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Breaking:Court Reject Atiku’s Request Of Live Coverage Of Petitions

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The Presidential Election Petition Court, PEPC, sitting in Abuja, on Monday, rejected request to allow its day-to-day proceedings on petitions seeking to nullify the outcome of the 2023 presidential election, to be televised.

The Justice Haruna Tsammani-led five member panel dismissed as lacking in merit, the application which was brought before it by the two major candidates that are challenging the outcome of the presidential election that held on February 25.

The court held that no regulatory framework or policy direction, permitted it to grant such application.

It held that allowing cameras in the court room is a major judicial policy that must be supported by the law.

The court can only be guided and act in accordance with the practice directions and procedures approved by the President of the Court of Appeal.

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“We cannot permit a situation that may lead to dramatization of our proceedings,” Justice Tsammani held.

Besides, the court held that the request was not part of any relief in the petitions before it, saying it was merely hinged on sentimental claim that it would benefit the electorates.

It maintained that the petitioners failed to establish how televising the proceedings would advance their case, adding that such live broadcast would not have any utilitarian value to add to the determination of the petitions.

Whereas it was a former Vice President and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who came second in the election, that initially made the request for a live coverage, subsequently, candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, threw his weight behind the demand for live broadcast of proceedings of the court on the petitions.

The duo, through their lead lawyers, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, and Dr. Livy Uzoukwu, SAN, maintained that petitions they lodged to query the declaration of the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, as winner of the election, was “a matter of monumental national concern and public interest”.

They argued that the case involved the interest of citizens and electorates in the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, who he said voted and participated in the presidential poll.

Atiku and the PDP insisted that their case against Tinubu, being a unique electoral dispute with a peculiar constitutional dimension, they said it was a matter of public interest in which millions of Nigerian citizens and voters are stakeholders, with the constitutional right to be part of the proceedings.

They specifically applied for; “An order, directing the Court’s Registry and the parties on modalities for admission of Media Practitioners and their Equipments into the courtroom”.

“With the huge and tremendous technological advances and developments in Nigeria and beyond, including the current trend by this Honourable Court towards embracing electronic procedures, virtual hearing and electronic filing, a departure from the Rules to allow a regulated televising of the proceedings in this matter is in consonance with the maxim that justice must not only be done, but must be seen to be done.

Televising court proceedings is not alien to this Honourable Court, and will enhance public confidence”, the petitioners added.

However, in separate processes they filed before the court, both Tinubu and the APC urged the court to dismiss the application which they described as an abuse of the legal process.

Tinubu, in a counter-affifavit he filed alongside the Vice President-elect, Kashim Shettima, accused Atiku of deliberately attempting to expose the judiciary to public opprobrium.

According to them, the court “is not a rostrum or a soapbox. It is not also a stadium or theatre. It is not an arena for public entertainment.”

The respondents maintained that Atiku’s request had no bearing with the petition, insisting that it was only aimed at dissipating the judicial time of the court

They stressed that Atiku failed to realise that the virtual court system that was adopted during the Covid-19 pandemic, was backed by a practice direction that was administratively issued by the President of the Court of Appeal.

“Another angle to this very curious application is the invitation it extends to the court to make an order that it cannot supervise.

“The position of the law remains, and we do submit that the court, like nature, does not make an order in vain, or an order which is incapable of enforcement,” the respondents added.

Besides, they argued that the application was at best, “academic, very otiose, very unnecessary, very time-wasting, most unusual and most unexpected, particularly, from a set of petitioners, who should be praying for the expeditious trial of their petition.”

“Petitioners have brought their application under Section 36(3) of the Constitution which provides that the proceedings of a court/tribunal shall be held in public..

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Private Schools: A Backbone of Youth Employment -Imam Zubair

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Private schools in Kano State have emerged as a significant industry fostering youth employment across various sectors, according to Alhaji Imam Ahmad Zubairu Galadanchi, MNI, Chairman of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Kano State chapter.

In an exclusive discussion with journalists, Alhaji Imam Galadanchi highlighted the economic impact of private schools, stating that each institution employs over sixty staff members—including teachers and non-academic personnel—who receive regular monthly salaries. Beyond direct employment, he noted that these schools stimulate local businesses by commissioning sportswear and student uniforms from tailors within the community.

