Adeleke’s Victory: Tribunal Nullified ‘What Was Clearly An Illegality’ – Obasanjo

Says Those discouraging Atiku from challenging Buhari in
court are evil

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has reacted to the judgement
of the Osun Election Petition Tribunal which nullified the election
of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola.

In a statement personally signed by him on Saturday, the former
president commended the tribunal for the courage to nullify what he
said was “clearly an illegality”.

The Tribunal had held in its ruling on Friday that Governor
Oyetola’s election was null and void and returned Senator Ademola
Adeleke as the duly elected governor of Osun State.

It also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC) to withdraw the Certificate of Return issued to Governor
Oyetola and present a fresh one to Senator Adeleke.

In his reaction, former President Obasanjo commended the
three-man panel of judges which gave the ruling; although he noted
that it was a first step in the legal process.

He was delighted that the ruling has given renewed confidence in
the judiciary at a time he said there were coordinated efforts by
some political leaders to undermine it.

The elder statesman stressed that the international community
was keenly watching the events in the country, adding that how the
electoral process being handled would have implications for Africa
and indeed the world.

“By correcting what was clearly a desperate attempt to change
the will of the Osun people, the Tribunal has saved Nigeria from
great embarrassment and started the process of saving and
strengthening our democracy,” he said.

Former President Obasanjo also commended Senator Adeleke for his
statesmanship in going to court to seek justice.

According to him, seeking redress through the legal process is
the right and proper thing to do in any decent society and it must
be encouraged by all.

Read the full statement below:

STATEMENT BY H.E OLUSEGUN OBASANJO ON THE JUDGEMENT OF THE
OSUN GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION PETITION TRIBUNAL

DUBAI – 23 March 2019

While I was in Dubai to attend the Global Education and
Skills Forum meeting, I received the news of the judgment of the
Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal declaring
Senator Ademola Adeleke, the candidate of the People’s Democratic
Party (PDP), the winner of the 2018 Governorship election in the
state.

Let me take this opportunity to commend the tribunal for its
courage in nullifying what was clearly an illegality.

This action by the judicial officers, albeit a first step in
the legal process, gives renewed confidence in the judiciary at a
time when there are coordinated efforts by some political leaders
to undermine, if not destroy, it.

As I have repeatedly said, the world is watching events in
Nigeria with keen interest. What we do or do not do right in our
electoral process will have implications not just for Nigeria but
for Africa and indeed the world.

By correcting what was clearly a desperate attempt to change
the will of the Osun people, the tribunal has saved Nigeria from
great embarrassment and started the process of saving and
strengthening our democracy.

Let me also commend Sen. Adeleke for his statesmanship in
going to court to seek justice.

This is the right and proper thing to do in any decent
society. Going to court must be encouraged and not discouraged as
some people are now attempting to do.

While I have refrained from commenting on the 2019 elections
because one of the parties has gone to court, may I point out that
those who call themselves our development partners and friends and
preach sacrificing justice on the altar of so-called stability are
enemies of justice, democracy and Nigeria.

We will continue to sustain Nigeria in stability and unity
on the altar of justice, equity, fairness, freedom, human rights
and democracy.

Stability cannot be successfully built on injustice,
corruption, inequity, and divided nation, and incompetence,
nepotism and one-sidedness.

Nigeria will march forward with or without those who will
want to feed us with diet of values and actions that are not
acceptable in their own countries. Nigeria is of age.

And if Buhari could go to court three times to seek justice,
even without reasonable cause, any Nigerian who feels denied of
justice must feel free to go to court.

Those who have conceived and are promoting the narrative
that if Atiku Abubakar continues to seek legal redress there will
be violence, are evil minds looking for excuse to unleash violence
on Nigerians. At no time in history has sustainable peace been
built on theft, injustice, corruption and inequity.

These merchants of chaos and violence should have no place
in any decent society. And they must know that no intimidation or
prophesy of violence and doomsday will cow anybody. Nigeria belongs
to all Nigerians.

We will respect as friends those who believe that what is
good for their country should be good for Nigeria. Yes, we are
Africans but we have values that are consistent with international
standards.

Court is part of our democratic process and it must be used
when necessary if only to achieve justice, stability, unity and
progress for our country.

OLUSEGUN OBASANJO

Women Nabbed for Sharing Video of Naked
Victim

On the 21/3/2019 at about 2:40pm, one Okafor Ogochukwu ‘F’ of
Osile Village Ogidi reported at Central Police Station Awka that on
19/03/2019 at about 11:36am, she was invited by her male facebook
friend one Ifeanyi Azota ‘m’ to his house at Ezimezi village in
Amawbia.

All of a Sudden a woman who claimed to be his wife namely
Azotani Toochukwu ‘f’ suddenly appeared into the house with her
friend one Ogochukwu Nwankwo ‘F’ and Locked her inside the bathroom
for almost four hours and left.

The women later came back with two big canes and opened the
bathroom,

However, while the Suspect’s friend one Ogochukwu Nwankwo
stripped her naked and flogged her severally, the principal suspect
was busy videotaping the incident and thereafter pushed her out
from the compound naked.

Complainant further alleged that the principal suspect Azotani
Toochuckwu called her on phone the following day and demanded for
the sum of Sixty thousand Naira (#60,000) or they will post her
nude video on the internet.

Consequently, when the complainant refused to pay the money as
requested, the principal suspect Azotani Toochukwu actualised her
threat and posted the naked video to the internet and since then
the video went viral.

Meanwhile, three suspects have been arrested and scene of the
incident was visited by Police detectives attached to Central
Police Station Awka.

Case under investigation after which suspects would be charged
to Court for prosecution.

SP Haruna Mohammed
PPRO Anambra State Police Command,
For -Commissioner of Police Anambra State Command