News
Man who spent 10 yrs in detention for selling petrol to Boko Haram found guilty, freed by court
Hon. Babagana Habeeb, a former Senate contender from Borno state, has been found guilty and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment by a Federal High Court in Abuja, on Friday, for supplying petrol to Boko Haram members.
The court however ordered his release from prison having spent 10 years in detention over the alleged crime.
Justice Peter Odo Lifu convicted the politician on a lone count charge of aiding and abetting terrorism, which the federal government brought against him.
Habeeb, a fuel dealer in Maiduguri, capital of Borno state, had upon his arraignment on the one count charge, admitted guilt of selling fuel to the terrorists in the North East Region of the country.
He, however, claimed that his fuel station attendants may have been responsible for the sales.
The politician, while kneeling down in the dock for almost one hour his trial lasted, pleaded passionately with Justice Lifu to be lenient with him in the sentence.
He claimed to have two wives and six children and that he had not been allowed to see or communicate with any member of his family since more than ten years he was hauled into detention.
The federal government lawyer, Mr David Kaswe, however, vehemently opposed the plea of the convict for leniency, adding that the logistics support accorded the terrorists had led to death of several people and rendered others homeless.
Kaswe admitted that the convict had spent more than 10 years in detention and insisted that he should be given 20 years imprisonment.
The lawyer maintained that the Boko Haram would not have been able to use their motorcycles to launch attacks on the innocent people and escape into the bush if no one had sold fuel to them
In his judgment, Justice Lifu held that there was no evidence that the convict was a member of Boko Haram or trained on weapon, adding that the sole accusation against him was on the sale of fuel to the terrorists.
The Judge also held that the prosecution did not debunk the claim that the convict had spent more than 10 years in the custody.
Justice Lifu subsequently sentenced the defendant to 10 years imprisonment.
He, however, ordered that the jail term should start from the date of arrest and detention of the convict.
The Judge ordered that the convict be immediately released upon his signing of his release warrant to enable him go for extensive rehabilitation.
News
Breaking: Court of Appeal rules in favour of Turaki -led PDP candidate for Osun governorship election
The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, on Thursday, ruled that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Gubernatorial Candidate in Osun State was validly nominated by the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee.
The court also ordered INEC to list the PDP logo on the ballot ahead of Saturday’s gubernatorial election.
The Court held that access code is neither a creation of the Constitution nor the Electoral Act; rather, a creation of INEC’s guidelines and cannot, in any way, override the provisions of the Constitution.
Section 288 of the Constitution does not specify the method for nominating candidates; it only states that the names of candidates should be forwarded to the Commission.
The court further held that the defendant (INEC) should take steps to include the name of the appellant on the ballot paper.
Additionally, the court ruled that the primary election conducted by the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP was a valid primary election in law.
The three-man panel of justices—Justice Mahmud, Justice Jaro, and Justice Ankawere, was unanimous in its judgment.
News
Breaking: NHRC sets up situation room to monitor and document hate speech, intimidation, threat to life ahead 2027
The national Human Rights Commission, NHRC, has set up a situation room to monitor and document all incidences of hate speech, intimidation and threat to life by politicians and other actors ahead of the 2027 general election.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has expressed concerns over rising incidences of hate speech, intimidation and outright threat to life by highly placed individuals, especially politicians and religious leaders.
The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Chef Tony Ojukwu, SAN, revealed this on Thursday in Abuja at a press conference.
He said the situation room would enable the Commission harvest data, analysis and document persons, agencies and others involved in the negative statements in order to ensure they are properly tracked and brought to book by relevant agencies.
Ojukwu also took journalists on a tour of the newly set up situation room.
Details later…..
News
Breaking: NHRC expresses concern over rising incidences of hate speech, threat to life ahead 2027 elections
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has expressed concerns over rising incidences of hate speech, intimidation and outright threat to life by highly placed individuals, especially politicians and religious leaders.
At a press conference in Abuja Thursday, the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Chef Tony Ojukwu, SAN, recalled statements credited to Senator Francis Fadahunsi and Sheikh Yahya Jingir and described the das dangerous with capacity to set the nation ablaze.
He called on politicians, religious and traditional rulers, among other stakeholders to call their supporters and faithful to orders.
He urged government to act before rhetorics turn to violence, saying the forthcoming election in Osun State should serve as example of Nigeria’s capacity to conduct political contest in compliance with international best practices.
Details later…..
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