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Tag: Ado-Ekiti

  • Two arraigned for stealing phone, cash

    Two men, Oribamise Sunday, 26, and Kayode Abayomi, 26, have appeared before an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrate’s Court, for allegedly stealing and receiving cell phone.

    The prosecutor, Insp. Johnson Okunade, said that the accused, whose addresses were not disclosed in Court, committed the offence on Jan. 15 at about 1600hrs, at Oke Bola area, in Ado-Ekiti.

    Okunade said that the accused, Oribamise Sunday, stole one Infinix Hot 5 Lite valued at N46,000, MTN, Glo and Airtel recharge cards valued at N40,000 and cash of N86,000 total valued N172,000 properties of Mr Ojo Michael.

    He said the offence contravened Section 390 (9) of the Criminal Code Cap.16 Vol.1 Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.

    Read Also: Man gets life in jail for impregnating own daughter

    The prosecutor also alleged that the second defendant, Kayode Abayomi, unlawfully received the Infinix Hot 5 Lite from ‎Oribamise Sunday, knowing fully to be stolen.

    Okunade said the offence contravened Section 427 of the Criminal Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.

    He asked the Court for an adjournment to enable him study the case file and assemble his witnesses.

    The defendants pleaded not guilty, and their counsel, Mr. Yemi Adebayo, urged the Court to grant the accused bail, promising it that
    they would not jump bail.

    The Chief Magistrate, Mr Adesoji Adegboye, in his ruling, granted each of the accused bail in the sum of ‎N100,000 with one responsible surety in like sum.

    He adjourned the case until June 13 for hearing.

  • Ado-Ekiti, Osogbo to be linked by rail, FG signs $6.68b contract

    Ado Ekiti, capital of Ekiti state, will be connected to Lagos-Kano rail line, the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi said today as he signed a $6.68 billion dollars contract agreement for the Ibadan-Kaduna segment with China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC).

    Amaechi said at the signing ceremony in Abuja that Ado-Ekiti will be connected with a single track branch line from Osogbo.

    He signed the contract on behalf of the Federal Government.

    “This agreement is for the Ibadan-Kaduna rail line, which is part of the Lagos-Kano rail line, the completion time of the contract should be between two to three years, depending on availability of funds,” Amaechi said.

    Amaechi promised that the ministry would be able to provide its counterpart funding between 2018 and 2019 budget provision, stating that the contract was a fulfilment of Federal Government’s plan to complete the Lagos-Kano rail modernisation project.

    “The Ibadan-Kaduna standard gauge line will pass through Oshogbo-Ilorin-Minna to Kaduna, with a single track branch line from Oshogbo to Ado-Ekiti.

    “This contract is in fulfilment of Federal Government’s plan to complete the Lagos-Kano rail modernisation project started in 2006 and broken into segments for implementation.

    “The segmentation phase commenced from Abuja-Kaduna rail line in 2011, which was completed and commissioned into commercial operation by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2016.

    “The Federal Government in March 2017 commenced the second leg of the Lagos-Kano line that is currently ongoing and planned to be completed by the end of 2018.

    “The signing of the Ibadan–Kaduna segment contract agreement today concludes all outstanding segments of the Lagos-Kano rail line.”

  • Update: Ekiti APC Primary: Vote counting on

    Counting of votes of the governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress in Ekiti State is on after completion of the sorting of votes of  each candidates.
     Although the exercise is yet to be completed, observers have an idea of the votes polled by the  aspirants because their names were  called when picked out of the box.
    Sorting of ballot papers began earlier after completion of voting with  agents of the aspirants standing behind the ballot boxes allotted to their candidates.
    The ballot papers are being drawn out of the box and the names of the aspirants on the ballot papers called out by the panel secretary.
    Voting has ended ended at 4.13 pm.
    Delegates from Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area were the last to exercise their franchise.
     The Electoral Panel Chairman, Governor Tanko Al-Makura, had just given his remarks.
    There is no delegates inside the hall as they had left save the contestants who are also delegates.

  • Ekiti 2018: PDP picks 39-year-old banker as Olusola’s running mate

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State has chosen a 39-year-old banker and economist, Kazeem Ayodeji Ogunsakin, as the deputy governorship candidate.

