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Tag: Ekiti lawmaker

  • Ekiti lawmaker dies three days after gun attack

    Ekiti State House of Assembly’s member representing Ekiti Southwest II, Michael Adedeji, has died.

    His demise occurred three days after he was shot by suspected gunmen.

    Adedeji was confirmed dead yesterday at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti (FETHI), where medical personnel had been battling to save his life.

    He was 40.

    The late lawmaker was shot in the head by some gunmen who reportedly trailed him from Akure, the Ondo State capital, to Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, on Friday.

    Adedeji was waylaid at Onigari Government Reservation Area (GRA) and shot at close range as he attempted to escape from the scene.

    The slain lawmaker, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member, was among the legislators who participated in the impeachment of former Speaker Kola Oluwawole and replaced him with Adeniran Alagbada.

    Adedeji had fallen out with former Governor Ayo Fayose before the end of his tenure on October 15.

    He had earlier been slammed with suspension for alleged closeness to Senate Minority Leader, Mrs. Biodun Olujimi, whose governorship ambition did not receive Fayose’s blessing.

    Reacting to Adedeji’s death, Governor Kayode Fayemi urged security agencies to unmask his killers.

    Addressing reporters yesterday at the Government House in Ado-Ekiti, Fayemi described the killing as “unfortunate and shocking”.

    He said: “This death came to us as unfortunate and shocking. But we are going to put up new security measures to ensure that Ekiti is safe for all of us.

    “The kind of security we are going to put in place won’t be one that will make government part of security agents, like we had in the past. We will allow them do their jobs while we provide the needed logistics.

    “This is a challenge that security agencies must do more to protect our people. They have to be alive to their responsibilities.”

    The House Leader of Government Business, Chief Gboyega Aribisogan, said preliminary investigation into Adedeji’s killing pointed in the direction of assassination.

    Aribisogan, who represents Ikole Constituency I, averred that some individuals allegedly threatened the late lawmaker on the social media for not “cooperating” before he was shot dead.

    According to him, the suspicion that Adedeji was assassinated was fuelled by the fact that nothing was taken from him and from his car after he was shot.

    The lawmaker said the leadership of the Assembly would discuss with the family of the deceased for his burial.

    Aribisogan said: “Preliminary investigation showed that it was an assassination because none of his belongings was taken away by his assailants.

    “Some people threatened him on Facebook that they would deal with him for betraying ex-Governor Fayose, before he was shot. They were not happy with the way he has been cooperating with Fayemi.

    “They trailed him from Akure and when he thought he could take a reverse and escape, they shot him at close range, from where the killers were hiding. So, the killing was predetermined.”

  • Ekiti lawmaker dies three days after gun attack

    Three days after he was shot by suspected gunmen, a member of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Mr. Michael Adedeji, is dead.

    Adedeji was shot at about 2.00 am on Friday while driving in his car.

    He was rushed to Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), Ado-Ekiti, for immediate treatment before he was later referred to Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti.

    Read Also: Why Buhari deserves second term – Lai Mohammed

    Adedeji was shot in the head and he underwent neurosurgery at the Federal Teaching Hospital before he gave up the ghost.

    House Leader of Business, Chief Gboyega Aribisogan, confirmed Adedeji’s death in a telephone chat on Monday.

     

    …Details coming later

  • Gunmen shoot Ekiti lawmaker

    A member of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Mr. Michael Adedeji, is now battling for life after being shot in the head by unknown gunmen yesterday. Adedeji was waylaid in the early hours of the daywhile traveling along Ikere-Akure Road by the gunmen who opened fire as he made an attempt to escape from the scene. The lawmaker who represents Ekiti Southwest Constituency 2 was rushed to the Accident and Emergency Unit of Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH) for intensive care. He was later referred to Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti (FETHI) where is he is expected to undergo neurosurgery in a bid to save his life. When our reporter visited EKSUTH to confirm Adedeji’s admission at the Accident and Emergency Unit, a staff member said: “He hasbeen transferred to Ido Ekiti.

