Category: South West

A former deputy speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Iroju Ogundeji, yesterday narrowly escaped being sent to jail for filing what was termed a contemptuous petition against the Chief Judge, Justice Williams Akintoroye.

Ogundeji, who is challenging his impeachment as the deputy speaker at the court, accused the chief judge of being biased and prejudiced against him, saying he was not comfortable with the fraternisation between the defendants and the chief judge.

In the petition submitted to the chief registrar of the court, Ogundeji said the elevation of Justice Akintoroye to the position of chief judge will not enable him to dispense with the case, which is time bound.

He said the chief judge would be preoccupied with a lot of administrative duties, which he noted would hamper the speedy prosecution of the case.

The petition said: “Your Lordship expressly praised the speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly and his estranged deputy during your Lordship’s confirmation on September 28, 2021. The position that is in contention before your Lordship.

“Your Lordship expressly mentioned that the House was stable in recent times because of the harmony between the speaker and the disputed deputy speaker. The House that is divided against itself will never hold.”

When the case came up for hearing yesterday, Justice Akintoroye announced his withdrawal from the suit.

He stated that he laboured for many years to build a name and would not want it to be dented because of a political case.

The Ondo chief judge noted that the petition against him was contemptuous, but said he would not commit the embattled lawmaker to prison for the offence against the integrity of the court.

He said:  “I have my name to protect. I have laboured day and night to protect the only legacy I have, which is my name. I have not desecrated this seat. I have worked in virtually all judicial divisions in Ondo State without blemish. I practised for 18 years before I was appointed as a judge.”

Justice Akintoroye said all allegations against him in the past had been dismissed because he did not have any skeleton in his cupboard.

He added that he is a man with white garments, who will not go near oil.

He transferred the case to another registry to be assigned to another court for adjudication.

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Prof. Sulyman AbdulKareem, yesterday said that the consequences of the refusal of the institution’s branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to join mainstream ASUU for 19 years were dire and unimaginable.

AbdulKareem, who spoke to reporters in Ilorin, as part of activities for the university’s 36th convocation, said: “I will not regret until I go to my grave making peace among people. I was a pressure in this university and I was part of those who thought it was wrong for ASUU to go on strike. I know I spoke to more than a dozen people to convince them not to go on strike, but eventually 49 people stood out and said they would not join the rest of us.”

“Over those 19 years that UNILORIN did not join mainstream ASUU, if you know the number of lives that was imperiled or put in danger, you will feel sorry for this university.

“I remember when I first became the VC, there was an occasion where somebody called me from the University of Ibadan and said he was going to be lynched. It got to a point where our students were even being victimised, when they went for either training or industrial attachment. The truth of the matter is that UNILORIN paid a huge price for not joining ASUU.”

Lagos State Government has released diversion plan for emergency repair works at the failed section of Alafia bridge, on the Lagos-Badagry expressway, beginning from yesterday.

The Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde, who disclosed yesterday, said vehicles heading towards Mile 2 would be diverted to Tokosi street/Kekere Ekun axis to link Baale road, inwards Alhaji Opere street and connect Odiche street to access the service lane inbound Mile 2 during the reconstruction.

He advised motorists heading for Apapa-Oshodi expressway to make a U-turn at Orile bus stop/Baale road and connect Ogungbesan street, after Coker bridge to access Apapa-Oworonshoki expressway and continue their journey.

The commissioner said heavy duty trucks would be diverted to the existing carriageway, adding that the earlier mentioned diversion routes were designed to cater for light/smaller vehicles; hence they would not be able to accommodate trucks.

He appealed to motorists to cooperate with the State Traffic Management Authority during the construction, to minimise  inconveniences, noting that patience and understanding would reduce the stress of traffic congestion and travel time.

Lagos State Government, in conjunction with the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), will on Saturday hold the 14th edition of the annual “Walk for Nature” simultaneously in Ikeja Local Government, Surulere Local Government and Ikoyi Obalende Local Council Development Area.

The event will highlight the sustainability of a healthier and safer environment.

Speaking yesterday in Alausa, Ikeja at a news conference to sensitise the public on the importance of “2021 Walk for Nature”, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tunji Bello, called for a behavioural change in favour of biodiversity conservation.

He said as people conserve the biodiversity around them, they conserve their lives.

