The Nation Newspaper

Tag: caretaker

  • ‘Why 401 Osun councils caretaker members quit’

    ‘Why 401 Osun councils caretaker members quit’

    • Adeleke: we’re still compiling list 

    Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has said the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters is still compiling names of the Local Government Caretaker Committee members who have resigned their appointments.

    The Nation reports that Osun State former chairman of Association of Local Government of Nigeria, Sarafadeen Awotunde, confirmed that

    69 caretaker chairmen and 332 members have resigned since the Supreme Court declared them as illegal office occupants.

    Commenting on the development, Adeleke, speaking yesterday with The Nation through his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, said not all the CTC members resigned at a go.

    He said: “They (CTC members) are resigning individually and they are submitting their letters to the Ministry of Local Government. So they will compile the list to know the local governments that are affected.

    “After this, the governor will issue directives on the administration of local governments. They are still submitting letters as I am speaking with you. It will be premature to say anything yet about the development.”

    The Nation gathered that the CTC members resigned so as to contest the February 22, 2025 local government election.

    One of the CTC members, who pleaded anonymity, said they resigned because they wanted to contest the council poll next year and according to the law, they must resign any position 21 days before the party will submit names of contestants to the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC).

    Read Also: Senate halts debate on S/South Development Commission Bill

    He said the party would submit names by the end of August 2024 according to the OSIEC timetable.

    Amid the resignation, confusion hit the state Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), as they pulled out of the conduct of the election. The spokesperson later said they have backtracked on the decision.

    The Chairman, Victor Akande, on Monday had alleged that Governor Adeleke appointed a former secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and his ex-aide as the chairman of OSIEC, who had been appointing PDP members as electoral officers ahead of the election.

    However, IPAC spokesperson Dr. Gbenga Afeni said the council has backtracked on its decision of pulling out of the election.

    He said: “We have made our findings and realised that the OSIEC Chairman, Hashim Abioye, has never contested any election before. He is not a member of any political party; he has never held any political position before.”

    However, the Chairman of Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Wale Adebayo, berated IPAC leadership for

    rescinding its decision to boycott the coming local government elections.

    He said: “On July 15, IPAC unanimously agreed to withdraw from the Osun local government elections due to the fact that the Chairman of OSIEC, Abioye, is a card-carrying member of the ruling PDP.

    “As a party committed to the democratic process, we believe Abioye is not legally and morally qualified to conduct a free, fair and credible election. It is disappointing to see that IPAC has backtracked on its earlier decision, citing the OSIEC chairman’s ‘listening ear’ and readiness to work with them.”

    “This raises serious questions about the integrity of the electoral process and the ability of the opposition parties to participate on a level playing field. While we acknowledge that boycotting elections may not be the most democratic approach, it is crucial that the electoral process remains transparent and accountable.

    “We call on the OSIEC chairman to step down from his position and allow for the appointment of an independent and impartial electoral commissioner to oversee the commission. Together we must ensure the voice of the people is heard and that their democratic rights are protected.”

  • Seven-man caretaker panel to run A/Ibom Accord Party

    Seven-man caretaker panel to run A/Ibom Accord Party

    Akwa Ibom State chapter of the Accord Party has sacked its Chairman, Martins Inyang Ansa, over alleged fraud and anti-party activities.

    State Secretary of the party, Obong Imeobong Udeng, made this known during a news conference in Uyo at the weekend.

    He said the ousted chairman’s tenure was characterised by widespread irregularities, which caused the poor performance of the party in the 2023 governorship election.

    Stakeholders including members of the party’s State Working Committee (SWC) Director General of Governorship Campaign, Aniekan Johnson, chapter chairmen from 31 councils in the state and ward chairmen in 329 wards in the state had passed a vote of no confidence in the embattled chairman.

    Read Also: LG poll: Outcome of results reaffirms PDP dominance in Edo, says Obaseki

    The party’s secretary listed alleged offences of the former chairman to include embezzlement of N3.1million donated by the party governorship candidate for logistics in the last general election, inability to win election in his unit, ward and local government, as well as gross misconduct in protecting the party interest against opposition.