    Ogunsakin, who is a Muslim, was the immediate past Chairman of Ado-Ekiti Local Government, will serve as the running mate to the flag bearer and incumbent Deputy Governor, Prof. Kolapo Olusola.

    The choice of Ogunsakin was seen as a gesture of meeting the demand of the Muslim community in the state which demanded the slot of the deputy governor.

    The statement conveying the choice of Ogunsakin was signed on Friday by the state PDP Chairman, Chief Gboyega Oguntuase.

    Oguntuase: “The choice of 39 year old Economist and Banker was informed by the need to involve the younger generation in governance of the Stage in line with the global teens as well as give the Muslim community in the State a sense of belonging.

    “Furthermore, it is our belief that Ado Ekiti, being the state capital with the largest voting population, deserves consideration for the deputy governorship position.”

    The PDP deputy governorship candidate, who is a graduate of Economics from the Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, also holds a Masters’ degree in Business Administration from the University of Lagos.

    Until his nomination, he was the Head of the Due Process Unit, Office of the Governor.

  • Man returns to prison five years after completing jail term

    Five years after being released from prison for possession of hard drugs, a 40-year-old man, Olakunle Ayo, has been sentenced to three years imprisonment for the same offence.

    Ayo was sentenced by a Federal High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti after being found guilty of the offence preferred against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

    NDLEA counsel, Mr Charles Nwagua, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on January 29, at Oke Ode Street, Ilasa-Ekiti in Ekiti East Local Government Area.

    He alleged that the defendant, on the said date, without lawful authority possessed 400 grams of Cannabis Sativa, Narcotic drugs similar to cocaine Heroin and LSD.

    According to him, the offence contravened Section 19 of the NDLEA Act Cap N30,Laws of Federation of Nigeria 2004.

    While delivering her judgment, Justice Uche Agomoh said the counsel for the defendant had pleaded for leniency saying the defendant didn’t waste the time of the court by pleading guilty to his crime.

    Agomoh said: “The record before me showed that the defendant had once been convicted for the same crime in 2013, this shows that the defendant still persist in the same offence.

    “The court convicts you as charged.”

    The judge thereafter sentenced him to three years imprisonment with hard labour.

    She added that this would serve as deterrent to others in the habit of illicit drugs.

  • Ekiti 2018: Drama as APC exco clears fetish objects from secretariat

    Members write Al-Makura, kick against direct primary

     

    There was drama at Ekiti State All Progressives Congress (APC) secretariat in Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday as the Olajide Awe-led exco resumed office two days after scores of party members invaded the place and shut it down.

    Their supporters removed a big pot of sacrifice and palm fronds placed at the gate of the secretariat. They also smeared the ground with salt to ‘neutralise’ them and threw the fetish objects on the main road.

    Addressing a news conference in Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday, Awe said the rain that fell on the day the fetish objects was placed at the secretariat had “turned the evil on those who put it there.”

    Motorists and motorcyclists avoided the objects placed in the centre of the road.

    Some party members stormed the secretariat and claimed o have dissolved the Awe-led exco and ‘installed’ a caretaker committee led by APC Chairman in Ise/Orun Local Government, Mr. Kayode Egunjobi, to run the affairs for three months.

    They accused Awe of collecting a bribe of N75 million from Governor Ayo Fayose, bungling the May 5 primary, favouring a particular aspirant, alleged embezzlement of party funds, among others.

    Addressing a news conference shortly after regaining office, Awe said the action of some leaders and members who invaded the secretariat and ‘sacked’ the duly elected exco constituted a breach of party constitution and gross indiscipline.

    The party chair explained that he and his exco went to the APC National Secretariat in Abuja to brief the national leaders on the crisis adding that a Disciplinary Committee has been set up to investigate those directly and remotely linked with the ‘coup.’

    Awe said his exco also met with the Chairman of the Ekiti Governorship Primary Electoral Committee, Governor Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa State on the modalities for the conduct of a fresh primary.

    In a related development, some leaders of the Ekiti APC hve kicked against the use of direct primary for the conduct of the rescheduled primary slated for Friday.

    In a letter addressed to Al-Makura dated May 9 a copy of which was made available to our reporter on Wednesday, said the use of direct primary was against the principle of fairness and justice to change the rules in the middle of the game.

