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Use of random voters as witnesses: SDP had agents across polling units, witness tells Kogi Tribunal

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Use of random voters as witnesses: SDP had agents across polling units, witness tells Kogi Tribunal—The Social Democratic Party, on Thursday, presented one witness at the Kogi State Election Petitions Tribunal, who admitted that the SDP had agents across the polling units in the state.

The witness, Benjamin Ikani Okolo, from Dekina Local Government Area (Kogi East), tendered an inspection report and also adopted his deposition on oath before the three-member panel of justices, led by Justice Ado Birnin-Kudu.

His confirmation that the SDP had agents across the polling units in the state, was of interest, considering the fact that only one polling agent, who said he couldn’t produce an evidence of his role, had been presented by the SDP as witness in the ongoing hearing.

The Respondents’ counsel had, in earlier sittings, asked why the polling agents were not complaining, while random voters were being produced as witnesses.

When he was being cross-examined, Respondents’ Counsel, Kanu Agabi SAN, said the witness, a former Local Government Chairman of Dekina, should tell the Tribunal how many polling units were being challenged in the petition, but he said he did not know.

He was shown INEC manuals, regulation exhibits, BVAS screenshots and other Electoral documents as earlier tendered by the petitioners, and he identified them, but admitted that he didn’t “make” any of them.

He noted that he only saw the result sheets and other documents he identified in court during inspection, adding that he did not also make any input to the BVAS devices.

When asked where he was during the governorship election in the state, he said he was in Kogi East, that he was not in Okene, Okehi, Adavi or Lokoja, where the results were being challenged.

According to him, there was no signature of INEC staff on the inspection report that he tendered.

The Respondents’ counsel pointed out one of the scores of the APC as indicated in the witness statement on oath, which was different from the one in the inspection report, in addition to other discrepancies found between the report and figures said to have been gotten from the BVAS.

While responding, the witness said he would not agree that a large portion of the report was not correct in view of the discrepancies found.

He agreed that some polling units were not stated in the inspection report even though they were stated in the petition but noted that this was because there was no over-voting in those polling units.

The Respondents’ counsel also asked, “Are you aware that INEC staff had come to show the figures in the BVAS to the Tribunal, and that the figures in the BVAS contradict what is in your deposition?”

He responded that he could not confirm that the figures in the BVAS were contradictory to what was in the deposition on oath because he didn’t see the figures in the BVAS.

It was also observed that the accreditation figures quoted in his witness deposition were at variance with what was contained in the BVAS as presented in earlier sittings.

The sitting was adjourned to April 5 2024 for continuation of hearing.

While Pius Akubo SAN represented the petitioners, Kanu Agabi SAN appeared for INEC.

A.M. Aliu SAN represented Gov. Usman Ododo and E.C. Ukala SAN represented APC.

The SDP is challenging the victory of Gov Ododo in the November 2023 governorship poll in the state.

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Manchester City Found Guilty of 114 Financial Charges as Sanctions Remain Undecided

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Manchester City Found Guilty of 114 Financial Charges as Sanctions Remain Undecided—-An independent commission has reportedly ruled against Manchester City on all but one of the Premier League’s financial charges, but sanctions are yet to be decided as the club prepares to appeal.

Manchester City have reportedly been found guilty on 114 of the 115 financial charges brought against them by the Premier League, according to reports from The Athletic and The Times, in a major development that could have significant consequences for English football.

The verdict comes more than three years after the Premier League formally charged Manchester City following a lengthy investigation into the club’s finances.

An independent commission is understood to have reached its decisions on the allegations, which cover several seasons dating back to the 2009-10 campaign. City have consistently denied wrongdoing throughout the case.

However, no sanction has yet been decided.

Reports indicate that Manchester City are expected to appeal the findings, meaning the long-running case is now moving into another stage. Sky Sports reports that the process is moving towards an appeal, while the Premier League has declined to comment because the proceedings remain private and confidential.

What Were Manchester City Accused Of?

The Premier League’s original case against City included allegations that the club failed to provide accurate financial information over a nine-year period.

The charges included alleged failures to accurately report revenue, operating costs and sponsorship income, as well as allegations concerning payments made to players and managers.

The Premier League also accused City of breaches relating to UEFA’s Financial Fair Play regulations and its own Profitability and Sustainability Rules.

A separate set of allegations concerned the club’s alleged failure to cooperate with the Premier League’s investigation.

The case was formally referred to an independent commission in February 2023 after a Premier League investigation that lasted several years.

City Maintain Their Position

Manchester City have repeatedly rejected the allegations and continue to maintain their position that the process has not yet been completed.

