The Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed an appeal filed by Kenneth Imansuangbon seeking to disqualify Olumide Akpata as the governorship candidate of the Labour Party in the September 21 governorship election in Edo State.

In the lead judgment delivered by Justice Okon Abang, the appellate court held among others that Imansuangbon failed to explore the intra-conflict resolution mechanism of the labour party before rushing to court.

The court also held that his case was premature in law and could not be entertained on the ground that conditions precedent were not met.

The unanimous judgment of the three-man panel of justices also held that Imansuangbon failed to tender the disputed results of the February 23 primary election of the party, which he claimed to have won.

It would be recalled that in June, Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court Abuja dismissed a suit seeking to void the nomination of Akpata as the LP candidate in the September 21 election.

In the judgement, Justice Omotosho upheld the arguments by Akpata’s lawyer, Johnson Usman, (SAN) that the plaintiffs were without the legal right to institute the suit.

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted N10 million bail on each to the ten members of the #EndBadGovernance protesters who were charged with attempt to overthrow President Bola Tinubu between August 1 and 4th this year.

While delivering ruling in their bail applications, Justice Emeka Nwite said the protesters must produce sureties who must be property owners in Abuja and must deposit documents of the properties to the court in addition to swearing to affidavit of means.

The court equally ordered the defendants to produce one surety each who are based in Abuja and must be willing to deposit their international passports and three recent passport photographs with the court.

Justice Nwite, while rejecting the objections of the Inspector General of Police against the bail applications, however, ordered the defendants not to participate in any public rally throughout their trial.

The judge also ordered that the defendants be remanded in prison custody pending the perfection of their bail conditions.

The accused persons are said to have committed the treason offence during their one week nationwide protests when they allegedly levied war against Nigeria.

The court has fixed the 27th of September for the commencement of trial.

President Bola Tinubu has said that the removal of petrol subsidy in May 2023 was designed to free up resources for investment in critical infrastructure.

The President spoke on Tuesday when he declared open the 17th Annual Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) Banking and Finance Conference held in Abuja.

“Though painful in the short term, the removal of fuel subsidies is designed to free up budgetary resources for critical investments in infrastructure and social services, frequent adjustment of the monetary policy rate, a move aimed at curbing inflation and fostering a more market-oriented exchange rate system,” he said.

Tinubu, who was represented at the event by his deputy, Vice President Kashim Shettima, described this year’s theme for the CIBN Conference, ‘Accelerating Economic Growth and Development: The State of Play and the Way Forward,’ as both timely and imperative.

Listing the challenges to include high inflation, rising costs of living, unemployment, infrastructure deficits and effects of global economic shifts, the President observed however that the challenges also present opportunities for growth and development.

“This theme will enable us to evaluate where we stand as a nation, understand the root causes of our economic challenges, and explore actionable strategies to accelerate growth and development sustainably and inclusively,” he noted, according to a statement by presidential spokesman Stanley Nkwocha.

“We have taken bold steps to reform the macroeconomic environment. Our focus is on restoring confidence in the Nigerian economy through measures aimed at reducing inflation, stabilising the foreign exchange market, and improving fiscal management.”

The President also noted that his administration is committed to strengthening infrastructure development in the ongoing bid to grow Nigeria’s economy.

“We are committed to upgrading Nigeria’s infrastructure to support economic growth. We are investing in roads, railways, and energy projects through public-private partnerships to reduce transportation costs and improve market access,” he said.

Tinubu, ex-Lagos governor, removed petrol subsidy on May 29, 2023, when he assumed office as Nigeria’s president. The pump price of the premium commodity jumped from around N200/litre to over N1,000/litre.

The singular decision of the President has been criticised by many Nigerians including labour unions as over 200 million residents of the country battle unprecedented high cost of living and inflation