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Tag: Charles Titiloye

  • Ex-Ondo Attorney-General raises alarm over alleged plan to demolish his property

    Ex-Ondo Attorney-General raises alarm over alleged plan to demolish his property

    Immediate past Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Ondo State, Charles Titiloye, has expressed confusion over why his property has been singled out for demolition by the state government.

    Titiloye revealed that his house, located on Plot 8, Alagbaka GRA, Akure, was the only structure marked for demolition in the area, despite not being part of the nearby government staff quarters.

    He emphasized that he acquired the land through due process before constructing the building and wondered why it is being targeted.

    In an interview with our reporter, Titiloye stated that he has since returned to private legal practice and has had no issues with Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s administration.

    He clarified that his property is not among the 69 bungalows within the government staff quarters in Alagbaka that the state plans to demolish and rebuild.

    According to him, “All of us followed due process to acquire land in the area. It was design by the Surveyor General. Nobody garbled land there. I applied for it and it was granted. Certificate of Occupancy was issued.

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    “There was no letter and no notice was given before my house was marked for demolition. It is as if Ii was there illegally. If the government wants to revoke a land, there are procedure to be followed. That property belongs to me for the next 99 years. The land is not government land.”

    Titiloye said he has filed a suit before the Ondo State High Court, seeking to restrain Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa from demolishing his building.

    In a Writ of Summons filed before the court, Titiloye prayed the court to declare the planned demolition of his building as an act of undue harassment, intimidation, unwarranted disturbance of his quiet enjoyment of his property.

    He prayed the court to award him the sum of N300m as general and exemplary damages jointly and severally against the defendants for disturbing his quiet enjoyment of his property.

    He also prayed the Court to perpetually restrain the Governor of Ondo State, Attorney General of Ondo State, Commissioner for Lands and Ondo State Government, their agents, privies and assigns from demolishing his Home where he presently lives with his family.

    In the statement of claim to support the suit, Titiloye said the defendants’ agents trespassed into his property and marked the frontal part with red paint.

    He further alleged that his property was specifically targeted by the government officials, saying that no privately owned property was so marked or enumerated for demolition in the estate.

    Titiloye stated that the plan being orchestrated against him and his family was to demolish his home illegally and render him homeless to face public ridicule and embarrassment.

    Meanwhile, the Special Adviser to Governor Aiyedatiwa on Infrastructure, Lands and Housing, Olawoye Abiola, urged our correspondent to visit the Ministry of Lands in Monday for proper briefing.

    “Come to the Ministry on Monday for you to see proper documentation.”

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  • Ondo Poll: APC flays Fayose’s call for political violence

    Ondo Poll: APC flays Fayose’s call for political violence

    The All Progressive Congress (APC) in Ondo state has described Ekiti state governor, Ayodele Fayose’s call for violence should the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) loss the forthcoming Governorship election in Ondo State as unfortunate and a barbaric conduct.

    The Party emphasised that the statement was unbecoming of a Governor and a supposed Chief Security Officer (CS0) of Ekiti state.

    Fayose was quoted to have said during the PDP rally held in Akure on Wednesday, that there would  be a repeat of 1983 violence in  Ondo state if PDP loss the forthcoming Governorship election in the state.

    A statement issued by the APC’s spokesman in Ondo Central, where the rally took place, Charles Titiloye, noted that the statement had exposed the evil plot of PDP and its candidate Eyitayo Jegede who all the while have been promoting a political ethnic agenda tagged “Akure Agenda”.

    APC noted that Fayose and Jegede are now frustrated that the multi ethnic and peaceful Akure people have refused to be deceived into a third term agenda of Mimiko under the guise of “Akure Agenda”.

    It urged the PDP to focus its attention on its intra-party crisis of choice of candidate and not drag Ondo state into any form of electoral crisis.

    The party noted that the party was on firm ground in Akure and its environs as the party presently occupies the senatorial, House of Representatives and state House of Assembly seats.

    It urged Fayose to face his war against cattle farmers and normads in Ekiti and continue to arrest cows,saying“ We are not cows in Ondo state and nobody can push us into a violent fight and barbaric criminal killings.

    The APC advised the governor to commence the 1983 electoral violence in his domain in Ekiti.

    It urged the citizenry to remain calm and continue to live peacefully among one another.

