Politics

Finally, Nigeria’s highest court affirms President Tinubu’s election

Published

1 year ago

October 26, 2023

Nigeria’s Supreme Court has affirmed the decision of the tribunal, dismissing the appeals of opposition candidates, Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, and upholding the election of President Bola Tinubu.

In a final attempt to overturn the election result, Abubakar and Obi urged the Supreme Court to dismiss a tribunal ruling on September 6 that upheld Tinubu’s victory. Their attorneys argued before the Supreme Court that the lower court erred in holding that the electoral agency’s pre-election guideline to electronically transmit polling place results was not a mandatory requirement.

The court, in its lead ruling, which was delivered by Justice John Okoro, rejected the Peoples Democratic Party’s (Abubakar’s) appeal contesting the ruling of the presidential election petition tribunal. The panel also concurred with Okoro’s decision to deny Atiku’s application to tender Tinubu’s CSU credentials as fresh evidence.

Other justices on the panel were Adamu Jauro, Emmanuel Agim, Mohammed Garba, Ibrahim Saulawa, Uwani Aji, and Abubakar Tijjani.

Salawa Ibrahim said, “The application by Atiku is frivolous and vexatious and deserves to be dismissed. I find no merit in the appeal and dismissal, and I affirm the decision of the lower court.”

Agim said, “I agree with the reasoning if the fresh evidence is not authentic as stated by the authority before it was presented. It was not sealed or had a signature. It cannot be used in Nigeria without authentication.

“I agree with why. It was obvious to all, including those who brought it. The FCT violates the fundamental principle of the interpretation of the Constitution, and it must be interpreted in a way that provides equality. The parties should bear their own costs.”

The court also stated that the topics brought up by Obi had already been addressed in Atiku’s appeal and further declared that the double nomination matter of Vice President Kashim Shetimma should not have been brought before the court.

Since the beginning of the current Fourth Republic in 1999, after years of military dictatorship, elections in Nigeria have been marred by controversy and violence, generating legal petitions. All presidential elections between the 1999 and 2023 exercises have ended up at the apex court except in 2015, in which immediate former president Mohammadu Buhari defeated then-incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan.

The verdict puts a legal conclusion to the cloud of controversies surrounding Nigeria’s 2023 general elections, which many observers adjudged to be flawed.

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Politics

Burkina Faso releases 4 French spies after Moroccan intervention

Published

3 days ago

December 20, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

In a diplomatic spat over their imprisonment, France and Morocco announced Thursday that four French nationals detained in Burkina Faso for a year had been freed after mediation from Morocco.

They were spies, according to a prior statement made by the director of France’s foreign intelligence organisation, the DGSE.

A request for comment was not answered by the DGSE or a representative of the French military, which is in charge of the agency.

Since December 2023, they have been held in Ouagadougou.

President Emmanuel Macron hailed King Mohammed of Morocco on Wednesday for his intervention, “which made possible the liberation of our four countrymen who had been held in Burkina Faso for a year,” according to a statement from the French administration.

King Mohammed and President Ibrahim Traore of Burkina Faso were also commended by Morocco’s foreign ministry, which stated that “this humanitarian act” was made possible by their positive bilateral ties.

In October, France made peace with Morocco, one of its former protectorates, after three years of hostilities between Paris and Rabat stoked by immigration concerns and the disputed Western Sahara region.

Morocco offers Burkina Faso and other military-ruled Sahel republics Atlantic trade.

However, France’s relations with former West and Central African colonies, such as Burkina Faso, remain difficult. In Ouagadougou, French troops and diplomats were ejected, the defence attache and ambassador were asked to depart, and certain French media were suspended.

The military junta that took control in 2022 in Burkina Faso has been criticized by international rights groups for cracking down on free expression and harassing dissidents to handle a security crisis precipitated by Al Qaeda and Islamic State extremists.

Politics

Ghana: President-elect Mahama appoints anti-corruption team

Published

4 days ago

December 19, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

According to a statement released by his transition team on Wednesday, Ghana’s President-elect, John Dramani Mahama, has designated an anti-corruption committee to investigate allegations of wrongdoing.

When he takes office next month, Mahama, the leading opposition candidate in the presidential election held on December 7 and who received almost 56% of the vote, has pledged to reclaim the proceeds of corruption and hold those responsible for it accountable.

In anticipation, an anti-graft squad has been established. The parliament’s Committee on Assurances, which has previously raised suspicions of governmental corruption, is chaired by MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwah.

An investigative journalist, a private attorney, a former auditor general, and a former police officer with experience in high-profile robbery cases make up the other three members.

After looking into alleged financial irregularities that took place during the previous administration, Daniel Dumelovo, the former auditor general, was fired.

Recovering lost assets and fighting corruption were two of Mahama’s main campaign pledges.

“He intends to hit the ground running on these commitments,” the statement said.

Eight years after leaving office, former President Mahama is back to head the West African country. Despite not being personally contaminated, he faced criticism during his 2012–2016 administration due to claims of political corruption.