    The bullets hit him in the head and he would have to undergo neurosurgery as soon as possible”. The Ekiti Assembly Deputy Speaker, Mr. Segun Adewumi, described the attack on Adedeji as unfortunate. Adewumi in a telephone chat said his colleague hadbeen taken to FETHI, where he would have access to CT scanning of his head. Adewumi said: “When he was accosted on the way, the lawmaker wanted to flee the scene by putting his car on reverse gear but these evil men opened fire on his vehicle and the bullets hit him on the head. “He was immediately taken to hospital in Ado Ekiti where he received emergency treatment.” Police spokesman, Mr. Caleb Ikechukwu, said the incident had not been brought to his notice. Ikechukwu said: “We have not been officially briefed but when we have the information, we shall act appropriately.”

    The Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Mr. Adeniran Alagbada, asked the Police to immediately investigate the attack on Adedeji. The Speaker condemned the attack, noting that Adedeji was an easy going individual and undeserving of such attack. Alagbada said lawmakers have been receiving threats from unnamed individuals since the recent change of leadership in the Assembly. An ally of former Governor Ayo Fayose and a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) member, Mr. Kola Oluwawole, was removed as Speaker and replaced with Alagbada, an All Progressives Congress (APC) member. The change was effected barely four days to the inauguration of new governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

    The Speaker reminded the Nigerian police and relevant agencies of its core duty to ensure security of lives and properties of all residents of the state and ensure that the culprits are fished out following due investigation. Alagbada prayed for Adedeji’s quick recovery and prayed that he would soon join his colleagues at the Assembly to perform his legislative duties. He added that the House would not be deterred by the incident and remains committed towards ensuring the growth of Ekiti constituents through adequate and appropriate representation and legislation.

  • Widow accuses Ekiti lawmaker of sexual assault, physical brutality

    Widow accuses Ekiti lawmaker of sexual assault, physical brutality

    •It’s a frame-up, says lawmaker

    The Ekiti State International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) has demanded the arrest and prosecution of a member of the House of Assembly, Dare Pelemo, for alleged sexual harassment and physical assault of a widow, Mrs. Mercy Ilesanmi.

    But Pelemo denied sexually harassing and assaulting Mrs Ilesanmi.

    The lawmaker was accused of fondling the breasts of the woman on September 6 at the Assembly complex.

    Mrs. Ilesanmi said she raised an alarm but the lawmaker mobilised thugs to beat her.

    The brutality, she said, took place in the Office of Majority Leader Mr. Tunji Akinyele, where she lodged a complaint on the alleged sexual harassment.

    She said the hoodlums tore her clothes.

    Ekiti FIDA Desk Officer Mrs. Kemi Atitebi said the organisation received the complaint against Pelemo but the legislator shunned the invitation to defend himself.

    She said: “FIDA Ekiti received the complaint of sexual harassment and assault against Dare Pelemo and the complainant is Mrs. Ilesanmi, that she was assaulted and stripped naked on the premises of the Assembly Complex.

    “FIDA wrote a letter to invite the respondent for us to hear his side of the story and to mediate in the matter. The woman is a widow and mother of children and her dignity has been violated for the fact that she was stripped naked.”

    Narrating her ordeal, Mrs. Ilesanmi said: “I came to visit a member representing my constituency, Samuel Omotoso but he was not around.

    “On my way out, I met Pelemo and we  exchanged pleasantries. Immediately, he fondled my breasts and I asked him what was the meaning of that. I am a married woman for that matter, and I don’t like how he touched my breast.

    “He now said that I am an enemy of government, that I am not supposed to come to the Assembly. I now asked him, is that the reason why you are touching my breasts, a married woman for that matter? I challenged him that this is too much.

    “I went to report the matter to Akinyele and I met the Clerk in Akinyele’s office with two other visitors. He was on phone but I waited.

    “Before I knew what was happening, Pelemo came in with some miscreants and they started beating me and destroying things in that office, asking what I was doing in the Assembly Complex.”

    Mrs. Ilesanmi’s lawyer, Adeoye Aribasoye, said he has forwarded a petition on the assault and sexual harassment to the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Chafe.

    Aribasoye said: “Our petition is receiving the attention of the commissioner of Police.  Besides, FIDA in Ekiti is also investigating the case and I believe that soon, an action will be taken on the matter.”

    Pelemo accused the woman of “attempting to frame him up and destroying his name.”

    Pelemo, who is the House committee chairman on Security, said Mrs. Ilesanmi did not wear visitor’s tag when she visited the Assembly Complex on September 5, which prompted him to challenge her on her mission.

