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CSO hails Enugu Governorship Tribunal verdict, condemns misrepresentation of judgment

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The Enugu Good Governance Group has applauded the decision of the Enugu State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal upholding the election of Governor Peter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), condemning what it described as attempts to misrepresent the verdict of the tribunal out of political desperation, mischief, and ignorance.

It also expressed worries over what it described as “a worsening penchant of politicians to sing the praise of the judiciary when judgments go their way, but only to denigrate the institution when judgments go against them, even when they could seek reliefs in appellate courts”.

The group spoke through a statement by its National Coordinator, Comrade Odinaka Okechukwu, on Sunday.

“In the case of the Enugu State, for instance, the tribunal was categorical that the petitioner and Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate, Hon. Chijioke Edeoga, was unable to prove forgery allegation against Governor Peter Mbah of the PDP.

“Although the court reeled out several grounds founded on the constitution, Electoral Act, Supreme Court and Court of Appeal decisions why Edeoga’s forgery and non-qualification claims against Mbah could not stand, it nevertheless went ahead to do justice to the issue of forgery, which it said the petitioner could not prove”, the civil society group stated.

“It is on record that even the NYSC witness, Mr. Ibrahim Muhammad, subpoenaed at the instance of the petitioner, admitted in his Statement on Oath that Mbah was mobilised for service, suspended his service midstream to complete his Law School programme on NYSC’s approval, and that the agency reinstated him through a letter dated 7th May 2023 (Reference No. NYSC/DHQ/CM/27/20) to continue his service from where he stopped. He admitted that Mbah was reposted to Udeh & Associates, a law firm, “to continue his service from where he stopped”.

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“Muhammad only claimed that the agency had no record that he completed the remaining four months upon restatement and that he stopped coming for compulsory weekly Community Development Service (CDS).

“But how was the court supposed to believe such cock and bull story when NYSC failed to refer to Mbah’s place of primary assignment in determining whether or not he served up those remaining months after his reinstatement? Moreso when Mbah tendered the monthly clearance letters by his place of primary assignment dated 26th June 2003, 29th July 2003, and 8th September 2003 based on which this same NYSC paid his monthly allowances and the final clearance dated 16th September 2003 for issuance of his NYSC certificate. How could NYSC pay someone for four months and still it had no record he served?

“In Paragraph 14 of Muhammad’s Statement on Oath, the NYSC made it appear Mbah was not issued a discharge certificate because he stopped attending CDS. How was the court supposed to believe that, given the provisions of Section 11 of the NYSC Act? More so when the agency failed to exhibit any records such CDS attendance register, a query, investigation report, indictment, and letter of sanction to that effect?

“How was the court supposed to believe that Mbah did not sign the certificate collection register for his set when NYSC/Edeoga did not bring any register before it?

“How was the court supposed to believe NYSC/Edeoga when DSS investigation clearly showed that the agency lost his file at a point and created a temporary file with number LA/01/1532/T for him, with “T” standing for ‘temporary’?

“How was the court supposed to believe NYSC testimony when DSS investigation clearly showed that the claim by the agency that it did not issue “8 series” certificates to Corps members in Lagos in that year and batch was a big lie as records revealed that NYSC did not just issue “8 series” certificates to that Lagos batch, but also to Corps members in other parts of Nigeria.

“How was the tribunal supposed to believe NYSC when DSS investigation established with evidence that the agency could not account for 12 of its “8 series” certificates starting from A808297 (Mbah’s certificate serial number) to A808308? Was that not enough ground for the tribunal to hold that for it to accept that the one Mbah holds is fake, NYSC must produce the original of that certificate number or another authentic owner of that certificate number other than Mbah?

“How was the court supposed to believe NYSC/Edeoga when they failed to produce the “6 series” certificate they claimed should have been issued to Mbah. NYSC claimed it shredded it long ago. So, what happened to a digital copy?

“The only discharge certificate presented before the tribunal by the petitioner was a certified true copy of certificate number A808297 which, ironically, was certified by the same NYSC. This alone destroys every claim of forgery because NYSC could not have certified what was not in their custody or authentic”, the group added.

The civil society organisation also maintained that it was hypocritical for “people, who go to tribunals to challenge INEC results and Certificates of Return to claim NYSC’s disclaimer of Mbah’s certificate is final simply because it is the issuing authority”.

“Is INEC not also the issuing authority of INEC Certificates of Return?” the group queried.

It concluded by calling on security agencies to “investigate everyone involved in this NYSC circus, for there is obviously more to it than meets the eyes”.

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Enugu Lawyer rejects paternity claim after DNA Test results

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A legal practitioner, Barrister Chinedu Ifeanyi Iloeje, has publicly declared that a man previously believed to be his son is not biologically related to him, following the outcome of a DNA test.

