The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ado-Ekiti

  • Fayemi’s transition committee denies stopping EKSU workers’ salaries

    The Transition Committee set up by Ekiti State governor-elect, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has denied instructing any bank to stop the payment of salaries of workers of the Ekiti State University (EKSU).

    The panel said the rumour making the rounds that it has given such an  order was the handiwork of mischief makers.

    The Transition Committee in a statement by its Secretary, Mr. Ayodeji Ajayi, said it does not have such a mandate and no instruction to that effect emanated from it.

    The statement reads: “The attention of JKF/APC Transition Committee has been drawn to a rumour making the rounds in Ekiti State University that it instructed a bank to stop the payment of salaries of  the Ekiti  State University workers.

    Read Also: ‘Fayemi will boost food production’

    “I wish to state that TC (Transition Committee) has no such mandate and so did not discuss such sensitive matters in any of its sittings.

    “Therefore, no such instruction was issued by the Transition Committee.

    “Members of staff of the University are advised to ignore such rumour and take up the matters affecting their welfare with the management of the University.

    “The Committee as a stakeholder in the Ekiti project wishes to advise  the University management to protect its landed properties around Oke  Ila, Ado-Ekiti from spurious sale.”

  • Lawyer writes Fayose, demands unpaid N600m fee

    A lawyer based in Ado-Ekiti, Mr. Owoseni Ajayi, has urged Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose to pay him professional fee amounting to N600 million for legal services rendered in the past.

    Ajayi, who was Fayose’s personal lawyer for many years before he was appointed Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice twice, listed thirteen high profile cases handled for the governor which had not been paid for.

    In a letter he wrote to Fayose which was made available to newsmen in Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday, Ajayi said he made a moderate demand of a sum of N600 million at the rate of N50 million per each of the cases listed subject to accruable interest.

    Ajayi said the cases were not handled free but were not paid for by Fayose because he was financially handicapped then noting that the governor is now buoyant enough to pay for the services rendered.

    The cases include a defamation case: Ayo Fayose v Independent Communications Network Limited with suit number HAD/8/2004 and the appeal case emanating from the same suit marked CA/AE/58/2010.

    Federal Republic of Nigeria v Ayo Fayose with charge number FHC/C/179C/2006 which was a criminal case heard both in Lagos and Ado-Ekiti Federal High Courts until he (Fayose) was discharged and acquitted in October 2014 in which Ajayi appeared in all the cases.

    Another case was Peter Ayodele Fayose v Comptroller General of Prisons Suit Number: FHC/AK/CS/08/2008, which was about Fayose’s ‘controversial’ release from Ikoyi Prisons to face murder charge in Ekiti.

    Other cases listed by Ajayi include Peter Ayodele Fayose v EFCC appeal marked CA/I/144/2011, Peter Ayodele Fayose v the State marked HAD/16/2007 to stop his arraignment for murder by the Segun Oni administration, the appeal case that arose from it marked CA/14C14/2007 and the Supreme Court that emanated from it still pending marked SC449/2011.

    Ajayi listed Peter Ayodele Fayose v EFCC and Inspector General of Police with Suit No: FHC/A14CS/85/2006 following his illegal removal from office and the appeal case that followed it IGP & AG Federation v Peter Ayodele Fayose marked CA/B/44/2007.

    The last case mentioned by Ajayi, who is also a former Chairman of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ado-Ekiti Branch, was E-Eleven v Peter Ayodele Fayose and 2 Ors filed to frustrate his swearing-in to office after winning the 2014 governorship election.

    Ajayi said: “You will recall that you never paid our chamber, Owoseni Ajayi & Associates for the services rendered throughout the time because of your financial incapacitation despite numerous demands because you were already out of office at the material time.

    “It should be stressed that we never acted free because we are legal practitioners working for our legal fee nor offered you “pro bono” service because you were not a pauper to be qualified for such a service.

    “We merely showed understanding up till now because of the prevalent circumstances verily known to you. And now that you have served another term as Governor of Ekiti State, you are financially strong enough to pay the said sum as demanded.

    “Sir, you will agree with us that a labourer deserves his wages. We thank you for your patronage and we also deserve commendation for having discharged our professional responsibility with diligence and without compromise.

