News & Announcements

In response to a new round of drone and missile attacks by Russia against Ukraine, explosions occurred overnight in Kyiv, the nation’s capital.

According to the BBC, air raid sirens were heard throughout Ukraine as Kyiv mayor Vitaliy Klitschko announced that five people had been hurt in the “biggest” kamikaze drone strike to date.

The attack on the southern Odesa district claimed the life of one person, while the Ukrainian Red Cross reported damage to their warehouse.

It was the fourth strike on Kyiv in eight days, and it took place just one day before Russia celebrated Victory Day.

The yearly celebration honors the defeat of Nazi Germany by the Soviet Union during World War II, a battle with which the Kremlin has illegitimately attempted to draw comparisons ever since it began its invasion of Ukraine last year.

Following a break in recent months in Russian assaults on civilian targets, during which time Kyiv went days without an attack, Moscow has increased its air raids during the past week in anticipation of an anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive.

The Ukrainian military reported that Iranian-made Shahed kamikaze drones swarming over the nation were used in the most recent Russian raids, which lasted for more than four hours and were launched shortly after midnight.

Russia launched around 60 drones, according to Klitschko, who called it the “biggest” drone attack to date.

The remaining 36 drones had been destroyed over Kyiv, he continued, but five persons had been hurt by drone debris that had fallen to the ground.

In Kaduna State’s Chikun Local Government Area, terrorists who disrupted church services on Sunday have kidnapped at least 40 worshipers.

15 of the kidnapped worshipers, according to Rev. Joseph John Hayab, Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Kaduna State, have returned to their respective families.

On Monday, Kaduna journalists received word that “about 40 people were on Sunday abducted by gunmen during a Church service at Bege Baptist Church, Madala along Buruku Baringi road in Chikun local government area of Kaduna state.”

“Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Kaduna state chapter, Rev. John  Joseph Hayab said the worshippers were in the Sunday service in the Church when around 9:30am they heard gun shots very close to the Church. The gunmen attacked the Church and went away with 40 worshippers.”

“Along the way, somehow 15 of the kidnapped persons returned remaining the rest 25 who are presently in captivity without any word from their abductors.”

“Eforts are being made to get in contact with the abductors concerning the remaining people and we  pray that the abductors would be merciful to release the remaining 25 back to their families.”

DSP Mohammad Jalige, the Kaduna State Police Command’s spokesperson, said he would get in touch with the DPO of the impacted area and get back to people.

The Action Alliance has withdrawn their petition against Bola Tinubu, the incoming president.

This decision was made during the current pre-hearing on Monday in Abuja at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.

The petitioners said that their actual candidate Solomon Okanigbuan was left off of the list posted on the Independent National Electoral Commission’s website.

The Action Alliance was represented in court by Solomon Okanigbuan, the party’s presidential candidate, and Adekunle Omo-aje, the chairman of the party, who made the announcement.

Bola Tinubu’s representative, Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong, introduced himself. Lalong could not, according to the court, represent Tinubu; only the APC could.

Oba Maduabuchi then made an appearance announcement for the AA party.

Malachi Umuebe also confirmed his appearance for the same party, which caused confusion.

However, Maduabuchi remained adamant in his position as the party’s spokesman and asked the court for permission to completely withdraw the petition.

Speaking, he urged that the party’s name be removed from the petition on the grounds that the AA had not given its consent to be included.

He cited the Court of Appeal judgment which according to him said, “You people are not even members of Action Alliance adding that he would not like to drag the court into the matter.

“My prayers are that upon withdrawal, the petition be dismissed adding that “I have been served by the respondents that they are not opposing.”

Responding, counsel for the respondent, Abubakar Mahmoud said, “We have no objection, my Lord.”

In a brief ruling, Justice Tsammani dismissed the petition as requested.

“The petition is hereby dismissed,” the justice concluded.

The AA has been embroiled in a tussle over the party’s leadership.

The Action Peoples Party and the Labour Party’s appeals to the Presidential Election appeals Tribunal in Abuja were postponed on Monday to May 10, 2023.

The parties are contesting Bola Tinubu’s declaration as the victor of the February 25 presidential election on behalf of the ruling All Progressive Congress.

The APP is contesting the results of the presidential election in the petition with the file number CA/ABJ/PEPC/02/2022 on the grounds of anomalies, including alleged tampering with election results.

Additionally, Tinubu’s victory is being contested by the APP, the petition’s sole applicant, on the grounds that “the first respondent was not qualified to stand for the said election having knowingly supplied false information,” including the alleged falsification of age and educational credentials.

Furthermore, it said that “the first respondent was not duly elected by a majority of lawfully cast votes at the election.”

The party said that the Independent National Electoral Commission’s officials engaged in corrupt behavior and that voter inducement was another practice that, among others, altered the results of the elections. The APP also claimed that “monumental vote buying” was a feature of the election.

According to the party, “the overvoting took place under the watchful eyes of agents of the third respondent.”

The APP’s petition was called after the Action Alliance withdrew and the petition was subsequently dismissed, and the parties announced appearances.

Peter Abang, the Action Peoples Party’s national legal adviser, and Obed Agu, the party’s legal representative, both made appearance announcements.

