote buying, and need not wait for other agencies before meting out its own effective means of prevention and prosecution,” it noted. 
According to SERAP, “Nigerians rely on INEC to curb vote buying, electoral bribery and undue influence in elections but nothing will ever change if INEC won’t pursue charges against suspected perpetrators and their sponsors.”
SERAP also said, “The acts of vote buying, electoral bribery and undue influence are clearly contrary to the express provisions of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], the Electoral Act, and international standards.”
The letter read in part: “If INEC fails to act, vote buying, electoral bribery and undue influence would remain a permanent feature of Nigeria’s elections because corrupt politicians and their sponsors would continue to engage in these criminal acts with impunity.
“This would encourage others to follow suit, and the long-term consequences of such a culture of impunity for the 2023 general elections cannot be underestimated.
“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within 7 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall consider appropriate legal actions to compel INEC to comply with our request in the public interest.

“Impunity for vote buying, electoral bribery and undue influence will continue unless INEC can show leadership by satisfactorily carrying out its constitutional and statutory responsibilities to wipe out the stain of electoral bribery which now attaches to Nigeria’s elections.
“If INEC is to live up to its aspiration as an independent body that is committed to free, fair and transparent elections in the country, now is the time to end impunity for vote buying, electoral bribery and undue influence in elections.
“By immediately taking responsibility to ensure the arrest and prosecution of vote buyers and their sponsors, INEC would be sending a powerful signal to politicians across the country that it will not tolerate the practice of vote buying, electoral bribery and widespread serial criminality in the country’s elections.
“The consistent practice and widespread serial reports of vote buying, electoral bribery and undue influence in elections suggest the failure of INEC to wake up to its constitutional and statutory responsibilities to prosecute suspected perpetrators and their sponsors.
“SERAP also urges you to ensure the prompt, thorough and effective investigation of the roles played by the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the reports of vote buying, electoral bribery and undue influence, identify those involved, and ensure that they are brought to justice.
“Vote buying, electoral bribery, and undue influence undermine the ability of INEC to discharge its responsibilities under Section 153 of the Nigerian Constitution and paragraph 15(a) of the third schedule of the Constitution, and the Electoral Act 2022.

“The Nigerian Constitution provides in Section 14(1)(c) that, ‘the participation by the people in their government shall be ensured in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution.’”
 
It added, “Sections 121 and 127 of the Electoral Act prohibit electoral bribery and undue influence before, during and after any election. Section 145(2) provides that, ‘a prosecution under this Act shall be undertaken by legal officers of the Commission or any legal practitioner appointed by it.' Under section 2(b), the commission 'shall have power to promote knowledge of sound democratic election processes.’

“Similarly, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance guarantee the right to political participation, including the right to vote. These human rights treaties also require state parties including Nigeria to promote the establishment of the necessary conditions to foster citizen participation.

“When political candidates and their sponsors decide to buy the support of the people rather than contest fairly for their votes, there are possibilities that such candidates will show a disregard for democratic rules and a disposition to adopt illegal means becomes inevitable.
 
“Vote buying encourages poor governance and weakens citizens' capacity to hold their ‘elected officials’ accountable for their actions.”

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