Politics
NYSC Presents Documents as Evidence of Alleged Certificate Forgery by Gov Mbah
Labour Party Continues Defense in Petition Against Gov. Peter Mbah with NYSC as First Witness
The Labour Party (LP) has persisted in presenting its case against Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State at the Election Tribunal. The LP called the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) as its first witness to support the allegation of certificate forgery against the governor.
During the hearing of the petition filed by LP and its candidate, Chijioke Edeoga, the NYSC was called to testify. Aliyu Abdul Mohammed, the Director of Certification at NYSC, presented several documents as evidence, which were admitted by the tribunal.
The NYSC submitted various documents, including the alleged forged discharge certificate used by Governor Mbah and the original discharge certificate that he should have obtained. Additionally, a letter from Oma and Partners, an Abuja-based law firm, requesting the NYSC to scrutinize the governor’s discharge certificate submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), was also tendered as evidence.
Represented by Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, along with Dr. Valerie Azinge, SAN, Ifeanyi Ogenyi Esq, and others, the petitioners led the NYSC witness (PW1) in providing evidence.
Aliyu Abdul Mohammed, the NYSC Director of Certification, adopted his written deposition on oath, which was presented and accepted as evidence by the tribunal.
However, Anthony Ani, SAN, the counsel for the third respondent, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), objected to the admissibility of the document. Ani opted to file a motion requesting the tribunal to strike out the written deposition on oath of PW1, citing incompetence. The first respondent, INEC, and the second respondent, Peter Mbah, aligned themselves with Ani’s submission.
In response, the petitioners’ lawyers referred to the conflicting decision in the case of Ararume & Anor V INEC and requested the court to admit the written deposition on oath of PW1.
After considering the arguments, the tribunal admitted the document and reserved the ruling on the objections raised by the respondents for the final judgment.
During the examination-in-chief, Mohammed informed the tribunal that he responded to a subpoena served on the Director General of NYSC or any other official to testify before the tribunal and clarify issues regarding the allegedly issued certificate.
The subpoena was admitted as evidence without objection and marked as exhibit PTC/01/06. Mohammed also presented his official identity card as an NYSC staff, which was admitted as evidence and marked as exhibit PTC/01/07.
In paragraph three of the Petitioners’ Witness’s deposition on oath, the witness stated that, in compliance with the tribunal’s subpoena, he brought both the authentic discharge certificate of the governor and the one allegedly given to him.
The respondents’ counsel objected to the admissibility of the documents and reserved their reasons for final written addresses. Nonetheless, the tribunal admitted the documents and marked them as exhibits PTC/01/08 a and b.
The petitioners also called another witness, Mary Nneoma Elijah, a principal partner in the law firm of Oma and Partners. She is the Petitioners’ Witness 2, an Abuja-based legal practitioner. The petitioners’ counsel sought to present her written deposition on oath as evidence, which was objected to by the respondents’ counsel on the same grounds as before.
However, the court admitted the document and reserved the ruling for the final judgment.
Elijah also acknowledged the tribunal’s subpoena dated June 21, 2023, which was admitted and marked as exhibit PTC/01/09.
The witness’s letter to INEC, as well as the reply given by INEC, were attempted to be tendered by the petitioners’ counsel amid objections from the respondents’ counsel. Nevertheless, the letters, along with the discharged certificate, were admitted as exhibits PTC/01/11 a, b & c, respectively.
Furthermore, a letter addressed to the presiding justice of the Federal High Court, Lagos Division, requesting the production of the appointment letter dated July 14, 2003, appointing Barr. Peter Mbah as the Chief of Staff to the then governor of Enugu State, Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani, in the same year that Mbah claimed he was serving, was admitted as evidence amidst objections and marked as exhibit PTC/01/13 a&b.
The matter was adjourned to Tuesday, July 11, 2023, for further hearing.
Politics
Tinubu Assures Investors Nigeria Is Open for Business, Welcomes Coca-Cola’s $1bn Plan
By Francis Wilfred
President Bola Tinubu has assured local and international investors that Nigeria remains open for business, saying his administration is implementing reforms aimed at creating a more predictable, competitive and investment-friendly environment.
