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Tag: Ade Ipaye

  • Akoka CDA organises under-13 football competition for Ipaye

    16 teams of U-13 players from across Akoka community will participate in the sixth edition of a football competition in honour of Hon Ade Ipaye.

    The competition holds from August 9-12 at the Federal College of Education (FCE) Akoka Astro turf pitch.

    Chairman Akoka CDA, Mr. Segun Adesanya, who also doubles as the chairman of the LOC, said that all hands were on deck to make the competition a successful one that would usher in another historical dimension in Lagos football history.

    He said the competition was aimed at providing the platform for talented young children to actualize their dream of making a career in football.

    Shedding more light on the competition, he said: “I can assure you that the competition will get bigger every year. Even though people might want to underrate the competition, this year promises to be bigger as the first prize winner is to take home 75,000 naira”.

    “We are equally doing this to show that as the 4th tier of government, we can organize ourselves to do something worthwhile and contribute our own quota to the development of the society”. He added further.

    While eulogizing Ipaye, he said: “He’s one man who needs to be recognized, he has contributed a lot to the community. Despite his busy schedule, he has always created time to see the plights of Akoka CDA community members”.

    Read Also: Grange School Football Academy for official launch July 4

    The DPO, Bariga Police Division, CSP Shamang Kalat, commended the activities of the CDA for the rigorous efforts put in place to make the competition a reality. He further implored the technical team to put in fairness and transparency in the football competition.

    He said: “Sport is source of unity, it gives us sense of identity”.

    The former Abia Warrior star, said playing football was something he was passionate about hence catching the young kids up at the age of 13 is a very laudable step promoted by the community.

    Ipaye, Deputy Chief of Staff to the Vice President and former Attorney General of Lagos State, in a live phone call conversation from Abuja, reiterated commitment to supporting the annual competition in his name.

    He further commended the organizing committee and the CDA for their efforts in making the event a reality.

    Meanwhile, head of the technical team, Mr. Babatunde Oluwo, assured the team was working assiduously to ensure a hitch-free football competition.

  • Buhari approves Ipaye, Akande’s appointments

    Buhari approves Ipaye, Akande’s appointments

    President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointments of Mr. Rahman Adeola Ipaye as Deputy Chief of Staff and Mr. Laolu Akande as Senior Special Assistant (Media & Publicity) in the Presidency.

    The two new appointees, according to a statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Femi Adesina, will work in the Office of the Vice President.

    Ipaye, who was the immediate past Attorney General of Lagos State, studied at the University of Lagos where he graduated with B.A. (Hons) Degree (History) in 1984; LL.B. Hons (1988) and LL.M. (1991).

    He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators respectively.

    Before his appointment as Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ipaye was employed as a lecturer in the Department of Commercial and Industrial Law, University of Lagos (1992 to 2001), Special Assistant (Legal Matters) to the Governor of Lagos State (2001 to 2007) and Special Adviser (Taxation and Revenue) to the Governor of Lagos State and member of the State Executive Council (2007 to 2011).

    Akande graduated from the University of Ibadan in 1990 with an honours degree in History and a Masters degree in Communication & Language Arts in 1992.

    He became a Staff Reporter of the Guardian newspaper in 1990, while still serving under the National Youth Service Corps.

    He left The Guardian to join the foundation team of The News Magazine in 1993, where he became Senior Writer.

    In 1997, he was appointed by Nigerian Tribune as Editor of the Tribune on Saturday, a position he held until he moved to the United States of America in 1998.

    In the U.S, he worked as a journalist with the Philadelphia Inquirer and New York Newsday.

    He also served at the United Nations as a Press Officer and later as an Advocacy and Communication Consultant.

    He was also the Bureau Chief of The Guardian in North America and the Executive Director of the Christian Association of Nigerian-Americans (CANAN).

    Akande taught at the State University of New York at Stonybrook and also Suffolk County Community College in Long Island, New York between 2002 and 2015.

    “Ipaye and Akande have been working with Vice President Osinbajo since the inception of the present Administratio,” the statement added.

  • Federal task force: Fashola writes Jonathan, mulls legal action

    Federal task force: Fashola writes Jonathan, mulls legal action

    The Lagos State government has called on federal agencies to respect provisions of the law in carrying out their activities in the state.