    The party secretary observed that stakeholders decided to relieve the state chairman of his position in order to rescue the party from total collapse after the poor performance in the last general election.

    “From our investigation, we have found out that Martins Inyang Ansa worked against the interest of our party in the state during the last election.

    “He facilitated the defection of our members to other political parties and clandestinely positioned his church members to unseat other members in the Exco without the consent of the state working committee.

    “Again Martins Inyang Ansa craftily made his wife a candidate of our party in Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District for monetary gains.”

    The party therefore appointed a seven-man caretaker committee to manage its affairs within six months.

    The committee members are Aniekan Johnson as chairman, Bishop Eric Etuk Akpan,  Chief Imeobong E. Udeng and Uduak Clement Bassey.

    Others are Samuel Eshiet Akpan, Ubokulo Paul and Abasifreke Thompson.

  • Caretaker sues tenant for alleged gossiping

    A caretaker, Abdul Bello, yesterday dragged Khadija Afolabi, a tenant, to a Sharia court sitting at Magajin Gari, Kaduna, demanding her ejection from the compound for allegedly gossiping.

    The complainant accused the defendant of not keeping to her promise of packing out of the house three months ago when she was served with a notice from the landlady, Hajiya Farin-Dutse.

    Bello said the house located at 24, Yoruba Road, contained two flats.

    He said Afolabi took one flat and had been paying an annual rent of N130, 000 for four years when the other tenant was paying N150, 000.

    “She begged me to talk to the landlady to consider her financial status and accept N125, 000, which I did, and the landlady agreed but only accepted N130, 000,” he explained.

    Read also: Can govt issue travel ban without court order?

    The caretaker accused the tenant of revealing the amount she paid to the other tenant, an act he described as gossip; which triggered a misunderstanding between the landlady and the other tenant.

    He prayed the court to compel Afolabi to pack out of the house immediately since her rent had expired since December 18, 2018; and as the landlady had already given out the flat to her cousin.

    The defendant denied any act of gossip in the matter, adding that she had been paying her rent regularly.

    Judge Musa Sa’ad- Goma, after listening to both parties, ruled that Afolabi should pack out of the house on or before January 8.

     

  • Imo APC gets caretaker committee

    A 27-man caretaker committee has been raised to oversee affairs of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo State.

    National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole, who inaugurated the committee yesterday, said the executive committee was dissolved to instil discipline in the party.

    He added that the party’s national leadership was determined to build strong platforms. Oshiomhole said the lesson to be learnt from what happened in Imo and Ogun states, as regarding the last primaries, was that no one should play God or try to corner things to himself alone.

    “In politics, there is need for inclusiveness in handling issues in a democratic setting. We want to build strong institutions and not strong individuals,” he said.

    According to Oshiomhole, the committee’s assignment is to ensure the success of Senator Hope Uzodinma’s governorship campaign launch on Friday.

    The party’s National Working Committee (NWC) dissolved the party executives in Imo and Ogun states following public threats by Governors Ibikunle Amosun and Rochas Okorocha to campaign against its candidates.

    Oshiomhole added that he would be in Imo today to kick off Uzodinma’s campaign.

    Committee Chairman Marcelinous Nlemigbo thanked the NWC for finding them worthy of the job, and promised that the committee would work to achieve its purpose.

  • Caretaker held for ‘N120m ‘theft’

    A caretaker, Oluseyi Oyetunde, has been brought before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for alleged theft of N120 million belonging to Hemingsway Stable and Tapes.

    Oyetunde, 49, was arraigned on a two-count charge of stealing and conduct likely to cause breach of the peace before Chief Magistrate Folashade Botoku.

    According to prosecuting Corporal Chinedu Njoku, the defendant allegedly committed the offences between 2009 and 2017 at 22, Chris Madulike/Ayo Adebanjo Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.

