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Tag: Alao-Akala

  • Absence of prosecution stalls Alao-Akala’s trial

    Absence of prosecution stalls Alao-Akala’s trial

    The ongoing trial of the former governor of Oyo State, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala and two others, suffered set back when the prosecution failed to appear in court.

    The presiding judge, Justice Bayo Taiwo later adjourned hearing till July 11 due to the absence of the prosecution.

    Mr. Godwin Obala, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) counsel, had written the court that he would be absent.

    Justice Taiwo, however, said that he received the letter a few moments before the court sitting on Thursday.

    He said “This matter is coming up for the first time before me and as at today, there is no prosecution in court.

    “Oblah wrote to say he would be absent and suggested that an adjournment be fixed for either July 4 or 11.”

    Mr. Nathaniel Oke, counsel representing the former governor and Mr. Femi Babalola, however, said that he was not opposing the application for an adjournment.

    “Nevertheless, I wish to say that the dates suggested were not jointly arrived at.

    “Moreover, I want it to be on record that my client, Akala, may be absent, because he had, before now, scheduled to be abroad on medical grounds,” Oke said.

    Mr. Richard Ogunwole, representing Senator Hosea Agboola, did not also object the application for an adjournment.

    “I, however, wish to state that I may not be available on any of the suggested dates as I would be travelling out for medical checkup.

    “I would, therefore, appeal for a date in September during which, the new legal year would have commenced,” Ogunwole said.

    Justice Taiwo, on the other hand, ruled that the court could not wait till the next legal year.

    “Since there are still three clear weeks before the end of this legal year, I rule that the matter comes up before July 15,” the judge said.

     

  • Ladoja, Alao-Akala can’t remove Ajimobi, says ACN

    Ladoja, Alao-Akala can’t remove Ajimobi, says ACN

    The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Oyo State has said former Governors Rashidi Ladoja and Adebayo Alao-Akala cannot remove the ACN-led administration.

    It likened the coming together of the duo to the “gang-up of a sparrow and crocodile”.

    ACN was reacting to a media report that the former governors had set up a 10-man committee towards harmonising their 2015 governorship ambition.

    In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Dauda Kolawole, ACN said: “We wish the duo well in their gang-up to upstage our government, but we assure them that they will soon find out that our people have since left the realm of bitter politics.

    “The politics we play in Oyo State now is that of interrogating whoever wants to ask for the people’s votes. What this means is that our people would ask them questions. It is no longer politics of thug for thug or violence for violence.

    “Their coming together can be likened to that of a sparrow and a crocodile. It will end up in disaster. During the battle between Ladoja and his former deputy, who unseated him, our state was labeled a theatre of war. If you left your home for office in the morning, you were not sure you would come back in one piece in the evening.

    “It went so bad that our House of Assembly, that same hallowed parliamentary chambers where the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo sat to address parliament and incubate those world-class policies, became a theatre of war where a driver sat on the Speaker’s chair to hit the gavel on the table.

    “This is one of the questions our people would ask them: Do you want to return us to Golgotha, the place of blood? Our people will ask Ladoja and Akala pertinent questions.

    “They will demand to know why the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting them for allegedly stealing public funds.

    “They will ask them to list their achievements in office and compare them with those of Ajimobi in two years. More fundamentally, they will demand whether this coming together is in the people’s interest or to score some ego points.”

  • Foreign currencies recovered from Alao-Akala’s cleaner

    Foreign currencies recovered from Alao-Akala’s cleaner

    A domestic worker in the home of former Oyo State Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, Francis Kadibuwa, was yesterday paraded by the police in Ibadan for “burgling” his boss’ home.

    The 28-year-old Benionise confessed to the crime during an interview with reporters.

    He said he stole 18 Dollars, 790 Euro, 560 Pounds, 1,820 South African Rands and 35 Ghanaian Cedis from the house when his boss traveled.

    Kadibuwa said he also stole 28 pairs of shoes and jewellery belonging to his boss and his wife, Oluwakemi.

    A source said domestic workers at Alao-Akala’s Bodija home were arrested and quizzed after the burglary.

    The source said Kadibuwa told members of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) to take him to Mrs. Alao-Akala. When they did, it was learnt that he confessed to the crime and asked for her forgiveness.

    Commissioner of Police Mohammed Indabawa said: “After a diligent and painstaking investigation, Kadibuwa, a cleaner in the house, confessed to be the culprit. In his confession, he absolved other workers and claimed he single-handedly planned and executed the burglary. He said he bought house breaking implements, such as hammer, saw-blade, two chisels and nail removers a week before the burglary, which he used to commit the crime between 1 and 3am on May 5, when the occupants of the house travelled to Ogbomoso.

    “He said he deliberately broke the fence and the ceiling of the apartment to give the impression that an outsider invaded the house. We recovered 13 pairs of gold jewellery and some foreign currencies from him. They were hidden inside the ceiling and at the back of a Jacuzzi. The suspect will soon be arraigned.”