    The call was made Friday, on the heels of recent development and attendant confusion with the deployment of “faceless” federal task force to Lagos roads.

    There was also complaint about the use of national colours on road kerbs and illegal placements of political adverts, all done without recourse to existing laws in the state.

    The state Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) has written President Goodluck Jonathan on the “illegal” deployment of task force to Lagos roads, allegedly set up to create confusion and chaos in the state.

    The state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ade Ipaye, while speaking at a State Executive Council briefing on Friday, said the developments were flagrant disregard for rules and regulations guiding the society and a call for concern.

    Ipaye noted that two days ago (Thursday), unknown men in black uniform, under the aegis of Subsidy Reinvestment Empowerment Programme/ Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (SURE-P/FERMA) task force, forcefully took over the control of traffic on the old toll gate section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

    Aided by four armed policemen, the task force forced officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) to vacate the axis.

    He said that was the fifth time the group had been unleashed on the Lagos public.

    “We have made series of complaints in the past and at one of such occasions when police personnel were attacked (by the task force), the police made some arrests and since then, we are yet to see a stoppage to this unlawful act,” he said.

     

  • Why Boko Haram suspects didn’t get death sentence – Ipaye

    Why Boko Haram suspects didn’t get death sentence – Ipaye

    Lagos State Attorney General, Ade Ipaye, on Thursday made clarifications on why three of the four Boko Haram suspects arraigned before a Federal High Court, Lagos, were not sentenced to death.

    Briefing journalists at the Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja, Ipaye explained that the convicts were sentenced to 25 years imprisonment by the trial judge because they have not carried out the act of terrorism.

    17 suspects were initially arraigned in court last year, but in November of same year, they were reduced to four.

    Ipaye explained that 13 suspects were released because investigation carried out on them revealed that there was no sufficient evidence to prosecute them.

    The Attorney General, who obtained a fiat from his federal counterpart for the suspects’ prosecution, said he had to file a “nolle prosecui” in their favour subsequent upon which they were released.

    He listed the four suspects that went through trial before Justice Ibrahim Buba as – Ali Mohammed, Adamu Karumi, Ibrahim Usman and Bala Haruna.

    They were charged on a six- count charge bordering on conspiracy, acts of terrorism, concealing of information and possession of firearms and ammunitions under the terrorism Act, 2013.

    Ipaye said the law under which they were charged actually prescribed death penalty for such offence.

    “For this, the trial judge would have to consider whether the Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) were detonated, whether it caused grievous bodily harm or death of individuals, among other consideration before coming down heavily on the suspects,” he stated.

     

     

  • ‘Lagos courts get three child abuse cases per day’

    The 10 family courts in Lagos State receive at least three cases of sexual offences and domestic violence against children daily, the state’s Chief Judge, Justice Funmilayo Atilade, said Thursday.

    She said with over 1,000 abuse, rape and molestation cases filed every year, there is still much to be done in effectively enforcing the child rights law.

    Lagos State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, called for a consolidation of all laws relating to children into one legislation for easy implementation.

    The state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye, said several socio-economic and cultural factors work against effective enforcement of the laws on women and children.

    They spoke at the Stakeholders’ Summit on Child Rights/Domestic Violence laws, as part of activities marking the new legal year in the state.

    Justice Atilade lamented the increase in cases of domestic violence, rape and other sexual offences.

    “Recent happenings make it obvious that violence and tyranny are shifting to the girl-child. The abduction of the Chibok grils is a case in point.

    “The increase is phenomenal, frightening, offensive and disturbing,” she said.

    The CJ called for a reassessment of how cases involving child abuse and domestic violence are prosecuted.

    She raised these posers: “Are we all doing what we should do under the circumstance by protecting the best interests and welfare of these children?

    “Are cases of rape being diligently investigated and prosecuted? Are lawyers promoting the right of victims of these offences and not just giving prominence to the right of the perpetrators to fair trial over that of the innocent victims?

    “Are the courts ensuring justice for all – the offenders, victims of these offences and the society at large?”

    Mrs. Orelope-Adefulire urged victims of violence to speak up and seek help before it is too late.

    The deputy governor urged the Federal Government to do all in its powers to ensure the release of the abducted Chibok school girls.

    “The Federal Government has not done much to the best of my knowledge. We want them to be brought back alive now.

    “Nigeria has the resources, so everything must be done to bring them back,” she said.

