Today's Headlines:PEPT Judgment: Atiku, Obi Head to Supreme Court;Man Stab Friend to Death Over Food
PEPT Judgment: Atiku, Obi Head to Supreme Court
The 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and his Labour Party (LP) counterpart, Mr. Peter Obi, have announced their intent to take their petitions to the Supreme Court following the dismissal of their cases against President Bola Tinubu’s election by the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC).
Atiku emphasized that he was moving forward to the apex court, acknowledging his loss at the PEPC as a battle, but not the end of the war. He expressed his respect for the court’s judgment while respectfully rejecting it, believing it fell short of justice. He also clarified that a statement purportedly congratulating President Tinubu was fake and not from him.
Meanwhile, the Acting National Chairman of the PDP, Umar Damagum, stated that the party would serve as a credible opposition while pursuing justice at the Supreme Court.
Peter Obi, in contrast, openly disagreed with the PEPC’s verdict, announcing his decision to challenge it at the Supreme Court. While he acknowledged the court’s adherence to statutory timelines, he expressed his respect for the court’s views and rulings but disagreed with the judgment’s rationale and final conclusions.
Man Stabs Friend to Death Over Food
In an unfortunate incident in the Ifako Ijaiye Local Government Area of Lagos State, a man named John lost his life after allegedly being stabbed to death by his friend, Akinola Adeleye, during an argument over who should pay for a plate of food.
The dispute began when the two men disagreed over the payment for a meal Akinola had consumed. The argument escalated into a physical fight, during which Akinola reportedly used a knife to fatally stab John.
The tragic event occurred two weeks ago on Idiagbon Street, near the local government headquarters, as reported by residents in the area. John had been residing in Akinola’s house, and the disagreement arose over settling the food bill.
One resident, Ugochukwu, recounted the incident, explaining that instead of paying for his meal, Akinola attempted to add the cost to his absent friend’s account. Tragically, John passed away at the scene, and this development led to confusion and mourning in the neighborhood.
Amidst the chaos, Akinola tried to flee but was apprehended by local young men. Another resident named Dada recalled seeing the deceased’s body being taken away from the scene on the day of the incident. He noted that the police were hesitant to enter the area due to its volatile nature, so the body was wheeled to a nearby street junction.
Tribunal Judgment: APC Lampoons Atiku, Obi, Opposition Attacks INEC
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has strongly criticized Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, the presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party, for their response to the verdict of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT), which upheld President Bola Tinubu’s election and the electoral process.
In response, Atiku and Obi expressed their concerns over the conduct of the polls by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and their intention to challenge the PEPT’s judgment at the Supreme Court.
At a press conference held at the PDP national secretariat in Abuja, Atiku stated that he directed his legal team to approach the Supreme Court because he believed the PEPC’s judgment lacked substantial justice. He emphasized the importance of credible elections in Nigeria, free from manipulation, and vowed to pursue justice through the judicial process.
Obi, the LP presidential candidate, also criticized the PEPT’s judgment, stating that it was not conterminous with justice. He announced his intention to challenge the verdict and expressed his confidence in the Supreme Court.
The APC’s Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, responded to Atiku’s claims, stating that it takes a criminally-minded person to understand how a system is hacked. He accused Atiku of being a bad sportsman and suggested that Atiku was attempting to bribe Supreme Court justices with his statements.
The Presidency, however, maintained that Atiku was justified in appealing to the Supreme Court, and his decision would enrich Nigeria’s electoral jurisprudence.
Opposition parties, including the PDP and LP, have yet to obtain the Certified True Copies of the tribunal verdict, as they plan to file appeals at the Supreme Court. They have 21 days to file their appeals and are working on the grounds for their appeals, focusing on issues such as the rejection of witnesses during the tribunal proceedings.
Troops Neutralise 814 Terrorists, Oil Thieves, IPOB/ESN Elements in 3 Months
The military has reported that in the period between June and August 2023, a total of 814 terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, IPOB/ESN militants, and individuals involved in oil theft were neutralized. These operations aimed to eliminate criminal elements and curb economic sabotage in the country.
Additionally, across all six geopolitical zones, troops arrested 1,326 criminals, comprising 42 kidnappers, 231 collaborators, 33 armed robbers, 80 cattle rustlers, 325 militias, 27 rail vandals, 73 gunrunners, 191 suspected oil thieves, and successfully rescued 721 kidnapped hostages.
Major-General Edward Buba, the Director of Defence Media tions, informed the media that 4,560 terrorists and their families surrendered to troops during this period. Furthermore, in the Niger Delta region, troops prevented oil theft perpetrators from stealing crude oil and related products valued at an estimated N4 billion.
Throughout these operations, the military recovered a significant arsenal, including 501 weapons, 3,577 livestock, 3,269 assorted ammunition, and 674 other pieces of equipment. This includes 117 AK-47 rifles, 28 fabricated rifles, and various other items.
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