  • Alao-Akala’s trial stalled again

    Alao-Akala’s trial stalled again

    The trial of the former governor of Oyo State, Adebayo Alao-Akala, was on Wednesday stalled again following the failure of the court to re-assign the case to another judge.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had arraigned Alao-Akala, a former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Hosea Agboola and a businessman, Femi Babalola, over alleged misappropriation of N11.5 billion.

    At the last sitting of the court on February 11, Justice Akintunde Boade had adjourned further hearing in the case till Wednesday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Boade had informed counsel in the case that he would be retiring on February 21.

    He told counsel that there was need to re-assign the case to another judge.

    Speaking with NAN, counsel to the defendants, Mr. Mamman Osman (SAN), said he expected the state’s Chief Judge to have re-assigned the case.

    “At the last seating on February 11, we informed the court that we had filed an appeal against the ruling of the trial court, but the judge has now retired.

    “The Chief Judge is supposed to have re-assigned the matter to another judge, but this has not been done.

    “The case was fixed for mention today and we came to court. As you can see, the accused persons are all here.

    “We are also here as counsel, but we don’t know where to go to.

    “We went to the Chief Registrar and informed her about our predicament, but she said that since we had filed an appeal, the court will await the outcome of the appeal.

    “I declined and said that was not enough,’’ he said.

    Osman said he told the chief registrar that the defence was going to write an official letter expressing its predicament.

    “ This is to enable the accused persons, who are already on bail, to enjoy their bail without being harassed,” he said.

    All efforts to get the reaction of the Chief Registrar were, however, not successful.

     

  • Ladoja: Alao-Akala has apologised to me

    Ladoja: Alao-Akala has apologised to me

    •Ex-governor advocates e-voting in 2015 

    Former Oyo State Governor Rashidi Ladoja has said his deputy and successor, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, has apologised to him for his “misdeeds”.

    He spoke during an exclusive interview with The Nation.

    Alao-Akala, who was his deputy from 2003 to 2007, succeeded him in 2006 after Ladoja was illegally impeached. Alao-Akala was elected governor in 2007.

    The impeachment pitched the two politicians against each other. They contested the 2011 governorship election on different platforms and lost.

    Ladoja told The Nation that Alao-Akala apologised to him and he has forgiven him.

    He said: “My relationship with Alao-Akala is very good. He is my younger brother. My life in politics does not have anything to do with my personal relationship with other people. I can be your friend and we will not be in the same party.

    “I have forgotten about what Alao-Akala did to me because that is gone for good. He has asked for forgiveness and I have forgiven him. If I do not forgive easily, would I have allowed former President Olusegun Obasanjo to come to my house?

    “It is unfortunate that Baba Lamidi Adedibu did not ask for my forgiveness before he died. All the same, everybody that participated in my impeachment, including my brother, Bolaji Ayorinde, has been forgiven. Ayorinde was in my house some days ago. He has been forgiven.”

    Ladoja said though he is no longer a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he enjoys a cordial relationship with Alao-Akala and members of other parties.

    He said a true leader forgives easily because one’s worst enemy today may become one’s best friend tomorrow.

    The Accord leader denied having any disagreement with Ibadan elders, saying: “I have no problem with the elders. I have a good relationship with them.”

    At a political summit in Ibadan yesterday, Ladoja advocated one-day e-voting for the 2015 general elections.

    He hailed the Prof. Attahiru Jega-led Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the “good organisation” of the 2011 poll and stressed that Nigeria is ripe for e-voting.

    Ladoja suggested that all the elections should be conducted in one day via e-voting, noting that since INEC can conduct election for two positions in one day, it would not be difficult to conduct it for five positions.

    He said it would be cost-effective and ensure easy collation of election results.

    Ladoja said colours should be used to differentiate the elective positions and advocated the enlightenment of the electorate.

  • Alao-Akala dares Ajimobi to conduct council poll

    Former Oyo State Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala yesterday challenged the Governor Abiola Ajimobi administration to conduct council poll to test its popularity.

    Alao-Akala spoke at a meeting of the Ibadan Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Forum, which was held at Jogor Events Centre in Ibadan, the state capital.

    He said PDP would win, at least, two-third of the councils, if the poll is conducted.

    Alao-Akala said: “The Ajimobi administration has refused to conduct local government poll two years into its term. If they are bold, they should conduct the council poll to test their popularity. I am very sure that the PDP will win, at least, two-third of the councils.”

    He said PDP has started preparing for the 2015 election, adding that disputes in the party would be resolved before the next meeting.

    Former ministers Taoheed Adedoja and Wole Oyelese and former PDP National Deputy Chairman Alhaji Yekini Adeojo urged members to unite for the party’s growth.

    Oyelese advocated a level playing field for members.

    Oyo PDP Chairman Yinka Taiwo urged members to disregard the factional meeting held at Yemetu in Ibadan, adding that there is no faction in Oyo PDP.

    Taiwo said: “Those who organised the factional meeting are our brothers and sisters. There is only one PDP and here it is. We have been reaching out to them and all will be resolved very soon.”

    Former Secretary to the State Government Chief Olayiwola Olakojo attributed the conflict in the PDP to members’ enlightenment on their rights.

    The forum was also attended by Chief Nureni Akanbi; Chief Moses Fagbohun and Dr. Saka Balogun, among others.