    Ipaye recalled a case where a woman died from domestic violence. The husband was arrested and was about to be charged for murder, but relatives pleaded with the ministry to drop the case for the children’s sake.

    “The family begged that the father of the children should not be sent to jail because there will be no one to provide for them,” Ipaye said.

  • Ipaye counsels law students on advocacy skills

    Ipaye counsels law students on advocacy skills

    Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Mr. Ade Ipaye has urged aspiring lawyers to imbibe the ethics of the legal profession through character building, intelligence and personal comportment at all times.

    Ipaye gave the advice at the First Appellate MOOT Court Competition of University of Lagos Law Students Association.

    He urged them to make hard work and commitment their watchword.

    He emphasised that the idea behind the competition was to give opportunity to students to develop their writing skills, improve on research and sharpen their advocacy skills.

    The commissioner said his ministry decided to sponsor the competition in realisation of the need to encourage aspiring lawyers to identify and build arguments through research.

    The exercise was based on a judgment delivered at the High Court and the students were required to come up with Appellate, Respondent and Reply Briefs of arguments.

    Ipaye expressed satisfaction  with the level of commitment and extensive research the students displayed during the exercise.

    The commissioner, who encouraged more students to take part in the competition in future, promised to ensure that his ministry continues to sponsor the  competition  yearly.

    The competition was rated by a four-man panel comprising of Justice Sidi Bage  of the Federal Court of Appeal,  Justice Lateef Lawal- Akapo and Justice Atinuke Oluyemi, both of the Lagos State High Court. A Director of Public Prosecution in the Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Idowu Alakija, was also a member of the committee.

    Justice Bage, in his remarks, charged the law students to always respect the law, abide by the ethics and code of conduct of the law profession.

    “There is order, decorum and mode of dressing in court, which must be strictly adhere to by lawyers,” he added.

    The four chambers within the faculty participated in the competition.

    They are Kayode Eso Students Chamber, Gani Fawehinmi Student Chamber, Justice Oputa Student Chamber and Teslim Elias Student Chamber.

    All participating chambers were presented with cash gifts and certificates of participation.

    The overall winning chamber, Justice Oputa Student Chamber – representing the Respondent – got a cash gift of N100,000 books and certificate of participation.

    The runner-up, Teslim Elias Student Chamber, got N60,000, books and a certificate of participation.

     

     

  • Incessant power outage delays justice delivery – Fashola

    Incessant power outage delays justice delivery – Fashola

    Lagos State governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola(SAN), on Thursday said incessant power outage in the state high courts  has contributed to delay justice administration.

    The governor said that an investigation he carried out between 1997 and 2000 revealed that some lawyers and litigants connived with the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria officials to cause power outage in courts in order to delay proceedings.

    Fashola stated this at the City Hall, Lagos, while declaring open a one-day conference on “Delay in Justice Administration-Beyond The Rules and The Law,” organised by the state Ministry of Justice in conjunction with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in the four divisions of the state judiciary.

    The governor, who said that lawyers are trained to assist their clients, added that lawyers should be honest enough to restrain their clients from going to court.

    He said, “What is the value of a judge sitting for hours over a matter that is not actionable only for the lawyer to be filing frivolous applications?

    Fashola also noted that the architectural designs of the court rooms have also constituted delays in administration of justice.

    He noted that whenever there is power outage in the courts, there is nothing that can be done again.

    “In the old court rooms, there was cross ventilation and day light in the court rooms. So there was no disruption of proceeding as a result of power outage.

    “I think we should start looking into designing court rooms that would have cross ventilation and day lights,” he said.

    The state Attorney General, Mr. Ade Ipaye, in his address noted that lawyers and litigants are key players that can either speed up or slow down the process of adjudication.

  • Lagos gets Land Use Charge Tribunal

    Lagos gets Land Use Charge Tribunal

    Lagos State inaugurated yesterday a 15-man Land Use Charge Assessment Appeal Tribunal to adjudicate on appeals from aggrieved property owners.

    Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Ade Ipaye, who inaugurated the tribunal on behalf of the governor, urged members to be fair in the discharge of their duties.

    Ipaye said the tribunal was established to resolve disputes arising from the evaluation of properties and the implementation of Land Use Charge laws.

    The Tribunal Chairman, Ayodele Odunlami, said members would justify the confidence reposed in them.

