Category: South West

Kwara State House of Assembly has slammed 14 days legislative suspension on a member representing Ilorin South Constituency, Jimoh Agboola.

He is the only opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker in the 24-member legislature.

Agboola’s ‘reprimand’ is coming on the heels of an earlier suspension before he was recently ‘pardoned’ and placed under ‘investigation’

His suspension followed the adoption of the report of House Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petition titled: “Contempt and Breach of Privilege by Raheem Agboola”, which was presented by the Chairman, Abdulganiyu Salau, representing Omupo Constituency.

Salau said the ‘reprimand’ of Agboola was recommended for featuring on a radio programme where he allegedly instigated the public against the state government and the assembly.

PDP spokesman Tunde Ashaolu described the assembly’s action as height of injustice.

Lagos State Government has debunked insinuations that it was allocating the land earmarked for the Lekki/Epe coastal road alignment in Eti-Osa Local Government to private developers.

There have been agitations that the government had sold the land following the rise of some structures on the land.

But Commissioner for Information Gbenga Omotoso assured the people that that was not the case.

Omotoso and his Physical Planning and Urban Development counterpart, Idris Salako, visited the site yesterday.

Omotoso, who addressed reporters later, said the outcries and agitations were legitimate.

He, however, said the government allowed temporary structures on the land to prevent miscreants from occupying it.

He said: “There have been allegations that the government has been allocating the land to people for some other uses. I will like to put it on record now that there has been no allocation of land here. What we have done is to license people to use this place temporarily. Nobody is permitted to build any permanent structure here; what you see here are temporary structures. Anytime we need to continue work on the coastal road, the work will continue again. Nobody has any permission to come and build something that is permanent here.”

Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa has described the death of Adetoun Adediran, a former deputy speaker of the House, as shocking.

The late Adediran represented Surulere 1 in the Assembly between 1999 and 2003.

Obasa, in a tribute by his media office, described Adediran as a passionate woman, who wanted the best for her society.

The Chairman-elect of the APC in Lagos State, Cornelius Ojelabi, also described Adediran’s death as a huge loss to the state.

He said the death occurred at a time the party was in need of the best brains to sustain its legacies in the state and nationally.

‘Until her demise, Adediran was a very dedicated party woman; her wise counsel and active participation in party activities would be greatly missed’, Ojelabi said.

He added: “It is my prayer that God repose her soul and grant her family, associates, Surulere constituents, Lagos State Government and the APC the fortitude to bear the loss.”

Adediran was the first elected female deputy speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly (1999-2003). She also held various positions at APC in Lagos State. She was a Governing Board member of the Michael Otedola College of Primary Education (MOCPED), Epe, Lagos State, among others.

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has congratulated the Head of Service, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola, on his 50 years birthday.

Muri-Okunola, a lawyer and former Executive Secretary to the Governor on Land Use and Allocation Committee and Permanent Secretary in the Lagos Public Service, turns 50 today.

The governor in a statement yesterday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, described Muri-Okunola as a committed, hardworking and passionate public servant.

He said the Head of Service, as a seasoned administrator, technocrat and good manager of human and resources, had used his knowledge and experience to contribute to the growth and development of the public service in line with his administration’s THEMES developmental agenda for Greater Lagos.

Sanwo-Olu said: “On behalf of my dear wife, Ibijoke, and the good people of Lagos State, I heartily congratulate the Head of Service of Lagos State, Mr. Muri-Okunola, on the occasion of his 50th birthday celebration.

“Over the years, you have emblazoned your name on the state and national stage as one of the youngest Heads of Service in the country and that of the most viable State Public Service in Nigeria and a loud voice of professional civil service.

“You have played critical roles in the growth and transformation of Lagos State Civil Service, thereby setting examples for other States’ civil service to emulate.”

Governor Sanwo-Olu also noted that Muri-Okunola, during his tenure as Executive Secretary to the Governor on Land Use and Allocation Committee and Permanent Secretary in the Lagos State Public Service from 2005 to 2018, displayed a high degree of honesty, dedication and professionalism to service.

