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Oyetola, APC, INEC urge Appeal Court to uphold Osun election
….Court reserves judgments on four appeals
The Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have asked the Court of Appeal in Abuja to uphold the victory of Oyetola and APC in the governorship election held in the state on September 22 and 27, 2018.
Their request is contained in three separate appeals they filed against the majority judgment given by the Osun State Governorship Election Tribunal on March 22, 2019.
The tribunal had, in the majority judgment, given by two of its three members upheld the petition by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the election, Senator Ademola Adeleke and voided Oyetola and APC’s victory.
In their appeals, argued on Wednesday, Oyetola, the APC and INEC prayed the five-man panel of the Court of Appeal, led by Justice Jummai Sankey, to set aside the majority decision of the tribunal, uphold their appeals and dismiss the October 16, 2018 petition by Adeleke and the PDP.
They equally urged the court to dismiss the cross-appeal filed by Adeleke, on the grounds that it is unmeritorious.
In the appeal by Oyetola, his lawyer, Wole Olanipekun (SAN) faulted the reasons given by the tribunal in reaching the judgment appealed against, arguing that the decision was not supported by the evidence led by the petitioners.
He urged the court to void the judgment because the judge, Justice Peter Obiorah who wrote and delivered it, did not participate in all the proceedings of the tribunal.
Olanipekun noted that “the judge, who did not sit, came to write the leading judgment and reviewed the evidence of the February 6, 2019 proceedings where he was absent.
“Adjudication is like video watching. It cannot be done by proxy. The judge cannot analyse the evidence of a witness, whose demeanor he did not observe. The judgement should be declared a nullity on this ground alone”
Olanipekun, who said he and some named senior lawyers were at the tribunal on February 6, 2019, faulted the argument by lawyer to Adeleke and the PDP that it was not clear from the record of proceedings, whether or not Justice Obiorah was absent on the particular day.
He argued that the judge’s failure to sigh at the end of the proceedings on February 6, 2019 was enough evidence to justify the appellant’s claim that Justice Obiorah was absent on the day in question.
Olanipekun also faulted the tribunal’s cancellation of results in 17 polling units in the state, and noted that the petitioners did not tender any result of the election before the tribunal.
“If there was no result before the tribunal, the tribunal could not have cancelled what was not before it. Since no single result was submitted and could not have been cancelled,” he said.
He argued that the tribunal went beyond its powers by annulling results in the 17 polling units in order to justify its the judgement it gave in favour of the petitioners.
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Lawyer to the APC, Akin Olujinmi (SAN), while arguing the party’s appeal, contended that the tribunal was wrong to have allowed the petition, which was incurably incompetent.
“The 1st and 2nd respondents sought to be declared winner of the election, held on September 22, 2018, which was declared inconclusive. They also asked the tribunal to void the rerun election held on September 27, 2018, because they believed it was unlawful.
“You cannot say you should be declared a winner on the election that you said was unlawful and void,” he said.
Olujinmi accused the tribunal of exceeding its jurisdiction when it engaged in amending the petitioners’ reliefs to make them grantable.
“No tribunal has the jurisdiction to reframe, amend or formulate reliefs for the petitioners.
“On realising that the reliefs could not be granted, they (members of the tribunal) amended the reliefs and granted it by themselves.
“We are saying the tribunal has no power to amend a petitioner’s reliefs. The much they ought to do, on realising that the reliefs could not be granted, was to have dismissed the petition.”
He further faulted the tribunal for holding that the petitioners proved its case of non-compliance in respect of the polling units where it voided results.
Olujinmi added: “The tribunal was wrong. They cannot use the allegation of non-compliance directed at the election of September 27 against the election of September 22.
“The tribunal relied on certified true copy of Form EC8A, which they said were dumped on the tribunal. This was what they still relied on to nullify results in the polling units in which they said malpractices were proved. The so called non-complaince did not affect the result of the election,” Olujinmi said.
He argued that the tribunal went outside its powers and contravened Section 140(2) of the Electoral Act when it engaged in the deduction of votes from the outcome of the election to arrive at the decision it gave.
Lawyer to INEC, Yusuf Ali (SAN) who argued in similar manner, contended that the tribunal erred in its majority judgment, particularly as regards the issue of non-compliance.
He noted that the tribunal, having found that accreditation was properly done and that all witnesses agreed that the votes scored were not affected by the omissions noted in some result sheets, ought not to have voided any results.
Citing Section 134 (b) of the Electoral Act, Ali argued that non-compliance means not compliance with the provision of the Act, not an act of omission on the part of INEC officials, which are not contrary to the provision of the Act.
Ali also argued that since the tribunal held that the petitioners did not prove over-voting and non-compliance, it ought not to have turned around to void votes in some polling units.
On the question of why INEC did not call it witnesses at the tribunal, Ali said it was unnecessary because the petitioners did not discharge the burden of prove placed on them by the law to warrant INEC to call fresh witnesses.