    The letter was also copied to the APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and the National Working Committee (NWC).

    According to the letter signed by Mr. Samuel Abejide, Comrade Ade Ajayi and Mrs. Moji Fafure, under the aegis of Ekiti Concerned Delegates and Leaders, they insisted that any aspirant who is not ready for the election can withdraw honourably from the race rather than “suggesting ridiculous options that will lead to nowhere but doom.”

    They also warned against the use of Option A4 which they described as “another danger for the party” as it would give opportunity to sponsored thugs to disrupt coupled with the fact that it is cumbersome and will not be possible to mobilize human and material resources within the time available for the conduct of primaries.

    The letter read in part: “The direct primaries option is a flagrant denial of the rights of the delegates who have been empowered through electoral process by the financial members of their wards otherwise called Ward Congress to vote for the governorship aspirant of their choice in primary elections to elect party’s candidates.

    “The delegates so empowered have not relinquished this right and mandate of the people, and so denying them this voting right which has commenced on May 5 before the process was aborted , is tantamount to disenfranchisement.

    “We are aware that the real motive of the aspirants in suggesting this option is to give them an ample opportunity to finally disrupt the exercise by deploying thugs and cultists who would abort the exercise and cause a stalemate. The result of this is that APC will not have a candidate to present till the May 15 deadline would lapse.

    “We wish to state clearly that we are ready for a repeat of the delegate primaries and we say no to direct primaries because it is a recipe for crisis which has been predetermined by aspirants who are not ready for any election but want the whole process stalemated because they have ganged up against a particular aspirant.

    “We wish to advise the aspirants who are clamouring for direct primaries to brace up for a repeat of the aborted delegates primaries on Friday because the direct primary option is not feasible and it is not in the best interest of democracy, Ekiti APC and Ekiti people generally

  • Rain disrupts Ekiti APC Primary

    Rain has disrupted the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary election in Ekiti State.

    A total number of thirty three aspirants are jostling for the APC ticket ahead of the July 14 governorship poll.

    The primary which was being held at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium, Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, attracted delegates from all the 177 wards.

    Accreditation had started as soon 9.00 am and was going on until heavens opened at about 12.05 pm and a torrential rain descended on the arena.

    The rain, which was heavy, lasted over one hour and affected some gadgets already installed at the venue.

    Delegates who sat at the “popular side” of the stadium scampered to the covered stand in a bid to escape from the rain.

    The chairman of the electoral panel, Governor Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa State, directed that proceedings should continue after the rain has ceased.

    Accreditation of delegates continues

     

    …More updates coming later.

  • APC clears Fayemi, Oni, Ojudu, 30 others for Ekiti primaries

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) said on Wednesday that the Minister of Solid Mineral, Kayode Fayemi, former Deputy National Chairman (South)  Engr. Segun Oni and Political Adviser to the President, Senator Babefemi Ojudu and 30 other aspirants have been cleared by the party to participate in this weekend’s governorship primaries of the party.

    Party however assured all the aspirants that it has no preferred candidate for the governorship primary of the party in Ekiti state, assuring all aspirants for the primary that the party was committed to conduct tong a free and fair primary with a level playing field for all.

    Inaugurating the Umaru Tanko Al-Makura led five-member primary election committee, the National Organising Committee, Senator Ostia Izunaso said the APC was poised to win the Ekiti governorship election and charged the committee to ensure a transparent exercise.

    The Ekiti governor primary for the APC is scheduled to hold on May 5 in Ado Ekiti, the state capital.

    He said the committee should rely on the party’s guidelines for the nomination of candidates for public office, particularly section 14 (iii) which stipulates the composition of the Electoral College/delegates, secret balloting at a venue in the state capital and declaring winner an aspirant with the highest vote.

    “If we conduct a transparent primary, any aspirant that wins will surely become the next governor of Ekiti state. The party has no preferred candidate, there is no such thing in our lexicon. It does not exist. All aspirants are equal until after the election” Izunaso stated.

    The National Organising Secretary who disclosed that the official delegates list has been given to all aspirants said no petition has been received on the list. He said all thirty-three aspirants have been cleared by the Party’s National Working Committee (NWC) to contest the primaries.

