News
“Nasarawa GEPT: Agabi Urges Tribunal to Rely on Collaboratively Verified Evidence Trusted by Both Parties”
… BVAS,IREV primary source of conducting elections
In a remarkable turn of events, Chief Dr. Kanu Godwin Agabi, the counsel for the petitioners, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and David Emmanuel Ombugadu said both the petitioners and respondents in the ongoing proceedings voiced unanimous agreement on the unparalleled reliability of BVAS IREV as the instrument of choice for election integrity.
Agabi urged the tribunal to place unwavering trust in this mutually endorsed evidence, emphasizing its pivotal role in the case.
Agabi highlighted that the BVAS IREV, which served as the primary source of accreditation and results uploads during the election, was submitted by the INEC Directorate of ICT. He fervently urged the tribunal to prioritize these reliable documents in their judgment.
Furthermore, the counsel emphasized the significance of Form ECA8S, the polling units’ results, as the most dependable ones. He urged the court to refer to Form EC8AS, EC8Bs, EC8Cs, and EC8D in case of any contradictions or conflicts in figures, giving precedence to EC8AS for extracting valid judgments.
One notable point raised was the absence of a cross petition from the petitioners. Agabi argued that this indicated the petitioners’ lack of new issues to raise and instead focused solely on defending their victory without presenting any form of defense against the petition.
In cases where both parties raised concerns about vote reduction, Agabi asserted that the tribunal should refer to the universally accepted Form EC8AS from BVAS IREV.
Concluding his appeals, Agabi made a passionate plea for the tribunal to consider these arguments, asserting that David Emmanuel Ombugadu of PDP was the authentic winner of the elections and should be declared as such.
In his final remarks, Agabi called on the respondents’ counsel to graciously concede defeat in the spirit of sportsmanship.
In response to these appeals, Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Ezekiel Ajayi, acknowledged that the tribunal had taken note of all the prayers. He subsequently adjourned the sitting to a date that will be communicated to the parties involved for the final judgment.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has reported its seventh partial grid collapse in 2024. Despite the recurring issue, TCN’s General Manager of Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, reassured the public that efforts to restore power are well underway, with about 90% of substations receiving bulk power.
Mbah noted that the Azura Power Station initiated the grid recovery, although a minor setback occurred. However, power supply has been restored to the Abuja region and other key distribution centers. The Ibom Gas Generating Station remained unaffected, continuing to supply power to the South-South region.
An investigation into the cause of the collapse will commence once full grid restoration is achieved.
Vice President Kashim Shettima has expressed deep sorrow over the tragic tanker explosion in Jigawa State, which claimed over 100 lives. In a statement issued by his media aide, Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima, on behalf of President Bola Tinubu, extended condolences to the affected families, praying for strength and comfort in their time of grief.
Shettima assured the public that the federal government is mobilizing resources to support the injured and assist those affected. He has directed the immediate deployment of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide aid. The Vice President also stressed the need for a review of fuel transportation safety protocols to prevent future incidents.
In a separate statement, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu offered her condolences to Jigawa Governor Umar Namadi and the people of Jigawa, praying for peace and comfort for the families affected. She called the incident “unfortunate” and extended prayers for the recovery of the injured and the repose of the souls lost in the tragedy.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has revealed that it intercepted a total of 10,598 pieces of arms and 114,929 rounds of ammunition valued at N9.58 billion over the past six years. Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, made this disclosure during a press conference on enforcement activities in Zone A.
Adeniyi highlighted that 60% of these seizures occurred in 2023, reflecting the Customs’ increased efforts to curb arms smuggling. He also mentioned that recent operations such as Operation Whirlwind and Operation Swift Sting are part of a strategic response to tackle evolving smuggling tactics.
In addition to arms seizures, the Customs CG announced the largest pangolin scale seizure since 2020, with 9,493 kg of scales confiscated in collaboration with the Wildlife Justice Commission. The joint operation led to four arrests across Kano, Kaduna, and Lagos. The NCS continues to intensify efforts against wildlife trafficking, targeting supply routes in northern Nigeria and border areas.
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