National News
INEC to Prosecute 774 Election Offenders, Enters Working Arrangements with NBA
INEC to Prosecute 774 Election Offenders, Enters Working Arrangements with NBA
By: Michael Mike
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that he has a list of 774 persons arrested during the 2023 General Elections for various electoral offences, stating that an arrangement has been concluded with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for their prosecution.
Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday at the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)’s monthly review forum for the 2023 elections focused on “Accountability for Electoral Crimes and Human Rights Violations in Elections”, the Director, Litigation and Prosecution, INEC, Taminu Inuwa noted that the electoral commission is empowered by the provision of Section 145 of the Electoral Act, 2022 to prosecute electoral offenders.
He said: “It is in recognition of the statutory power of INEC to prosecute electoral offences that the Inspector General of Police recently forwarded 215 case files of electoral crimes to the commission for the prosecutions 774 persons arrested during the 2023 General Elections for various shades of electoral offences including dereliction of duty, criminal conspiracy, disorderly conduct at election, being in possession of offensive weapons, destruction of election materials, political thuggery, electoral violence, snatching of ballot box, stealing of sensitive election materials, etc.”
He reveled that INEC is partnering with the Nigerian Bar Association which has offered to provide pro-bono legal services fir the effective prosecution of the electoral offenders arrested in the course of the 2023 General election.
He however said: “It is worthy of note that a number of key challenges including lack of capacity of INEC in terms of power to investigate and arrest electoral offenders have been identified as militating against effective prosecution and the consequent inadequate prosecution of/conviction on electoral offences recorded over the years.”
He noted that: “The challenges necessitated the call for the creation of an independent body to handle prosecution of electoral offences with such powers as conferred on the EFCC and ICPC to arrest, investigate and prosecute electoral offenders.”
He promised that the commission shall continue to Putin its best in the discharge of its statutory power of electoral offences prosecution until the proposed body is established by law, insisting that “this is the assurexway of reducing the spate of brazen impunity with which electoral offences are committed.”
Meanwhile, the NHRC has condemned the spate of violence during the election re-run in some states, a Senior Human Rights Advisor to the National Human Rights Commission, Mr. Hillary Ogbonna while presenting the April Edition of NHRC 2023 Elections Human Rights Situation Dashboard said violence is assuming dangerous dimension during Nigeria’s elections.
He lamented that three voters were killed for resisting thugs in Wudil, Kano State, an APC chieftain killed in Ughelli North, Delta State, another APC ward chairman murdered in Dekina LGA Kogi state, and a
member of a proscribed vigilante group killed for ballot snatching in Kebbi State.
He decried that journalists were not spared from attacks during the last election wit 10 journalists intimidated and chased out of polling unit by thugs in Abeokuta North; three-person Arise TV crew covering the governorship and House of Assembly election injured and had their equipment seized.
He said it was disheartening that In the process of vote buying, thugs were unleashed, leading to the attack of a group of journalists in transit, and security
officials excluding a handful of journalist from covering the collation centre in Kano state
He noted that Akam James, correspondent with Daily Post was assaulted in Ebelebiri community ward 05 unit 19 and the Publisher of Upfront Magazine was also beaten up, TVC Crew was chased out of the community.
He said the NHRC was ready to take up the case of violence against any journalists, urging media practitioners to come public with cases of attack against them during the recently concluded elections.
INEC to Prosecute 774 Election Offenders, Enters Working Arrangements with NBA
Four Soldiers Injured in Vehicle Accident on Mambilla Plateau
By: Zagazola Makama
Four Nigerian soldiers have sustained injuries in a vehicle accident on the Mambilla Plateau in Taraba State.
The accident occurred on Thursday while the troops were moving across the mountainous terrain of the area, Zagazola reports.
The Emir of Mambilla, Dr. Shehu Audu Baju, was said to have personally joined in the rescue operation to ensure that the soldiers received prompt assistance.
Following the rescue, the injured personnel were evacuated to the 20 Battalion Barracks in Serti for urgent medical care.
Community members and traditional leaders in the area have expressed sympathy and prayed for the speedy recovery of the soldiers, while also calling for the safety of other security operatives on duty.
Four Soldiers Injured in Vehicle Accident on Mambilla Plateau
UKNIAF, NGF Advance Electricity Reform with Nationwide Workshop Series
By: Michael Mike
The United Kingdom Nigeria Infrastructure Advisory Facility (UKNIAF), in partnership with the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) have wrapped up a major national initiative to support State-led electricity market reforms.
The State Learning Workshop Series focused on Electricity Market Development, Integrated Resource Planning (IRP) and energy modelling software.
Workshops in Lagos, Calabar, Kano and Jos have been successfully completed, drawing participants from all the 36 States and the FCT and setting a strong precedent for what lies ahead.
These sessions equipped policymakers, regulators and stakeholders with the tools to design robust, sustainable and investor-ready electricity markets at the State level, in line with the provisions of the Electricity Act 2023.
Reflecting on the significance of this initiative, the Director-Legal/Head Power Desk at the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, Mr. Chijioke Chuku,, stated that: “Nigeria’s electricity future depends on the capacity of our States to lead with vision, clarity, and technical precision. Through the workshop series, we are equipping States not just with knowledge, but with the confidence to take charge of their electricity markets. The NGF is proud to partner with UKNIAF in ensuring that the promise of the Electricity Act 2023 becomes a lived reality across the country.”
The sessions in the State Learning Workshops covered: The legal and regulatory pathways for setting up State Electricity Markets; Commercial models for private sector investment; Integration of State plans into Nigeria’s National IRP;
Practical training on the software platform for energy modelling.
The initiative drew from lessons learned in the course of UKNIAF’s work supporting the Akwa Ibom, Enugu, and Oyo State Governments—early movers in electricity market development—in setting up their markets.
It also drew from experience gained in the course of UKNIAF providing technical support to the Federal Ministry of Power in drafting both the National Integrated Electricity Policy and Nigeria’s first National Integrated Resource Plan, both of which were approved very recently.
With States now empowered by the Electricity Act 2023, this series is a timely and strategic effort to ensure capacity, coordination, and sustainability in Nigeria’s decentralised energy landscape.
UKNIAF, NGF Advance Electricity Reform with Nationwide Workshop Series
Three killed, others injured in bandits’ attack on Zamfara community
By: Zagazola Makama
Armed bandits have killed three persons and injured three others in an attack on Galadi town, Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara.
Sources confirmed the incident saying the attack occurred at about 10:50 p.m. on Aug. 27.
The sources said the bandits stormed the town, shooting sporadically, which resulted in the deaths and injuries.
Troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA were mobilised to the scene. The corpses and injured victims were evacuated to Galadi Primary Health Care Centre for autopsy and treatment.
Meanwhile, a manhunt for the fleeing culprits has been intensified, as the bandits escaped before the arrival of the joint forces,” the sources said.
Three killed, others injured in bandits’ attack on Zamfara community
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