The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ado-Ekiti

  • Buhari welcome rally shuts down Ado-Ekiti

    Buhari welcome rally shuts down Ado-Ekiti

    …APC, Civil Society groups slam Fayose for “Death Wish”

    Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, was at a standstill for about two hours on Monday as residents under the aegis the Coalition of Civil Society groups staged a solidarity rally to weclome President Muhammadu Buhari back from his medical vacation.

    The coalition which includes the All Progressives Congress (APC), Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP), labour leaders, youths, artisans, students, market women, commercial drivers and other interest groups slammed Governor Ayo Fayose for “wishing the President dead and making comments that could set the country on fire.”

    The rally which started at about 9.00 am at Okeyinmi Roundabout proceeded to Ijigbo before terminating at Mobil area in the city. Many of those who participated in the rally carried placards with various inscriptions.

    Some of the placards read: “Welcome Back Buhari, Shame On Fayose,” “On Buhari We Stand, Corruption Must Go,” “The Lion Is Finally Back Home,” “Fayose, You Are A Disappoinment To Ekiti People,” “Fayose Must Commit Suicide Now As Promised,” “Welcome Back, Baba, African Champion of War Against Corruption,” among others.

    The rally which was supervised by officers and men of the Nigeria Police, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) caused a traffic snarl on the major highway in the city.

    Protest leaders who took turns to address the people expressed satisfaction with the Saturday’s return of Buhari to the country saying his return will add bite to the anti-corruption crusade and economic recovery.

    Ekiti APC Chairman, Chief Olajide Awe, who was represented by his deputy, Mrs. Kemisola Olaleye, said Buhari’s return has exposed what he called “the unending lies of Fayose” who he said never wished the President to come back home alive.

    Awe who accused Fayose of playing God on the health of President advised the governor to emulate his Rivers State counterpart Nyesom Wike whom he said displayed maturity by joining other governors to welcome Buhari despite belonging to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    He said: “God has put Fayose to shame on Buhari, God has silenced him for his lies on the President’s health. We appreciate the people of Ekiti State for their good wishes and prayers for our President throughout the time he was away.

    “Anybody wishing Buhari dead will go before him, we rejoice with our President that he arrived safely and this has put an end to all the lies of Fayose.

    “We urge Fayose to honour his promise, let him be man enough to commit suicide if Buhari returns alive as he had earlier promised.

    “Ekiti people are tired of is one-day-one-trouble government and one-day-one-propaganda government and we want to assure our people that Fayose’s day of reckoning is very near.”

    Coordinator of Progressive Youth League (PYL), Adeoye Aribasoye, berated Fayose for “raising false alarm” on the health of President by threatening to release eleven damaging pictures of Buhari on life support.

    Aribasoye: “God is greater than men, Fayose said he has eleven damaging pictures of Buhari. We want the whole world to know that whatever he says does not represent the view of Ekiti people.”

    Labour leader, Kolawole Olaiya, urged Buhari to probe how the proceeds of Paris Club refunds to Ekiti was spent by Fayose regretting that workers are suffering.

    “Olaiya said: “We want President Buhari to revisit the issue of the Paris Club refunds to Ekiti State. Local government workers in Ekiti have not received salaries for about nine months.”

    CNPP Chairman Tunji Ogunlola said: “Nigeria’s collective destiny cannot be aborted by a tiny group of crooks whose survival depend on the looting of our commonwealth.

    “It is on this strength that we believe the President’s return presents a fresh hope for the accomplishment of our collective dream for a great nation as he settles down to work.”

  • New executive for Ekiti central mosque

    The Ansar -ud- deen Central Mosque, Odo Otu Ado-Ekiti has reconstituted new executive committee.

    The new executive would steer the ship of the mosque for the next three years.

    A statement signed by the public relations officer of the mosque Brother Bello Ahmed and made available to newsmen indicates that “the development came after the expiration of over two terms of six years in office of Alhaji Ademola Isiaq Belo-led committee.

    “The appointment of the new executive became effective from April 1, 2017. The officers elected to run the affairs of the mosque for the next three years are Hon Ahmed Oluwaseyi Shittu- Chairman, Alhaji Sakariyau Ajileye Lawal-Vice-Chairman, Alfa Fatai Adeyinka Okunade- Secretary, Alfa Adesola Oloro Akewusola – Treasurer , Alfa Gazali Korede-Financial Secretary.