    “And also for saving Your Excellency from several legal embarrassments.”

  • Fayose to EFCC: Meet me in my office on September 20

    Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has fired another letter to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) suggesting a September 20 date for the agency to interrogate him in his office in Ado-Ekiti.

    Fayose said the Commission should wait till October 16 at the expiration of his immunity if it cannot deploy its interrogators to Ado-Ekiti on the suggested date.

    He criticized the EFCC for writing Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and other security agencies demanding that he be placed on a watch list to prevent him from escaping from the country to evade justice.

    These were contained in another letter Fayose forwarded to the EFCC in which he restated his readiness to make himself available for investigation and interrogation.

    He contended that the action of the EFCC raised a serious question about its impartiality, neutrality and independence.

    The latest letter from Fayose’s table dated September 14 was made available to reporters in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital on Tuesday.

    The governor however said should the EFCC be so much in a hurry that its investigation cannot await October 16, 2018, which the first day after the expiration of his tenure, “without prejudice to Section 308 of the Constitution, I will be willing to answer questions from your team of investigators should they be willing to meet me in my office in Ado Ekiti on the 20th September 2018” indicated in the EFCC’s letter dated September 13, 2018.

    He reminded the EFCC that “in 2007, precisely on the 19th day of December, I willingly presented myself for EFCC investigation at your Lagos office.”

    Fayose said: “There is therefore nothing new or strange in my letter of 10th September 2018 which has been received and treated in bad faith and taste. I thought I was assisting due and fair process of law.”

    “As a responsible citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who currently enjoys immunity under Section 308 of the Constitution, it would amount to a breach of the Constitution which I swore to uphold if I appear in your office on any date earlier than 16th October 2018.
    If done otherwise, it will set a wrong precedent for the Constitutional Institution that I represent.

    “I carefully chose that date (October 16, 2018) being the next day after the expiration of my tenure upon which the immunity I enjoy will lapse to avoid any form of insinuation and was in good faith.

    “While drafting my response to yours of 14th September 2018, my attention was drawn to your widely publicized letter of 12th September 2018 to the Comptroller General, Nigeria Customs Service and similar agencies, directing them to watch-list and arrest me on an imagination that I might leave Nigeria to escape investigation. It has finally put in context, your Commission’s hurriedly deleted online statement vide EFCC Nigeria @OfficialEFCC a day after the Ekiti governorship election that: “The parri is over; the clock of immunity turn apart, and the
    staff broken. Ekiti Integrated Poultry Project/Biological Concepts Limited N1.3bn fraud case file dusted off the shelves. See you soon.”

    “Your Commission by its actions, no doubt has presumed my ‘quilt’ even prior to the commencement of “investigation”. This raises serious question about the impartiality, independence or neutrality of the Commission in the matter. I feel harassed, intimidated and embarrassed by the imputation of crime and the innuendos of criminality underlining your correspondence which has been maliciously circulated widely. This in all implies a case of persecution rather than prosecution.

    “While I have handed a copy of your letter to my Solicitors for a careful study and advice, let me state here for the records, that there is nothing about me or my antecedents, as a long standing public figure to justify the Commission’s action. I have never been a coward or criminal.

    “You may wish to recall that in 2007, precisely on the 19th day of December, I willingly presented myself for EFCC investigation at your Lagos office. There is therefore nothing new or strange in my letter of 10th September 2018 which has been received and treated in bad
    faith and taste. I thought I was assisting due and fair process of law.

    “Notwithstanding the demonstrated hate and prejudice, I reaffirm my willingness to make myself available to answer questions within my knowledge on the day you may indicate after expiration of my term of office on the 15th October 2018.

    “If for any good reasons, your investigation cannot await the date suggested in my earlier letter, without prejudice to Section 308 of the Constitution, I will be willing to answer questions from your team of investigators should they be willing to meet me in my office in Ado
    Ekiti on the 20th September 2018 indicated in yours.

    “Save as above, I will appreciate any date convenient to you after 15th October 2018, otherwise, expect me on the 16th October 2018 at 1pm as earlier stated.”

