Oscar Pistorius Released From Prison, Under House Arrest

Oscar Pistorius was released from prison in South Africa Monday and
placed under house arrest, Correctional Services spokesman Manelisi
Wolela said.

The former Olympic athlete had been in prison since October last year,
when a judge sentenced him to five years for culpable homicide in the
killing of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.

Pistorius shot the model and law school graduate on Valentine's Day
2013. He has said he mistook her for an intruder.

Last week a South African parole board said it had approved his
placement under house arrest and correctional supervision for four
years.

'Nothing will bring Reeva back'.

-CNN

Agüero, Hazard Battle Messi, Ronaldo For 2016 FIFA Ballon d’Or

FIFA and France Football, Tuesday, announced the names of the nominees
for the FIFA Ballon d'Or and for the FIFA World Coach of the Year for
Men's Football awards.

The awards recognise the best in each category, without distinction of
championship or nationality, for their respective achievements between
22 November 2014 and 20 November 2015 inclusive.

The final decisions will be made by the captains and head coaches of
the men's national teams as well as by international media
representatives selected by France Football. The winners of all of the
awards will be announced at the FIFA Ballon d'Or as part of a
televised show at the Zurich Kongresshaus on 11 January 2016.


PHOTO: FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi, left, duels for the ball against
Celta de Vigo's Pablo Hernandez during a Spanish La Liga soccer match
at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014.
(AP Photo)

The list of 23 male candidates has been drawn up by football experts
from the FIFA Football Committee and a group of experts from France
Football.

The voting period for the awards commences on 26 October 2015 and
closes on 20 November 2015 (midnight CET). In the event that
insufficient votes (less than two-thirds of all potential jury
members) are cast during the voting period, FIFA and France Football
may, at their discretion, extend the voting period by one week to
allow only those participating jury members who have not yet cast
their vote by 20 November 2015 (midnight CET) to do so.

On 30 November, FIFA and France Football will announce in a web show
the names of the three women and three men, as well as the three
coaches for women's football and three coaches for men's football, who
have received the most votes (without announcing the winners).

The three nominees for the FIFA Puskás Award (honouring the most
beautiful goal of the year) will be also unveiled.
Sergio Agüero (Argentina/Manchester City), Gareth Bale (Wales/Real
Madrid), Karim Benzema (France/Real Madrid), Cristiano Ronaldo
(Portugal/Real Madrid), Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium/VfL
Wolfsburg/Manchester City), Eden Hazard (Belgium/Chelsea), Zlatan
Ibrahimović (Sweden/Paris Saint-Germain), Andrés Iniesta (Spain/FC
Barcelona), Toni Kroos (Germany/Real Madrid), Robert Lewandowski
(Poland/FC Bayern Munich), Javier Mascherano (Argentina/FC Barcelona),
Lionel Messi (Argentina/FC Barcelona), Thomas Müller (Germany/FC
Bayern Munich), Manuel Neuer (Germany/FC Bayern Munich), Neymar
(Brazil/FC Barcelona), Paul Pogba (France/Juventus), Ivan Rakitić
(Croatia/FC Barcelona), Arjen Robben (Netherlands/FC Bayern Munich),
James Rodríguez (Colombia/Real Madrid), Alexis Sánchez
(Chile/Arsenal), Luis Suárez (Uruguay/FC Barcelona), Yaya Touré (Côte
d'Ivoire/Manchester City), Arturo Vidal (Chile/Juventus/FC Bayern
Munich).

Emmanuel Emenike Quits Super Eagles In Order To Avoid Insults

Al Ain striker, Emmanuel Emenike, has announced his retirement from
international football.

The 28-year-old Emenike said on Instagram he is ending his five-year
stint with the Super Eagles.

"For everybody that thinks I am the problem of Super Eagles, I am
using this opportunity to give you a breaking and interesting news
that I am no longer a Super Eagles player. It has always being my
pleasure to play and win for the team.

"I have always been proud of my successful years in the team and I am
pleased to call it off at this point in order to avoid insults,"
africanFootball.com quoted Emenike as saying on Instagram.