    Others are Brother Bello Hameed- P.R.O, Engineer Wahab Olowo- Assistant Secretary 1, Alfa Mushafar  Quazeem-Assistant Secretary 2, with Alfas Rasheed Gidado and Sanni Osaka  as Auditors 1 and 2 respectively.

    The statement noted that Alhaji Ademola Isiaq Belo and Alfa Abdul Bakare Oladejo have ceased to be signatories to any of the bank accounts of the mosque, particularly those with Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, Ado-Ekiti.

    The statement further explained that “the bank had been previously advised on the appropriate signatories who must be adopted and sustained henceforth”.

     

  • Ekiti: Five docked for stealing 600 bags of cement

    Ekiti: Five docked for stealing 600 bags of cement

    The ongoing construction of the new Erekesan Market otherwise known as “Oja Oba” in Ado-Ekiti by the Ayo Fayose administration has been stalled by alleged theft of about 600 bags of cement and other materials by five workers at the site.

    The five workers: Jegede Olusola, Faleye Sunday, Filani Oladipo, Olabode Felix and Dada Tunde were arraigned before an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrate’s Court on Thursday on two counts charge of stealing.

    They were all charged to court by Ekiti State government before Chief Magistrate Idowu Ayenimo. The charge was filed against them by Director of Public Prosecution, Mr. Gbemiga Adaramola.

    Apart from stealing 600 bags of cement worth N1.5 million, the accused persons also allegedly stole 16mm iron rods worth N35,000, one roll of binding wire worth N112,000 and 180 pieces of marine board worth N378,000 with all the stolen items valued at N2,055,000.00

    The alleged offence is punishable under Sections 390 and 516 of the Criminal Code, Cap C16, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.

    Work on the new market had stalled for a couple of months which had been attributed to the alleged stealing of construction materials by workers engaged by the contractor who has been in race against time to deliver the project as scheduled.

    The charge sheet reads:  “That you, Jegede Kayode Olusola, Faleye Sunday, Filani Oladipo, Olabode Felix and Dada Tunde between October 6, 2016 to March 31, 2017 did conspire to steal 600 bags of cement worth N1,530,000, 16mm iron rods worth N35,000, one roll of binding wire worth N112,000, 180 pieces of marine board worth N378,000 total value of N2.05m, property of Ekiti State Government at the site of ultramodern Oba’s Market, Old Garage, Ado Ekiti within the Ado Ekiti Magisterial District, thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code, Cap C16, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.”

    At the resumed hearing on Thursday, the prosecutor asked the presiding Chief Magistrate for a short adjournment to enable him respond to the counter-affidavit and Preliminary Objection filed against the charge.

    “We were served this morning, we thought we will be able to respond to the processes but unfortunately we are still typing stage.

    “Consequent upon this, we will be asking for a very short adjournment.”

    The defence counsel, Mr. Obafemi Adewale, did not object to the application.

    In his ruling,  Aiyenimo adjourned the case till August 17 for hearing.

  • Armed Robbery: Court sentences 19-year-old to death

    Armed Robbery: Court sentences 19-year-old to death

    An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday sentenced a 19-year-old man, Adeolu Bamiteko, to death after he was found guilty of armed robbery.

    Bamiteko also bagged an imprisonment of 10 years for the offence of unlawful possession of firearms.

    Justice John Adeyeye held that the accused was guilty as charged having committed the offence contrary to Section 6(b) of Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act Cap R11 Laws of Federation of Nigeria 2004.

    Bamiteko was arrested and arraigned alongside a 12-year-old boy, Ayobami Ojo but the latter was discharged by the court having been an underage person in line with Section 30 of the Criminal Code.

    He was arraigned on three counts charge of conspiracy, robbery and unlawful possession of firearms.

    According to the charge sheet, the accused robbed one Adefunke Amire of her Nokia phone at a location near the Ewi’s Palace in Ado-Ekiti on 14th July, 2016 while armed with offensive weapons like a locally-made pistol with live cartridge and one knife.

    The accused was first arraigned in court on 16th February, 2017 and he pleaded not guilty to the charge. The prosecution called three witnesses to prove the case while the accused did not call any witness.

