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PEPT: Court Admits US Judgment On Tinubu’s Alleged Drug Crime In Obi’s Petition

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In Abuja on Tuesday, the Presidential Election Petition Court accepted as evidence a judgment from a United States District Court, allegedly implicating Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in drug-related offenses and ordering the forfeiture of $460,000.

 

During the hearing of a petition filed by Mr. Peter Gregory Obi, the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), a certified true copy of a judgment was presented as evidence by a witness named Barrister Lawrence Uchechukwu Nnana Nwakaeti.

 

The witness, led in evidence by Mr. Jibrin Okutepa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, submitted the judgment of the United States District Court which was made as part of the requests made by Mr. Obi and the Labour Party to challenge the declaration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the winner of the presidential election held on February 25, 2023. Their aim was to have Tinubu’s victory nullified and set aside.

 

In response to the admission of the judgment as evidence, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) expressed their objections. However, they opted to reserve these objections for the final address stage of the proceedings.

 

During cross-examination by Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN, who represented President Tinubu, the witness, Barrister Lawrence Uchechukwu Nnana Nwakaeti, acknowledged that the judgment in question had not been registered in Nigeria.

 

The witness, who is a legal practitioner based in Anambra and was Mr. Obi’s first witness, further admitted that there was no certificate from any Nigerian or American Consular office supporting the judgment. Nevertheless, the witness maintained that “the judgment speaks for itself.”

 

He claimed to have been to the US and read the judgment in its entirety, adding that he would be surprised if no mention was made of a $460,000 forfeiture.

 

Also under cross examination by counsel to the APC, Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN, the witness said that the American court judgment had no certificate given under the hand of any American Police Officer.

 

He denied knowledge of a February 4, 2003, Formal Clearance Report by Legal Attachee from American Embassy in respect of the alleged indictment and forfeiture.

 

When questioned by Fagbemi SAN to provide a copy of the charges against Tinubu, the witness acknowledged that he did not possess any. However, he emphasized that the indictment and forfeiture stemmed from civil proceedings.

 

In the meantime, Justice Haruna Simon Tsammani, the Presiding Justice of the Court, has decided to adjourn further hearings on the petition until May 31.

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Shettima Heads to Ebonyi for APC Presidential Campaign Rally

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2023: It is time to sing songs of unity, peace prosperity, says Shettima

Vice President Kashim Shettima is expected to lead the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign rally in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, on Monday, November 9, 2026.

Stanley Nkwocha disclosed this in a statement released on Monday, announcing the Vice President’s visit to Ebonyi State for the campaign rally.

The rally is scheduled to take place at the Pa Ngele Oruta Township Stadium, Abakaliki, as part of the APC’s campaign activities under the Renewed Hope agenda.

SEE ALSO: 2027: Shettima Arrives in Uyo for APC Presidential Campaign Rally

The announcement called on residents and party supporters to turn out in large numbers to welcome the Vice President, describing the event as an opportunity for massive political mobilisation.

“One city. Thousands of voices. An atmosphere of incredible energy,” the statement said.

 

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NDC Warns Judiciary Against Turning Courts Into Tools for Political Opposition

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The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has warned the judiciary against allowing itself to be used to undermine democracy following the Federal High Court judgment nullifying the David Mark-led leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The party expressed concern that the judgment, alongside other recent court decisions involving opposition parties, could weaken Nigeria’s multi-party democracy and restrict political participation ahead of the 2027 general elections.

SEE ALSO: APC Pressuring Hotels to Deny Opposition Parties Venues – NDC Raises Alarm

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, Esq. On Friday, the NDC said the manner in which some judgments, particularly those emanating from High Courts, were being delivered raised concerns about a possible attempt to exclude the ADC from the forthcoming elections.

While acknowledging the judiciary as the last hope of the common man, the party warned that court decisions capable of weakening opposition parties could create the impression that the judicial system was being used to frustrate democratic competition.

“The way some of these judgements are being churned out, especially from the High Courts suggests a deliberate effort to shut out the ADC from the forthcoming general elections by other means,” the statement read.

The NDC further argued that such developments could shrink the space for multi-party democracy, which it said was already facing significant threats under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The party consequently urged the judiciary to safeguard its independence, impartiality and integrity, stressing the need to protect public confidence in the institution.

It also called on the ADC to appeal the judgment without delay, urging the appellate court to grant an accelerated hearing to ensure the leadership dispute does not linger ahead of the 2027 elections.

According to the NDC, resolving the matter promptly would prevent uncertainty from undermining democratic participation and the ability of political parties to prepare for the forthcoming polls.

The party concluded its statement with the declaration: “A New Nigeria is Possible!”

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APC Pressuring Hotels to Deny Opposition Parties Venues – NDC Raises Alarm

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The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of allegedly pressuring hotels in Abuja to deny the opposition party access to their facilities, describing the development as an attempt to undermine democratic participation ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The party raised the allegation in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director on Thursday, who expressed concern over what it described as increasing attempts to restrict the democratic space and silence opposition voices.

According to the NDC, it has faced not only alleged violent attacks by agents of the ruling APC but also discrimination from hotels and hospitality businesses in Abuja.

SEE ALSO: Two Suspected Political Thugs Killed After Attacking NDC Candidate’s Convoy in Ebonyi

The party specifically accused Rockview Hotel of cancelling agreements to provide facilities for its meetings on two separate occasions.

The first incident, according to the statement, occurred in June 2026 when the hotel allegedly withdrew its agreement to host the party’s second National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting shortly before the scheduled event.

The NDC claimed that the hotel recently rejected another request to use its facilities for a meeting, allegedly informing the party that the decision came through an “order from above.”

The party also accused BON Hotel in Wuse, Abuja, of refusing to provide its facilities for a meeting despite the NDC claiming it had fulfilled all the conditions required.

The statement further alleged that the unveiling of the party’s National Campaign Council (NCC) was nearly disrupted after its event venue initially asked the party to refund its payment, saying it was no longer interested in making its facilities available.

The NDC suggested that the decision might have resulted from alleged threats or instructions from influential quarters.

However, the party said its insistence on using the facility after making payment eventually compelled the hotel to honour the arrangement.

Describing the alleged incidents as a threat to democratic participation, the NDC called on the APC to allow opposition parties to operate freely and campaign without interference.

“This is not democracy. The APC should allow all parties to campaign without let or hindrance, and give Nigerians the opportunity to make their choice on who governs them,” the statement said.

The party also urged Nigerians and supporters of democracy to call out Rockview Hotel and BON Hotel over what it described as their “anti-people and anti-democratic actions.”

Reaffirming its commitment to national development, the NDC declared that Nigerians deserved better governance and insisted that it was prepared to serve with passion and patriotism.

“Nigerians deserve better, and NDC is prepared to serve with passion and patriotism,” the statement added.

The party concluded with its declaration that “A New Nigeria is Possible.”

 

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