He noted that Muri-Okunola as the Permanent Secretary, Lands Bureau in the Governor’s Office where he supervised the State’s Lands Administration machinery, displayed significant roles in improving Lagos State’s ranking in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Index, especially in the area of Electronic Certificate of Occupancy (E-C of O), the Electronic Data Management System (EDMS) and the 30-day processing of consent applications.

“As you mark your Golden Jubilee, I pray that God will continue to preserve and grant you good health to enable you to render more service to humanity, Nigeria and our beloved State, Lagos,” Governor Sanwo-Olu prayed.

House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila has mourned the first female Deputy Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly (1999 to 2003), Adetoun Adediran.

Mrs Adediran, who died yesterday was buried  at Ebony Vaults, Ikoyi, Lagos  Island.

She was 53.

Gbajabiamila, in a statement yesterday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Lanre Lasisi, expressed shock about Adediran’s demise.

He said it came as a shock because they were together a few days ago during the inauguration of projects in Surulere 1 Federal Constituency, where she gave a supporting hand during the ceremony.

Gbajabiamila said the death of Adediran would create a void in the party, as she was a committed party woman.

He noted that her wise counsel and participation in party activities would be missed.

Gbajabiamila prayed for the repose of the soul of the deceased, while encouraging her family, associates, Surulere constituents, All Progressives Congress (APC) and Lagos State Government to take solace that Adediran lived a fulfilled and impactful life.

The deceased, a political associate of the Speaker, was also APC Lagos State and Lagos Central Woman Leader.

Until her death, she was a Governing Board member of Michael Otedola College of Education (MOCPED), Epe, Lagos State.

Lagos State Ministry of Justice (MoJ) yesterday appointed the former Director, Office of the Public Defender (OPD), Dr. Babajide Martins, as the Director, Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

He replaces the former DPP, Mrs. Adenrera Olayinka Adeyemi, who is now a Judge of the High Court of Lagos State.

The ministry disclosed this in a memo signed by the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Ms. Titilayo Shitta-Bey.

Martins is a graduate of the University of Lagos and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1990.

Following Martins’ appointment as DPP, Ms Oshinusi Adetutu has also been appointed as the Director, Directorate of Citizens Rights; Mrs. Adenike Oluwafemi as Deputy Director, Directorate of Public Prosecutions and Mrs. Aderoju Salau as Deputy Director, Directorate of Civil Litigations.

Their appointments take immediate effect.

Ogun State Government said yesterday that an Oba-elect for the stool of the Orimolusi of Ijebu-Igbo in Ijebu North Local Government had emerged.

It said the emergence followed the voting of 10 out of the 11 warrant chiefs appointed by the government to elect candidate for the vacant stool of Orimolusi.

The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Afolabi Afuape, made this known while speaking with The Nation.

He said: “An Oba-elect has emerged as Orimolusi of Ijebu-Igbo, but I have not got details of who the Oba-elect is.”

Afuape said six warrant chiefs voted for the successful Oba-elect.

The Nation, however, gathered that the Oba-elect is Prince Lawrence Jayeola Adebajo.

He polled six votes to defeat Prince Soliu Sadiku, who got four votes.

Until his emergence, Prince Adebajo is the Balogun of St. Peter’s Catholic Parish, Oke Padi, Ijebu-Igbo.

The 11- man committee of warrant chiefs, with Prof. Ademola Adedeji as the chairman and Mr. Fatayo Bolujo (secretary), has Prof. Yinka Balogun, Prof. Kola Balogun, Prof. Layi Ogunkoya, Chief Ademola Okusanya, Chief P. O. Omotara, Prof. Bisi Ogunfowora, Mr. Olusegun Olusanya, Prof. B. Obigbesan and Prof. Ayo Ogunye as members.

Ijebu-Igbo town has been without a monarch for 27 years, following the death of Oba Samuel Adetayo, Ikupakude IV, the Orimolusi, in May 1994.

Hopefully, the emergence of Prince Adebajo and subsequent confirmation and coronation later by the government will end the 27 years interregnum.