  • Ekiti Poll: Lawyers allege threat to security

    …URGE TRIBUNAL TO MOVE SITTING TO ABUJA

     

    Lawyers to the parties before the Ekiti State Election Petition Tribunal have expressed concern over their safety.

    At the resumed sitting of the three-member panel on Monday, the lawyers urged the tribunal to shift its father sittings to Abuja, the nation’s capital.

    This was sequel to the alleged intimidating presence of cane-wielding party members outside the Ekiti State High Court complex in Fajuyi area of Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

    This was amidst allegations by some People’s Democratic Party (PDP) members that they were attacked by All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters outside the court complex.

    Two House of Assembly members, Dayo Akinleye and Samuel Omotoso alleged that they were assaulted by people they described as “APC thugs” who massed under the flyover directly opposite the court premises.

    First to lodge complaint at the resumed sitting was Mr. Adebayo Adelodun, counsel to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Prof Kolapo Olusola.

    Adelodun who described the atmosphere outside the court as “scary and alarming” told the panel that the petitioners’ lawyers were held up at the same spot on their way to the court for several minutes.

    Adelodun said they were allowed entry following the intervention of a senior police officer saying the continued presence of the crowd of partisans won’t allow them to do their jobs as freely as possible.

    He, therefore, called for the shift of further tribunal proceedings to Abuja in view of the alleged security threat posed to them.

    Counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mr. Charles Edosomwan, said he also observed the rowdiness outside the courtroom saying the petitioners’ observation should be taken note of for the lawyers’ safety.

    He supported the call that the tribunal’s sittings be taken to Abuja.

    Counsel to APC, Chief Akinlolu Olujinmi, said he wholeheartedly support the call for the movement of the tribunal venue to a neutral venue suggesting Abuja as an alternative.

    Counsel to Fayemi, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, stressed that “security is not a matter to be trivialised” argued that a change of venue had become inevitable for all of us.”

    Read Also: Ekiti Poll: Tribunal begins sitting, pledges to be fair

    Fagbemi said no matter how prepared counsels and witnesses are, security scare won’t allow them have rest of mind hence the need to grant the request.

    He added: “It has been very, very scary and in order to prevent this atmosphere of lawlessness that may hamper the work of this tribunal, I want to join my colleagues to call for a change of venue of this tribunal.”

    The tribunal rose for one hour with the panel chairman, Justice Suleiman Belgore, saying that ruling will be delivered on the oral application by lawyers to parties when the judges emerge from their chambers.

  • Ado-Ekiti indigenes protest against Fayose over sale of Oba’s market

    Some indigenes of Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, on Thursday took to the streets to protest against Governor Ayo Fayose’s decision to sell shops in the uncompleted Erekesan (Oba’s) Market.

    The protesters described the Oba’s Market as their heritage which cannot be sold off warning the governor to pull the brakes on the plan to sell the shops.

    Besides, they contended that control of market is under the jurisdiction of the local government and not the state government wondering the alleged haste with which the governor wanted to sell the market before exiting office.

    Read Also:Fayose’s offer to surrender to EFCC diversionary, says APC

    They alleged that the governor’s decision to sell the market to buyers was a unilateral one and not done in consultation with Ado-Ekiti indigenes condemning the price of N2 million per shop demanded by the governor which they said was too exorbitant for poor market women.

    The protest was organized by Ado Ewi Indigenes Rights Protection Forum and Ado-Ekiti Youth Coalition. The protesters held a big banner with inscription “Erekesin (Oja Oba) Market Not For Sale, Don’t Sell Ado Ewi Inheritance, Buyers Be Warned, Don’t Lose Your Money.”

    Addressing reporters during the protest, the Akuajo of Ado-Ekiti, Chief Olugbayo Ogunleye, expressed dismay with how Fayose had allegedly reneged on his promise to consider the former occupants of the now ultra-modern market before allocation.

    Joining Ogunleye to address the press at the protest were head of the Aladesanmi royal family, Prince Adedeji Aladesanmi and Babatolu of Ado Ekiti, Chief Kayode Owolabi.

    While noting that the protest became necessary to prevent Ado’s heritage from being traded off, Ogunleye who clarified that the protest had no political undertone, said market is an important
    heritage in Yoruba land which should not be toyed with.

