Category: South West

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission yesterday re-arraigned ex-Information Commissioner and former Senior Special Assistant, Olatunji Oyeyemi Moronfoye and Ope Saraki before a Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin, Kwara State, for alleged abuse of office, diversion of public funds and money laundering.

Moronfoye served as Information commissioner under ex-governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, while Saraki was the senior special assistant on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The anti-graft agency re-arraigned the duo on separate charges before Justice Muhammed Sani of the Federal High Court, Ilorin.

The case, which first started on May 13, 2015 in the same court, had suffered series of setbacks occasioned by transfer of the trial judges.

Saraki, while being the senior special assistant on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), allegedly received a cash payment of N11,180,000.00 from Kunle Adimula, a sum which exceeded the cash amount payable to an individual and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(a) and 16(1) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 16(2) (b) of the same Act.

Similarly, Moronfoye while being the special adviser on MDGS, allegedly committed procurement fraud by means of unlawful influence in the award of two contracts involving renovation of Ijagbo Primary Health Centre and supply of medical equipment to two hospitals in Kwara State. The alleged offence contravenes Section 58(4) and punishable under Section 58(5)(a) and (b) of the Public Procurement Act 2007.

The two defendants pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.

Following their pleas, EFCC counsel to the EFCC, Sesan Ola, urged the court to fix a date for trial and remand the defendants in the custody of the Nigeria Correctional Centre pending trial.

But counsel to the defendants, Sulyman Abaya and Joshua Olatoke (SAN), urged the court to allow their clients to continue with the terms and conditions of the bail earlier granted them by the court.

Justice Sani, after listening to the submissions by counsel, admitted the defendants to bail on the terms earlier granted them by the first trial judge, having not breached the terms.

Justice Sani adjourned till February 16, 2022 for commencement of trial for Ope Saraki and February 22, 2022 for Moronfoye.

Ekiti State Independent Electoral Commission (EKSIEC) and security agencies have said they are ready for the conduct of the local government election slated for December 4.

Speaking yesterday at a stakeholders’ meeting ahead of the election in Ado-Ekiti, the Chairman of the commission, retired Justice Babajide Aladejana, said that the electoral body was set for the exercise.

He said sensitive and non-sensitive materials were on ground and ready for distribution to the 16 local governments and 19 local council development areas.

“The Ekiti SIEC is ready for the exercise and I want to inform you that our materials are on the ground,” he said.

The chairman said of the 18 registered political parties, only 10 were functional in the state, out of which six would participate in the election.

Aladejana gave their names as Action Alliance (AA), African Democratic Congress (ADC), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Redemption Movement (PRM) and Young Progressives Party (YPP).

On the security plans ahead of the election, Police Commissioner Mr. Tunde Mobayo warned anyone that had no business at the voting areas to stay away.

Represented by ACP Patrick Daaor, the police boss urged the citizens to accord SIEC officials as well as security personnel the desired cooperation towards a hitch-free election.

“The security stakeholders have met and have fine-tuned ways of ensuring a hitch-free exercise. By God’s grace, there will be no breach of law before, during and after the election.

“I have mobilised our officers and men for this exercise, as they have been detailed at strategic locations to ensure law-abiding people participate in the election,” he said.

The Ekiti State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Mr. Kayode Fayemi, assured residents that his men would be mobilised for the exercise.

He called for the cooperation of well-meaning people towards a successful exercise.

The chairmen of political parties appealed to the commission to be upright and allow a free, fair, credible and violence-free election that would not be faulted.

The meeting was attended by government representatives, electoral officers from across the 16 local government areas and 19 local council development areas, chairmen of 12 parties, among others.

The last time Ekiti State conducted council elections was in 2019, which ushered in chairmen and councillors who served for two years.

Foremost constitutional lawyer Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, has appealed to the Federal Government to honour the agreements reached with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in 2020, to avert another round of strike.

He said the country cannot afford to experience another nationwide strike barely a few months after the universities that were closed for half a year due to COVID-19 pandemic were reopened for academic activities.

ASUU, through its national body, last week threatened to embark on another nationwide strike if the Federal Government reneged on the agreement reached with the lecturers in 2020.

Olanipekun, speaking in Ikere-Ekiti at the 25th edition of the annual Chief Wole Olanipekun Scholarship Scheme, warned against the grave implications of shutting down universities.

He said the consistent delays on the part of the Federal Government to fulfil the agreements reached with ASUU were disappointing, adding that everything must be done to prevent strike.

Olanipekun said: “The Federal Government must honour all agreements with ASUU to prevent any strike that can affect the system.

