The NAFDAC Head of Investigation and Enforcement, Federal Taskforce, Embugushiki-Musa Godiya, also said the agency would work to ensure that fake cosmetics and other counterfeit products were completely wiped out of the country.
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Supreme Court reserves judgement in Ogun guber, affirms Gov. Eno’s election
The Supreme Court on Thursday has reserved its judgement in the governorship election case of Ogun State.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Ladi Adebutu had filed an appeal to challenge the outcome of the governorship election that held in Ogun State on March 18, 2023.
The appeal is seeking to remove Governor Dapo Abiodun, who contested and was re-elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, from office.
A five-member panel of the apex court, led by Justice Inyang Okoro, adjourned to deliver judgement on the electoral dispute after all the parties adopted their final briefs of argument.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had declared that Abiodun of the APC polled a total of 276,298 votes to defeat his closest rival, Adebutu of the PDP, who garnered a total of 262,383 votes.
Dissatisfied with the outcome of the poll, Adebutu approached the Ogun State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, insisting that he was the valid winner of the gubernatorial contest.
He, among other things, alleged that the election was not conducted in substantial compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022.
Counsel to the All Progressives Congress (APC), the third respondent in the governorship election case in Ogun State, Mr. Tayo Oyetibo however described the document most relied upon in the Petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as an orphan and dubious.
Oyetibo, made the remarks at the hearing of the case on Thursday at the Supreme Court in Abuja, citing Section 179 and added that the position of the Lead Counsel to PDP, Chris Uche, SAN, that the Governorship Election of 18th March in the State was wrongly and unlawfully concluded could not be proved by the Counsel.
He further argued that Appellants have been running from the main case that they took to the Tribunal. He added that the substance of the case which the Appellants brought was that the election was inconclusive, leading to a burden on Appellants to prove, which they failed to do.
He explained that Exhibit PT609, which was the mainstay of Appellants’ case, was worthless and that the document did not contain name, title, signature, and date.
Earlier, Chief Uche adopted all briefs as his argument in the appeal and urged the court to allow the appeal and overturn the majority decision of the Court of Appeal. He also adopted his response to the motion raised by INEC.
Meanwhile, Counsel to the second Respondent, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, in his submission, urged the Court to dismiss the appeal, which challenged concurrent decisions of the two lower courts.
He said Appellants ought to have been consistent in presenting their case; and then made allusion to Page 5206 of the Record showing that the Tribunal painstakingly went through the law and evidence and concluded that Appellants had the burden to prove the margin of lead but did not do so.
Also, Counsel to the First Respondent, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) A J Owonikoko, SAN, identified his brief and adopted the same. Owonikoko, thereafter, prayed the Court to dismiss the appeal, as the Supreme Court thereafter reserved judgment on the matter.
…Affirms Governor Eno’s election
Meanwhile, the Apex Court affirmed the election of Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State.
The Court, in a unanimous decision by a five-member panel of Justices, dismissed three separate appeals that were lodged to challenge Eno’s emergence as the winner of the gubernatorial poll held in the state on March 18, 2023.
The Court dismissed the appeals filed by candidates of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Akanimo Udofia; Young Progressives Party, YPP, Bassey Akpan; and the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, John Udoedehe.
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Invoke executive order for state, LG police, Afenifere tells Tinubu
The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and political organisation, Afenifere, on Saturday, urged President Bola Tinubu to invoke an Executive Order for the establishment of state and local government Police.
Afenifere, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi,in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, also called for the erection of close-circuit television sets and deployment of modern technology for security purposes in strategic locations to end insecurity.
Ajayi said, “There are indications that Tinubu is desirous of putting an end to this deleterious menace. Towards the end of January this year, he approved the procurement of digital tracking tools to enhance the apprehension of bandits, terrorists and armed robbers.
“On Monday, April 22, this year, he used the occasion of addressing participants at the African Counter-Terrorism Summit which opened on that day in Abuja to assure everyone of his government’s readiness to ensure greater security. Unfortunately, recent happenings have not shown that the President’s desire in this respect is being worked upon.
“President Tinubu should get state and local government police off the ground immediately through the invocation of an Executive Order while the process of amending the Constitution continues.
“Close circuit television sets, deployment of modern technology for security purposes including drones must be effected immediately.”
He explained that the statement was motivated by the recent reports of banditry and kidnapping in Ogun, Edo, Ekiti, Oyo, Kogi, Zamfara and Niger States, respectively which made a research organization declare Nigeria as one of the top nations where kidnap ranks highest globally.