Women Protest Nnamdi Kanu’s Arrest, Demand His Release

PROTESTERS, Tuesday, stormed the entrance of Delta State Government
House, Asaba condemning the arrest and detention of the Director of
Radio Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu.

Gathered under the aegis of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Delta
State chapter, the protesters, mainly women, demanded the immediate
release of Kanu, describing his arrest as uncalled for and totally
unacceptable.

PHOTO: The Indigenous People of Biafra on a Peaceful Protest over the
Arrest of the Director of Radio Biafra Tuesdaay along Ikwerre road in
Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Photo: Vanguard

Chanting songs of grievances and displaying placards which bore
various inscriptions such as "Freedom for Biafra, free Nnamdi Kanu",
"We are not terrorists, we are freedom fighters", "We are tired of
intimidation and harassment by Nigeria Government", "Biafra on the
move" amongst others, the protesters said they were no longer
comfortable with the Nigerian government.

Speaking during the protest, Secretary of IPOB, Delta State chapter
Nnenna Nwaoha, said: "The reason for the protest is for Nnamdi Kanu to
be released; we have suffered enough in the hands of the Nigerian
Government and we are no more comfortable with it.

"We want our freedom that is why we are here. We are not comfortable
with the Nigerian government, the intimidation, killing and all that;
that is why we want our freedom. We feel very bad about his detention
and it is affecting each and every one of us. We are not comfortable,
we want to go.

"The federal government should release our Director, Dr. Nnamdi Kanu
and we also want our freedom. As a nation that is due for freedom, we
want to go; we are tired; the suffering is too much; it is not a crime
to want our freedom; we want to go."

Also speaking, Chineye Udeoba expressed bitterness at the detention of
Kanu, saying "we are bitter and we are giving them a strict warning
and order to release him.

"We are not Nigerians, we are Biafrans. My father is seventy-two years
old and he is older than Nigeria. He is a Biafrian, I am a Biafran and
we all here are Biafrans. We the indigenous people of Biafra are ready
to go. We want to be on our own.

"The British came and amalgamated us with these Oduduwa and Arewa
people, we are not one; we were never one, we are totally different in
terms of tradition; we are Biafrans. We want to be on our own as
indigenous people of Biafra. We want our freedom.

On her part, Mrs. Judith Ihebiehi said: "This man is our voice, he is
our mentor. We have been in darkness all these while, so this man has
been speaking for us, so the Nigerian government has no right to
detain him; he has done nothing.

"Have they ever asked themselves if what this man has been saying is
false? Have they bothered to verify what Nnamdi Kanu has been saying?
So detaining Nnamdi Kanu will bring problems; we have been calming our
husbands down, we have been saying 'wait' we women will go to the
government, we will talk to them and say this is what we want; we
don't want problem that is why we are here.

"Our reason of coming here is to tell the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to
help us take our message to the federal government. He is not the one
detaining him but we are here to tell him to take it to Abuja." The
protesters were however, denied entry into the Government House by
police officers.

-Vanguard

Buhari Drops Another Ministerial Appointee

As Nigerian Senate will continue the screening of ministerial nominees
today, October, 20, the signs appeared that President Muhammadu Buhari
has dropped another appointee.

The Senate president Bukola Saraki will reportedly read a letter from
the Nigerian leader on a new ministerial nominee from Oyo state.

Vanguard reports that the first appointee from the state Barrister
Adebayo Shittu may be substituted by Adewole Isaac Folorunsho.


Barrister Adebayo Shittu was one of the 21 nominees sent to the Senate
on September 30 and on October 14, Wednesday his name was number nine
on the Order Paper, but was, meanwhile, not called likely for lack of
time, just as Chairman, Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Media and
Publicity, Senator Dino Melaye had said on Thursday that Shittu would
be screened today.

Those enumerated for screening: Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers); Khadijah
Abba-Ibrahim (Yobe); Claudius Omoleye Daramola (Ondo); Anthony Anwuka
Gozie (Imo); Brig-Gen. Mansur Dan Ali, retd (Zamfara); James E. Ocholi
(Kogi); Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed (Kaduna); Mustapha Baba Shehuri (Borno);
Aisha Abubakar (Sokoto); Heineken Lokpobiri (Bayelsa); Adamu Adamu
(Bauchi); Pastor Usani Usani Uguru (Cross River) and Abubakar Bwari
Bawa (Niger).