Following reports of the verdict, a City spokesperson said the Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements still to be completed and subject to strict confidentiality. The club also reiterated its previous position from February 2023.

The Premier League has also refused to publicly confirm the reported findings.

A league spokesperson told Reuters: “It’s a confidential process, we’re not commenting at all.”

Sanctions Yet to Be Decided

Despite the reported guilty findings, Manchester City have not been punished at this stage.

The exact sanctions, if any, will depend on the next stage of the proceedings. Possible punishments discussed during the case have included financial penalties and sporting sanctions, but no specific punishment has been confirmed.

That means there is currently no confirmed points deduction, relegation, expulsion or stripping of previous titles.

Any such outcome would have to come through the formal disciplinary process and could also be affected by City’s expected appeal.

Appeal Could Extend the Case

The reported verdict is therefore not necessarily the final word on the matter.

Manchester City are expected to challenge the findings, with Sky Sports reporting that the inquiry is moving towards the appeal stage.

The original hearing lasted 12 weeks, concluding in December 2024, after which the independent commission spent considerable time considering the extensive evidence.

The case has become one of the most significant financial disputes in Premier League history, with the outcome potentially affecting the club’s sporting and financial standing.

For now, the key development is the reported 114 guilty findings from 115 charges.

But with sanctions still undecided, the verdict not publicly released by the Premier League and an appeal expected, Manchester City’s lengthy financial case is far from over.

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Unlocking Website Potential: How Emdash Theme Can Transform Your Online Presence

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In today’s digital landscape, a strong online presence is no longer optional – it’s essential for success. Your website serves as the virtual storefront of your business, and first impressions matter. A poorly designed or outdated website can deter potential customers and damage your credibility. This is where selecting the right WordPress theme becomes crucial, and I’ve found Emdash to be a particularly powerful and versatile option.

Emdash theme stands out for its clean design, user-friendly interface, and extensive customization options. Whether you’re a seasoned developer or a novice user, Emdash makes it easy to create a professional-looking website that reflects your brand identity. Its responsive design ensures that your website looks great on any device, from desktops and laptops to tablets and smartphones. In a world where mobile browsing is increasingly prevalent, this is a non-negotiable feature.

One of the most significant advantages of Emdash is its flexibility. It offers a wide range of pre-built templates and layouts, which can be easily adapted to suit your specific needs. Whether you’re building a blog, an e-commerce store, or a portfolio website, Emdash provides the tools you need to get the job done. The theme is also highly customizable, allowing you to change colors, fonts, and other design elements to match your brand aesthetic.

Beyond its aesthetic appeal, Emdash is also designed with performance in mind. It’s optimized for speed and SEO, ensuring that your website loads quickly and ranks well in search engine results. This is crucial for attracting organic traffic and improving your online visibility. A slow-loading website can frustrate visitors and lead to high bounce rates, which can negatively impact your search engine rankings.

Furthermore, Emdash boasts excellent documentation and customer support. If you ever run into any issues or have questions about the theme, you can rely on their comprehensive documentation or reach out to their support team for assistance. This is a valuable asset, especially for those who are new to WordPress or website development.

In my experience, Emdash has been a game-changer for many of my clients. It has allowed them to create stunning websites that effectively showcase their products and services. It’s a theme that strikes the perfect balance between design, functionality, and ease of use. If you’re looking for a WordPress theme that can help you transform your online presence, I highly recommend giving Emdash a try. You can find more information about the this theme at https://emdashtheme.org.

In today’s digital landscape, a strong online presence is no longer optional – it’s essential for success. Your website serves as the virtual storefront of your business, and first impressions matter. A poorly designed or outdated website can deter potential customers and damage your credibility. This is where selecting the right WordPress theme becomes crucial, and I’ve found Emdash to be a particularly powerful and versatile option. Emdash theme stands out for its clean design, user-friendly interface, and extensive customization options. Whether you’re a seasoned developer or a novice user, Emdash makes it easy to create a professional-looking website that reflects your brand identity. Its responsive design ensures that your website looks great on any device, from desktops and laptops to tablets and smartphones. In a world where mobile browsing is increasingly prevalent, this is a non-negotiable feature. One of the most significant advantages of Emdash is its flexibility. It offers a wide range of pre-built templates and layouts, which can be easily adapted to suit your specific needs. Whether you’re building a blog, an e-commerce store, or a portfolio website, Emdash provides the tools you need to get the job done. The theme is also highly customizable, allowing you to change colors, fonts, and other design elements to match your brand aesthetic. Beyond its aesthetic appeal, Emdash is also designed with performance in mind.

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