Ajayi noted that Fulani herders and farmers’ clashes kept occurring in Osun, Ondo and Oyo State; Otu, Igbeti and Alaga in the Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State were the latest victims.
The Afenifere spokesperson also said, “In order to end insecurity, enhance people’s welfare and ensure the sustenance of Nigeria as one of the top investment destinations in Africa as desired by the government, there is the urgent need by the Federal Government and security agencies to be more innovative and decisive.”
He lamented that banditry, including armed robbery, kidnapping was still occurring on South-West roads such as Lagos-Ibadan, Ibadan-Ijebu-Ode; Akure-Ilesa-Ibadan; Ore-Ijebu Ode-Lagos, Ikirun-Osogbo-Ilesa; Lokoja-Abuja, Owo-Benin and Ibadan-Iseyin-Saki.
“Latest reports have it that on Monday, May 13 instant, eight cocoa farmers were kidnapped at Marindoti Cocoa Farmers’ settlement in Ovia South-West Local Government Area of Edo State. Three students of Millicent Secondary School in the same area on their way to write their Senior Secondary School Examination, were also kidnapped at the same time.
“A sum of N31 million was reportedly paid to ransom three people who were kidnapped at Longe village on Ibadan-Ijebu-Ode Road last week Sunday. On Thursday, May 16, one Seliat Adeniji (nee Raji) was kidnapped in her Ebedi home in Iseyin, Oyo State. Her guard was killed in the process.
“Hon Bello Hassan representing Zurmi/Shinkafi Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives last Tuesday claimed that terrorists have sacked about 50 communities and abducted over 500 people in his area of Zamfara State as bandits overran Zurmi, the second most populous town in the state killing palace officers as well as policemen.”
To put a serious check on all these, the Afenifere spokesman said that there was an urgent need to dig deep into the roots of the menace and to be decisive in applying the necessary measures.
News
NAFDAC shuts cosmetic shops in Lagos, seizes counterfeit products
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has shut three shops and raided others during a clampdown on the sale of unregistered “Dr. Teal’s” brand of cosmetics in Lagos State.
The agency disclosed this in a post on its X handle on Saturday, stating that the action came after a complaint from the trademark holder.
The statement read, “NAFDAC has shut down three cosmetics shops and raided others, targeting the sale of unregistered ‘Dr. Teal’s’ brand cosmetics. This action follows a complaint from the trademark holder regarding potential counterfeit products.
“Two suspected shops along Excellent Line at the Trade Fair Complex were targeted, resulting in sealed shops and invitation letters issued to attendants.”
It added that another development unfolded at Okas Global Link Limited where NAFDAC confiscated over 200 cartons of various Dr. Teal’s products and other unregistered cosmetics, suspecting them to be the source of distribution.
A shop identified as Cubana Stores at Phil Hallmark Plaza was also reported to have been sealed for stocking and selling the moisturising body and bath products of the alleged unregistered Dr. Teal’s brand.
NAFDAC added that according to its regulations, shop owners found guilty of selling unregistered products face penalties of up to ₦5m fine.
It said shop owners were also being questioned as part of ongoing investigations.
In the statement, the agency emphasised the health risks associated with fake cosmetics, stating the potential dangers of using products containing harmful substances.
News
Traders, soldiers clash at Banex Plaza in Abuja
The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has deployed intelligence officers to Banex – an electronics and telecommunications gadgets market, in Abuja following a conflict that ensued between soldiers and some traders on Saturday.
A viral video seen by our correspondent on X on Saturday showed a multitude of civilians overpowering some soldiers during a free-for-all fight at Banex.
The Defence Headquarters, and the spokesperson for the Nigerian Army, Onyema Nwachukwu could not be reached for comments as of press time.
Meanwhile, a trader who simply identified himself as Abdul, told our correspondent on Saturday that the conflict ensued over the sale of a mobile phone.
“There’s a problem at Banex now. Some soldiers came to complain about a phone, and during an argument with the traders, a fight ensued,” Abdul simply revealed.
When contacted over the development, the spokesperson for the FCT Police Command, SP Josephine Adeh said the Commissioner of Police, Benett Igweh has deployed officers of the FCT Intelligence Response Team to the scene of the incident.
“The CP has deployed the Intelligence Response Team to the scene,” Adeh confirmed.
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