Ali added: “There is no law that said INEC most call witnesses, since the petitioners could not discharge the responsibility of proving their declarative reliefs, there was no need for INEC to have called its own witnesses.”
Lawyer to Adeleke and the PDP, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) faulted the three appeals and the arguments proffered by Olanipekun, Olujinmi and Ali.
Ikpeazu argued that the tribunal was right in its decision to have declared Adeleke and his party as the winner of the election.
He faulted the argument that Justice Obiorah did not participate in all the proceedings of the tribunal, arguing that there was no sufficient evidence to that effect.
Ikpeazu urged the court to dismiss the three appeals and uphold the judgment of the tribunal.
Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN), who argued Adeleke’s cross-appeal, urged the court to allow his client’s appeal and reverse the portion of the judgment, where the tribunal rejected the evidence the petitioners lead in relation to six polling units.
Ogunwumiju argued that the tribunal wrongly excluded some of its evidence, because while it called 23 witnesses to prove it’s allegation of non-compliance in 23 polling units, the tribunal only upheld 17 where it voided elections.
Olanipekun, Olujinmi and Ali argued that the cross appeal was incompetent on several grounds and urged the tribunal to reject it.
At the conclusion of proceedings that lasted over eight hours, the presiding judge, Justice Sankey said judgments would be reserved till a later date.
She told parties that the date of the judgment would be communicated to them by the court’s Registry.
Other members of the court’s five-man panel are: Justices Abubakar Datti Yahaya, Ita George Mbaba, Isaiah Olufemi Akeju and Bitrus Sanga.
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Ondo Sports Council Chairman Declares 2026 ADU Unity Cup Open as Ijapo Ages FC Edges Odigbo LG FC
The Chairman of the Ondo State Sports Council, Hon. (Coach) Abimbola Oladimeji, has officially declared the 2026 ADU Unity Cup open, marking the commencement of another edition of the football competition aimed at promoting unity, sportsmanship and grassroots football development.
The opening ceremony attracted football enthusiasts and supporters who gathered to witness the start of the tournament and celebrate the spirit of competition among participating teams.
In the opening match, Ijapo Ages FC secured a narrow 1–0 victory over Odigbo LG FC in an entertaining encounter, giving the team a winning start to its campaign in the competition.
The ADU Unity Cup continues to provide a platform for players to showcase their talents, foster unity among communities and contribute to the development of football at the grassroots level.
A forensic investigator with the State Security Service, Segun Kayode, on Tuesday alleged that former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, and some of his associates earmarked $600,000 to settle officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and intermediaries.
Kayode, the first prosecution witness in the ongoing trial, made the allegation while testifying before the Kaduna State High Court sitting in Kawo, Kaduna, presided over by Justice Darius Khobo.
The witness said $500,000 and $100,000 were allegedly set aside for the payments, adding that forensic audio recordings captured conversations involving El-Rufai and some of his suspected associates.
According to him, the recorded conversations centred on alleged efforts to frustrate an EFCC investigation into a company identified as Singularity.
Kayode named a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, AU Mustapha (SAN); Jimi Lawal; and Bashir El-Rufai among those allegedly mentioned in the conversations.
He told the court that Mustapha and Lawal were allegedly directed to meet one Ahmadu Sule to obtain a template previously used to liquidate another company, with the intention of applying a similar process to Singularity.
The investigator further alleged that the discussions included plans to liquidate the company in Nigeria and Mauritius, where it was reportedly under investigation by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit.
Kayode also alleged that the recordings contained discussions about preventing the EFCC from investigating IHS, which he said was listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
The allegations were presented as part of the prosecution’s evidence against the former governor.
The proceedings lasted nearly eight hours, from 12:26 pm to 8:18 pm, with about two hours devoted to playing the recorded conversations.
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Earlier, El-Rufai’s lead counsel, Paul Erokoro (SAN), objected to Kayode’s testimony, arguing that the witness’s name and summary of evidence were not included in the prosecution’s proof of evidence.
Erokoro argued that the omission undermined his client’s right to a fair hearing, insisting that the defence was entitled to know the evidence it was expected to answer.
However, counsel for the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Ayodeji Adedipe (SAN), told the court that Kayode was a subpoenaed witness and that the omission did not automatically render his testimony inadmissible.
Adedipe said the subpoena was issued and signed by the court on June 30, 2026, adding that the defence would have the opportunity to cross-examine the witness.
The prosecution counsel also cited judicial authorities in support of his argument.
In his response, Erokoro maintained that the issue was not whether the witness could testify but whether the defence had been adequately informed to prepare for his evidence.
He relied on Section 210 of the applicable Administration of Criminal Justice Law, 2017, and argued that the prosecution should have served the subpoena on the defence.
In its ruling, the court acknowledged that the witness’s name and summary of evidence were absent from the proof of evidence but held that the records showed he had been subpoenaed.