    Ogunleye said: “Our stand is apolitical. We are protesting to preserve the heritage of Ado Ekiti indigenes with regards to Oba’s market. Virtually all over Africa, Nigeria in particular and Yoruba land in particular, Oba’s market are never sold. It can be leased, rented but
    they are not usually sold outright.

    “Again, control of such market is the constitutional rights of the Local Government and not that of the state, because it was a major factor in the internally generated revenue sources of the council.

    “Our fear is that, once it is sold, that market is gone forever and the local government will become poorer. So, we are protesting for the retention of the Local government and the need for it to be administered by the council; market is not for any state.

    “They said people should come and pay as much as N2m before allocated shops, rather than allowing them to rent the place. Even those occupying the place were not given preferential treatment. Where would those just trying to make ends meet get N2 million?”

    The National Secretary of Ado Ekiti Youth Coalition, Olubodun Olukayode, said it was wrong for the governor to have contemplated selling the market, taking cognizance of the premium placed on it by Ado Ekiti people.

    Olukayode said: “We are sounding a note of warning to prospective buyers that the market is not for sale. Though, we have not met the government, but we have registered our protest with Ewi-in-Council. As youths, whatever we do today shall be history tomorrow, so we are here
    to preserve our heritage.

    “We are also pleading to government to return the market to the local government. We have tried to reach out to the local government to intervene but it was dragging feet on the issue, because it is part of the present government.

    “We are of the belief that the matter can be resolved now on the premise that those intending to purchase the market stalls had only paid for forms and not the stores, we believe commonsense can still prevail.

    “We are not blaming Governor Fayose for building the market, but we believe it was wrong for local traders to pay as much as N2m before being allocated shops. We expected the government to allow them to pay rent on the stores either yearly monthly,” he stated.

    The market, located in front of Ewi’s market and formerly being controlled by Ado Local Government, was demolished in 2016 by Fayose and rebuilt into an ultra-modern structure at the cost of about N3 billion.

  • Flood sacks Ekiti residents, takes over highway

    .RESIDENTS RENDERED HOMELESS

     

    A portion of Ado-Iworoko Road in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital has been taken over by a massive flood making passage difficult for residents.

    The flood was consequent upon heavy rains witnessed in the city in the last one week which also rendered many residents homeless.

    Property worth millions of Naira including houses, cars and household items have been destroyed by the deluge.

    The Ado-Iworoko Road, a federal highway which leads to Ekiti State University (EKSU), communities in Ekiti North senatorial district and northern states, has been rendered impassable by a big pool of flood very close to Ayemi Garage and Pathfinder.

    Motorists, motorcyclists and pedestrians have been shut out of one lane of the road while the other lane is also under threat as the Elemi River has overflown its bank spilling the massive flood on the road.

    Read Also: Flood sacks another seven communities in Edo

    The flooded road caused a huge traffic snarl on the road as many motorists were afraid of entering the flood to proceed on their trips.

    Hundreds of residents of breast Olorunda and Olorunsogo areas have been sacked from their homes by the raging flood.

    A visit to the affected areas by The Nation on Tuesday showed the beleaguered residents wearing mournful looks on the calamity that befell them.

    Ekiti Flood

    One of the victims, Oluwafemi Joseph, called for the assistance of the state government in constructing drainage and channels to tackle flooding.

    Commuters along Ado-Iworoko Road, Agbaje Adedoyin and Adesoye Subulade, also demanded construction of modern bridge to ease free flow of water.

    It will be recalled that a commercial motorcyclist was swept off by flood at the same spot last year and his remains were not found until after two days.

  • Two arrested for alleged murder in Ekiti

    Eight suspected cultists, one rape suspect nabbed

    Two men, Babatunde Akinola and Oguntoyinbo Odunayo, have been arrested by the Ekiti State Police Command for alleged murder of one Miss Olomola Kehinde.

    Kehinde was allegedly stabbed in the neck at the weekend in Igede Ekiti, Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area but she later died at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido  Ekiti.

    Also arrested by the command are eight suspected cultists believed to be operating in Igede and Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, in recent times.