With over 4,000 private schools officially registered with the Kano State Government, the sector plays a vital role in shaping education and economic development. Galadanchi called on parents to continue enrolling their children in neighborhood schools to ensure quality education and promote their children’s growth. He stressed the importance of parental involvement in their children’s education, advising parents to monitor lesson notes and assignments actively.

Furthermore, he urged parents to prioritize their children’s well-being by supporting their education, nutrition, and healthcare needs.

The private school industry in Kano remains a cornerstone for employment and local economic growth, reinforcing the importance of community-driven education.

Signed:
Ahmed Muhammad Sani Gwarzo, Zonal Information Officer, Municipal Zone 1

 

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NUJ Kano State Council Urges Government to Provide Fertilizer Ahead of Raining Season

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The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kano State Council, has called on the Kano State Government to ensure the timely provision of adequate fertilizer and other agricultural inputs to farmers in preparation for the upcoming rainy season. This appeal was made in a communiqué issued at the conclusion of the council’s congress meeting, which brought together representatives from various chapels under the union.

The congress, presided over by the council’s chairman, Comrade Sulaiman Abdullahi Dederi, focused on addressing issues affecting journalism, the unity of its members, and broader concerns impacting the state. In his opening remarks, Dederi commended members for their dedication to their professional duties and emphasized the importance of the meeting in fostering dialogue and collaboration.

During the session, the congress reviewed and adopted the council’s secretariat and financial reports. Members also deliberated on a range of pressing issues, leading to several resolutions:

1. Environmental Concerns: The congress expressed alarm over the rampant felling of trees and indiscriminate bush burning across the state, which threaten the ecosystem and ozone layer. It urged the government and relevant stakeholders to address these practices and called on individuals to desist from such harmful activities.

2. Health Initiatives: The congress appealed to the state Commissioner of Health to implement measures to combat mosquitoes and prevent malaria outbreaks in both rural and urban areas.

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3. Sports Development: A recommendation was made to the state Commissioner of Youth and Sports to procure a luxury bus for Kano Pillars, aiming to alleviate transportation challenges faced by the team.

4. Power Supply: The congress highlighted the adverse effects of incessant power outages on the socio-economic lives of Kano residents and called on stakeholders to find lasting solutions.

5. Agricultural Support: The council reiterated its plea for the government to provide farmers with necessary inputs, including fertilizer, to ensure a successful farming season.

In addition to these resolutions, the congress extended commendations to the Kano State Government for its efforts in reviving education and improving infrastructure, such as roads, water supply, and street lighting. The council also lauded the Correspondents Chapel for raising one million Naira to support the family of a deceased member, Mr. Ted Odugwu, and congratulated the newly inaugurated Online Chapel on its achievements.

The communiqué was signed by Comrade Sulaiman Abdullahi Dederi, the council’s chairman, and Abubakar Shehu Kwaru, the council’s secretary. The drafting committee included Abdullahi Yusuf, Abubakar A. Dangambo, and Farida Umar Abdu.

The NUJ Kano State Council remains committed to advocating for the welfare of its members and addressing issues of public interest.

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Bandits Kill Abducted Chief Imam of Historic Maru Central Mosque

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Malam Salisu Suleiman Liman, the Chief Imam of the First Jumu’at Central Mosque in Maru, the headquarters of Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State, and his two sons, who were abducted by bandits, have been killed.

The Imam was abducted alongside his children, a newlywed couple, and several others on Thursday, February 13, 2025.

The terrorists invaded Maru town during a midnight raid that lasted for about two hours.

The newlyweds, Muhammad Suleiman and his wife, Balkisu, were kidnapped on the first night after their wedding ceremony.

Security analyst Bakatsine confirmed the sad development on Tuesday, April 29, stating that the bandits also killed his family members.

Nigerian Tracker reports that, during the colonial era, prominent Northern Nigerian scholars, including Sheikh Abubakar Gumi and Malam Aminu Kano, taught in Maru schools.

 

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