    Njoku said Oyetunde collected N120m as rent from tenants occupying a property owned by Hemingsway Stable and Tapes. But, rather than remitting the money to the firm’s account, he converted it to his own use.

    The court heard that when the firm demanded for its money, the defendant conducted himself in a manner likely to cause breach of the peace.

    According to Njoku, the offences were punishable under sections 287(1)(b) and 168(b) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

    Oyetunde pleaded not guilty.

    Chief Magistrate Botoku granted him N20m bail with two sureties in the same sum. She remanded the defendant in prison custody till he perfects his bail conditions.

    The case continues on May 28.

  • Caretaker held for ‘N120m ‘theft’

    A caretaker, Oluseyi Oyetunde, has been brought before a Lagos Magistrates’ Court in Igbosere, for the alleged theft of N120 million belonging to Hemingsway Stable and Tapes.

    Oyetunde, 49, was arraigned on a two-count charge of stealing and conduct likely to cause breach of the peace before Chief Magistrate Folashade Botoku.

    According to prosecuting Corporal Chinedu Njoku, the defendant allegedly committed the offences between 2009 and 2017 at 22, Chris Madulike/Ayo Adebanjo Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.

    Njoku said Oyetunde collected N120m as rent from tenants occupying a property owned by Hemingsway Stable and Tapes. But, rather than remitting the money to the firm’s account, he converted it to his own use.

    The court heard that when the firm demanded for its money, the defendant conducted himself in a manner likely to cause breach of the peace.

    According to Njoku, the offences were punishable under sections 287(1)(b) and 168(b) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

    Oyetunde pleaded not guilty.

    Chief Magistrate Botoku granted him N20m bail with two sureties in the same sum. She remanded the defendant in prison custody till he perfects his bail conditions.

    The case continues on May 28.

  • Caretaker gets one week for threatening tenant

    A Kubwa Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja, yesterday sentenced a caretaker, Lawrence Ugwu, to one week in prison for threatening a tenant, Echezona Okeke.

    Ugwu, of behind Village Mosque, Pipeline, Kubwa, Abuja, was convicted and sentenced for criminal intimidation.

    The Judge, Mohammed Marafa, however, gave him an option of N2,000 fine, and ordered him to write an undertaking not to commit a similar offence.

    He said the convict would be held responsible if any hurt was done to Okeke.

    Counsel to the convict, Enabosi Godday, had prayed the court to temper justice with mercy, saying his client had apologised to the complainantý.

    He said the convict was a married man, adding that his wife had a one-week-old baby.

    The prosecutor, Babajide Olanipekun, had told the court that Okeke reported the matter at Kubwa Police Station on February 28.

    He said the caretaker threatened to kill him ýand told him that he would not live beyond 2018.

    “Ugwu said Okeke would die this year, thereby putting ýhim and his family in a state of fear or body injury,” Olanipekun said.

    He said the offence contravened Section 396 of the Penal Code.

     

  • Ogun PDP caretaker committee ‘is biased’

    Ogun PDP caretaker committee ‘is biased’

    Ogun State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) factional chairman, Otunba Adebayo Dayo does not believe that the tenure of his executive has lapsed. In this interview with Assistant Editor LEKE SALAUDEEN, he speaks on the composition of the caretaker committee, the arrest of some members and his relationship with former National Chairman Ali Modu Sheriff. 

    Is it true that all the factions made input in the selection of Ogun State caretaker committee?

    It is not true that all the interest groups made input into the formation of the PDP Caretaker Committee in Ogun State. If anyone is claiming so, let him tell us the names of those representing us. Is it possible for some people to be representing us on the committee and we won’t know them? Immediately after the July 12 Supreme Court judgment, a letter was written to me by the National Caretaker Committee, in the capacity of my office, asking for updates on the situation of our party in Ogun State. The letter was replied immediately, telling them the situation on ground. I attached the court judgments that uphold our congresses from the ward to the state level. I also wrote four other letters to them, but I didn’t get any reply, contrary to the PDP Constitution in Section 60 sub section 4 in page 102.