However, there are fears that ex-governor of Rivers state, Rotimi
Amaechi, may not be screened today.

Ex-governor, whose screening had been delayed twice may be screened on
October 21, Wednesday, because he is the 15th nominee listed for the
exercise.

The senators have not screened more than nine appointees per day.
Amaechi has been a source of division among senators on account of
appeals against him.

Speaking on whether or not the former governor would be confirmed
today Senator Anyanwu, who heads Senate Committee on Ethics,
Privileges and Public Petitions, stated that his panel will submit the
report today as well as the report on the petition against Aisha
Abubakar, another ministerial nominee, would equally be submitted at
the plenary.

—Naij.com

Imo Govt. Distributes Relief Materials To Oguta Flood Victims

The Imo State government through the Imo State Oil Producing Areas
Development Commission (ISOPADEC) has provided relief materials to the
people of Oguta.

This is to alleviate their immediate suffering and hardship following
the rampaging flood that submerged many houses and displaced many
people in riverine Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State.

Speaking to Channels Television at the ISOPADEC office after the
distribution of the relief materials, the acting Managing Director of
the commission, Kingsley Uju, said that the move was to provide
immediate succour to victims of the flood disaster.

According to him, the relief material is more of food items for their
immediate consumption pending the time the water goes down.

He said that the federal government would also intervene in helping the victims.

He, however, urged people living in the area to move to the upper
lands and also the camps built by the state government for flood
displaced people, located in Oguta and Ohaji Egbema, pending the time
the flood subsides.

—ChannelsTV

Pistorius To Be Moved From Prison To House Arrest

South Africa's parole board have confirmed that Oscar Pistorius will
be released from prison and placed under house arrest this week.

He was sentenced to five years in prison in 2014 after he was found
guilty of culpable homicide or manslaughter, after shooting his
girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, through a locked bathroom door.

Pistorius has spent 12 months in jail and will now spend the rest of
his sentence under what is termed in South Africa as "correctional
supervision".

An earlier decision to release him in August was blocked by South
Africa's Justice Minister, Michael Masutha, saying it had been
made"prematurely".

Anambra Tribunal Declares Senator Ekwunife Winner

Senator Uche Ekwunife, representing Anambra Central Senatorial zone,
has been declared winner of the March 28 Senatorial Election by the
National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Awka, Anambra
State.

Justice Naiyi Aganaba, who read the over 2-hour judgment held that the
petitioners, Victor Umeh of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA)
and APGA failed to establish their case which they hinged on alleged
mutilations and incorrect figures from which INEC declared Senator
Ekwunife winner of the senatorial election.

The court also struck out the relief sought by Mr Umeh, urging the
court to declare him winner on the grounds that he got the highest
number of lawful votes cast.

Concluding the judgment, Justice Aganaba ruled that the petitioners
failed to prove their case beyond reasonable doubt as to have the
election nullified and insisted that it lacked merit.

Senator Uche Ekwunife, reacting to her victory, commended the
judiciary for restoring hope, once again, to the common man and said
that the judgment was a reflection of the wishes of the people.

Earlier, the tribunal had nullified the result of the PDP candidate
for Anaocha/Dunukofia/Njikoka Federal Constituency, Prince Emeka Eze
and declared the APGA candidate, Mr Dozie Nwankwo, winner of the House
of Representatives election.

Tanzanians Hopeful Jonathan’s Presence Will Bring Credibility To Polls

Ahead of the Tanzania's general election scheduled for October 25,
Tanzanians are hopeful and confident that the Presence of the former
Nigerian president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, will bring credibility to
the polls considered the toughest and closest elections in the
nation's history.

Dr. Jonathan is leading the 54-member nations of the Commonwealth, as
part of the international observers to monitor the Tanzanian general
election. He is expected to be in Dar es Salaam on Monday.

The ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party has been in power since the
country's return to multiparty democracy in 1992. The party is up
against a united opposition that has increasingly been making
significant electoral gains.

As Tanzanians prepare to vote in either side, they are happy that high
profile observers including Jonathan, who they consider 'a hero of
free and fair election in Africa', would be on ground to monitor the
elections.