  • ‘Fake’ Ondo PDP lawmakers may be arraigned soon

    ‘Fake’ Ondo PDP lawmakers may be arraigned soon

    •Assembly Speaker, Clerk in trouble

    TWO Ondo Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers – Abayomi Akinruntan and Malachi Coker representing Ilaje 1 and 11 State Constituencies – may be arraigned in court soon for alleged assumption of office without Certificate of Returns from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The arraignment followed the conclusion of their interrogation by the police.

    Sources said the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Princess Jumoke Akindele, and the Clerk, Bode Adeyelu, may also not be spared.

    The  two lawmakers, who were allegedly sworn in illegally on June 1, had earlier being invited to the Force Headquarters for interrogation over the matter.

    It was learnt that investigation was concluded last Thursday by the police from the Federal Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Abuja.

    The probe, sources said, was delayed till last week to enable the clerk make his statement, which he eventually did last Wednesday.

    It was learnt that the investigation, which started on July 8, took the FCID operatives to Akure, the Ondo State capital, on two occasions.

    It also involved the questioning of the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Segun Agbaje, and the two Returning officers for Ilaje I and II in the April 11 House of Assembly election, which was adjudged inconclusive by the INEC.

    INEC had declared that the election was marred with widespread irregularities.

    Sources added that the inability to arraign the four persons involved in the matter last week was because the Assistant Inspector General(AIG), who was in charge of criminal investigation at the FCIB, Mr. A. Adeniji, has been promoted to Deputy Inspector General(DIG) and moved to the Force Headquarters.

    It was learnt that the officer deployed to replace him was “yet to be fully briefed” as at yesterday.

    The police started their probe after the Ondo State All Progressives Congress (APC), through its lawyer, Charles Titiloye, petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP) that the Speaker and the clerk allegedly conspired to fraudulently swearin Akinruntan and Coker without the Certificates of Return from the INEC.

    The two lawmakers escaped arrest when detectives from the Force Headquarters stormed Akure to pick them few weeks ago.

    They eventually made themselves available for interrogation.

  • Lawyer seeks police protection over alleged threat to life

    Lawyer seeks police protection over alleged threat to life

    IN Akure, Ondo State based Lawyer, Charles Titiloye, who reportedly escaped attack by suspected killers last weekend, has petitioned the Ondo State Police Commissioner over the attempt on his life. The activist is seeking protection by the police in the discharge of his legal duties.

    Titiloye is currently handling some vital cases including that of increment in court fees by the state government and another involving two lawmakers who recently defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Besides, the lawyer is challenging the imposition of tenement rate on newspapers circulating in the state by the state government. Titiloye argued that the move is aimed at gagging the press in the state.

    In the petition, Titiloye said all the cases he filed were aimed at protecting the rule of law, fundamental human rights and the institution of justice in the state. He alleged that the state government is disturbed by his actions and as such, has allegedly deployed all means to frustrate the hearing of the cases.

    “I have many other cases pending in courts involving agencies of government on the protection of human rights and good governance in the country. In 2012, I was the counsel of Mr Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), the gubernatorial candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) at the state governorship election petition tribunal.

    Apart from these cases, I am a strong public commentator on the need for good governance based on the rule of law and protection of the rights of the masses. I am also an active member of APC,” he said.

    Titiloye urged the Commissioner of Police to grant him Police protection considering the threat to his life and the attempt made to eliminate him last Saturday.

    It would be recalled that the former Akure NBA Secretary last week Saturday narrowly escaped death when suspected killers reportedly trailed him from his Hospital Road, Akure Chambers to a point near Sacred Heart Cathedral in the state capital.

    The lawyer had to abandon his car and run to the nearby Sacred Heart Catholic Cathedral Church for refuge. He was said to have been accompanied to the police station by a Catholic priest, Rev. Father Anslem Ologunwa, to report the incident.

  • ‘Don’t drag Buhari’s name into Ondo PDP crisis’

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Charles Titiloye, has warned warring factions of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state to find ways of resolving the internal crisis within the party rather than using the name of the presidential candidate of APC, Gen. Mohammed Buhari (rtd), to gain support from the Presidency for any of its factions.

    Titiloye was reacting to a statement credited to a faction of PDP in the state that the faction opposing the Jimoh Ibrahim group was working for Buhari by getting a court order, which sacked the Clement Faboyede-led faction loyal to the state governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko.

    He warned that the APC would not fold its hands and allow the name of Gen Buhari dragged into the mud.