“We are just recovering from the effect of the global COVID-19 pandemic. The effects are still being felt. So, I advise that all agreements should be honoured for our universities to be fully operational.”

He said 134 students, comprising 50 Ikere undergraduates, 50  secondary school students, five Law School students and 29 non-indigenes, who are also undergraduates of universities across the country, benefited from the 2021 edition.

“My happiness is that since the inception of this scheme in 1996, 1,075 secondary school pupils of Ikere origin have benefited.

“At the university level, the scheme has produced 231 graduates, made up of 40 doctors, 38 agriculturists, 27 engineers, 37 linguists, 25 accountants, 16 political scientists and others. It was operated at higher altitude without petty jealousy, partisanship, hatred, bickering, animosity in-fighting, enmity, resentment, antagonism and other mundane considerations,” Olanipekun said.

A Professor of Geography, Abiodun Olatunji, said that the global disease had increased school dropouts, academic decay, reduction in students’ cognitive prowess as well as poverty level.

A panel of inquiry investigating the Ikoyi collapsed building has asked the public to submit information and memoranda that can help its work.

The chairman of the panel, Toyin Ayinde, spoke yesterday while giving update on the panel’s activities since inauguration.

He said the panel had visited the site of the incident and also visited survivors in hospital to get more information.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on November 4 inaugurated the panel to probe the collapse of the 21-storey building on Gerrard Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.

The panel was given 30 days to submit its report.

Ayinde, who said sitting was ongoing already, urged people with credible information of direct bearing to the collapsed building to send such to lagosgerrardtribunal@gmail. com on or before November 24.

He added: “The panel’s terms of reference include to determine cause(s) of the collapse of the 21-storey building under construction, whether there was full compliance with the physical planning, building, building materials testing, laws and regulations in Lagos State.

“To determine whether there were supervisory, oversight or enforcement lapses on the part of any of the relevant regulatory authorities in the state.

“Others are investigating and procuring from all listed professionals on the project their contracts of service, drawings, minutes of site meetings, schedules and other relevant documents that may assist in the inquiry; investigating and conducting necessary tests on materials used for the construction of the collapsed building.

“The panel is also expected to make recommendations on how to best ensure safety of the construction space and prevent building collapse in the state, both for development of projects and to ensure an effective and efficient regulatory environment; just as it will recommend disciplinary actions or prosecution of any person or corporate body found culpable.”

The panel began formal interview of witnesses on November 16 to identify the roles played in the events that led to the collapse of the building. It also received reports from the consultants who conducted verticality tests on the remaining structures standing on the premises of the collapsed building. Results of the tests on the construction materials are still being expected.

The management of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, has shut down the institution indefinitely, as students’ protest turned violent.

The students had blocked the major highway and left motorists stranded as they protested the ‘no fees, no examination’ policy.

Besides blocking the highway, the protesters also vandalised vehicles on the school premises.

The Registrar, Olugbenga Arajulu, had in an earlier statement said that all the students would be allowed to write the examination, including new students that were yet to complete their registration.

But, in another statement issued last night, the registrar said the closure of the institution was due to violent protest by the students.

Arajulu directed the students to immediately vacate the school hostels.

The newly elected Dean of the Executive Chairmen, State Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs) and Chairman, Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LASUBEB), Mr. Wahab Alawiye-King, has said Lagos will not relent in leveraging technology to advance primary education through EKOEXCEL.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu inaugurated EKOEXCEL (Excellence in Child Education and Learning) in 2019 to provide quality education for the rich and the poor and upskill teachers through cutting-edge technology.

Speaking on the sidelines of the quarterly meeting of the Universal Basic Education (UBEC) Management with chairmen of SUBEBs in Nigeria with the theme: ‘Enhancing Access, Equity and Standards in Basic Education Through Technology-Driven Initiatives,” held in Benin City, Edo State from November 15 to 18, Alawiye-King said leveraging technology to boost primary education through EKOEXCEL was a long-term strategy of the government.

Alawiye-King, who was elected SUBEBs Dean at the meeting, explained that although Lagos borrowed the idea from Edo State, it had adopted it to fit its peculiar requirements and that EKOEXCEL had been tailored to meet pupils’ needs.

He said: “We have adopted the Edo system in a manner to bring the best out of our pupils. Using technology to boost education is where the world is going now. It is part of our strategy in Lagos. That is complementing education with technology so, we are leveraging technology to move basic education forward in Lagos.”

The LASUBEB chairman added that the Lagos State Government would ensure the success of EKOEXCEL, because it wanted to make the education sector globally competitive and give more pupils access to education.

“We want to make the education sector in Lagos globally competitive, hence boosting the standard and quality with technology. Also, the demand for education has outweighed the supply, but we can bridge the gap with technology, which is what EKOEXCEL is doing,” he said.