They are hoping that their presence would ensure a transparent and
peaceful election process.

Daily News of Tanzania had in a recent editorial ahead of the election
paid tribute to Jonathan, commending him for taking his defeat in the
last presidential election "in all magnanimity".

While in Tanzania, Jonathan is billed to meet with the country's
president, Jakaya Kikwete, other heads of delegation as well as the
local and international
ional
media.

-ChannelsTV

Imo FRSC Flags Off Ember Month Campaign

The Imo State Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), has launched a public
awareness campaign aimed at educating road users on safety habits
towards reduction of crashes and loss of lives and properties during
the ember months.

At an event to flag off 2015 ember month campaign with the theme,
'Operation Safety: Driving Safely into Year 2016', the Imo State
Sector Commander, Godwin Omiko, reiterated the commitment of the
command in ensuring a safe and accident free roads during the ember
period.

Gathered at the event were senior and junior officials of the FRSC Imo
State Command alongside other sister security agencies in the state,
members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) as
well as top functionaries in the Imo State Government.

Mr Omiko advised drivers to be more patient and also ensure that they
do daily and thorough check on their vehicles before embarking on any
journey as the FRSC has recorded over 3,000 road accidents across the
country since January.

The Representative of the Imo State Commissioner of Police, Dave
Akinremi and the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Silas
Onwukwe, while responding to the Sector Commander, commended the
command for the laudable initiative, urging the FRSC in the state of
their continued support and partnership in bringing road crashes to
its barest minimum.

The Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, who was represented by the
Secretary to the Imo State Government, Jude Ejiogu, advised members of
the public and commercial drivers to be more cautious and vigilant as
the life of every Imo indigene is precious to the government.

Mr Ejiogu also commended the FRSC and other security agencies for
supporting the government in its drive to bring sanity to the traffic
system in the state.

-ChannelsTV

Police Arrest Fake Buhari Adviser

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command on Monday said it
had arrested a 70-year old fake Presidential Adviser on Defence
Matters.

Presenting the suspect who claimed to be a retired Army Colonel, to
the media, the command's Spokesman, ASP Anjuguri Manzah, said the
suspect was arrested on October 18 in Maitama area of Abuja, following
a tip-off .

"Police operatives attached to Maitama Division acting on a tip-off
arrested one fake Colonel (name withheld) who claimed to be the
Special Adviser to the President on Defence Matters," Manzah said.

He said that the suspect, who specialised in defrauding influential
people in the society, had gone to the area to meet up with an
appointment with a former state governor.

The spokesman said that the suspect upon arrest confessed to the
crime. "He also confessed that he only hides under that guise to
solicit for juicy contracts or financial favour from his high profile
victims," he said.

He said that one fake identification card and five complimentary cards
were recovered from him.

The suspect, who said he worked with the Bauchi State Government up to
1990, said he had been in the business for over three years.

"I thought it was an easy way to feed my family," he said.
Manzah said that the suspect had been transferred to the Criminal
Intelligence and Investigation Department for further investigation.

Similarly, the command has arrested a suspect who specialised in
producing and circulating fake N1, 000 notes to unsuspecting members
of the public.

Manzah said that the suspect was arrested by police operatives around
Royal Park in Wuse two, Abuja, where he had gone to buy mobile phone
recharge card.

He said that items recovered from him include 54 pieces of fake N1, 000 notes.

Speaking with newsmen, the suspect said he was introduced into the
business by a friend who resides in Lugbe, Abuja, who linked him with
his friend in Lagos.

The spokesman enjoined members of the public to be vigilant and always
provide the police with information about criminal elements.

He also enjoined residents to take advantage of the police emergency help lines.

-PMNews

Hajj: Saudi Arabia Death Toll Rises To 2,121

The crush and stampede that struck the hajj last month in Saudi Arabia
killed at least 2,121 pilgrims, a new Associated Press tally showed
Monday, after officials in the kingdom met to discuss the tragedy.