    The suspected cultists are: Babatunde Jimoh, Shittu Dayo, Tope Adeleye, Omowaye Rotimi, Akinola Ajisafe, Femi Felix, Adebayo Tope and Tope Oluwabusuyi.

    A student of the Federal University, Oye Ekiti, Bamigboye Tolulope, was also paraded for allegedly raping a female victim in the community.

    Speaking during the parade of suspects at Police Headquarters on Monday, Commissioner of Police, Mr. Bello Ahmed, disclosed that the murder suspects were arrested after a distress call was received from the deceased’s twin sister, Taiwo.

    Parading the suspects at the police headquarters in Ado Ekiti on Monday, the Command’s Police Commissioner, Mr. Bello Ahmed, said the murder suspects, Odunayo and Akinola, allegedly stabbed the victim in the neck while perpetrating the killing.

    Ahmed, who spoke through the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Caleb Ikechukwu, said the incident occurred on August 28 at Ilamoye area of Igede Ekiti.

    The CP revealed that Olomola died after he was rushed to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido Ekiti for medical treatment from the machete cut.

    “A team of police operatives upon investigation found one long axe with blood stain at the scene of the crime and that the two suspects, who had direct connection with the murder were immediately picked up and are being thoroughly grilled to be able to extract useful information from them”.

    Read Also: Ekiti: APC elders urge Oni to withdraw suit against Fayemi

    He said the suspects will be arraigned in court soon after the conclusion of the investigation by detectives.

    Ahmed added that the suspected cultists, who were alleged to belong to Aye and Eye Confraternities were arrested at Odo Igede on August 29.

    The police chief explained that all the suspects had confessed membership of the secret societies and that the command is perfecting charges against them to serve as deterrent to other.

    He added that the rape suspect, Bamgboye, was arrested in Oye Ekiti after threatening violence and forcefully had a carnal knowledge a victim (names withheld) in the town.

    He said the suspect had confessed to the crime and would be prosecuted as soon as the command gathers more evidence to substantiate its case.

    Ahmed said: “In our continued determination to fight crime and criminality in Ekiti, our operatives shall continue to clamp down on those with trying to undermine the security of this peaceful state.

    “I want to enjoin all Ekiti citizens to be security conscious, vigilant, and report any untoward incident or happening observed in their locality to the nearest police station or call the control room number 08062335577.”

  • Eleven wounded, shops vandalized as rival transport workers clash in Ekiti

    It was a bloody Sunday in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, as not less than eleven members of the rival factions of local chapter of Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) sustained serious injuries during a clash.

    Apart from those who sustained serious injuries, houses, shops and other property belonging to union leaders and members were vandalized.

    Various kinds of weapons were said to have been used in the fracas with victims sustaining deep cuts on their heads, necks and other parts of their bodies.

    The victims were said to be supporters of the RTEAN Southwest Zonal Chairman, Chief Isaac Fatimehin aka Ayinrin and Ekiti RTEAN chairmanship aspirant, Mr. Adebayo Aderiye aka Ojuigo.

    The union has been hit by crisis over attempts to change the leadership following the last governorship election in the state.

    Fatimehin accused the former RTEAN, Chief Rotimi Olanbiwonnu aka Mentilo of being responsible for the attack and destruction of his shopping complex.

    His words: “We have been having violent attacks on our people since the day before yesterday. These attacks are led by a former state chairman of RETAN in Ekiti, Rotimi Joseph Olanbiwonninu, popular as Mentilo, who has been bringing thugs armed with guns and cutlasses and other dangerous weapons to attack our people.

    “As I speak with you, eleven of our people are in the hospital now. They have sustained deep machete cuts on their heads and parts of their bodies.

    “Mentilo is not happy that the national body of our union, headed by Alhaji Musa Isewele, is considering Aderiye Adebayo, alias Ojuigo as the Acting Chairman for our union in Ekiti.

    “This is why he is bringing many thugs armed with dangerous weapons to attack our people in my house. We were at the national meeting in Abuja and I arrived on Thursday.  Ojuigo and Mentilo had gone to Abuja before me.

