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INEC kicks as LP tenders 18,000 blurred IReV sheets, calls two witnesses

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The Labour Party (LP) tendered 18,000 blurred polling units results of the presidential election before the tribunal on Thursday.

Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the LP and the party, had challenged the process of the election in which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced President Bola Tinubu as winner.

Respondents in the suit are INEC, Tinubu, Vice-President Kashim Shettima, and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Onyechi Ikpeazu, counsel for the petitioners, tendered reports of data analyses from the presidential election through Eric Ofoedu, a professor of mathematics at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, and a witness for the LP.

According to Ikpeazu, the documents also contained investigations of IReV score sheets from Rivers and Benue states.

The petitioners also tendered 18,000 polling units blurred results obtained from the IReV portal.

However, Abubakar Mahmoud, lead counsel for INEC, objected to the admissibility of the documents.

Mahmoud described the situation as an ambush, adding that the LP had only handed over a copy of the witness’ statement a few hours before commencement of proceedings.

“To be honest, I and my team are handicapped and do not know how to proceed. It is an ambush,” he said.

“I thought that the counsel, in the spirit of cooperation and also in line with the rules of the court, would have presented the statement earlier. It should have been served in time to avoid this ambush.”

Mahmood prayed the court to compel the LP to grant the INEC legal team 48 hours to review the tendered documents.

Although Wole Olanipakun, counsel for Tinubu and Shettima both objected to the witness statement, they agreed to take the witness in chief and proposed a later time for the cross-examination.

Lumnie Edevbie, a journalist from Arise news TV, was also called as the LP’s witness and was taken in evidence by Patrick Ikweato, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN) on the party’s legal team.

The witness tendered a video statement made by Yakubu Mahmood, INEC chairman at the Chatham House, London on January 17, where he gave an assurance of the authenticity and effectiveness of the bimodal voter accreditation system (BVAS).

All respondents objected to the adoption of the statement of the witness and the viewing of the video.

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Boris Johnson turned away from polling station after forgetting valid ID

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Boris Johnson, former prime minister of the UK, was turned away from his local polling station after forgetting to bring the required photo identity.

Johnson had joined locals in South Oxfordshire on Thursday to vote in the police and crime commissioner election.

Polling officials however told him he would not be allowed to vote without providing his identity.

There are 22 acceptable forms of ID in the UK including passports, driving licences, blue badges, and certain local travel cards.

As prime minister in 2022, Johnson introduced the Elections Act which requires photo ID — a development that sparked intense criticisms from Britons.

Last year, the Electoral Commission warned that the new law could exclude hundreds of thousands of people, including minorities and those with disabilities.

A spokesperson for Johnson confirmed he had forgotten the photo ID, but that he was able to cast his ballot after he returned with a valid ID.

“Mr Johnson voted Conservative,” Sky News quoted the spokesperson as saying.

Downing Street said it would “look into” changing the controversial rules which require photo ID in order to vote, so that ID cards of veterans can be added to the list of valid identification.

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Lagos state government uncovers another under bridge apartment in Ikoyi

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The officials of Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) have discovered an illegal settlement under the Osborne Bridge in Ikoyi.

Tokunbo Wahab, commissioner for environment and water resources in Lagos, on Thursday, said officials of LAGSEC have commenced immediate clearance of the place.

“Another illegal settlement was discovered under the Osborne Bridge, Ikoyi. Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps @LAGESCOfficial (KAI) commenced immediate clearance operation,” Wahab wrote in a post on X.

The recent discovery comes 24 hours after officials of the ministry of environment uncovered apartments under the Dolphin Estate Bridge where tenants pay N250,000 rent annually.

Wahab disclosed that 86 rooms partitioned into 10×10 and 12×10, and a container, were discovered by an enforcement team of the Lagos ministry of environment.

Thirty-three persons were arrested at the under bridge apartments.

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Sanwo-Olu appoints KWAM1’s daughter as SSA

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The Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has appointed Basirat Damilola Marshall, daughter of Fuji maestro, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshall, a.k.a KWAM1, as his Senior Special Assistant on Tourism.

This was according to a viral video of her father thanking the governor, and congratulatory messages sighted by newsmen on her Instagram page, @damimarshall_ on Thursday.

In the viral video, her father, KWAM1, while performing on stage at the coronation and birthday reception of Oba Sikirullah Apena on Thursday, thanked Sanwo-Olu for appointing his daughter into his cabinet.

The fuji singer noted that it was his daughter, Damilola, who asked him to publicly thank the governor for her appointment.

Congratulating her on the appointment, a Nigerian, Olanrewaju-Smart Wasiu wrote, “Congratulations Barr. @damimarshall_ on your appointment as the Senior Special Assistant to the Lagos State Governor on Tourism. This is a deserving recognition for your hard work and contributions to our party”, to which she responded by saying “Thank you, sir.”

Another person, Balogun Basia wrote, “Please, join me in congratulating my friend K1 and the entire family on the appointment of my daughter Barrister Basirat Damilola Marshall as the SSA to the governor of Lagos State on Tourism. Damilola, this shall be the beginning of many good things that will come your way and that of your siblings Insha Allah, Alaumoh Amin.”

Until her appointment, Damilola was a principal partner at a law firm, Damilola Ayinde Marshal and Co.

As of the time of this report, efforts to reach the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the Lagos State Governor, Gboyega Akosile, for confirmation proved abortive, as messages sent to his WhatsApp line were not responded to.

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Bodex F. Hungbo, SPMIIM is a multiple award-winning Nigerian Digital Media Practitioner, Digital Strategist, PR consultant, Brand and Event Expert, Tv Presenter, Tier-A Blogger/Influencer, and a top cobbler in Nigeria.

She has widespread experiences across different professions and skills, which includes experiences in; Marketing, Media, Broadcasting, Brand and Event Management, Administration and Management with prior stints at MTN, NAPIMS-NNPC, GLOBAL FLEET OIL AND GAS, LTV, Silverbird and a host of others

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