The Supreme Court rulings in governorship appeals, involving eight states of the federation over the weekend have elicited reactions among a cross section of Nigerians The apex court berated some justices of the Court of Appeal over the quality of their judgments in the governorship election petitions brought before them describing the judgments as perverse.
In three separate judgments the appellate court justices had voided the election of Governors Abba Yusuf, Caleb Mutfwang and Dauda Lawal on grounds of alleged unlawful nomination and sponsorship and deduction of alleged illegal votes. The apex court justices regretted that despite several decisions of the Supreme Court, that tribunals and courts lacked the jurisdiction to dabble into the internal matters of political parties, some justices could still go ahead and sack a winner of an election on grounds of political parties primaries, nomination or sponsorship.
A senior advocate of Nigeria Mike Ozekhome, who was on our nightly news program, news night, said the supreme court spared no words in criticising the rulings of the appeal court on the governorship election disputes stating the apex court used judicial koboko to flog the appeal court while giving verdicts on the matters. Supporters of the New Nigeria People’s Party trooped out in large numbers on Sunday, to welcome Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf back to Kano, after Friday’s judgement of the Supreme Court, which affirmed his election. The Governor was received by the crowd at Kwanar Dangora, amid singing and dancing. In Lagos, there was jubilation across the state, as residents and party supporters trooped out in good numbers to celebrate with Babajide Sanwo-Olu after the Supreme Court Affirmed him as Governor of the State on Friday.
Sanwo-Olu, who returned from Abuja, after attending a special meeting of APC governors with President Bola Tinubu, was welcomed by his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, members of the state executive council, party chieftains, party faithful and well- wishers, amid pomp and pageantry at the state House, in Marina.
In Ebonyi State, Governor Francis Nwifuru was seen in a viral video celebrating his victory at the Supreme Court displaying a rare dance move. Billionaire businessman and philanthropist Femi Otedola who last week donated one billion Naira to the lagos security trust fund to address urgent security concerns in Lagos, has returned to Forbes Africa’s Richest List, boasting an estimated net worth of $1.2 billion dollars. The figure positions Otedola as Nigeria’s fourth-richest individual. Otedola who is the chairman of Geregu Power Plc and a director of FBN Holdings Plc had a noteworthy year in 2023 securing the position of the third-richest investor on the Nigerian Exchange, following billionaires Abdul Samad Rabiu of BUA group and Aliko Dangote. This recent entry would mark the third time Otedola would be appearing on the Forbes billionaires list.
He made his debut on the list in 2008 when he became the second Nigerian after Dangote Africa’s richest man to be included on the global Forbes list, at the time, Otedola was the largest shareholder of fuels distributor, African Petroleum and owned Zenon Petroleum, which dominated Nigeria’s diesel sector. Forbes highlighted Otedola’s stake in Geregu Power PLC, Nigeria’s first publicly-traded utilities company, as well as his offshore cash holdings, extensive international real estate portfolio, and shareholding in two of Nigeria’s largest commercial banks Zenith and FBN Holdings as assets contributing to his fortunes, earning him a place on the highly coveted list.
A video showing the 200 City Choir, a music group that have composed a rendition using the catchphrase “we no go gree” which was used to usher in the new year, by the young people of Nigeria has made rounds on social media.
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