The toll keeps rising from the Sept. 24 disaster outside Mecca as
individual countries identify bodies and work to determine the
whereabouts of hundreds of pilgrims still missing. The official Saudi
toll of 769 people killed and 934 injured has not changed since
September 26, and officials have yet to address the discrepancy.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Naif bin Abdul Aziz, who is also the
kingdom's interior minister, oversaw a meeting late Sunday about the
disaster in Mina, according to the official Saudi Press Agency. The
agency's report did not mention any official response to the rising
death toll.

"The crown prince was reassured on the progress of the
investigations," the SPA report said. "He directed the committee's
members to continue their efforts to find the causes of the accident,
praying to Allah Almighty to accept the martyrs and wishing the
injured a speedy recovery."

King Salman ordered the investigation into the disaster, the deadliest
in the history of the annual pilgrimage. It came after a crane
collapse in Mecca earlier that month killed 111 worshippers, and the
twin disasters marred the first hajj to be overseen by the king since
he ascended to the throne at the start of this year.

The Saudi king holds the title of "Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques,"
and the monarchy's supervision of the hajj is a source of great
prestige in the Muslim world. Riyadh has rejected a suggestion by
Shiite power Iran, its main regional rival, to have an independent
body take over planning and administering the five-day hajj
pilgrimage, which is required of all able-bodied Muslims once in their
lifetimes.

Iran has repeatedly blamed the disaster on the Saudi royal family,
accusing it of mismanagement and of covering up the real death toll,
which Tehran says exceeds 4,700, without providing evidence.

"The lying and hypercritical bodies, which claim to (be promoting)
human rights, as well as the Western governments, which sometimes make
great fuss over the death of a single person, remained dead silent in
this incident in favor of their allied government," Iran's Supreme
Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Monday, according to a transcript
on his website.

"If they were sincere, these self-proclaimed advocates of human rights
should have demanded accountability, compensation, guarantee for
non-recurrence and punishment for the perpetrators of this
catastrophe."

Iran and Saudi Arabia are deeply divided on a host of regional issues
and back opposite sides in the wars in Syria and Yemen, where a
Saudi-led coalition has been at war with Iran-backed Shiite rebels,
known as Houthis, since March.

Saudi Arabia has meanwhile been targeted in gun and bomb attacks by an
affiliate of the extremist Islamic State group, which holds a third of
Iraq and Syria in its self-declared "caliphate." Like al-Qaida before
it, the IS group views the Saudi royal family as illegitimate because
of alleged corruption and its alliance with the United States.

The AP count of the dead from the Mina crush and stampede comes from
state media reports and officials' comments from 30 of the over 180
countries that sent citizens to the hajj.

Iran leads all the affected countries, saying it had 465 pilgrims
killed. Many of the dead also came from Africa. Nigeria said it lost
199 people, while Mali lost 198, Cameroon lost 76, Niger lost 72,
Senegal lost 61, and Ivory Coast and Benin both lost 52.

Others include Egypt with 182, Bangladesh with 137, Indonesia with
126, India with 116, Pakistan with 102, Ethiopia with 47, Chad with
43, Morocco with 36, Algeria with 33, Sudan with 30, Burkina Faso with
22, Tanzania with 20, Somalia with 10, Kenya with eight, Ghana and
Turkey with seven, Myanmar and Libya with six, China with four,
Afghanistan with two and Jordan and Malaysia with one.

The previous deadliest-ever incident at hajj was a 1990 stampede that
killed 1,426 people.

-Associated Press

Nnamdi Kalu Granted Bail

Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, the
Director of Radio Biafra and
leader of Indigenous People of
Biafra, IPOD, has been granted
bail after being arrested at Golden
Tulip Essential Hotel in Ikeja,
Lagos state.

Kalu was granted bail in the sum
of 2 million Naira or with surety
of N2 million with a civil servant
of grade level 16, Vanguard
reports.

However he is yet to fulfill his bail
conditions.
IPOD's lawyer, Mr.Egechukwu
Obetta lamented that Nnamdi
Kanu was put in the same cell
with terrorists despite his life
threatening health challenges.

"Last week, the Afenifere
threatened to secede but nobody
was vilified. I am talking about
the recent Olu Falae's kidnap case. The militants in the Niger Delta
has done same.'

12,700 APC Members Join PDP In Kogi

A huge defection has rocked the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)
in Kogi state ahead of the November 21 governorship election.