    During the pendency of the case, exhibits such as the accused’s statement volunteered to the police, items stolen from the victim, weapons found on the accused and a golden wristwatch which were tendered and admitted.

    Justice Adeyeye held: “The court hereby discharge the 1st defendant (Ojo) pursuant to Section 30 of the Criminal Code. But the 2nd defendant (Bamiteko) is found guilty of armed robbery and unlawful possession of firearm as contained in Counts One to three and he is accordingly convicted.

    “On Count Two, the sentence of armed robbery is mandatory in respect of which I have no discretion. Therefore, the 2nd defendant is sentenced to death by hanging until he be dead. May the Lord have mercy on your soul.

    “On Count Three, the 2nd defendant is sentenced to ten years imprisonment; both sentences are to run concurrently.”

  • NiMet predicts cloudy, thundery, rainy weather for Monday

    NiMet predicts cloudy, thundery, rainy weather for Monday

    The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted cloudy weather conditions over the Central States of the country on Monday.

    NiMet’s Weather Outlook by its Central Forecast Office in Abuja on Sunday also predicted day and night temperatures of 25 to 36 and 16 to 25 degrees Celsius, respectively.

    According to NiMet there will be prospects of localised thunderstorms over Jos, Kaduna, Minna, Bida and Yola axis in the afternoon and evening hours.

    The agency predicted increase morning cloudiness over the southern states with chances of localised rain over Lagos and Calabar with day and night temperatures of 31 to 35 and 21 to 25 degrees Celsius, respectively.

    NiMet also predicted prospects of localised thunderstorms over Ado Ekiti, Oshogbo, Abeokuta, Owerri, Awka, Abakaliki, and Port Harcourt during the evening and night period.

    According to NiMet, northern states will experience partly cloudy conditions with day and night temperatures of 38 to 40 and 24 to 26 degrees Celsius, respectively.

    “ Influx of moisture laden winds observed over the entire country is expected to result in an increase in weather activities over most part of the country in the next 24 hours,’’ NiMet predicted.

  • Suspected thugs attack filling stations in Ado-Ekiti

    Suspected thugs attack filling stations in Ado-Ekiti

    •Property worth millions of naira destroyed

    Youths suspected to be political thugs on Monday attacked filling stations owned by marketers in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State capital.

    The marketers reportedly shut their outlets in deference to a directive by the leadership of unions in the oil sector.

    Property worth millions of naira were destroyed in the attack, which began about 7am.

    The hoodlums were armed with axes, cutlasses, bottles and other weapons.

    Governor Ayo Fayose, featuring in his monthly media chat, “Meet Your Governor”, on Monday night, said he had tried his best to restrain youths who came to the Government House, declaring their readiness to attack filling stations that refused to sell petrol to the public.

    He mentioned Sulaiman Akinbami, whom he accused of “coming from Osun State to cause problem in Ekiti State.”

    The governor accused petrol dealers of attempting to disrupt the funeral of ex-Military Governor of the defunct Western State  Maj.-Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo last weekend.

    The attack started at NIPCO Filling Station owned by the state Secretary of the Petrol Dealers Association of Nigeria (PEDAN), Alhaji Akinbami, whom the thugs accused of collecting N50 million from a political party. They alleged that he was the mastermind of the strike.

    The hoodlums destroyed refrigerators, smashed soft drinks and poured engine oil on the floor. They chased away attendants and caused panic.

    Two filling stations operated by Tetra Abby Company on Adebayo Road and Dallimore Street were vandalised by the thugs. They are owned by a marketer, Ade Bank.

    A worker at NIPCO Filling Station said: “The thugs came in three vehicles, one Hilux van with government’s number plate and two mini buses, popularly called Akoto. They chanted war songs, chased everybody away and disrupted traffic.

    “The hoodlums were armed with weapons. We escaped through the back fence because they were determined to kill.

    “The six dispensing machines were vandalised. Lubricants and other items were damaged.”

    Contacted on the phone, Akinbami alleged that his life was in danger.

    He denied collecting N50million from a party.

    Akinbami said: “The Ekiti State government has declared war against me and my family. My life is in danger. I’m hiding some where. I cannot say when I will come to Ekiti State. I’m from Osun State.