    He said: “The people of Ondo State have resolved to vote for APC and the people’s General next year not because of the continued political Ebola scourge in Ondo PDP, but because of the conviction of the people that the joint presidential ticket of Buhari/Osinbajo is the hope to a new and reformed country where citizens’ welfare shall be the primary concern of government.

    “APC in the state see the struggle for power between the factional PDP lords in Ondo State as a product of disagreement of sharing of power and illegal loots emanating from the centre.”

    While stating that the party would not compromise its principles by supporting any of the PDP factions, the former Secretary of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Akure Chapter, hailed the leadership of APC for selecting a sound technocrat and thorough professional in the person of Prof. Osinbajo as the vice presidential candidate of the party.

  • Ondo APC flays delay in payment of workers’ salaries

    Ondo APC flays delay in payment of workers’ salaries

    THE Ondo State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) has faulted what it called ‘the anti-labour’ posture of the state government on the delay in the payment of August salary to civil servants in the state.

    In a statement issued in Akure by a member of the party’s state Publicity Committee, Charles Titiloye, the APC bemoaned the plight of workers in the state, while challenging the state governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, to declare the state of finances of the state.

    The party noted that most parents are now at the mercy of owners of private schools who charge high fees due to what it called the failure of the state government to revive and rebuild public schools in Ondo State.

    It added, “Anybody who values good education would not send his children to Ondo public schools with their deplorable and dilapidated infrastructures. Yet, the same government cannot pay salary regularly to its workers to meet their financial obligation in paying their children’s school fees at private schools.

    “Our party is no longer comfortable with the fact that state government can no longer meet its financial obligations to pay workers’ salary and perform its social responsibility to the citizens of the state by fixing and repairing basic public amenities.”

    While lamenting the deplorable state of major roads in Akure, the state capital, the APC further alleged a “total breakdown of responsive and accountable governance in Ondo State.”

  • JUSUN strike: Activist seeks Jonathan’s intervention

    JUSUN strike: Activist seeks Jonathan’s intervention

    Akure-based lawyer, Charles Titiloye, has urged President Goodluck Jonathan and the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloma Muktar, to urgently address the crisis in the nation’s judiciary system, particularly the incessant closure of courts.

    According to him, democracy cannot function effectively without a vibrant and independent Judiciary.

    Speaking with The Nation against the backdrop of the ongoing strike embarked upon by Judiciary workers’, which has shut down the nation’s courts, Titiloye made reference to Ondo State where lawyers have in the last two months boycotted the Courts to protest over a circular from the state’s Chief Judge, Olaseinde Kumuyi, on the production of executive tax clearance by sureties as a compulsory bail condition.

    Titiloye said: “A responsive government will not fold its hands and watch the Judiciary, which is the only institution that can resolve disputes shut down indefinitely due to resolvable issues.”

    The lawyer noted that the request of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) for financial autonomy is justified in view of the unchallenged judgment of the Federal High Court granting financial autonomy to Courts.

    He noted that lack of financial autonomy for the Judiciary has turned most judges to beggars who are ready to do anything for the executive in order to get fund.

    The activist also queried the alleged partisan involvement of judges in the affairs and policies of the executive arm of government.

    “How can we explain a situation where judges solicit for tax clearance by using the Court proceedings to generate revenue for the executive arm even at the expense of the citizen’s fundamental human rights to liberty,” he questioned, adding, “Is our Courts still for both the rich and poor? How do you explain the relocation of Courts to the private building of a businessman in Ondo State due to lack of fund to build Courts?”

     

  • Ex-NBA scribe faults Ondo govt over disruption of carnival

    Ex-NBA scribe faults Ondo govt over disruption of carnival

    AKURE-based lawyer and rights activist, Mr. Charles Titiloye, has condemned the alleged disruption of the Akure Youth Carnival by the Ondo State Government and the Police on Thursday in Akure, the state capital.

    Titiloye, who is the former Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Akure branch, faulted the claim by the state government that a disturbing security report at its disposal led to its directive to the Police to abort the rally.

    With thus action, according to Titiloye, the fundamental human rights of the youth to peaceful assembly had been infringed upon by the government.

    The activist described as shameful and primitive the orgy of violence resulting from confrontation between the youth and the Police.

    He maintained that the aggrieved youth who complained to have spent over N18million to organise the event must be compensated by the state government.

    Titiloye argued, “The Ondo state Government must encourage youths who despite the massive unemployment in the country organised this cultural carnival rather than engage in criminal acts of terrorism and kidnapping which have threatened the existence of this nation to its foundation.”