Presidential Election Tribunal declares Goodluck Jonathan winner of April 16, 2011 presidential election


The five-man Presidential Election Tribunal sitting as the Court of Appeal in Abuja has upheld the victory of President Goodluck Jonathan, in the April 16 presidential election.

The panel, headed by Justice K.B Akaahs, dismissed the petition filed by Congress for Progressive Change, for lacking merit and substance.

The tribunal held that going by the evidence before it, President Jonathan secured lawful votes cast in all the 36 states of the federation, including Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
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Meanwhile, President Jonathan has described the judgment as a triumph for democracy and an affirmation of the sovereignty of Nigerians.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Reuben Abati, the President praised the petitioners; the CPC and its Presidential Candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, for their respect for the rule of law.
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Similarly, President Jonathan yesterday swore in his four newly-appointed Special Advisers at the State House, Abuja.

They include Ben Obi, Special Adviser on Inter Party Affairs; Maryam Ali, Special Adviser on Inter-governmental Affairs and Ali Gulak, Special Adviser on Political Matters and Preye Ogbenobo, Special Adviser on Economic Affairs (Office of the Vice-President).

President Jonathan appealed to Nigerians to be ready and willing to accept changes introduced by government and designed to move the nation forward.

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Senate says it will need to examine the 2012 budget proposal to determine the extent of reduction of the budget allocation to the National Assembly.       

Reacting to a report that allocation to the legislature was cut by N5bn, Senate spokesman, Enyinnaya Abaribe, said it had yet to get any information on what had been done by the executive.

He said the Senate is in support of a reduction in the cost of governance, especially on overheads, so that more funds could be made available for capital expenditure.
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Meanwhile, Senate Committee on Power has given the Nigeria Customs Service two weeks to clear all the equipment belonging to the Nigeria Independent Power Project from the ports.

Senate Committee on Power directed that all the equipment should be cleared from and moved to the site of the projects.

Committee Chairman, Philip Aduda also directed that the status of all contractors involved in the power projects be published for the committee to follow up their progress.

Comptroller General of Customs, Abdullahi Diko, had told the committee that 17 containers allegedly auctioned, had been recovered and assured the committee that the remaining seven containers would be recovered by Friday.
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House of Representatives has says the National Health Insurance Scheme initiated during former President Olusegun Obasanjo’ administration has failed to live up to expectations of Nigerians.

The House has mandated its Health Committee to investigate the implementation of the scheme since inception with a view to making it more functional and accessible to Nigerians.

The decision to probe the scheme was sequel to a motion moved by Rasaq Bello-Osagie entitled: “Investigation into the activities of the National Health Insurance Scheme.
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Academic Staff Union of Universities has expressed hope that Federal Government would fulfill its promise contained in the Memorandum of Understanding signed in July.

ASUU President, Ukachukwu Awuzie said he is convinced government would respond positively.

According to Prof Awuzie, there will be no need for any strike if government shows strong signs of commitment and responds to their demands because ASUU as a union is not strike-crazy.
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A six–storey office complex at Apapa, Lagos, occupied by licensed customs agents, which was gutted by fire on Monday night, has collapsed.

The fire at the building, popularly known as NASCO House, was said to have been caused by an electrical fault on one of the floors.       

Reports say the fire also affected a branch of a commercial bank located on the ground floor.

Witnesses said the fire dealt a devastating blow to the 40-year old building.
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Lagos State Government has again warned that the law banning activities of cart pushers in the state is still in force.

Speaking on the activities of the agency for the Eld-el-Kabir, LAWMA Managing Director, Ola Oresanya said the zero tolerance declared on activities of cart pushers in Lagos, has been extended to those whose patronize them.

He said 350 Private Sector Participants Operators will be distributing free trash bags to residents, to enable them store extra waste that will be generated during the festive period.
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The Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria says tougher sanctions await clients and media organizations, who accept and air adverts from uncertified advertising practitioners.

APCON Registrar, Garba Bello, who spoke while inducting 145 newly-registered advertising practitioners, said those inducted were trained to practice and fulfill the mandate of the council.

Speaking with correspondent, Ijeoma Esek, one of the inductees, Amine Moussalli encouraged other media practitioners to register with APCON.
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FOREIGN NEWS

Kenya's military spokesman has warned the residents of 10 towns in Somalia via Twitter that they will be under attack continuously.

Maj Emmanuel Chirchir said bases of the al-Shabab militia were outside those towns, and that these camps would be their target.

Kenya sent troops into Somalia earlier this month as it blames the Islamist group for a spate of kidnappings. Al-Shabab, which is in control of most of the south, denies the allegations.
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Greece's cabinet has given unanimous backing to a controversial plan by Prime Minister George Papandreou to hold a referendum on a European Union debt rescue package.

He told an emergency cabinet meeting that a referendum would offer a clear mandate" for austerity measures demanded by other Eurozone members.

Stock markets recorded big drops amid shocked reactions in Eurozone capitals to the referendum announcement.

Mr Papandreou is due to meet European leaders in France today.
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BUSINESS

Central Bank Governor, Lamido Sanusi, says the apex bank is considering allowing the naira to depreciate further by setting new band of between N155 and N156 per dollar.

According to him, the CBN has been struggling to keep the naira within a band of three per cent above or below N150 per as oil prices declined and demand for imports surged.

He said the apex will give the naira few more days and see where it settles finally and then it will come out with a new transparent band.
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Action Congress of Nigeria has condemned the clamor by the Federal Government to set up the Sovereign Wealth Fund, describing it as illegal, fraudulent and anti-federalism.

In a statement by its National spokesman, Lai Mohammed, the party said there is absolutely no argument that can justify the creation of the Fund.       

It said any state governor who supports the creation of the fund does not understand what federalism is all about, and is therefore liable to impeachment by his or her State House of Assembly.
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ENTERTAINMENT

Prosecution counsel to Yoruba Baba Suwe, Bamidele Aturu has hailed the Lagos High Court ruling, granting conditional bail to the actor.

Barrister Aturu said the Justice Yetunde Idowu verdict showed high level of judicial responsibility and discretion.

He said the ruling is victory for the rule of law, stressing that this was the first time in the world that a man would be detained for over 20days without any substance found on him.
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SPORTS

FIFA has cleared two former England youth internationals Shola Ameobi and Victor Moses to play for Nigeria.

Nigeria Football Association applied for a switch to make them eligible for their country of birth.

NFF spokesman Ademola Olajire said FIFA has finally cleared them to play for Nigeria at international level.

Under FIFA rules, players who have represented one country at junior level can play for another at senior level if they meet the qualifying stipulations.
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Arsenal failed to secure the win they needed to ensure qualification for the Champions League as they were held to a draw by Marseille at the Emirates.

Meanwhile, Chelsea carried their inconsistent Premier League form into Europe as they were held to a disappointing 1-1 draw by Genk in Champions’League Group E.
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TODAY IN HISTORY

November 2, 1999 - Police imposed curfew on Ajegunle, a Lagos slum, following clashes between Yorubas and ljaws which claimed several lives.

ODD SIDE OF NEWS

Police in Oregon have arrested a drunken man who allegedly threatened relatives and fell through the ceiling of his family home.

Officers said they responded to the Portland home to a report of a man threatening his relatives with a gun while about 10 children and multiple adults were inside the home.

Investigators said the man, identified as Aaron Kinsey, aged 21, barricaded himself in the house's attic and fell through the ceiling while police were evacuating the home.

Kinsey was treated for minor injuries and charged with assault and harassment.