Justice Khobo ruled that the omission did not automatically make the testimony inadmissible, provided the defence was allowed to cross-examine the witness.
The judge consequently overruled the objection and directed Kayode to continue his testimony.
After the witness submitted a hard copy of his findings to the court clerk, the defence complained that the document should have been served earlier to enable it to study the contents.
The judge, however, ruled that the defence could obtain a certified true copy of the document admitted as Exhibit One for examination.
The court adjourned the case until November 30 and December 1, 2026, for continuation of the cross-examination, following agreement by the prosecution and defence.
Our correspondence reported that El-Rufai arrived at the court premises at about 11:50 am, ahead of the scheduled noon hearing, amid tight security.
He was accompanied by the African Democratic Congress governorship candidate in Kaduna State, Isa Ashiru.
His appearance followed an order by Justice Khobo directing the ICPC to produce him in court for the resumed proceedings.
The previous sitting was adjourned on Monday after the former governor was absent following information that he had requested access to his personal physician to review medical test results.
The resumed hearing came days after the Court of Appeal in Kaduna dismissed El-Rufai’s appeal challenging the refusal of bail by the state high court.
In its judgment delivered on October 9, the appellate court upheld the lower court’s decision, ruling that the former governor had failed to establish sufficient grounds to warrant interference with the refusal of bail.
El-Rufai has been in ICPC custody since February 18, 2026, over allegations of financial misconduct linked to his administration of Kaduna State between 2015 and 2023.
The Kaduna State House of Assembly had petitioned the ICPC over the alleged diversion and mismanagement of more than N423bn in public funds during his eight-year administration.
The former governor is facing multiple cases involving allegations of money laundering, abuse of office, fraud and other financial offences before different courts.
He has denied wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty to the charges. The allegations remain subject to judicial determination.
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The Federal Government has announced ten new measures to reduce the pain Nigerians feel from high fuel prices. It insists, however, that none of them brings back the old fuel subsidy for everyone.
The measures were presented by the Federal Ministry of Finance at a press briefing on Thursday, 8 October 2026, titled “Fuel Prices and the Subsidy Question.” The government admitted its earlier steps fell short. According to the presentation, “These measures do not fully relieve the pressure households feel today, so the government is going further.”
The government described the new package as “Help that is targeted, temporary and affordable.” In plain terms, the help is meant for those who need it most, will not last forever, and is designed so that the country can pay for it.
Cheaper petrol and more cash support
The first measure is a discount on petrol sold at NNPC filling stations. The discount will last for the next 30 days, and public transporters, such as commercial bus and taxi operators, will get priority. The government hopes this will help keep transport fares from rising further.
The government also plans to increase cash transfers to vulnerable households. Small businesses will get cheaper loans, known as subsidised credit, to help them cope with higher running costs.
Steps to keep pump prices steady
To protect Nigerians from sudden jumps in world oil prices, the government will sell crude oil in advance to local refineries. This is expected as oil production rises and crude previously committed to other purposes becomes available. The presentation says this will shield “pump prices from global swings.” ShopAfrican Art
The government will also introduce what it calls price modulation. Under this plan, a negotiated limit of ₦1,350 per litre will apply to the ex-gantry price (the price at the depot) or the landing cost (the cost of bringing the fuel into the country). The limit will be reviewed every month, so it can change as conditions change.
A National Strategic Fuel Reserve will also be set up. Fuel from the reserve will be released “under published rules when disruption or hoarding threatens supply.” This means the government can step in when fuel becomes scarce or when marketers hold back products to push up prices.
Lowering the cost of transport and doing business
The government says part of what Nigerians pay for transport comes from illegal charges on the roads. It will work with state governments under the 2025 tax laws to rein in road taxes that push up fares.
It will also speed up the rollout of compressed natural gas (CNG) as a cheaper alternative to petrol, again working with the states. Transporters who benefit from cheaper fuel are expected to “pass savings on in lower fares” to passengers.
Other steps target the cost of goods and services more broadly. The government will cut regulatory costs, described as red tape, that “feed into the price of goods and services.” It will also ease traffic in cities to save fuel, and it will use NIPOST address codes to reduce the cost of moving goods from one place to another.
One measure has not yet been decided. The government is considering an excess profit tax on operators it says exploit consumers. If it goes ahead, the money raised will fund transport support and vouchers for low-income earners.
No return to blanket subsidy
The ministry ended the presentation with a clear message, “None of these measures restores a blanket subsidy.” The government is therefore not returning to the old system, where fuel was sold cheaply to everyone. It says its new approach will reach “the people who need help without putting the wider economy at risk.”
The announcement comes as many households as possible, and businesses struggle with the high cost of transport, food, and other goods linked to fuel prices. How much relief Nigerians feel will depend on how quickly and effectively these measures are carried out, and whether transporters and marketers pass the benefits on to consumers.
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