An Election Petition Tribunal on Friday sacked PDP’s Ademola Adeleke as Osun State Governor.

The tribunal hearing the APC and Adegboyega Oyetola’s petition annulled the result of the July 16 Osun governorship poll.

Justice Tetsea Kume, while delivering a majority decision declared that INEC did not comply substantially with the Constitution and the provisions of the Electoral Act.

He subsequently deducted the over-voting observed from the votes scored by the candidates and declared that Oyetola won the election, having polled 314, 921, while Adeleke’s score came down to 290, 266.

 READ ALSO: Oyetola Left Behind Over N40b Debts – Adeleke

He directed INEC to withdraw Adeleke’s certificate of return and issued another one to Oyetola who won a majority of the lawful votes.

Meanwhile, a minority decision by one of the judges is being read as at the time of filing this report.

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The Advocacy for Alleged Witches (AfAW) has urged the government to institute legal action against those who lynched Pa Justin Gyado in Gwer East Local Government Area in Benue state.

According to the Advocacy for Alleged Witches (AfAW) Director Dr Leo Igwe, the call has become necessary following the growing pressure on Pa Gyado and family for the release of the suspects from police custody.

“It must be recalled that over ten youths abducted and set ablaze Gyado after accusing him of killing a young man through witchcraft this month. It took the combined efforts of the police, civil defense, and the army, to rescue Pa Justin. But he was severely burnt. Justin was taken to the Federal Medical Center in Makurdi, where he is currently battling for his life. While at the hospital, family sources told the AfAW that one of the perpetrators invaded the hospital and tried to attack and kill Justin.”, AfAW said.

AfAW continues : “Fortunately, in the past few days, the police have arrested five persons linked to this horrific act. And the investigation is ongoing. However, information reaching the Advocacy for Alleged Witches is that relatives of the suspects are pressuring Pa Gyado’s family members to get the police to release the suspects. They are holding meetings and plotting several ways to frustrate the case. The police should not yield to this pressure and scheme. Justin is at the hospital nursing his wounds at his own expense without any support from the community. The community leaders are only interested in securing the release of those who attempted to murder him. The AfAW is asking the police in Benue not to release these suspects and to ensure that justice is done in this case. The police should use Pa Gyado’s case to demonstrate their commitment to upholding the rule of law and enforcing the criminal provisions against witchcraft accusations and jungle justice. The government of Benue should expedite efforts to ensure the prosecution of all implicated in this savage act. The case of Pa Gyado is the second to be reported in the Gwer East in recent months.

READ ALSO: AfAW Urges Victims, Survivors Of Witch Persecution In Benue To Speak Out

“In October last year, two men were reportedly murdered after they were accused of witchcraft. The police have not arrested anyone linked to that murder to date. If the police yielded to pressure and allowed these suspects to go scot free, they would be encouraging impunity and injustice. If the government of Benue state did not prosecute these suspects, it would be sending a message that perpetrators of witch persecution and jungle justice would get away with their crimes. And it would not reflect positively on the police, and the government of Benue state.

“Pa Justin Gyado and his family need justice. The world is watching.”

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The Nigerian Inspector General of Police (IGP), Alkali Baba, has approved the redeployment of two commissioners of police to Lagos and Ogun States respectively.The commissioners of police concerned are: Frank Mba and Idowu Owohunwa.

This was stated in a letter dated January 24, 2023, and signed by Hafiz Inuwa, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police to the Police Service Commission (PSC).

While Mba, who had served as the Force spokesman and appointed as the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Federal Capital Territory, would be replacing Abiodun Alabi in Lagos, while Owohunwa, former principal staff officer of the IGP, would take over from Lanre Bankole in Ogun.

This comes just over a month before the elections.

Nigerians will vote next month to elect a new president to succeed Muhammadu Buhari, who is finishing his second term in office.

READ ALSO: Police Begin Physical Screening Of Applicants For Recruitment Feb 1

The posting, according to the letter, was part of a strategy to strengthen the strategic and operational control of the Lagos and Ogun commands.

“I am directed to humbly write and forward the proposed posting of the under-mentioned commissioners of police to state commands indicated against their names for the commission’s kind consideration and approval,” the letter reads.

“The Inspector-General of Police is deploying the under-mentioned commissioners of police to strengthen the strategic and operational control of the commands.”