    “The truth is that Rotimi Joseph Olanbiwonnu alias Mentilo had chaired the state RETAN for over nine and half years now and this was why the national body is considering Ojuigo who has not tasted the leadership of the body in the state before.

    “On Saturday, when I was called on this matter by Sunday Adeola, a leader in our union who is supporting Mentilo, I explained to the him that I had explained to all parties that those who have chaired the state chapter of our union before should retire like me and allow others who haven’t been there to have their turn. I said we should retire and be others godfathers for others.

    “I explained again that the Mentilo caucus had not come to see me to seek my support on their ambition but Ojuigo had done so and he has got my support.

    “I pleaded with him not to be violent in pursuing their ambition, saying that I wanted peace as the father of all parties and caucuses.

    “He then advised that I have a meeting with the two parties of Mentilo and Ojuigo and I said that is okay, but that I would like to have a meeting with him first. He hung up on the line and said it was okay.

    “But it wasn’t up to 30 minutes when we have spoken on phone, when thugs armed to the teeth with guns and dangerous weapons came to my shopping complex along Adebayo Road in Ado Ekiti, and unleashed terror on everyone they met in the complex.

    “They matchetted  all our members loyal to Ojuigo who were in my custody. But they didn’t touch me. They vandalized the shops and broke doors and windows of the shopping complex and my house behind the complex.

    “We went to report the case to the police station at the  Oke Ila but were referred to the state command where our men were again referred to the Oke Isa police station where the  hospital treated some of our wounded members.

    “The police in Ekiti have not taken concrete step in this matter as they seem to have allowed Mentilo to continue to unleash terror on our people.”

    But Isewele who spoke in a telephone chat claimed that Olanbiwonnu is no longer a member of RTEAN adding that a state caretaker committee led by Mr. Lekan Amusan, has been set up to oversee the affairs of the troubled union.

    He said: “We have also set up a Caretaker Committee which offered to settle the matter between the parties but both the two warring parties,   Ojuigo and Mentilo failed to reach a peaceful pact. So we asked the Committee to continue leading the union.”

    OLANBIWONNU REACTS, DENIES INVOLVEMENT IN ATTACK

    Reacting, Olanbiwonnu, who maintained that he is the RTEAN caretaker chairman in the state, denied involvement in the attack saying he has been trying his best to resolve the crisis.

    Olanbiwonnu said: “It is all lies,  I don’t  have any hand in their crisis and I have been trying to intervene to bring an amicable solution to the crisis.

    “I have been in the office since I was appointed Caretaker by the state and  Abuja leader since 16th of July 2018. I have official letter given to me from Abuja.

    “All I can say is that all these people that are struggling with me now, because they are too far away from the position they are struggling with me.

    “On the other insinuation that I am no longer the a member,  it a lie and they are jokers who don’t know what they are saying

    “Because throughout the time I was wrongly committed to prison,  and I was their Southwest Zonal Chairman of and one of the National Vice Presidents of the Union until June this year when they dissolved the house, so they don’t know I they are saying.”

    Police spokesman Caleb Ikechukwu said he has not been briefed on the latest attack promising to get back as soon as official report gets to his table from the police station investigating the incident.

  • ‘Supreme court must declare saraki, others’ seat vacant’

    The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has been urged to approach the Supreme Court on the need to declare the seats of Senate President Bukola Saraki and other defecting senators vacant.

    Former Chairman, Senate Committee on Privatisation, Senator Ayo Arise, said the executive arm of government is empowered by law to invoke Section 68 (1) g of the 1999 Constitution to declare the seats of the defecting senators vacant.

    Speaking on a Channels Television current affairs programme, POLITICS TODAY, monitored in Ado-Ekiti, Arise said the defection of Saraki and his followers in the Senate, without a valid reason as prescribed by the Constitution are no longer members of the National Assembly.

    Arise, who was in the Senate between 2007 and 2011, and seeking a return to the upper chamber said approaching the Supreme Court would
    save the country from what he called “the ongoing defection mentality which has now become a recurring practice in Nigerian politics, especially in the build up to every election.”

    According to him, the issue at stake is far beyond individual or a group of people but rather a constitutional matter in order to move the country forward.

