Supreme Court Sacks Bayelsa Governor-Elect, Lyon, Declares PDP Winner [LEADERSHIP]

The Supreme Court on Thursday nullified the election of Bayelsa State governor-elect, David Lyon and his running mate, Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo, who were already preparing to be inaugurated into office.

A five-man panel of the apex court led by Justice Mary Peter-Odili ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to withdraw the Certificate of Return issued to the All Progressives Congress’ candidates as the winners of the November 16, 2019 governorship election in the state.

Uncertainty Surrounds Bayelsa Gov As Supreme Court Sacks APC Lyon [PUNCH]

The Bayelsa State All Progressives  Congress governorship candidate David Lyon’s hope of assumption of office on Friday (today)  as the fifth governor of the state was on Thursday dashed by a judgment of the Supreme Court.

The APC and the Peoples Democratic Party were shocked by the judgment, which created uncertainty in Bayelsa State as both parties disagreed on its interpretation.

In the Supreme Court, there were signs that both parties did not expect any surprise as only a handful of their supporters were in the scanty courtroom when the case was heard and judgment later delivered.

Nigerian Who Finds Cure For Coronavirus, Lassa Fever’ll Get N36m [PUNCH]

The Federal Government has announced a N36m cash prize for any Nigerian that finds cure for coronavirus and Lassa fever.

Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, is currently ravaging China, with about a thousand deaths so far recorded, while many others are infected.

Lassa fever is a seasonal disease that usually breaks out in parts of Nigeria during the dry season and most infections usually result in death.

Speaking on Thursday at an event held to mark the retirement from service of A. O. Oyesefo, a former director of the Department of Chemical Technology, the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, said, “I challenge all Nigerian scientists to go out and find cures for coronavirus and Lassa fever.

South-West Govs, IG Adopt Model For Amotekun [PUNCH]

The South-West regional security operation, code-named Operation Amotekun, has been adopted by governors of all the states in the South-West. It has also received the endorsement of the Inspector-General of Police, Muhammed Adamu.

The South-West Governors’ Forum told Adamu in Lagos on Thursday that the development would facilitate efforts at securing local communities.

The forum spoke through its Chairman and Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, at the South-West Security Meeting on Community Policing convened at the instance of the IGP. [PUNCH]

From Omehia To Lyon: Tales Of Interlopers In State House [THE NATION]

THE law, as it is said, is an ass. It depends on where the pendulum of justice swings. As governorship battles shift from the ballot box to the court, judicial verdicts are unpredictable. Yet, verdict of the Supreme Court is final.

Yesterday, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may have won a technical victory at the apex court over the All Progressives Congress (APC), which actually won the poll.

The crux of the matter is that APC’s David Lyon may have forfeited the right to be sworn in today to his PDP challenger, Duoye Diri.

The court declared that Lyon was not validly nominated since his running mate’s academic certificates cannot be legally authenticated.

The history of the Fourth Republic is replete with the fall of some impostors from power, either due to faulty nominations or rigging.

Why Supreme Court Voided Lyon’s Election As Bayelsa Governor [THE NATION]

 

THE Supreme Court on Thursday voided the election of Bayelsa State Governor-elect, David Lyon, on the grounds that his running mate, Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo, presented false personal information to contest the  November 16, 2019  governorship election in the state.

A five-man panel of the court led by Justice Mary Peter-Odili, held in a judgment that Degi-Ermienyo,  was not qualified to have contested the election with Lyon.

The court therefore  affirmed the November 12, 2019 judgment by Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court(FHC),   Abuja  which disqualified  Degi-Eremienyo   for submitting forged certificates with multiple names to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The apex court set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal on the case, which had reversed the decision of the FHC.

Justice Ejembi Ekwo, who read the apex court   lead judgment, held that the deputy governor-elect  presented forged certificates to secure clearance for APC deputy governorship ticket.

Ekwo added that  in view of the discrepancies in the names on  the certificates submitted by Degi-Eremienyo to INEC, he was not qualified for the election.

Wigs, Chocolate, Getaway On Lover’s Day [THE NATION]

St. Valentine’s Day, which is celebrated worldwide today, means different things to different people. To an average young person, it provides the opportunity to explore their sexuality. To clerics, it is a day young people should be dissuaded from taking decisions they will live to regret and to business owners, it is an opportunity to make some money, writes CHINAKA OKORO.

 The British Airways (BA) considers St Valentine’s Day special. The organisation, some days back, unveilled a special fare package for a getaway.

From February 12,  the BA started offering Valentine’s fares starting from N240,000  return from Abuja and about N300,000 from Lagos to London and Europe.

It will end on Sunday. It is part of the airline’s   plans for its passengers to experience the romance of Paris, spring a surprise getaway to the Eternal City or hold hands watching a special screening of Pretty Woman at the Rivoli Ballroom in London during Valentine.

Killings: Enough Is Enough –Lawan [SUN]

Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, yesterday, said the National Assembly would no longer tolerate the killings of Nigerians by criminals threatening the security of the country.

He demanded the restructuring of security architecture of the Nigeria Police even as he called for improvement in the equipment of police training institutions.

Lawan stated this in his remarks while entertaining a Bill for an Act to Repeal the Police Act and enact the Nigeria Police Bill 2019 to provide for a framework for the police.

“We are in a very unusual time. When Nigeria was at war at one stage, there was rigorous recruitment of soldiers because the situation demanded that. I think we are in a similar situation and it is only fair for us as leaders of this country to take this challenge. This bill should consider the restructuring of the command and structure of the Police.

Politicians Paid Miscreants To Boo Buhari In Maiduguri – Presidency [SUN]

Garba Shehu, Presidential spokesman, has accused  some politicians  of masterminding the booing of President Muhammadu Buhari by miscreants during his visit to  Borno State  on Wednesday. 

Buhari was booed by residents  during  on a condolence visit to the state over the killing of 30 citizens at Auno on Sunday.

In an interview with the Hausa service of the BBC, in Abuja, yesterday, Shehu  said only miscreants protested against the president’s visit.

“I was part of the delegation that entered Maiduguri right from the airport to the palace of the Shehu of Borno. The people came out to say thank you and welcome us,” Shehu said.

Bandits, Kidnappers Taking Over National Parks, Senate Cries Out [SUN]

The Senate, yesterday, raised the alarm over the infiltration of national parks by bandits, kidnappers and cattle rustlers lamenting that the development had resulted in the killing of rangers.

The Senate, therefore, called for the mainstreaming of the National Park Service into the national security architecture in line with the resolution of the 12th National Council on Environment.

It urged relevant security agencies  to be involved in park protection and surveillance, as well as in the training of park rangers in the handling of fire arms and ballistics, surveillance and intelligence information gathering.

The Senate reached these resolutions after the consideration of a motion on the need to mainstream the National Parks Service into the Nigeria security architecture sponsored by Suleiman Umar.

Ihedioha: Assembly Bans Protests In Imo [SUN]

 Irked by incessant protests arising from the Supreme Court judgment that declared Hope Uzodinma as governor, the Imo State House Assembly, yesterday, moved to halt all forms of protest against the apex court judgement.

The Assembly said it had concluded plans to  write to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to deal decisively with any defaulter.

The motion which was moved by Kennedy Ibeh representing Obowo state constituency and supported by 19 others.The lawmakers has also called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) and the Returning Officer (RO) of the  election in the state for “conspiracy to rob the Imo people of their votes.”

Ibeh maintained that the protests was a calculated attempt to incite the people against the state. he said the electoral officers erred when they abinitio declared Emeka Ihedioha winner of the 2019 governorship election.