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The Federal High Court, Abuja, last week nullified the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries declaring Asue Ighodalo as the party’s candidate in the September 21 governorship election in Edo State.
In the same week, Foreign Minister Yussuf Tuggar said at least 7,000 people had been killed in terror attacks in West Africa in the first five months of this year.
This story and three others we tracked dominated public discourse in Nigeria last week.
1. Court annuls Edo PDP gubernatorial primary
On July 4, Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, annulled the PDP primaries that produced Ighodalo as the party’s candidate for the Edo State governorship election.
The judge, who delivered the ruling on a motion filed by Kelvin Mohammed, said the PDP primary election held on February 22 did not comply with the 2022 Electoral Act, the guidelines for the conduct of elections and the party constitution.
He said: “The evidence presented by the parties is devoid of evidence. The plaintiffs have succeeded in proving their case against the defendants through the evidence presented.
“I conclude that the plaintiff’s case succeeds on its substance.”
Why this is important
The court ruling may further dim the PDP’s chances of retaining power in Edo State when residents vote on September 21.
The feud between Governor Godwin Obaseki and his former deputy, Phillip Shaibu, divisions among party elders over the choice of candidate and other concerns suggest the party will go into the election more divided than ever in the state.
2. Nigerian government claims 7,000 people died in terrorist attacks in West Africa
Foreign Minister Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar said on July 4 that at least 7,000 people had been killed in terror attacks across West Africa in the first five months of this year.
Tuggar stated this at the opening of the 52nd session of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council in Abuja.
He said: “Between January and May 2024, our region has witnessed more than 7,000 deaths from more than 800 terrorist incidents. Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali have been particularly hard hit by this unrelenting violence.
“This harsh reality highlights the enormous human cost of insecurity and underscores the urgency for coordinated and decisive action to combat this menace.”
Why this is important
The minister’s statement underlined the need for collective action against terrorism and violent extremism by countries in the sub-region.
It also reinforces the call for West African states to forge a united front and produce a more coordinated response to counter the threat posed by increasingly sophisticated non-state agents committing crimes against states, not least because of their links to Al Qaeda in the Maghreb (AQIM), ISIS and other terrorist organisations abroad.
This joint response will complement the efforts of individual countries that have launched initiatives to counter terrorism and other crimes in their territories.
3. Federal Government to seize 20 properties owned by Maina
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on July 5, ordered the final forfeiture of at least 20 properties linked to the convicted former Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina.
The judge in his ruling stated that the Commission for the Eradication of Economic and Financial Crimes (KPK) had proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt that the assets located in various parts of the country were obtained illegally.
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He said: “It is a legal cliche that civil cases in wanton larceny depend on a preponderance of the evidence.
“Once again, I am of the opinion that the respondents have failed miserably to tilt the scales of the weight of evidence in their favour.”
Why this is important
The loss of assets belonging to a convicted retired thief confirms the position of law in human behavior.
However, the eight-year sentence handed down to Maina has strengthened calls for all parties concerned to reconsider the lenient sentencing approach that has failed to deter corrupt public officials from abusing their office.
4. Governors in the Southeast region to meet with the Federal Government regarding Kanu
Governors of five South-East states on July 2 resolved to meet the Federal Government over the detention of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
They announced this in a communique issued at the end of their meeting in Enugu.
The communique read: “The Forum extends condolences to the Government and people of Abia State, Ebonyi State, Imo State, South-East Nigeria and the Family of Chief Ogbonnaya Onu on the demise of His Excellency, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu.
“The Forum received a delegation of Former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, GCON, and His Majesty King Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, CFR, Obi of Onitsha who came on a solidarity visit to the Forum.
“The forum also resolved to work with the Federal Government to secure the release of Mr. Nnamdi Kanu.”
Why this is important
The implication of the governor’s move to release Kanu from detention is that it will reduce tensions in a region that is receiving global attention for the wrong reasons.
Apart from the release of Kanu from prison, the government should find a political solution to the IPOB agitation for a sovereign state of Biafra and other concerns to give a new lease of life to the hardworking people of the South-East.
5. Former special investigator accuses Buhari government of returning seized assets to looters
Okoi-Obono-Obla
Former Chairman of the Presidential Special Investigation Panel on Recovery of Public Property (SPIP), Okoi Obono-Obla, on July 1 alleged that looted property recovered under former President Muhammadu Buhari was eventually returned to the looters.
Obono-Obla stated this when interviewed by Nigerian journalist, Seun Okinbaloye on the Mic On Podcast.
He said all his efforts to bring many looters to justice in the country were thwarted by the former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, and other officials in the Buhari administration.
“Some of the items I saved were returned to the looters.
“There is a case of a person from whom I recovered over 80 brand new Mercedes Benz X-class cars (armored) from Jabi, Abuja.
“I wrote to the Director General, Customs and the Federal Internal Revenue Service to ask if the person paid import duties and taxes on the vehicle; they said No,” Obobo-Obla said.
Why this is important
The former investigator’s revelations again speak to the extent of the rottenness of the last administration.
However, there are doubts whether Tinubu’s administration will dare to investigate his predecessor following revelations of wrongdoings in that administration.
QuickRead post: Court nullifies Edo PDP governorship primaries. Four other stories we track and why they matter first appeared on Latest Nigeria News | Headlines from Ripples Nigeria.