     

  • Lekki toll: Lagos seeks delay in judgment execution

    Lagos State government on Monday urged the Federal High Court to stay execution of the judgment which declared toll collection on the Lekki-Ikoyi Bridge lawless.

    It prayed the court to order that status quo be maintained until its appeal at the Court of Appeal is determined.

    Justice Saliu Saidu had, in a March 27 judgment, held there was no law backing toll collection on the bridge.

    He delivered the verdict in a suit filed by a human rights lawyer Pastor Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa.

    Moving his application, Lagos Attorney-General, Mr. Ade Ipaye, maintained that the court did not make a specific order of injunction stopping toll collection on the bridge.

    “It’s now necessary to order that parties maintain the status quo,” Ipaye said.

    Urging the court to grant the government’s prayers, the Attorney-General said the state has more to lose if the application is refused and the appeal succeeds.

    “The loss he (Adegboruwa) is probably going to suffer, even if the appeal is dismissed, can be ascertained in terms of money because he has the receipts (of toll payment). The loss that he will suffer is one that can be remedied.

    “On the other hand, if that bridge is closed, or if it is opened and all vehicles are allowed to pass, there is no way to capture the loss that will be incurred in case the appeal succeeds.

    “It’s in the interest of justice to grant stay pending appeal, or to make an order to maintain the status quo,” Ipaye said, adding that “status quo is what is going on there now.”

    Opposing the application, Adegboruwa urged the court to dismiss it because Lagos has allegedly not obeyed the judgment in the first place.

     

     

  • Light up in public and pay N10,000 or go to jail for three months

    Light up in public and pay N10,000 or go to jail for three months

    A law, which prescribes a maximum three-month jail term for anyone caught smoking in a public place, has gone into effect in Lagos – Nigeria’s commercial and business honeypot.

    Governor Babatunde Fashola signed the bill passed by the House of Assembly into law yesterday.

    The penalties for first offenders include N10,000 fine and one to three months imprisonment.

    Repeat offenders may be fined up to N50,000 or get up to six months imprisonment.

    Fashola signed another bill establishing the Emergency Command and Control Centre, which designated 112 and 767 as emergency lines. The law prescribes a three-year imprisonment or a fine of N500,000 for those who misuse the lines.

    Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Ade Ipaye said: “The Lagos State Government, in assenting to the bills, take cognisance of the dangers posed by public smoking to members of the public who are not smokers.”

    He added: “The law prohibits smoking in all of those areas that have been designated as non-smoking areas, including museums, public toilets, libraries, nurseries, day care centres and any facility used for the care of infants.

    “Public telephone kiosks, public transportation vehicles, private vehicles where there are more than one person, school buses, restaurants and cinemas, theatres, amusement parks or any other place used by members of the public, conference centres and exhibition halls. Factories and other premises in which more than one person works and areas used as places of work, including the secretariat, are all defined in the law as public places.

    Ipaye said the law allows the owner of certain public facilities, such as restaurants, to designate smoking areas which must not be more than 10% of the entire size of the place. They are to ensure that the smoking area is properly ventilated.

    “Owners of premises as such are also required to fix smoke detectors and ensure that those who go out to smoke leave a buffer of about 10meters to the facility. The owners also have the duty to stop smokers from infringing on the rights of the non-smokers because the owners could be criminally liable for not stopping smoking in his facility. Law enforcement officers, by this bill, could enter and inspect the premises.”

    Smokers who smoke before a minor or anyone below the age of 18 years risks a fine of N15,000 or six months imprisonment.

    The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) will enforce the law.

    Fashola expressed optimism that the laws would further strengthen the state’s commitment to protecting lives and property of the citizens.

    He said: “These laws only serve to strengthen our hands towards a more efficient discharge of our responsibilities to protect human lives and properties. The bill that prohibits smoking in public places addresses serious public health issues. Before the bills were presented, I read a lot of comments about the possibility of enforcing the laws. But our commitment to public health and public safety is stronger.”

    On the law establishing the Lagos State Emergency Command and Control Centre, Ipaye said the legislation was geared towards regulating the making of calls to the emergency centres and limiting hoax calls.

    “No one except for the purpose of informing the centres any event properly defined as emergency is allowed to call the emergency telephone numbers. Misuse of the lines constitutes offence under this law and offenders are liable to conviction and penalty,” Ipaye said.