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FG didn’t force Buhari to testify in Paris court- Onanuga

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Bayo Onanuga, the Senior Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, has  denied reports that the presidency “forced” former President Muhammadu Buhari to testify in an arbitration proceeding in Paris.

He stated this in a press statement signed and released late on Saturday, titled ‘President Tinubu Did Not Drag Any Eminent Nigerian to Paris.’

On Saturday evening, an online news platform reported that former President Buhari had been summoned before a court in Paris to testify in an arbitration proceeding over the $6bn Mambilla power contract dispute.

The report claimed that Buhari had been “hauled before the court on Saturday for breaching the terms of a power generation and distribution contract awarded to Sunrise Power and Transmission Company of Nigeria by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2003.”

The report further claimed that Buhari was “grilled for hours on Saturday and would continue his testimony on Sunday before the International Chamber of Commerce Court of Arbitration in Paris in case number 26260/SPN/AB/CPB.”

It quoted sources who said President Bola Tinubu approved the decision to push his predecessor before the foreign arbitration panel.

However, the Presidency described the reports as “fake news.”

Although it did not deny the existence of such a proceeding, the Presidency insisted that all eminent persons testifying in Nigeria’s defence “are doing so willingly.”

It clarified that the private proceeding, which should not have been reported in the media, remains entirely confidential until the international arbitrators make a decision.

According to Onanuga, “While respecting the confidentiality of the proceeding, we wish to state categorically that President Bola Tinubu has not forced anyone to testify for or against Nigeria.

“All the eminent Nigerians involved in Nigeria’s defence are doing so willingly and out of sheer patriotism and conviction.

“President Tinubu and the entire country are grateful to them.”

 

 

 

 

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Breaking: Court of Appeal rules in favour of Turaki -led PDP candidate for Osun governorship election

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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.

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Breaking: NHRC sets up situation room to monitor and document hate speech, intimidation, threat to life ahead 2027

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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…..

 

 

 

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Breaking: NHRC expresses concern over rising incidences of hate speech, threat to life ahead 2027 elections

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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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