    The National Caretaker Committee has alleged that Senator Kashamu instigated the police to arrest some members of the Ogun PDP caretaker committee. What is your position?

    It is also not true that Senator Buruji Kashamu has a hand in the arrest of Caretaker Committee members. The Ogun State chapter of the party led by me wrote a petition to the police about the illegal Caretaker Committee, since we still have a subsisting judgment which has never been set aside by any appellate court. The police carried out investigations on the basis of my petition. The matter thereafter was between the suspects and the police with Ogun State PDP executive as complainant. Senator Kashamu has no hand in it.

    Is it true that Kashamu is sponsoring some candidates for elective offices during the PDP convention in December, especially Professor Wale Ladipo?

    I cannot answer for Professor Wale Oladipo. It is a free world and I think the professor is qualified enough to contest in whatever office he so wishes.

    Why did you refuse to recognise the Odanye-led Caretaker Committee?

    How can I recognise the Caretaker Committee, knowing full well that my mandate and the mandate of all duly-elected committees from the wards to local governments and the state are about to be stolen? Even from his utterances since his so-called appointment, the man who purportedly heads the so-called committee has been going about denigrating us. He has shown his bias against us and his preference and affection for our opponents. We have information that he is an old-time friend of Otunba Gbenga Daniel. They socialize and do many things together.

    Should you fail to get justice from the National Caretaker Committee, what next?

    If I fail to get justice from the National Caretaker Committee, I am sure I will get justice from court. The Senator Markafi-led Caretaker Committee and some of you in the media see Otunba Gbenga Daniel as the PDP leader in Ogun State without going through our party constitution. He was our leader when he was the PDP governor in Ogun State. But having dumped the PDP for PPN and Labour Party and came back to PDP in 2014, he has lost his seniority. Yet, he was the one that single-handedly picked all members of the Caretaker Committee, including his friend from Osun State, Tunde Odanye, who was appointed chairman. I wrote a letter of recommendation to our national office in 2014 in order to get waivers for Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Oladipupo Adebutu and a lot of others coming from Labour Party, in order to allow them to contest the 2015 election. I went to Abuja three times to obtain the waivers for them and I cannot imagine how on earth they can be referred to as our leader, as if the party was not in existence in their three years of absence.

    It was reported that some of your associates have defected from the PDP to another party. Did they inform you?

    As I said earlier, it is a free world. I can only appeal to the followers, but cannot force them to stay in the PDP. People are defecting because of their personal interest. Otunba Daniel defected to the PDP from the AD in 2002, in order to contest for the governorship of Ogun State. He was lucky he got the ticket and won the election. Politicians are always calculating their movements and there is nothing anybody can do about that.

    Ali Modu-Sheriff and some of his lieutenants have moved to the APC. Are you surprised?

    I must tell you at this stage that prior to the July 12 judgment I was attending all meetings summoned by both Ali Modu Sheriff and Senator Makarfi, because both of them were my leaders. I don’t relate with any of them that has dumped our party.

    Do you still communicate with Sheriff?

    I have never had a personal discussion with Ali Modu Sheriff and Makarfi, but official communications. I congratulated the National Caretaker Committee after the judgment. I thought we could work together, but it has decided to take sides. I am a founding member of the PDP and I will never dump it for any other party. It is the rule of law that made Makarfi our National Chairman and I stand with the rule of law.

  • Akeredolu approves caretaker chiefs for councils

    Akeredolu approves caretaker chiefs for councils

    Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has approved the appointment of caretaker supervisors/ advisers for the 18 local government areas.

    The council officials are:

    Ondo West: Odunayo Awosika, Wale Williams, Mrs Iyabo Akinkunmi, Mrs Omolola Akinyemi, Taofeek Akinkunmi, Rabiu Moshood.

    Akure South: Tajudeen Babalola, Adolphus Ibegwam, Mrs Akinsanmi Victoria, Femi Falokun, Kolawole Olusegun,  Prince Kunle Adesida.

