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SEGGOP commends ENSIEC for successful Enugu LG Polls, stresses need for improvement

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The South East Good Governance Project (SEGFOP), a coalition of South East Civil Society Organizations, has commended the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC) for the successful conduct of Local Government Elections in the state on Saturday, 21st September, 2024.

In a report jointly signed by Mazi Ikechukwu Bismarck Oji,MNSE,COREN(Convener) and Comrade Emmanuel Ibekwe N.(Head, Enugu State LG Elections Monitoring Team) SEGGOP, which also monitored the Saturday September 21 election across the state, however, stressed the need for improvement by the electoral commission, especially regarding logistics.

The report reads, “The South East Good Governance Project (SEGGOP), a coalition of Civil Society Organizations in the South East, monitored the Enugu State Local Government Election as an observer accredited by the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC) and observed as follows:

“SECURITY: The election was violence-free, with no report of violence from our observers across the 17 LGAs of Enugu State. There was an impressive mobilization of security agencies across the state and the security agents conducted themselves professionally.

VOTER TURNOUT: The voter turnout varied from place to place, with moderate to high voter turnout recorded across the state.

POLITICAL PARTIES PARTICIPATION: Across the state, the major political parties and contenders conducted themselves with some decorum. It was, however, observed that a political actor in Uzo Uwani LGA announced a purported result of councillorship election in Abbi Ward, thereby usurping the powers of ENSIEC. We condemn this in its entirety.

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AD-HOC STAFF: We observed that some of the ad-hoc staff were not properly trained. However, it did not impact on the integrity of the electoral process since such cases were not substantial.

LOGISTICAL CHALLENGES: There observed logistical challenges, which resulted in election materials and personnel arriving behind schedule at many polling units, while there were reported shortage of materials in some wards”.

“Following from the above, therefore, SEGGOP urges ENSIEC to adopt early commencement of training for its ad hoc staff in future elections to ensure that they have adequate trainings. This will help to reduce human errors on Election Day to the barest minimum, if not outrightly eliminated”.

“ENSIEC is also advised to review its logistical arrangements to help to eliminate the late arrival and inadequacy of materials witnessed in some places.

“In all, it is noteworthy that none of these observed challenges could substantially detract from the integrity and outcome of the election.”

“With election now over, SEGGOP urges the Enugu Civil Society community to mobilize the citizenry to ensure that the incoming chairmen and councillors are held accountable. With Local Government Autonomy now a reality, the incoming chairmen have no excuse for not delivering on their mandates, as the tier of Government closest to the masses.”

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FG reforms NYSC, replaces military leadership, redesigns uniform

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President Bola Tinubu administration has approved the comprehensive reform of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

Under the new arrangement, the military will no longer head the scheme.

Instead, the agency will be led by a civilian in its operational leadership, while the military will continue to handle security for corps members across the country.

The development was announced on Monday by the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande after the Federal Executive Council, FEC, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Tinubu also directed the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, and the Minister of Youth, Ayodele Olawande, to amend the NYSC Act and its regulations to reflect all the approved reform measures, enabling immediate implementation of the new framework.

Some of the landmark reforms include:

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A technology-driven call-up process.

Risk-sensitive deployment to better protect corps members.

A redesigned six-week orientation programme with a stronger focus on leadership, entrepreneurship, digital skills, and specialised career streams.

Skills-based primary assignments aligned with academic background and career pathways.

Modern governance with civilian operational leadership while the military continues to provide security support.

Improved camp standards through a national grading and certification system.

A new graduation ceremony to replace the Passing Out Parade, and a redesigned NYSC uniform that reflects professionalism and national pride.

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Group asks court to disqualify Tinubu from 2027 Election over alleged Certificate Forgery

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The Centre for Reform and Public Advocacy (CFRPA) has filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Kano seeking the disqualification of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu from the 2027 presidential election over allegations of certificate forgery.

‎According to court documents seen by Daily Trust, the plaintiff alleged that Tinubu presented forged academic certificates from Chicago State University and a fake National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during the 2023 elections.

‎The suit, marked FHC/K/CS/312/2026, lists Tinubu, INEC, and Chicago State University as defendants.

The plaintiff contended that Tinubu never attended Government College Lagos as claimed, noting that the school was established in 1974, four years after Tinubu allegedly graduated.

The CSO further argued that Tinubu does not possess a valid secondary school certificate, which is the minimum constitutional requirement to contest for the presidency.

It claimed that INEC had failed to act on its petition dated June 19, 2026, demanding clarification on Tinubu’s eligibility.

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‎In its statement of claims, the group referenced a 2023 U.S. court ruling in Re: Application of Atiku Abubakar (No. 23 CV 05099), which compelled Chicago State University to release Tinubu’s academic records.

The plaintiff insisted those records revealed false entries and inconsistencies, including a forged University of Cambridge General Certificate of Education.

‎The prayers asked by the plaintiff included declaration of forgery against Tinubu’s Chicago State University certificate, issuance of an order directing INEC to disqualify him from the 2027 presidential election, directing CSU to strike Tinubu’s name from its records and perpetual injunction restraining INEC from uploading Tinubu’s name as a candidate.

‎The plaintiff also submitted affidavits of non-multiplicity of action, witness statements, and letters to the NYSC and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, demanding disclaimers on the alleged fake NYSC certificate.

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Firm expresses concern over repeated missing Court File in Ojukwu Property case

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Monarch, four others remanded for arson
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Ojukwu Transport Limited, OTL, has raised concerns over what it described as the repeated absence of court records in its ongoing property dispute with Bianca Ojukwu and her sons, even as it filed a motion for stay of execution pending the determination of its appeal.

Proceedings before Justice A.M. Lawal of the Lagos High Court, Ikeja, last Monday were stalled for the second time in six weeks due to the unavailability of the case file.

The matter was adjourned after the file was reportedly not returned to court.

A similar situation occurred on May 8, 2026, when the case could not proceed because the file was unavailable.

OTL alleged that the file had been taken from the Ikeja Judicial Division to Lagos more than two months ago for the execution of a warrant and had not been returned.

The claimants’ legal representatives were absent from court on both occasions.

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Describing the development as troubling, OTL said the repeated absence of the file had effectively stalled proceedings and raised questions about accountability in the handling of court records.

Amid the delays, the company disclosed that it had filed and served a motion for stay of execution at the Court of Appeal, seeking to halt enforcement of the judgment pending the determination of its appeal against the 2022 decision in Suit No. LD/1539/2012.

OTL maintained that the application became necessary because steps were being taken to enforce the judgment despite its pending appeal.

The company also contended that the properties in dispute had previously been the subject of a warrant of execution arising from a separate judgment delivered in 2018 by Justice Adedayo Oyebanji in Suit No. LD/794/2011.

The case was subsequently adjourned to October 8, 2026.

Present in court on both adjourned dates on behalf of Ojukwu Transport Limited was one of its directors, Dr. P. Ike Ojukwu.

Counsel to OTL are Ifeanyi Okumah Esq and Chief O. Ugolo, SAN, while Bianca Ojukwu and her sons are represented by Nick Omeye Esq and Co.

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