As Yoruba nation agitator Mr. Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, spends 125 days in Cotonou prison, the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, has implored traditional rulers and Yoruba elders to dialogue with President Muhammadu Buhari for his release

A statement by Oba Akanbi yesterday urged monarchs to harmonise their interest in securing the release of Igboho.

He noted that the “oneness of Nigeria could be further cemented on the release of Sunday Igboho and Nnamdi Kanu.”

The statement said: “The controversies surrounding the continuous detention of Sunday Igboho can be addressed should the Yoruba monarchs, elders and stakeholders are ready to take a walk to President Buhari.

“Sunday Igboho is our son; he has made some mistakes, which are realisable on the agitation for the Yoruba nation. The approach is jeopardising the intention. I urge stakeholders in Yoruba affairs to harmonise their interest, come together and approach the country’s leaders for the release of embattled Igboho.

“Granting such request will entrench the unity of Nigeria and foster a harmonious understanding. The Federal Government has the exclusive charisma to liberate the face of Yoruba nation agitator at this critical time. Our son must be rescued. Releasing Igboho without recourse to legal lingering litigation will earn the government credit. It is a credit of maturity and unity”

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday expressed grief over the death of Sen. Gbenga Aluko, who died on Saturday.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, President Buhari commiserated with the Aluko family, people and government of Ekiti State, as well as the All Progressives Congress (APC), over the loss.

“President Buhari shares the grief over passing of Sen. Aluko on Saturday, urging family, friends and political associates to find solace in God, and the antecedents of the former lawmaker.

“The President commiserates with members of the APC, people and government of Ekiti State on the loss of the political leader, who served his state and the nation, and was committed to improving the lot of his community.

“President Buhari prays for the repose of his soul, and comfort for the family,” the statement said.

Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi has described the news of the death of Sen. Aluko as “shocking and devastating”.

Aluko, who hailed from Ode-Ekiti, the headquarters of Gbonyin Council Area of Ekiti State, died on Saturday in Abuja. He was 58 years.

Fayemi, in a condolence message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Yinka Oyebode, described Aluko’s death as a colossal loss to the people of Ekiti State and the nation at large.

He said that Sen. Aluko’s death was not only a loss to Ekiti, but also a personal loss to him, having had close and cordial relationship with the deceased spanning four decades.

The governor said that the late Aluko was not only a brother and a friend, but also a patriotic Ekiti indigene whose contributions to the development of the state could not be overstated.

Fayemi described the former governorship aspirant as a successful private sector player, a refined gentleman and a decent politician who made great impact in almost every aspect of life.

He recalled how the deceased influenced the establishment of a chest clinic at the Oba Adejugbe General Hospital in Ado- Ekiti, a project which he described as being of great benefit to the state’s health sector.

He noted that the deceased served selflessly in the Ekiti State Coronavirus Response Committee, adding the late Aluko served his fatherland diligently and made Ekiti proud through numerous achievements.

“Sen. Aluko invested his time, resources and energy on many laudable initiatives that impacted positively on the lives of the people and was always ready to support any worthy Ekiti cause with his wealth of experience and extensive national and global contacts.“

“On behalf of my wife, the government and good people of Ekiti State, I commiserate with the Aluko family and pray God to grant them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss,” Fayemi said.

The former  Governor of Osun State, Chief Adebisi Akande, will be conferred with an honorary doctoral degree award (Honoris Causa) in political science by Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State on Saturday.

The event, which is scheduled to start at 10am, is part of the 19th convocation ceremony of the university.

Speaking on behalf of the Governing Council, Senate and students, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Lawrence Ezemonye, said Chief Akande was singled out for the award because of his astute leadership and democratic conviction, which the country had benefited from.

Other activities lined up for the ceremony include a movie premiere by the Benin Film Academy of the Igbinedion University productions titled: ‘For the Love of Isua’. There will also be convocation and award of first degrees and presentation of first prizes and a lecture titled:   ‘Global Developments, Implications for Nigeria and Capacity Building.’

Other awardees are Lt.- Gen. Jeremiah Useni, former Minister of FCT and former military administrator of the old Bendel State, and Dr. Abubakar Isa, Chief Executive Officer,  Spectrum Engineering Ltd.

Chief Akande was born on January 16, 1939. He was elected governor of Osun State from 1999–2003, on the platform of the Alliance for Democracy (AD).

Akande was also the pioneer chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

As one of the pillars of democracy in the country, the award is aimed at celebrating the elder statesman’s resolve to continue to be useful to his fatherland and humanity.

The colourful event will take place on the campus of Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State.