News

INEC Completes Distribution of Election Materials in Borno

Published

7 years ago

February 22, 2019

Eric

The Independent National Electoral Commission says it has completed the distribution of election materials to facilitate smooth conduct of Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly election in Borno.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Alhaji Mohammed Ibrahim, told the News Agency of Nigeria on Friday in Maiduguri that the commission distributed election materials across the 27 local government areas in the state between Thursday and Friday.

He explained that materials were sent to the 13 distant local government areas on Thursday, while the materials were transported to the remaining 14 local councils close to the state capital on Friday.

“We transported election materials and personnel to long distant council areas on Thursday, and we supplied the materials to Maiduguri and nearby areas on Friday.

“All arrangements for logistics, deployment of over 22,000 workers are completed and ready for the election.

“I inspected facilities at the Teachers Village, Internally Displaced Persons and other camps as well as polling units in Jere and Maiduguri Local Government Areas, to make corrections and ensure that all is set for the election,” the REC said.

Ibrahim said that the commission had adopted proactive measures to ensure that sensitive and non-sensitive election materials, as well as workers, were deployed to all the polling units in good time.

According to him, INEC registered more than 2.3 million voters for the 2019 elections in the state, but 160,863 Permanent Voter Cards were uncollected at the end of the collection exercise.

The REC said further that 409,833 IDPs were captured on the commission’s record of the total voters registered in the state.

Ibrahim explained that the commission had developed a framework and guidelines for IDPs to vote to enable them exercise their franchise.

He explained that the affected IDPs from eight local government areas of the state would vote in various camps located in Maiduguri and other communities in the state.

The REC listed the affected council areas as Abadam, Guzamala, Marte, Dikwa, Ngala, Kukawa, Mobbar and Kala Balge

(NAN)

News

Appeal Court Affirms Ruling Barring VIO from Impounding Vehicles, Fining Motorists

Published

4 days ago

December 4, 2025

Eric

The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Thursday upheld the judgment that stopped the Directorate of Road Traffic Services and Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) from seizing vehicles or imposing fines on motorists.

In a unanimous decision by a three-member panel, the appellate court found no basis to set aside the Federal High Court’s ruling of October 16, 2024, which restrained the VIO from harassing motorists.

The appeal filed by the VIO was dismissed for lacking merit. Justice Oyejoju Oyewumi delivered in the lead judgment.

The high court had earlier ruled, in a judgment by Justice Nkeonye Maha, that no law authorizes the VIO to stop motorists, impound vehicles, or impose penalties for alleged traffic offences.

The case arose from a fundamental rights suit (FHC/ABJ/CS/1695/2023) filed by lawyer Abubakar Marshal.

Marshal informed the court that VIO officials stopped him at Jabi in Abuja on December 12, 2023, and seized his vehicle without lawful reason. He asked the court to determine whether their actions violated his rights.

Justice Maha agreed and ordered the VIO and its agents not to impound vehicles or impose fines on motorists, describing the actions as unlawful. She held that only a court can impose fines or sanctions.

She ruled that the VIO’s conduct breached the applicant’s constitutional right to property under Section 42 of the 1999 Constitution and Article 14 of the African Charter. She further held that the VIO has no legal authority to seize vehicles or penalize motorists, as doing so infringes on rights to fair hearing, movement and presumption of innocence.

Although Marshal, represented by Femi Falana, SAN, requested ₦500 million in damages and a public apology, the court awarded ₦2.5 million.

The Directorate of Road Traffic Services, its Director, its Abuja Area Commander at the time (identified as Mr. Leo), team leader Solomon Onoja, and the FCT Minister were listed as respondents.

They appealed the decision, but the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal.

News

Tinubu Nominates Ibas, Dambazau, Enang, Ohakim As Ambassadors

Published

4 days ago

December 4, 2025

Eric

President Bola Tinubu has nominated Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, the immediate past sole administrator of Rivers State and a former Chief of Naval Staff, as a non-career ambassador.

Tinubu also nominated Ita Enang, a former senator; Chioma Ohakim, former First Lady of Imo State; and Abdulrahman Dambazau, former Minister of Interior and ex-Chief of Army Staff, as non-career ambassadors.

News

Senate Confirms Chris Musa As New Defence Minister

Published

5 days ago

December 3, 2025

Eric

The Nigerian Senate has confirmed General Christopher Musa, the former Chief of Defence Staff, as the country’s new Minister of Defence.

The announcement was contained in a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu.

Musa, who retired from the military just 40 days ago, was nominated by President Tinubu on Tuesday to succeed former Defence Minister Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, who stepped down on health grounds.

According to Onanuga’s statement, the Senate approved Musa’s appointment on Wednesday through a voice vote, following a thorough screening session during which lawmakers posed numerous questions.

“Senate confirms Gen. Christopher Musa as Minister of Defence The Senate has confirmed the former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, as the Minister of Defence. The Senate confirmed Musa on Wednesday via a voice vote after a rigorous screening session in which lawmakers asked him many questions,” the statement read in part.