Wole Olanipekun announced the appearances of Bola Tinubu, the APC, and INEC for the respondents, as well as those of Lateef Fagbemi and Abubakar Mahmoud.

Then, Mahmoud, the attorney for INEC, notified the court of his client’s ongoing petitions in response to the APP’s petition, while Fagbemi, the attorney for the APC, informed the court of his preliminary opposition to the APP’s case.

In order to continue the hearing, the court continued the APP’s petition until Wednesday, May 10.

By midday on Wednesday, after the APP’s petition had been postponed, the Labour Party’s petition and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, had been called up.

Following Obi’s introduction as the first petitioner in the case, the parties made their appearances known.

The LP and Peter Obi, its presidential candidate, are contesting the results of the presidential election that took place on February 25 on the grounds that Tinubu was ineligible to run “for an offence involving dishonesty, namely narcotics trafficking imposed by the United States District Court.”

They also mentioned a failure to follow INEC norms and electoral regulations.

Obiora Ifoh, the national publicity secretary of the Labour Party, represented the LP, May Agbamuche-Mbu represented INEC, and Simon Lalong, the governor of Plateau State, represented the APC.

While Mahmoud served as the attorney for the electoral commission, Livy Uzoukwu represented Obi.

Olanipekun and Fagbemi kept up appearances for Tinubu, Kashim Shettima, the vice president-elect, and the APC, respectively.

Peter Obi’s legal representative, Uzoukwu, said that their answers to the questions were submitted on April 22, 2023.

“We adopt and rely on them in this pretrial proceedings.”

Mahmoud, the attorney for INEC, informed the court that the electoral body had submitted its answers to the pre-hearing inquiries.

Tinubu’s attorney, Olanipekun, also let the court know that his client had submitted his responses to the pre-hearing inquiries.

He said, “We have filed our answers on the 3rd of May 2023 and my Noble Lords under paragraph 14 we have also listed the application subject to the preliminary objection in the reply.”

He adopted the answers therein.

The APC’s attorney, Fagbemi, added that he had submitted responses on behalf of his client to the court’s pre-hearing inquiries.

The court then postponed consideration of Obi’s petition until May 10th, Wednesday.

In the Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State, a Sport Utility Vehicle smashed a tricycle carrying a family of four on Sunday, killing a 10-year-old who has yet to be recognized.

According to information obtained, the incident took place near the Idowu Egba end of the road about 7 am.

It was discovered that the driver of the SUV with the license plate KTU 536 AL was traveling at full speed toward the Igando part of the neighborhood when he lost control.

Then, he skidded across the center line and struck two commercial buses and a trike that were going the other way.

The youngster passed away on the trike right away, while the commercial vehicles were only slightly impacted. Other passengers suffered serious injuries and were taken urgently to a neighboring hospital.

Dotun Oyefeso, an eyewitness, reported that the victims were on their way to church when the tragedy occurred.

“The family hired the tricycle rider on Governors Road to take them to their church around the Isheri Olofin area. The couple was seated behind with their two boys and when they got to the sharp bend immediately after Idowu Egba, the SUV crossed from the other side of the road and hit them. The impact of the collision threw the tricycle and the occupants across the drainage by the roadside,” he said.

One of the commercial bus drivers, who only gave his name as Francis, claimed that the SUV nearly hit his bus head-on before ramming into the tricycle.

Before the SUV struck him, Blessing Amajir, the other commercial bus driver, claimed he was also traveling to church with his family.

The Chief Registrar of the Court of Appeal, Haruna Tsammani, Justice Stephen Adah of the Court of Appeal Asaba division, Justice Misitura Bolaji-Yusuf of the Court of Appeal, also of the Asaba Division, Justice Boloukuoromo Ugoh of the Kano division, and Justice Abba Mohammed of the Ibadan Court of Appeal will preside over the various petitions that will be brought before the Presidential Petition Court today.

Justice Haruna Tsammani promised that justice will be carried out shortly before the five-member panel of justices, which was to meet and be presided over by the presiding justice of the PEPC, convened.

Justice Tsammani explained, “We are determined to look at the matter dispassionately and give justice to whoever deserves justice.”

He noted that the tribunal would consider the substance of each case over technicalities so that “whoever leaves here will be satisfied that justice has been done.”

He cautioned parties against making irrational requests that would stall the legal process.

On the grounds that the Independent National Electoral Commission’s rules and the electoral laws were not followed, five political parties and their candidates have each challenged the results of the presidential election held on February 25.

As further disclosed by the presiding judge, “the petitions to be considered today during the pre-hearing would be the first three petitions while the 4th and 5th petitions can take off tomorrow.”

The Action Alliance party and Solomon Okanigbuan, the party’s standard bearer, submitted CA/PEPC/01/2023; the Action People’s Party, as the only petitioner, filed CA/PEPC/02/2023; and the Labour Party and Peter Obi, the party’s presidential candidate, filed CA/PEP/03/2023.

Until the pre-hearing is over, he stated that the cases would be switched about.

“Then we will alternate until we finish the pre-hearing,” Tsammani remarked further.