    Izunaso urged the primary election committee to convene a stakeholders meeting with aspirants and party chieftains in the state to agree on modalities for the primaries.

    The Governor of Nasarawa State, H.E. Umaru Tanko Al-Makura and Chairman of the Primary Election Committee assured that the committee will do a good job.

    “We thank the Party for considering us worthy to carry out this very critical and important assignment at this point in time. As far as we are concerned, we consider this assignment as a family affair which has to be done in strict conformity with our Party’s guidelines and the constitution. I wish to assure the National Working Committee that by the special Grace of God, we as members of the Ekiti governorship primary will do justice to this exercise.

    “We will ensure free and fair election, conformity and adherence to all the guidelines so that by the time the exercise is over, the Party will become stronger and more cohesive. This will be the beginning of the assurance of our great party to reclaim the mandate in Ekiti state” the Governor said.

    Other members of the primary election committee include: Hon. Magaji Aliyu (Secretary); Mr. Duke Oshodin; Barr. Robert Okwuego and Mr. Tunde Balogun. The appeal committee include: Capt. Bala Jibrin (Secretary) and Mrs. Lilian Obenwa.

  • Appeal court upturns Ekiti businessman’s One-year imprisonment

    The Court of Appeal in Ado-Ekiti has overturned a one-year imprisonment passed on a prominent businessman in Ado-Ekiti, Alhaji Azeez Apenpe, for allegedly giving false information to the Police.

    The Magistrate’s Court and the High Court had earlier convicted Apenpe of the charge preferred against him by the Police after he had reported a case of theft on his farm.

    The three-member appeal panel in a judgment deliveredon Thursday by Justice Ahmad Belgore set aside the verdicts of the two lower courts and resolved all issues in favour of the appellant (Apenpe).

    Describing the trial and conviction of the appellant by the lower courts as a nullity, the Appeal Court subsequently discharged and acquitted him.

    The 75-year-old Apenpe is a popular printer and politician.

    The appellant had reported one Sunday Akoe and his family members to the Police for allegedly stealing yams on his farms and destroying the farm in the process.

    Apenpe had in his statement of claim averred that the Police turned him (the complainant) to an accused person charging him to a Magistrate’s Court accusing him of giving false information.

    The Magistrate’s Court in arriving at its judgment held that the appellant’s statement written at the police station could not be found.

    He was subsequently sentenced to a one-year imprisonment and given the option of a N5,000 fine which he paid.

    Apenpe took the case to the High Court which also affirmed the one-year imprisonment sentence handed down by the Magistrate’s Court.

    Counsel to the appellant, Mr. Magnus Ejelonu, argued that the two lower courts lack jurisdiction to hear the case but the Federal High Court.

    Ejelonu said: “His statement at the police station that was missing should be resolved in his favour.

    “The two lower courts refusing to take his plea was to also be resolved in his favour.”

  • Journalism school matriculates 52

    No fewer than 52 students took the oath of matriculation at the Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State campus of the International Institute of Journalism (IIJ) to start the 2017/2018 academic session.

    The Registrar, Mr Afolabi Olusola, who administered the oath on the freshers, advised them to shun vices that could terminate their academic pursuit in the school.

    Congratulating the students, he urged them to maintain law and order, and respect the rights of fellow students.

    Olusola assured the students that the institute had intensified its efforts to achieve full accreditation from the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).

    The Ekiti State Commissioner for Information, Lanre Ogunsuyi, advised the students to be diligent and take their studies serious.

    An alumnus of the school, Ogunsuyi expressed worry over the proliferation of fake news in the social media, calling on media practitioners to initiate moves that would rid the profession of quacks.

    Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Ekiti State, Comrade Rotimi Ojomoyela, who is the Visitor to the institute, assured the students and their parents that his leadership would rebrand the institute for better service delivery.

    The General Manager, Voice FM of Ado Ekiti, Mr Donald Falaye, called on the students to brace up for the challenge of modern journalism practice.

    He said: “You need to broaden your horizon for the sake of your future. You need to have knowledge of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and hone your skills in the field. You need to know how to tell your story and how to write better. These are the key tools to have to practice journalism in modern times.”