Bello said the state government had since 2008 been collaborating with the NCF to enlighten the citizenry on the importance of environmental protection and conservation through a yearly programme tagged: “Walk for Nature”

The Permanent Secretary, Office of Environment, Mrs. Ronke Odeneye, who represented Bello, said the government is seeking to generate interest in conservation matters through partnership and collaboration with the private sector and non-governmental organisations, in compliance with the SDG 17.

NCF Chairman Mr. Ede Dafinone said the programme is to create more awareness on the activities that mount pressure on biodiversity and wildlife.

Ekiti State House of Assembly yesterday approved N109.6billion as revised budget for 2021, which was same as the size of the main budget.

The approval, which followed a request brought to the assembly by the governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, was made through unanimous voice votes at the sitting presided over by the Speaker, Funminiyi Afuye.

The passage of the revised budget was consequent upon the presentation of the report of House Committee on Finance and Appropriation by the Chairman, Olubunmi Adelugba.

Presenting the report, Adelugba said that Ministries, Agencies and Departments appeared before the committee for the defence of their estimates.

The lawmaker, who represents Emure Constituency in the Assembly, said that the House Committee observed that the size of revised budget was the same as the main budget.

She said the revised budget was aimed at re-prioritising some critical projects of the five points agenda of the government, as well as adoption of the MoU on fiscal autonomy for the legislature and the judiciary.

The Majority Leader, Gboyega Aribisogun, thereafter moved the motion for the adoption of the report, which was unanimously supported by other members of the House through voice votes.

The house also approved 2022-2024 MTEF document by the lawmakers after extensive debate and clause by clause consideration.

Afuye said that the MTEF document was in compliance with the Ekiti State fiscal responsibility law and based on the five pillars of the Fayemi government.

The President of Ikorodu Doyen Lions Club, District 404-A1 Nigeria, Kazeem Olaegbe, has urged politicians to emulate his club’s continuity policy.

Olaegbe, who will lead the club for one year and one tenure, said politicians should copy the club’s president’s style of just leading for one tenure.

“I will be sworn in on November 20 and leave office next year after spending just one year and leading for one tenure. I will continue my predecessor’s programmes and my successor is expected to continue my programmes. If our politicians can adopt Lions Club’s continuity policy, Nigerians will enjoy good governance,” he said.

Olaegbe, who spoke at the weekend in Ikorodu, Lagos at a health event organised by the club, said it prioritised people’s welfare.

Said he: “The International Association of Lions Clubs has set aside October 8 every year as the Vision Day. What we are doing today is a yearly programme celebrated in October.

“About 200 people were screened for eye defects. Three of them came from Ibadan in Oyo State. About 10 of the beneficiaries will undergo cataract surgeries. Others will be given eyeglasses, drops and drugs.”

Osun State Governor Adegboyega Oyetola yesterday in Osogbo congratulated the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, on the occasion of his 47th birthday.

He described the Ooni as a distinguished royal father and worthy ambassador of the state.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Ismail Omipidan, the governor hailed the traditional ruler for prioritising the welfare of his subjects.

He also commended his commitment to the peace, stability and development of Osun State and Nigeria since he ascended the throne.

The governor praised Oba Ogunwusi’s devotion to youth empowerment and development, noting that his interventions in youth advocacy, entrepreneurship, agriculture and education had impacted young people in and outside Osun State.

Ekiti State All Progressives Congress (APC) Elders’ Forum has hailed Governor Kayode Fayemi for his developmental strides.

The forum, led by Chief George Akosile, said in a statement that the governor has lived up to expectation.

Akosile said:” Members of the forum are happy about the developmental projects in Ekiti State, which cover human areas such as welfare, health, roads, education, water, security and political development as manifested in recent creation of 19 local council development areas.

“The forum appreciates the love, interest and passion of Governor Fayemi for elders, which cover political, social, moral and religions divides.

“It commends Deputy Governor Bisi Egbeyemi, the governor’s wife, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, commissioners, members of the House of Assembly, chairmen and members of boards and parastatals and

the entire APC family in Ekiti State for their support and encouragement to this administration in the last three years.

“The forum is wishing Governor Fayemi good health, prosperity and God’s guidance in developing the state in the remaining one year of his tenure.”