    Governor Fayose, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, called for restraint over attacks on petrol stations.

    He said: “Nobody should take the law into his hands.”

  • Progressive youths condemn Fayose’s alleged ‘Anti-People’ Policies’

    Progressive youths condemn Fayose’s alleged ‘Anti-People’ Policies’

    Youths in the progressive’s bloc under the aegis of Southwest Youths and Peoples Movement (SWYPM) Friday staged a protest in Ado-Ekiti against what they called “anti-people policies” of Governor Ayo
    Fayose.

    They described some of the policies of the Fayose administration as “retrogressive and inhuman which has inflicted hardship on the people of Ekiti.

    Carrying placards with various inscriptions, they marched through the streets in Ajilosun area of Ekiti State capital chanting solidarity songs. They said the cancellation of some populist policies of former
    Governor Kayode Fayemi by Fayose has brought untold suffering on the people.

    SWYPM National Coordinator, Taiwo Ajayi, said some of the policies of the Fayose government which has allegedly set Ekiti back include the scrapping of N5,000 social security allowances for 25,000 elderly
    people which he said has caused the death of over 2,946 beneficiaries.

    Ajayi also condemned the cancellation of 19 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), scrapping of Ekiti State Peace Corps, reduction of Ministries from 24 to 14, sacking of over 900 street sweepers employed
    by Fayemi, sacking of over 200 House of Assembly staff, denial of leave bonus to civil servants and non-payment of workers’ salaries despite receipt of federal allocations and other funds.

    The SWYPM boss criticized the execution of what he called money wasting ventures and projects by Fayose noting that the aborted airport project claimed the life of a plantation farmer whose land was
    taken over and his crops destroyed without prior negotiation or compensation.

    Expressing dismay with “massive hunger in Ekiti”, Ajayi claimed that Fayose’s stomach infrastructure policy has not brought relief to the people as “the random distribution of 5 kg bags of rice and two-week
    old layer chickens” cannot be compared with wealth or job creation programmes that can bring food to the table.

    The youths at a meeting before the street protest resolved to commence early mobilization of Ekiti youths and other stakeholders to ensure that a progressive government that will return Ekiti back to the good old days return.

    They also called on the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, the National Assembly, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the Police and other relevant agencies to intervene in the alleged victimization of innocent youths especially those who are active members of the defunct Buhari Campaign Organization in Ekiti.

    When contacted for his reaction to allegations of Southwest Youths and Peoples Progressive Movement during their protest, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Idowu Adelusi, promised to react later.

    Adelusi simply said: “We will react tomorrow “.

  • Residents flee Ado-Ekiti over blackout

    Residents of six communities on Igirigiri Road, Odo Ado area of Ado-Ekiti, have fled, on account of power outage, which crippled social and economic activities in the last one year.

    They said life has become miserable and unbearable.

    Landlords urged the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) to activate a transformer repaired by the Chairman of Ado-Ekiti Local Government, Ayodeji Ogunsakin, for N2million.

    They said the blackout had led to exodus of tenants, which deprived them of income, adding that most of them are pensioners.

    The communities are Ayunbo 1, Ayunbo 2, Ayisola 1, Ayisola 2, Umesi and Akinyede.

    A source said youths are planning to protest, but are being calmed down by elders, who fear the action can become violent.

    Addressing reporters yesterday, the Chairman of Ayunbo 2 Landlords Association, Mr. Amusa Eleso Atobalo, said the last time residents enjoyed electricity was April 16, 2016.

    He said their transformer had packed up.

    Atobalo said the Ado-Ekiti Local Government chairman, whose office is located in the area, bailed the residents out by facilitating the repair of the transformer, but BEDC allegedly refused to activate it.

    Others who addressed reporters at the forum include Vice Chairman, Pastor Bamidele Olatunji; Secretary, Primate James Adesola, Pastor Samuel Abimbola, Mr. Anthony Aduloju and Mr. Kayode Eleso.

    Adesola said the community association wrote to BEDC Ado-Ekiti Business Manager on the collapse of the transformer and its repair by the council boss, vowing that residents will not pay bills until the transfomer is switched on by the electricity company.

