The Supreme Court of Nigeria has dismissed the appeal filed against the victory of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the October 10, 2020 governorship election by Eyitayo Jegede, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Eyitayo Jegede had in June appealed the decision of the Court of Appeal that validated the election of Akeredolu in the poll.

It was reported on June 16, 2021, that the Court of Appeal led by Justice Theresa Orji-Abadua dismissed the petition filed by Jegede while affirming Akeredolu as the winner of the poll.

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Not satisfied with the decision of the Appellate Court, both Akeredolu, Jegede, and INEC approached the Supreme Court for the invalidation of both the Election Petition Tribunal and Appeal Court judgements.

The case came up for hearing today at the Supreme Court. The court dismissed the petition with four Justices upholding Akeredolu’s victory against the dissenting judgement of three other justices led by Justice Odili who read the dissenting verdict.

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Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Benin Republic, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd.), has met with the President of Benin Republic, Patrice Talon.

Buratai met with the Beninese President on Tuesday during the official presentation of his letter of credence. Also, the Ambassador of Germany to Benin Republic, Michael Derus; as well as those of Ghana, Gabon, and Norway also presented their letters of credence to Talon.

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Buratai (R) presents his letter of credence to Talon (L)
Buratai’s meeting with the Beninese President occurred amid the planned extradition of wanted Yoruba nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho, who was arrested in Cotonou on July 19, 2021 while he tried to catch a flight to Germany.

A member of Igboho’s legal team, Pelumi Olajengbesi, had said Buratai asked for the extradition of Igboho to the office of the Department of State Services in Nigeria but Benin Republic disappointed him.

Buratai, Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff between July 2015 and January 2021, was deployed as Nigeria’s envoy in the Benin Republic in June 2021.

Before then, the Nigerian President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), had presented Buratai’s nomination to the Senate and the upper chamber of the National Assembly had confirmed the ex-COAS’ nomination despite public outcry of some crimes against humanity allegedly committed by the Nigerian Army under Buratai’s leadership.

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The Nigerian Navy has handed over the 10 pirates convicted by Federal High Court Ikoyi for the hijack of FV HAILUFENG II to the Nigeria Correctional Service, Kirikiri, Lagos.

According to Naval Spokesperson, Commodore Suleiman Dahun, the hands over ceremony took place on Tuesday 27 July 2021.

Delivering his judgment, Justice Faji said the Federal Government proved beyond reasonable doubt that the pirates did hijack the vessel, FV HAILUFENG II, belonging to Haina Fishing Company.

the 10 pirates involved in in the act, were sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment each with a fine of N1,000,000.00.

In his submission, the lead prosecution counsel, Mr Labaran Magaji averred that the verdict would send a strong warning to other criminal elements that Nigeria has zero tolerance for maritime criminals and that Nigerian institutions, both Nigerian Navy, prosecuting agencies and security agencies are ready to counter criminal activities.

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On 15 May 2020, the Nigerian Navy rescued 18 crew members on board a Chinese vessel, FV HAILUFENG II after a pirate attack.

Subsequently, 10 suspects were charged before the Federal High Court, Ikoyi. The suspects were charged to 4 counts on piracy with the offence contravening the provisions of Section 3, 10 and 12 of the Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences Act 2019.

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