    The former lawmaker stressed that Nigeria will forever remain underdeveloped politically, if will fail to do what is right by adhering to the tenets and dictates of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    Arise said: “Law is not a respecter of anybody and it must not be held contrary in Nigeria hence the need for the law to take its course in the latest development and set the record straight once and for all. This will go a long way at bringing sanity and sanctity into the nation’s democracy”.

    “The Supreme Court in the case between Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde and Ondo State House of Assembly and others, had unambiguously settled the issue of defections, when it defined the difference between factionalisation and fractionalisation of a political party and explained the reasons that can warrant the defection of any elected member of the National or State Assembly without suffering the consequences as stated in section 68 (1) g of our Constitution.

    “It stated that, factionalisation of a party could not have warranted any lawmaker to change his or her party but held that, factionalisation through which a Legislator can defect must be in conformity with the section 68(2) of the constitution which states that, there must be a division in the party.

    “What “factionalisation or division” means here is that, there must be a parallel executive from the national to the ward level within the affected political party before the constitutional requirements that permits defection without forfeiture of one’s seat could be met.

    “And as at today, there is no such ground in the APC to allow Saraki and others to change from the party through which they became legislators without losing their seats in the National Assembly. They could participate in a new election to fill their seats in their new parties.

    Read Also: Masari dismisses state civil service

    “On the possibility of having the INEC budget for the 2019 general elections passed into law because of the current face-off between the National Assembly and the Executive, Sen. Arise noted that, the constitution allows the President to spend up to 50% of previous budget proposal in the event of a delay in passing a current budget by the Lawmakers.

    “Therefore, the question of whether or not the passage of INEC budget could be an obstacle towards the conduct of 2019 general elections may not arise because the President can source for funds through some special intervention funds pending the settlement of the political imbroglio.

    “The most practical and legal solution is to follow the dictates of our Constitution and declare the seats vacant by seeking the opinion of the Supreme Court again if anyone is doubt that any judgment of the Supreme Court is the law of the land.

    “The Constitution also empowers the Executive arm of the government to enforce our laws.”

  • Court remands man for killing Ekiti Monarch

    …TWO REMANDED FOR EX-COMMISSIONER’S MURDER

     

    An Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court on Monday remanded in prison a 42-year-old man, Omoniyi Ademola, over alleged murder.

    Ademola killed a traditional ruler in Ekiti State, the Onise of Odo Oro Ekiti, Oba Gbadebo Ogunsakin, on August 20 by stabbing him with a
    knife.

    Also, two persons, Tajudeen Bello and Lucky Solomon, also appeared before the same court for alleged involvement in the murder of a Commissioner in the Federal Character Commission, Mr. Bunmi Ojo.

    Ojo was shot dead at a viewing centre in Adebayo Area of Ado-Ekiti on August 10 where he was watching a live football match.

    Police prosecutor, Johnson Okunade, alleged that Ademola, a member of one of the royal families in the community committed the alleged
    offence of on August 20.

    According to him, the offence contravened Section 319 of Criminal Code, Laws of Ekiti State 2012.

    The prosecutor urged the Court to remand the accused in prison pending legal advice from office of Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).

    The plea was not taken as his counsel, Mr Adefolaju Ayobioloja, applied for his bail but was refused by the Magistrate.

    The Chief Magistrate, Mr. Adesoji Adegboye, consequently remanded the accused in prison and adjourned the case until September 21 for
    mention.

    Bello, 22, and Solomon, 32, are facing two-count charge of murder and membership of a cult.

    Prosecutor Okunade told the court that the duo conspired and murdered Ojo, an All Progressives Congress (APC) member and former Personal Assistant to former Ekiti State Governor Segun Oni.

    Okunade alleged that the accused were members of a secret society, Black Axe Confraternity.

    The offences, according to him, contravened Section 319 of Criminal Code and Section 4 (1) of the Secret Cults Abolition and Prohibition Laws of Ekiti State 2012.

    Okunade asked the court to remand the accused in prison pending advice from DPP.

    Counsel to the accused, Mr. Chris Omokhafe, applied for the bail of his clients but the request was turned down by the court.

    Magistrate Adegboye in his ruling remanded the duo in prison and adjourned the case till September 19 for DPP advice.