    The lawmaker accused Mrs. Ilesanmi of working as an agent of the senator representing Ekiti South, Mrs. Biodun Olujimi, who is no longer in the good books of Governor Ayo Fayose and leadership of the Assembly.

    Pelemo said: “It is not true that I touched her, I did not touch her breasts but I suddenly saw a petition from FIDA last Friday but I had travelled to my hometown, Ilasa-Ekiti, after which the FIDA people called me and I told them that I would be coming back on Monday.

    “It was not as if I ignored FIDA, she is trying to frame me up and destroy my good name. She is being sponsored by some people but I will still honour the FIDA invitation.”

  • Killer squad after me, Ekiti lawmaker alleges

    Killer squad after me, Ekiti lawmaker alleges

    •Assembly: it’s not true

    Ekiti State House of Assembly’s Minority Leader Gboyega Aribisogan has accused Governor Ayo Fayose and the Speaker Kola Oluwawole of raising a “killer squad” to kill him.

    Aribisogan, who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on June 27, claimed the hoodlums, armed with assorted weapons, were detailed to attack him and his constituents anytime they move near the Assembly’s complex.

    But the Assembly at plenary yesterday suspended Aribisogan indefinitely for “constituting himself in a manner unbecoming of an honourable member, having regards to his utterances and actions”.

    House Leader of Business, Tunji Akinyele (Oye II), moved the motion, which was seconded by Wale Onigiobi (Ekiti Southwest I).

    It was put to a voice vote, which was without dissension.

    The Assembly adjourned sine die (indefinitely) in an apparent bid to frustrate Aribisogan’s plan to resume legislative duties.

    Addressing a separate briefing in Ado-Ekiti, the lawmaker accused Fayose of acting as the “Speaker” of the Assembly with his declaration before the mace on December 6, last year, during the budget presentation.

    Aribisogan quoted Fayose to have said: “I am the Speaker; Oluwawole is only acting on my behalf.”

     

     

  • Ekiti lawmaker attacks Fayose over comments on Buhari’s health

    A member of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon. Gboyega Aribisogan, has lampooned Governor Ayo Fayose for making “disparaging comments” on the health status of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Aribisogan advised Fayose to address the hardship being faced by the people of Ekiti State and stop mocking Buhari and making comments he is not morally and professionally authorised to make.

    The lawmaker representing Ikole Constituency 1 in the Assembly said

    Fayose has made himself a laughing stock out of the 36 governors of the federation by his action, urging him to desist from making inflammatory statements out of political brinkmanship.

    Aribisogan, who was suspended by fellow lawmakers for 180 legislative days in October last year but stormed the Assembly three weeks ago to resume office, defected from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) with about 200 followers on Tuesday.

    Fayose at a news conference he addressed on Wednesday at the

    Government House in Ado-Ekiti alleged that Buhari has been placed on a life support machine since June 6 in a London hospital where he has been receiving treatment calling on the president to resign from office.

  • Appeal Court stays judgment sacking Ekiti lawmaker

    The Court of Appeal, Ado-Ekiti Division, yesterday ordered a stay in the Federal High Court judgment, which sacked Musa Arogundade as Ekiti State House of Assembly member representing Ado 1.

    The court also restrained the Speaker, Kola Oluwawole, from swearing in Toyin Obayemi, pending the determination of an appeal by the sacked lawmaker.

    According to a ruling by Justice Sulaiman Belgore delivered by Justice Paul Elechi, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) should not recognise Obayemi as its candidate for the April 11, 2015 House of Assembly poll.

    Arogundade had filed a motion for an order staying  judgment in a case filed by Obayemi, which was delivered last  July 4, by Justice Taiwo Taiwo of Ado-Ekiti Federal High Court 2.

    The lower court ordered Arogundade to refund salaries, allowances and emoluments received since his inauguration on June 5, 2015.

    The sacked lawmaker  filed an injunction restraining the Speaker from inaugurating Obayemi, pending the determination of the main appeal before the court.

    Respondents in the motion at the Appeal Court are Obayemi (first), Independent National Electoral Commission (second), Odunayo Talabi (third) and PDP (fourth).

    The appellate court held that some issues raised by the first respondent in his counter-affidavit touching on whether the applicant was qualified to contest was premature.

