Appeal Court sacks APC senator, declares PDP’s Olujimi winner

The Kaduna Division of the Court of Appeal has nullified the election of spokesman of the Senate, Senator Dayo Adeyeye. The Appellate Court subsequently upheld the tribunal judgment which declared Senator Biodun Olujimi and the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party as winner of the Ekiti South Senatorial election held on February 23.

It would be recalled that the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Ado Ekiti,Ekiti State had nullified the election of Senator Dayo Adeyeye as the winner of Ekiti South Senatorial district.

Subsequently, the tribunal in a unanimous verdict declared former minority leader and the PDP candidate, Senator Biodun Olujimi as winner of the senatorial poll.

Following the declaration of Adeyeye, the candidate of the APC winner by the INEC in the February 23, 2019 senatorial election,  Olujimi had approached the tribunal, craving that she should be declared winner. She prayed the tribunal to annul votes in areas that were found to be marked with irregularities like over voting, multiple thump printing, ballot snatching, ballot stuffing and improper ballot counting should be cancelled to know the winner of the poll.

But the respondents countered the submission, saying what INEC did was right and constitutional, by declaring the candidate of the APC the winner. Delivering the judgement, the three -man tribunal,  led by Justice D.D. Adeck nullified the  elections in some polling units to declare Olujimi the winner of the polls. The tribunal said  Olujimi polled a total of 54,894 to emerge victorious over Adeyeye who polled 52,243. “We hereby declare the petitioner the winner and she is hereby returned elected. “We hereby direct the INEC to withdraw the certificate of return from the respondent and issue same to the petitioner”, he said .

Hollywood Comedian, John Witherspoon Laid to Rest

Popular Hollywood Actor and Comedian, John Witherspoon who died at 77 on Wednesday, October 30, 2019,  has been buried on Tuesday, in Los Angeles.

His family announced his death on Wednesday, October 30, 2019. According to a statement by the  family, the actor died in his hometown, Sherman Oaks.

“It is with the deepest sorrow that we can confirm our beloved husband and father, John Witherspoon, one of the hardest working men in show business, died today at his home in Sherman Oaks at the age of 77,” the statement reads.

In attendance were David Letterman, Ice Cube, Chris Talker, Cedric The Entertainer, George Wallace, Angela Gibbs and Bill Bellamy.

According to TMZ, David Letterman was among those who eulogised the comedian and actor. He went to share how he had a personal relationship with John from back in the days during their pursuit to break into the comedy business.

Ice Cube on his own expressed how deeply he loved and enjoyed being around John Witherspoon for a long time. Regina King who was absent during sent in a video message which was played during the service.

Gospel Artiste, Timi Dakolo Signs New Deal with EMI

Popular Gospel Musician, Timi Dakolo has signed a deal with the Virgin EMI.

Virgin EMI is a subsidiary of Universal Music Group founded in 2013. The company is a result of merging Mercury Records and Virgin Records. Currently, the label operates two A&R and marketing streams in Virgin Records and EMI Records respectively.

Timi took to his instagram handle on Sunday to announce on this development. 

The message reads, “He said Hello Timi,My name is @ted_cockle and I am the Chairman of Virgin EMI Records @virginemi 🇬🇧@universalmusicgroup . I just want to personally welcome you home.”

In a second post, he wrote that, “You can’t take God out of the Equation,GOD is the Equation.”

Kogi Election: PDP accuses Bello of planning Dino’s arrest, detention

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused Alhaji Yahaya Bello, Kogi State Governor, and his campaign’s Director-General, Smart Adeyemi, for allegedly plotting the arrest and detention of Senator Dino Melaye before the November 16 elections.

A statement by Melaye’s media aide, Gideon Ayodele, on Tuesday said the governor and Adeyemi with some other All Progressives Congress’ stakeholders in the state had concluded arrangement to ensure that he (Melaye) was arrested and detained before the elections, Punch reports.

The statement read, “The Peoples Democratic Party has called on the people of Kogi West Senatorial District and Kogi electorates to resist any attempt to rob them of their right in choosing candidates of their choice in the elections.”

According to Punch, the governor’s Director-General, Media and Publicity, Kingsley Fanwo, said it was not the governor’s responsibility to arrest offenders.

He said, “The governor is not interested in arresting anyone, not even Dino because there is no need for that.  He has lost the election because he is not campaigning since he has nothing to tell the people.”

Governor Makinde Inaugurates Wife as Chairman Oyo State Agency for the Control of AIDS

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, on Tuesday inaugurated his wife, Tamunominini Makinde as the chairman of the Oyo State Agency for the Control of Aids alongside others who constituted the board.

This was contained in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Taiwo Adisa.

Adisa also added that one Dr Lanre Abass was the Executive Secretary.

Adisa stated that Governor Makinde administration focuses on the health sector most especially the  HIV/AIDS. it has also ensure that people had access to relevant information, HIV testing services and access to treatment, care and support for people living with the virus.

Makinde noted that dealing with the scourge of AIDS “is of utmost importance to this administration.”

He said, “Health is one of the pillars which this administration is resting on, and dealing with the scourge of HIV in our society is of utmost importance to this administration.

“I don’t have any doubt in my mind that we have assembled the best hands to manage the affairs of Oyo State Agency for Control of AIDS.

“I have taken time to reflect on what was the modus operandi in the past and I can say to you clearly that the state used to be supplied with medications that were just about to expire; that era should be over for good in Oyo State.”

Senator Rochas Okorocha Denies Bribery Allegations

Former Governor of Imo State, Senator Rochas Okorocha, has denied an allegation by Ahmed Gulak accusing him of offering  him a $2m bribe when he visited the state in 2018 to organise the controversial All Progressives Congress governorship primary.