    Idanre: Opeyemi Ogunware, Idowu Akinde, Tunsin Leonard, Olaborode Segun, Mrs Aderonke Akindolire and Festus Fadayomi.

    Ifedore: Idowu Samson, Aladegboye Adeniyi Clement, Mrs Adu Toyin, Adewunmi Alaropin, Dare Adimewa and Laitan Adigun.

    Akure North: Mrs Adebowale Remi, Mrs Felicia Afolami, Tope Aluko, Gbenga Fadeyi, Oluwaleke Obe and Banji Jegele.

    Ondo East: Festus Olafisoye, Apostle Sola Akinmejiwa, Ambrose Akinfoyeku, Simeon Olaniyi, Mrs O. Okafor, Dele Ayodeji and Otutu Adeyemi.

    Irele: Prince Awotale Obatan, Mrs Adefunwa Durodola, Oyegbata Abayomi, Mrs Olowoyeye Maria, Bayo Nenuwa

    Odigbo: Nnamara Eucharia, Ahmed Rafat Dupe, Abayomi Ojo, Adeyemi Muritala, Amidu Takuro and Fatai Oyewole.

    Okitipupa: Akintelure Taiwo, Olutayo Ebukuyo, Mrs Betiku Bolaji, Mesima Olubunmi, Ayodele Ayelomi and Ogunmolu Ogunwale.

    Ile Oluji/Okeigbo: Miss Akinpeloye Adetola, Osunyikanmi Afolabi, Adetola Adejare, Olasupo Kayode, Adeolu Taiwo and Folasade Ibrahim.

    Ilaje: Emehin Omolebi, Honey Gbayisemore, Jolomi Francis, Mrs Enikanelogbon Stella, Labo Ikudeyinbu and Tale Adebawo.

    Ese-Odo: Mrs Ifeoluwa Olagbose, Chief Festus Omolaja, Akintoye Olatunde, Dulamini Emokenigban, Lawrence Ibori and Mrs Veronica Oguniyi.

    Akoko North West: Isiaka Olanipekun, Mrs Ajibike Ajoke, Mrs Ayodele Agnes, Mohammed Taofik, Sunmonu Tunde and Towo Abayomi.

    Akoko North East: Gbenga Atere, Taiwo Bello, Mrs Idayat Musa, Mrs Adewale Bilikisu, Musa Kasali and Alhaji J. A. Aliu.

    Owo: Balogun Olasupo, Samuel Olorunfemi, Afolabi Yusuf, Bose Sapaye, Helen Agbede, Tododo Mary.

    Ose: Stephen Olukolade, Ebegbe Friday, Ajayi Osuma, Adeyemi Egunjobi, Fagbola Christopher, Deborah Ojumu

    Akoko Southeast: Oripelaye  Hakeem, Mrs Cecilia Ademua, Oludasa Alade, Awolumate Akinwale, Mrs Adebayo Caroline and Kayode Omotayo.

    Akoko Southwest: Mrs B. Akeju, Seun Olotu, Segun Adeyemi, Chief Olumide Alebiosu and Benson Alabi.

    A statement by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Segun Ajiboye, said the appointments are with immediate effect.

    It added that the appointees would be sworn in today in their local government areas.

  • CNPP backs caretaker committees for Kwara councils

    CNPP backs caretaker committees for Kwara councils

    The Congress of Nigeria’s Political Parties (CNPP) in Kwara State has supported the state government’s decision to inaugurate caretaker committees in the 16 council areas.

    A statement by the Chairman Adebayo Lawal and Secretary Prince Olufemi Adeleke, also lauded the Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed-led administration for the prompt payment of workers’ salaries. It advised the government to continue to prioritise workers’ salaries.

    The congress maintained that interim committee was not new in Nigeria as it is being practised in many states.

    The statement reads: “This is not a new thing as it had been practised in many states which had not even conducted out local government elections in the last three to four years.”

    The congress called on the government to keep up the good record as one of the states holding local government elections on schedule. “When the wherewithal is available, the local government elections should be held as soon as practicable,” the statement added.