    It urged parties to maintain status quo ante bellum, pending  determination of the main appeal filed by Arogundade.

    Arogundade’s counsel Mike Ozekhome (SAN) said the verdict had “purified the stream of justice”, adding that it has preserved the hierarchical structure of the nation’s legal system.

    Obayemi’s counsel Olayinka Sokoya urged the court to grant an expeditious hearing of the substantive appeal.

  • Court removes Ekiti lawmaker over ‘fraudulent judgment’

    Court removes Ekiti lawmaker over ‘fraudulent judgment’

    •Judge: Sacked legislator must refund salaries, allowances •INEC ordered to issue certificate of return to plaintiff

    The judicial hammer fell yesterday on a member of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Musa Arogundade, as a Federal High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti nullified his election.

    It ordered that he be replaced by his challenger, Toyin Obayemi, as the lawmaker representing Ado Constituency 1.

    The court, in the judgment delivered by Justice Taiwo Taiwo, withdrew Arogundade’s Certificate of Return and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue Obayemi a fresh Certificate of Return.

    The Speaker of the Assembly, Kola Oluwawole, was also ordered to immediately swear in Obayemi as the lawmaker representing Ado Constituency 1.

    The judge also ordered Arogundade to refund all salaries, allowances and constituency allowances collected by him since he was inaugurated as an Assembly member on June 8, 2015.

    Defendants in the suit are INEC (1st), Odunayo Talabi (2nd), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) (3rd) and Arogundade.

    Obayemi, who came second at the primary held on November 29, 2014, claimed in his originating summons that a judgment was “fraudulently procured” at a Federal High Court in Abuja, which substituted the name of the winner of the shadow poll, Talabi with that of Arogundade.

    The court agreed with the plaintiff that Arogundade, who served as an agent to Talabi at the primary, cannot stand as a candidate for the April 11, 2015 House of Assembly election organised by INEC.

    The court, which resolved all the 10 issues for determination in favour of Obayemi, agreed with the plaintiff that the Ekiti PDP, its chieftains and some lawyers connived together to deceive the court to obtain the judgment in the suit delivered by the late Justice Evoh Chukwu on September 21, 2014.

    The court agreed with the plaintiff that Talabi did not deny the allegation that he presented a fake West African Examinations Council (WAEC) result and fake Ordinary National Diploma (OND) certificate of Yaba College of Technology for the purpose of seeking election as House of Assembly member.

    Justice Taiwo had harsh words for the PDP, which it lambasted for arbitrariness and infringement on the provisions of Sections 31 and 36 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and reduced such a serious matter bordering on the rights of an aspirant to a mere party affair.

    He held that Arogundade having wrongly been used as a substitute lacks the locus standi to obtain an order compelling INEC to use him as a replacement and the court set aside the order on this premise.

    Justice Taiwo ruled: “Since the 4th defendant (Arogundade) was not an aspirant in the primary election, he lacks the locus standi to file the case at the Federal High Court, Abuja. I hereby set aside the said judgment having been procured by fraud.”

    According to him, evidence before the court showed that Arogundade’s name was not on Form CF001, an INEC document displaying the names of the candidate as the document bore Talabi’s name

    Justice Taiwo also condemned INEC for “playing the ostrich and bury its head in the sand while all these were going on”.

    The judge held: “I register my displeasure with the attitude of the 1st defendant (INEC) who filed no paper although they are not obliged.

    “I am of the view that as a public agency, the attitude of INEC is more worrisome and not helpful to our nascent democracy. It should not bury its head in sound.”

    Justice Taiwo ruled: “I will be shirking in my responsibility if I fail to express disappointment with the attitude of the 2nd respondent (PDP). Its action was very worrisome and issue like this goes beyond the internal affairs of a political party, because it can bring about arbitrariness and imposition of candidate.

    “The party has no reason to have substituted the 2nd respondent (Talabi) with the 4th respondent (Arogundade) because he did not participate in the primaries. And it is trite law that any allegation not denied is deemed admitted going by the verdict of the Supreme Court.

    “The 2nd respondent did not deny the allegation that he presented a fake WAEC and Ordinary National Diploma Results got from Yaba College of Technology, Lagos. Having not denied these, it means the averments were true and the plaintiff ought to have been presented as replacement, having come second in the primaries”.