    Said he: “We cannot be paying for services not rendered. Let them energise the transformer. If this is done, we will pay our bills. It is the duty of BEDC to repair the transformer, but they fail to do so. They are frustrating the efforts of the local government chairman.”

    Abimbola said it was wrong for BEDC to ask residents, who had not enjoyed power supply for over one year, to pay before the transformer would be activated, adding that the Federal Government is to blame for privatising power supply.

    Spokesman for Ado-Ekiti Business Unit of BEDC Mr. Ilori Brown said the residents owed the company  and must pay before electricity would be restored.

    He said BEDC was not aware of the repair of the transformer, adding that it was not carried along, hence it could not vouch for the integrity of work done on the facility.

    Ilori said: “You don’t just energise a transformer like that. It has to be done by those certified to do it because anything can happen if somebody not properly trained goes there.

    “We were not carried along. Nobody told us that they had repaired the transformer. There is no official communication with BEDC that such a thing has been done. They should pay what they are owing.”

  • Civil servant gets life jail for raping in Ekiti

    An Ado-Ekiti High Court on Wednesday sentenced a local government worker, Ojo Ayodele, to life imprisonment for abducting and raping a 15-year-old girl.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ayodele abducted the minor in Ijero-Ekiti and took her to a secret location in the town where he subjected her to continuous sexual assault for 21 days.

    Justice Oluwatoyin Abodunde,  in her judgment,  found Ayodele guilty as charged and sentenced the accused to life jail.

    The judge, who  also found Ayodele guilty of abduction, sentenced him to seven years for the offence.

    The  jail terms are, however,  to run concurrently.

    The Director of Public Prosecution, Gbemiga Adaramola, said that Ayodele was first arraigned on Feb.  2, 2016 on a two-count charge of rape and abduction.

    The prosecution called seven witnesses during  trial and tendered exhibits which included  statements of the victim and that of the convict and a  medical report that established the rape.

    The convict did not call any witness in the course of the trial although his counsel, Tosin Osundahunsi,  was in court  during sentencing.

    The prosecution had told the court that a concerned resident who saw blood stains on the victim’s clothes  took her  to Ijero Local Government Immigration Office to report the case.

    Ayodele was later caught at the council secretariat after  the victim identified him as the  abductor who subjected her to serial raping.

    The immigration officers promptly arrested  the convict and took him to Ijero Police Station where the case was reported.

    NAN reports that prior to the incident, the victim was living with her stepmother after her father and mother divorced, with the latter relocating to Port Harcourt.

    She was said to have met the convict who promised to take care of her after she ran away from home

  • Court dissolves 3-year-old marriage over frequent fighting

    An Ado-Ekiti Customary Court on Friday dissolved the three-year-old marriage between Mr Mayowa Ogunrinde and his wife, Busayo, over frequent fighting and disrespect for in-laws.
    The petitioner, Ogunrinde, 35, a civil servant, also told the court that his wife has no respect for him.

    “ Most of the time, I do all the domestic chores while my wife will always watch me.’’

    The petitioner told the court that the respondent was fond of slapping him whenever there was a misunderstanding between both of them.

    He claimed that though he fulfilled all his financial responsibilities as a husband, he always went hungry, as his wife would never fulfill her duties in the kitchen.

    The petitioner pleaded with the court to grant his application for dissolution of his 3-year-old marriage to Busayo, to enable him enjoy peace of mind.

    He prayed the court to award the custody of their daughter to Busayo, but with a clause that he would take custody once she turned six years.

    One of the petitioner’s witnesses, Mrs Mary Oluyemi, 60, told the court that she, on several occasions tried to settle the dispute between the petitioner and the respondent without any success.

    Busayo, severally served with court summons was absent in court.

    President of the court, Mr Joseph Ogunsemi, after listening to the petitioner and his witnesses, said that the marriage had broken down irretrievably and consequently dissolved the marriage.

    ‎He awarded the custody of the only child of the marriage to the respondent for proper care until the child turns six years.

    Ogunsemi also ordered the petitioner to be paying N2,000 as monthly feeding allowance of the child‎ through the court’s registrar, effective from May,2017 for onward delivery to the respondent.

    He ruled that the petitioner would be responsible for the education of the child at all levels, besides medical bills.

    The president granted the petitioner unrestricted ‎access to the child‎.