The Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial district, Dino Melaye, has gone to the Supreme Court, seeking an order restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from proceeding with his recall from the Senate.

In a notice of appeal today, Thursday, filed by his Counsel, Mike Ozekome, (SAN), Dino Melaye wanted an order of perpetual injunction restraining INEC from commencing or further continuing with his recall or acting on the purported petition.

He also asked the court to set aside the March 16 judgment of the Court of Appeal, delivered by the Court of Appeal on March 16, which gave INEC the go ahead to continue with the recall.

The embattled Senator sought an order declaring the petition purportedly presented to INEC by some purported constituents for his recall as illegal, unlawful, wrongful, unconstitutional, invalid, null and void and of no effect.

Dino Melaye, in addition prayed for a declaration that the recall purportedly initiated against him by INEC and on the basis of the petition was illegal since it commenced on the basis of an invalid petition.

He also asked the court to declare that the 90 days period as provided for under Section 69(b) of the 1999 Constitution as amended had elapsed.

According to him, having elapsed, INEC can no longer proceed on the basis of the purported petition.

He said that the Court of Appeal erred in law ‎when it held that it was not for the court to verify the signature on the petition.

He said that the court held that it was the duty of INEC, by reason of which the court failed to invalidate the petition presented to INEC.

The Court of Appeal, in its judgment delivered by Justice Tunde Awotoye, leading two other justices, dismissed all the grounds of appeal filed by Senator Melaye.

It held that the 90 days stipulated by the constitution within which a recall process would take place had no time limitation as it could be extended.

Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on September 11, 2017 dismissed a suit filed by Dino Melaye, seeking to stop INEC from initiating his recall from the National Assembly.

Dimgba held that the senator’s complaints were hasty, premature and presumptuous and therefore ordered the INEC to go ahead with its planned verification.

Source: NAN.

The Buhari Volunteers Movement, (BVM), has alleged that what the former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo wants is not the progress of the country but a President that is answerable to him.

The group, in a statement issued by its national coordinator, Mr. Emumena Michael reacting to claim by Obasanjo that the Buhari administration is a failure, said that such claim was erroneous, unsubstantiated and politically driven, insisting that the misrule and impunity which characterized the 16 years the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in power was spearheaded by Obasanjo in 1999.

It said that the All Progressives Congress (APC) government has devoted itself to solving the problems caused by the opposition party’s 16 years administration even as it advised the former President to join hands with the Buhari administration to reposition Nigeria for greatness.

“Nigerians all over the country are fed up with the antics of Obasanjo to cause unnecessary tension and confusion in the political terrain in order to install a President that is answerable to him.

“When we learnt that former President Olusegun Obasanjo claimed that the Buhari administration that is working to rescue the country from the dilapidated position the PDP left it after 16 years of gross misrule has failed, it became very obvious to us that Obasanjo is bent on heating up the polity simply without respect to Nigeria and Nigerians,” the group said.

“Otherwise, how can someone in his position pretend not to understand the state President Muhammadu Buhari met the country and the diverse efforts of his administration to right the wrongs and reposition Nigeria for greatness?

“Is Obasanjo not aware that corruption almost ruined our country and it is taking this current government considerable effort to change that ugly narrative? Is Obasanjo not aware that the oil-based economy created by the culture of impunity the PDP introduced into politics is what landed us into the economic recession this country was experiencing, which President Buhari is judiciously addressing through agricultural diversification, promotion of local contents and manufacturing as well as massive infrastructural development?

“Is Obasanjo not aware that the inability of past administrations to set up systems to tackle insecurity is one of the reasons why the Buhari administration is still trying to set up foundations that can bring an end to insecurity across our country?”

“Is Obasanjo not aware that the infrastructural decay meted on Nigeria by budgeting funds for infrastructure and looting those same funds, is the only reason why the Buhari administration is devoting a considerable part of his administration for massive infrastructural development?”

President Muhammadu Buhari has insisted that his desire is to bequeath a prosperous Nigeria devoid of corruption and other socio-economic vices to more than 60 percent of Nigerians who fall into the age category of youths.

He stressed that this category of Nigerians deserve to inherit a stable and prosperous country that they can be proud of and that his government will work assiduously to prevent waste and the depletion of resources by corrupt Nigerians.

President Buhari, who spoke when he received a Letter of Credence from the Head of Delegation of the European Union to Nigeria, Ketil Iversen Karlsen, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, today, Thursday, said that the insistence on probity, transparency and accountability in the public and private sectors is to secure the future of the country for all Nigerians, especially the youths.

He added that his administration will continually promote the culture of honesty and integrity in service, which will guarantee a better future for the youth.

“Our insistence on probity is to encourage people to be accountable, and accept honesty as a lifestyle so as to secure the future of our youths.”

President Buhari told the Head of Delegation of the European Union that Nigeria had been reluctant to sign the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) among ECOWAS countries because of the need to protect the economy, especially the industries and small businesses that currently provide jobs for majority Nigerians.

The President noted that the signing of the agreement will expose the industries and small businesses to external pressures and competitions, which could lead to closures and job losses.

“We are not enthusiastic about signing the EPA because of our largely youthful population. We are still struggling to provide jobs for them, and we want our youths to be kept busy.

“Presently, our industries cannot compete with the more efficient and highly technologically driven industries in Europe. We have to protect our industries and our youths,’’ he said.

President Buhari, who commended the EU for its support for the rehabilitation of the North East, noted that the Nigerian economy was already being repositioned to attract more investments that will create jobs.

The Envoy, Karlsen said that the EU will continue to support President Buhari’s administration in the key priorities it listed; security, economy and the fight against corruption.

He said that the EPA was designed to accommodate and protect some economies that would find it difficult to compete.

“We are hopeful that there will be a signature on the agreement.”

President Buhari also received Letters of Credence from the Ambassador of Italy, Dr. Stefano Pontesilli and the Ambassador of Spain, Mr Marcelino Cabanas Ansorena.

A 32-year old man identified as Austine Ibe has been jailed by an Oredo Magistrate Court to two years with hard labour for stealing 75 cartons of tin tomatoes valued at N315,600.

Austine was said to have stole the tin tomatoes at a warehouse belonging to one Paul Okafor at No 4 Butcher Street off Forestry Road Benin City on October 14, 2017.

He was arraigned on a two-count charge of stealing and break-in and entry and was found guilty on both charges by the presiding Magistrate, F.E Akhere.

Prosecuting Council, DSP Patrick Agbonifo, had earlier informed the court that the offences were punishable under sections 414(1) and 390(9) of the Criminal Code 48 Vol II Laws of the defunct Bendel State of Nigeria, 1976 now applicable in Edo State.

Defence minister, Mannir Dan Ali has said that the federal government has operationalized a Division in Sokoto with a Brigade in Katsina and another Brigade in Zamfara that will take care of security situation in that area.

Speaking to news men shortly after a security meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, the minister said that the strength of security personnel has increased, including the Air Force additional quick response group, saying: “they have added enough manpower in that area.”

The minister said that the President has approved the release of $1 billion for the procurement of security equipment to fight insecurity in the country.

“What I can add, after all that I have said is to inform you that of recent, our leader, President Muhammadu Buhari gave approval for the purchase of more equipment for the military, worth $1 billion.”

He said that the security meeting which had all the service chiefs in attendance, said that is a normal meeting of security agencies in the country.

“As usual, we discussed the current activities that affected most of the states in the federation like Taraba, Zamfara and other states.”

On Leah Sharibu’s release, Dan-Ali said: “well, we are making all available efforts to see that the girl is returned safely.” [myad]