Idris Wada, the governor of the state and PDP candidate in the poll,
has visited Igalamela/Odolu and Ofu local government areas during this
weekend to assure the locals of continued delivery of democracy
dividends.

At Ofu local government area, the home base of the aspirant of the
APC, Prince Abubakar Audu, 12,700 party's members formally deserted to
the PDP.

Simeon Adejoh, one of the converts, told reporters that their choice
was hinged on the transformation agenda of governor Wada.

Elder Friday Makama, the member representing the constituency in the
state House of Assembly, speaking on behalf of the people, gave the
assurance that PDP would receive over 80% of the votes in the area.

He said: "I will continue to say it that APC cannot penetrate
Igalamela/Odolu. All our political leaders here are PDP and our people
have asked me to tell his Excellency that on November 21, they shall
show their appreciation for all the governor has been doing in the
constituency."

On his own part, the governor assured the people that he will do more
for them if chosen on November 21.

He enlisted the projects he had implemented in the two local
government areas to comprise roads, healthcare facilities among
others.

Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, ex-governor of the state, said the leaders of
Kogi East had made it clear that Wada earned another term, instructing
the people of the area to turn out en masse and vote for the PDP
aspirant.

The Independent National Electoral Commission recently informed that
it has employed 13,052 ad hoc personnel that will help in the conduct
of the governorship poll holding in Kogi state on November 21.

-Naij.com

Appeal Court Adjourns Saraki’s Case Indefinitely

Appeal Court has adjourned Senator Bukola Saraki's election tribunal
case indefinitely.

The Court of Appeal had fixed October 19 to deliver judgment in the
appeal filed by Senate President, Bukola Saraki challenging his trial
at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

Saraki is facing trial at the CCT on charges of alleged false
declaration of his assets.

On 16 October, Justice Moore Adumein, who led two other justices of
the court, fixed the date for judgment after entertaining arguments
from counsel to parties in the suit.

At the hearing, counsel to Saraki, Mr Joseph Daudu (SAN) raised five
major issues for determination by the court.

Daudu averred that the CCT erred in law by proceeding with the trial
of his client with two members instead of the mandatory three members
as provided by the constitution.

"The composition of the tribunal during the trial of my client
violated paragraphs 15(1) of the 1999 Constitution by sitting with two
members instead of three.

"My Lord we are seeking the court's understanding to nullify the CCT
proceedings of last month due to lack of quorum,'' he said.

Daudu further held that the tribunal lacked the jurisdiction to try
criminal matter which formed part of the charges.

He objected to the arguments of Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) Counsel to the
Federal Government on the Interpretation Act.

He therefore urged the court to discountenance the prosecution's
argument that the Act could be used to resolve the constitutional
logjam since the constitution was silent on the quorum for membership
of the tribunal.

Daudu insisted that the Interpretation Act could not override the
constitution being the supreme law. "To ask that the Act of
Interpretation be used to override constitutional provision is wrong
and unheard off.

"That in itself will amount to product of mis-interpretation because
the constitution is the supreme law and not an Act,'' he argued.

The counsel also argued that the tribunal was wrong in assuming
criminal jurisdiction against the Senate President when
it was not a superior court of record.

Daudu, who cited several authorities submitted that the tribunal could
not assume concurrent jurisdiction with the Federal High Court, adding
that the tribunal was by law inferior.

He therefore, urged the appeal court to nullify the proceedings of the
tribunal against Saraki and set aside criminal charges filed against
him.

On his part, the prosecution urged the appellate court to dismiss the
arguments advanced by the applicant's counsel for lacking in merit.

Jacobs held that the constitution was silent on the quorum of
membership of the tribunal in handling of cases.

He urged the court to invoke the Interpretation Act to resolve the
issue in favour of the respondent.

The respondent's counsel also submitted that the tribunal had criminal
jurisdiction because of the use of words like "guilty" and
"punishment" in the law that established it.

The presiding Judge struck out an application by Saraki praying for a
stay of further proceedings at the tribunal.

The Judge said the court was compelled to do that because the grounds
on which the prayers rested had been overtaken with the hearing of the
substantive matter.

-PMNews