At 10:30 a.m., the court reconvenes.

In the southern Indian state of Kerala, a crowded tourist boat capsized, killing at least 22 passengers.

According to the BBC, as rescue operations began on Monday and the vessel was dragged from murky seas, the death toll may increase.

According to reports from Abdul Nazar, junior superintendent of police for the Malappuram district, the double-decker boat capsized on Sunday night due to overcrowding.

When it capsized last night, the boat was apparently carrying 50 people, or double its capacity.

Using the hashtag #sympathies, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was “pained by the loss of lives” and offered his condolences.

According to local media, a large number of passengers were trapped under the boat, and the darkness hampered rescue efforts. Women and children who were on vacation from school were among the victims.

According to Kerala’s sports and fisheries minister, V Abdurahiman, at least four of the patients who were transported to the hospital are in severe condition.

According to survivors who spoke to local media, many of the passengers were not wearing life jackets at the time of the accident.

Authorities are investigating what caused the accident, so it wasn’t immediately known how many passengers were missing.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has assured Nigerians that the fire that occurred at the commission’s Enugu Zonal Command on Friday, May 5, will not have an impact on its activities.

Dr. George Ekpungu, the commission’s secretary, provided this guarantee on Sunday while visiting the Command for an inspection.

Speaking to journalists after giving them a tour of the facilities damaged by the fire, Ekpungu expressed his relief that neither the fire disaster nor the loss of life it caused did not impede the commission’s ability to carry out its important tasks.

According to reports, the fire event was caused by a surge in the public power source.

The commission’s secretary did point out that the EFCC would not make any definitive statements regarding the inferno’s cause until the ongoing inquiry is over.

He said, “We cannot at this point in time know the exact cause of the fire but the preliminary investigation reveals it was a spark. We are grateful to God that no life was lost and our critical components of operations were saved. For now, we don’t know the cause of the inferno but the investigation will tell us the cause of the fire and that will be done by professionals. We thank God that in the records, our armoury, suspects, detainees and every other thing critical to our work are safe.

“And you know EFCC is ICT sophisticated. Whatever we have here, we have it at head office. So, we have a way of recovering a lot of things. So, since the coming of our chairman, we have been digitalising our processes. What happened here will not affect our operations.”

Festus Keyamo, a spokesman for the disbanded All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, chastised the opposition Peoples Democratic Party on Sunday night for attempting to influence the judiciary in advance of Monday’s hearing at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.

Following the PDP’s accusations that the ruling party was frantically trying to sway the panel’s decision, the latest development has taken place just hours later.

At a news conference led by Mr. Debo Ologunagba, the national publicity secretary of the opposition party, the accusations were aired.

According to the PDP image maker, the APC is planning to undermine the court by using strong financial incentives and fabricated claims of improper behavior against judicial officials.

In a statement released in Abuja in response to the assertion, Keyamo revealed that the PDP is gaining sympathy before the hearing on Monday by employing cheap blackmail and reverse psychology.

He said, “The PDP’s press conference today, making all sorts of allegations regarding an alleged plan by the APC to influence the outcome of the Court’s proceedings in the Presidential Election Petitions over which hearings would begin tomorrow in Abuja is nothing but just hot air.

“PDP and its sister company, the LP have been the ones sponsoring surrogates to ‘speak out’ against the outcome of the largely free and fair 2023 Presidential elections when their cases are still pending in Court. That is contempt of court and we are within our rights to correct the wrong impressions about the elections being created before Nigerians and the international community. How they see that as an ‘attack’ is comical.

“In fact, these Siamese twins of PDP and LP (we all saw Obi genuflecting before his boss, Atiku, yesterday in Yenagoa) are the ones issuing veiled threats to our judiciary and judicial officers, either by themselves or through their surrogates, be they in religious circles or in civil society or the labour unions. So, by pretentiously raising this so-called alarm, they are playing a game of ‘reverse psychology’.

“In all the States where the PDP won and the LP also won (both Senate, Governorship and the others), INEC have filed their responses in court defending those declarations of the winners as correct. To the uninformed, they should be alerted that it is the legal duty of INEC to stand by their declarations in court and what they are doing in the case of APC in the Presidential Election Petition is not strange. They should have also queried INEC for defending them in those States where they won.

“This panic Press Conference today is a clear attempt by the PDP to play to the gallery. Instead of going to court tomorrow to begin to prove its case, it has resorted to cheap and emotional blackmail. The allegations are infantile, lacking in substance, and devoid of proof. Nigerians should dismiss them with a wave of the hand, please.”

The Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport’s runway, which serves Abuja, has been reopened for flight operations, according to the aviation minister Hadi Sirika.

Due to the Max Air flight carrying passengers from Adamawa State experiencing two tire bursts during landing, the runway was closed for six hours.

On Sunday, the minister announced via his official Twitter account that the plane had been pulled off the runway and that it had passed inspection and been given the all-clear to be used.

He said in tweet, ” The Max Air aircraft has been towed away, and the runway has been swept, inspected and certified. The airport is now reopened for operations. Well done management and staff of Abuja. Thanks to all our customers for their patience and understanding. We regret the inconvenience.”