Speaking through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, at the 75th anniversary celebration of the Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) in Abuja on Monday, the President said the government is addressing key challenges facing businesses under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Our message to investors, both Nigerian and international, is clear: Nigeria is open for business,” Tinubu said,
He noted that reliable infrastructure, efficient logistics, access to foreign exchange, stable regulations and a supportive tax system are critical to attracting investment and expanding production.
According to Yomi Odunuga, the President said ongoing economic reforms are designed to build a more productive and competitive economy, reduce dependence on imports, strengthen local manufacturing and create jobs for Nigerians.
Tinubu welcomed the Coca-Cola System’s proposed $1 billion investment in Nigeria over five years, announced in 2024, describing it as a strong vote of confidence in the country’s economy.
He said the administration is focused not only on the volume of investment attracted but also on its impact on employment, skills development, technology transfer and local sourcing.
“We are interested not only in the amount of capital that comes into Nigeria, but in what that capital does here,” he said.
The President also praised NBC’s continued expansion of production capacity, including new production lines in Oyo and Kano states, describing such investments as vital to strengthening Nigeria’s industrial base.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving policies, infrastructure and regulations to support businesses, while urging the private sector to complement government efforts through investment, innovation and job creation.
Tinubu further highlighted the importance of human capital development, commending NBC’s Supply Chain Academy for training over 1,400 young Nigerians and supporting women’s empowerment and community development initiatives.
He urged investors to take advantage of opportunities across Nigeria, expressing confidence that the country can build a stronger economy driven by local production, exports and globally competitive industries.
Politics
Kano Governorship: Accord Party Governorship Candidate Gashash Getting More Endorsement From Kano Electorates.
By Jabiru Hassan.
The movement for Democratic Protection and good governance (MDSG) declared it's full support to the Accord Party Governorship Candidate Ambassador Dr. Mukhtar Gashash in the forthcoming general elections.
In a chat with our correspondent in kano, the national president of the movement, Alhaji Dauda Mohammed Ali, stated that it is time for the people of kano state to bring new steward who is seriously planning to transform the state with highest regard.
He expressed his confidence that Ambassador Dr Mukhtar Gashash will do his best to ensure that kano state becomes more examplary at both sector without bias which is the task previous administrators failed to achieve.
Alhaji Dauda Mohammed Ali reiterated that " this time around, our movement is working day and night to make sure that Kano people mostly youths remained Committed to actualize real change in the state's politics, leadership and transformation under the Accord Party government".
He called on the people of kano state especially the eligible voters to vote Ambassador Dr Mukhtar Gashash due to his Transformation plans for the progress of kano state and it's citizens at both Urban and rural settlements.
Responding to a question about Accord party's strength in kano state, Dauda Mohammed Ali disclosed that in today's democracy, competent candidates should be tipped for an elective positions not the popularity of the political parties stressing that Ambassador Dr Mukhtar Gashash has been found to be the best option for kano state due to his track record on competency, transparency as a real democrat.
Politics
Caught in the middle: Ortom’s silent dance between two camps.
There are growing questions about where Mr. Samuel Ortom, a former Governor of Benue State and a prominent figure in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), truly stands politically ahead of 2027.
Ortom was a key figure in the divisions within the PDP before the 2023 general elections and was widely associated with support for Mr. Peter Obi, who finished third in that contest. More recently, however, he has publicly expressed support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
The latest discussion began after a visit by Mr. Peter Obi to Benue State. Reports indicate that a vehicle said to belong to Ortom was used to receive Obi at the Air Force Base airport in Makurdi. It is not clear who authorized the use of the vehicle, and Ortom has not commented publicly on the matter.
During the same visit, Obi was reportedly prevented from travelling to Yelewata, where he had intended to condole with families affected by violence. Obi’s team attributed the blockage to supporters of Governor Hyacinth Alia.
The Governor’s spokesman, Sir Tersoo Kula, denied any involvement by the Governor. He suggested the incident may have been staged to damage the Governor’s reputation, or that it could have resulted from disagreements within Obi’s own support base.
Ortom has not issued a statement clarifying his position on the 2027 elections or on the vehicle in question. Attempts to reach him were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.
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