In a public notice published in a newspaper, Iloeje stated that he was allegedly misled by the man’s mother into believing that the individual, identified as Chinedu Francis Iloeje, was his biological son.

According to the notice, DNA testing conducted on the matter established “beyond any doubt” that the man is not his son.

The lawyer further clarified that he never legally adopted the individual, despite the latter bearing the name Chinedu Francis Iloeje.

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Barrister Iloeje explained that the man’s original name is Chinedu Francis Onwualu and stressed that he has no legal or biological relationship with him.

The notice also informed members of the public, the Greater Iloeje Family, the Umuodu Village Union, Uwani Amokwe Town Union, St. Theresa’s Catholic Church Amokwe, Udi Local Government Council, and other stakeholders of his declaration.

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He stated that the disclaimer was made in good faith and while of sound mind, urging the public to take note of the clarification.

The publication has sparked discussions on paternity disputes and the increasing reliance on DNA testing to resolve questions of biological parentage.

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Obi donates N10 million to burnt hospital in Enugu

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Mr Peter Obi presenting a cheque of 10 Million Naira to assist in the renovation of the burnt Mother of Christ Specialist Hospital, Enugu State.
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Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in the forthcoming 2027 general election, Mr. Peter Obi, has donated N10 million to assist in the renovation of the burnt Mother of Christ Specialist Hospital, Enugu State.

The former Anambra State governor handed over the cheque for the donation to the hospital management team when he visited the hospital yesterday.

The hospital belongs to the Reverend Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of the Catholic Church.

Mr Peter Obi inspecting the burnt hospital

Addressing the hospital management team after inspecting parts of the burnt hospital, the NDC presidential candidate commended them for their efforts in contributing to healthcare delivery services.

Telling them that even though they might feel that they were not being appreciated for what they were doing, Obi, however, described healthcare delivery services and education as among the “most critical needs of society” and urged them not to relent in what they were doing.

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Accompanied during the visit by his Chief of Staff, Commissioner for Housing, as well as Special Adviser on Media when he was Anambra State governor, Prof. Stella Okunna, Prof. Patrick Obi, and Dr. Valentine Obienyem respectively, Obi assured the hospital management team that he would continue to support them.

Part of the hospital gutted by the inferno and inspected by Obi was the Children’s Ward.

Expressing gratitude on behalf of the hospital management, the Chief Medical Director of Immaculate Heart Hospital, Nkpor, Anambra State, Rev. Sister Dr. Maria Nkiruka Okafor, eulogised Obi for his sacrifices and selfless contributions to humanity.

Disclosing that Obi had already credited the hospital’s accountant with the N10 million donation and that he was even the person who called her to inform her that he had received the sad news of the inferno and promised to donate towards the renovation, Rev. Sister Okafor described him as a rare politician.

She prayed that God would grant him his ambition to become President of the country and enable him to achieve his desire to transform it.

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FG, Enugu State target direct China-Enugu Cargo flights by December – Keyamo

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Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo
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The Federal Government and Enugu State Government are in talks to ensure the commencement of direct cargo flight operations between Enugu and Guangzhou, China, before the end of the year.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Barr Festus Keyamo, disclosed this in Lagos during the launch of the United Air’s newly acquired airplanes on Thursday.

The Minister added said the FG had affected a structural management overhaul at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, also bringing the airport under a privately run operational framework.

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“One of our prides in the South is the Enugu International Airport. The Enugu governor approached Mr. President, noting that the airport was not maximising its economic potential under standard bureaucratic structures, and requested to bring in private investors to run it. Mr. President gave the green light.

“As I speak with you, Enugu is now fully privately owned and fully supported by state government, with the clear objective of also turning it into a dedicated cargo hub for the entire Southeast.”

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To this effect, therefore, Keyamo said that a high-level bilateral trade negotiations were ongoing with a view to securing direct logistics flights between China and the Southeast by the end of 2026.

“Just two days ago, the Enugu governor and I were actively negotiating the first direct cargo flight from Guangzhou, China, straight into Enugu.

“We are targeting December for the maiden flight. This will allow our Southeast merchants and traders in China to consolidate their goods into unified cargo accounts twice a week, flying straight into Enugu for seamless delivery to hubs like Onitsha and Aba,” he concluded.

It is recalled that Governor Mbah had in July 2025 launched Enugu Air, a state-owned airline, as part of the administration’s integrated blueprint for a modern, multimodal transport ecosystem and the vision to make Enugu a major aviation and logistics hub.

Since then, Enugu Air has grown its fleet from three at inception to six planes with plans to further increase it as it prepares to commence operations to regional destinations like Accra, Libreville, Abidjan in next few months and long haul flight operations to various destinations around the world by the end of the year.

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