The former Governor Okorocha in a statement by his media aide, Sam Onwuemeodo, on Monday, said the accusation by Gulak one year after the controversial primary took place showed that the former presidential aide was “shameless.”

The  statement  stated that, “This same Ahmed Gulak had claimed at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, October 2, 2018, that he absconded from his Room 701 at Rockview Hotel, Owerri by 4 am that day because, agents of the former governor had wanted to kidnap him.

“And now Gulak waited till more than a year after the ugly incident to come up with his fictitious claim of a $2m bribe, after he had claimed that he fled Owerri over a kidnap attempt.

“The truth is that Alhaji Gulak was sent to Owerri to ensure the destruction of the APC in Imo and, by extension, in the South-East.”

Kogi: INEC Deploys Three National Commissioners, Seven Electoral Commissioners

The deployment of three of the commission’s national commissioners and seven Resident Electoral Commissioners in Kogi State, on Monday, was approved by the  Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof Mahmood Yakubu.

Alhaji Ahmed Biambo, the Head, Voter Education and Publicity Department in the Lokoja office of INEC, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria.

According to Biambo, the three national commissioners includes Alhaji Mohammed Haruna, Chief Solomon Soyebi and retired AVM Ahmed Mu’azu.

According to him, the affected RECs are Ibrahim Abdullahi, Prof Riskuwa Sheu and Mr Emeka Ononamadu from Bauchi, Kano and Enugu states, respectively.

Biambo said the three RECs had arrived in Lokoja to join the state REC, Prof James Apam, preparatory to the state governorship election on November 16.

He said the remaining four RECs would arrive in the state on November 9 to join their colleagues.

They are Benue State REC, Dr Goshe Yilwatda; Lagos State REC, Mr Sam Olumeku; Rivers State REC, Mr Obo Effanga; and Gombe State REC, Umaru Ibrahim.

He also assured the people of fair elections and urge them to be peaceful during the elections, Punch reports.

Femi, Otedola Celebrates Birthday

Popular Nigerian Billionaire and business mogul Femi Otedola clocked a new age on Monday.

The  business mogul took to social media in celebration of his special day sharing a lovely photo of himself on his  Instagram page with a caption “Happy Birthday to Myself! took a quick photo before going to Lunch with the family …F.Ote.”  

Otedola’s celebrity daughters Temi and DJ Cuppy also shared post on their instagram handles wishing their father “papa”a blissful celebration. 

“Happy Birthday Papa ❤️ @femiotedola thank you for giving me life, love, and unending support in every dream I’ve ever had… Love you endlessly. More life and even more Tom Ford hehe,” was Temi’s message to her dad. 

Senate President, Ahmad Lawan Attacks Sani-Omolori

The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, on Monday  confronted Mohammed Sani-Omolori the Clerk of the National Assembly,  over an alleged secret recruitment in the Assembly during a meeting.

According to the Punch Newspaper, a source told their correspondent that both parties had also disagreed on non-payment of severance allowances.

The source said,  “The meeting was at the instance of the Senate President, but it was a  stormy session throughout.

“Trouble started when Lawan invited the Clerk to brief him on why his office  was not carried along when recruitment was being made.”

 According to the source, the senate president Ahmed` lawan said the exercise did not also pass through the National Assembly Service Commission, Punch reports .

The source added that the two men raised their voices at the meeting while the argument lasted.

It was learnt that a former Chairman of the National Assembly Service Commission, Adamu Fika, dissociated himself from the exercise, saying the  recruitment was done without the knowledge of the commission.

However, the   Director of Information in the National Assembly, Rawlings Agada, denied knowledge of any disagreement between Lawan and Sani-Omolori at the meeting.

Agada said,  “I have spoken with the Clerk on the issue. What I can tell you is that during the meeting the issue that was discussed was the severance package for aides to the  lawmakers.

“I am not aware of any other issue discussed at the meeting.

“Today (Monday), the Clerk and the Minister of Finance,  Budget and National Planning (Zainab Ahmed) had a meeting and the issue (severance package)  has been resolved.

“That’s what I can tell you. If something like that (confrontation over secret recruitment) happened, there are always internal mechanisms in place to resolve  the issue.”

Genevieve’s “LionHeart” disqualified from Oscars Selection

Genevieve’s Lion Heart which was earlier selected for Oscar Awards has been disqualified.

The Nigeria Oscar Selection Committee (NOSC) has admitted they made a mistake in submitting Genevieve’s “Lionheart” for Oscar condition.

This was disclosed in a statement released on Monday by the chairman of NOSC, Chineze Anyaene.

He said, the nominees in its Best International Feature Film Category must have a predominantly non-English dialogue track, and ‘Lionheart’ despite being an unmistakably Nigerian film, did not tick this particular box.

The statement reads,“The budding Nigerian film industry is often faced with producing films with wide reach which often makes the recording dialogue predominantly English with non-English infusions in some cases. Going forward, the committee intends to submit films that are predominantly foreign language – non-English recording dialogue. We are therefore urging filmmakers to shoot with the intention of non-English recording dialogue as a key qualifying parameter to represent the country in the most prestigious award.

“The committee is working tirelessly in organizing workshops, seminars and using other available media to create robust awareness on the guidelines and requirements for an International Feature Film Entry. Lionheart passed on other technical requirements from story, to sound and picture except for language as adjudged by the Academy screening matrix, which was a challenge for the committee at a time. This is an eye-opener and step forward into growing a better industry.”