    Citing the Supreme Court’s judgment in Amaechi Vs INEC and Alhassan Vs Ishyaku, the judge said: “It is my humble opinion that the PDP wrongly submitted the name of the 4th respondent as candidate. INEC has no reason to have issued the certificate of return to him. He was a product of illegality.

    “Since INEC due to inexplicable circumstance disqualified the 2nd respondent, then the plaintiff became the sole candidate of the PDP. I order the INEC to withdraw the certificate of return from the 4th respondent and issues same to him.

    “While the speaker of the State House of Assembly is directed to swear him in as the lawmaker representing Ado Constituency 1”.

    Speaking with reporters after the judgment, Obayemi said the judgment has sent a signal that the era of impunity has ended.

    He added that he had never seen a situation in which an agent at a primary suddenly became a candidate.

    Describing the “fraudulent substitution” as very dangerous to democracy, Obayemi said the victory would give him an opportunity to give a better representation to Ado Constituency 1.

    He explained that he still remained a PDP member and would head for INEC to receive his Certificate of Return, which would be presented to the Speaker for swearing-in.

     

     

  • DSS produces ‘dead’ Ekiti lawmaker

    DSS produces ‘dead’ Ekiti lawmaker

    Detained member of the Ekiti State House of Assembly Afolabi Akanni was yesterday presented to reporters at the headquarters of the Department of State Security (DSS).

    Despite the allegations against him, the lawmaker representing Efon-Alaaye, who was rumoured to have died in custody, refused to speak or stand up to be paraded before press photographers.

    DSS spokesman Abdullahi Garba looked on as the detained lawmaker rejected entreaties to stand up.

    He said the lawmaker was being held over very weighty but unspecified security issues.

    “You may have been aware of the recent situation in Ekiti State in which the DSS was accused of abducting four lawmakers.

    “The fact is that a lawmaker, Afolabi Akanni , was duly invited by the Service over some serious breaches involving state security and for which he has some explanations to make; these breaches fall under the purview of the DSS to investigate.

    “This briefing has become necessary in order to debunk a rumour which is being spread in Ekiti State by some mischief makers to the effect that Akanni  has died in custody.

    “Nigerians and Ekiti people in particular have seen that Afolabi is hale and hearty as he is being presented to the media.

    “The DSS, therefore, warns all those who have planned to make a meat out of this to desist from it and steer clear from trouble as the Service will not hesitate to prosecute anyone or persons who may engage in violent actions of any kind.

    “In a similar vein, all law-abiding Ekiti residents should go about their businesses as the Service assures them of full protection by security agencies,” Garba stated.

    Answering reporters’ questions, Garba said he was not in a position to say anything about when Akanni  would be taken to court, adding that investigations are still going on.

    Unofficial sources say the lawmaker may need to answer questions bordering on the originality of the school certificate he used during the election and the death of Modupe Karimu, who was said to be involved in an alleged attempt to impeach Governor Ayodele Fayose.

    The lawmaker, after prolonged prodding by reporters, said: “I slumped yesterday. I’m not dead. I’m alive but I’m sick. I have malaria, I did a test and they gave me a doctor but I don’t know why I am here.”

    Although he walked in confidently and was directed to take a back seat before the briefing began, he refused to stand up, until reporters had left the hall.

  • Ekiti lawmaker, eight others arraigned for ‘murder’

    A lawmaker in Ekiti State, Mr. Boluwade Kehinde (44), and eight others were arraigned yesterday before a High Court in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, for their alleged involvement in the killing of Mr. Foluso Ogundare, a member of the Ekiti Bibiire Coalition (EBC).

    The others are Ilesanmi Peter (26); Adedayo Kayode (33); Afolabi Ishola (47); Babalola Olomi (47); Malomo Alabi (29); Taidi Yinusa (30); Ayo Famojuro (45) and Olawumi Fagborila (20).

    Two other suspects, who are on the run, have been declared wanted by the police.

    Hoodlums disrupted a meeting of the EBC in Emure-Ekiti on November 3, killing Ogundare and shooting Mrs. Beatrice Ige.

    The suspects were arraigned on a five-count charge of conspiring to murder Ogundare; nursing the intent to kill Mrs. Ige; illegal possession of firearms and injuring Mr. Tope Okeya in the hand.

    The suspects were arrested after the incident and taken to the Force Headquarters in Abuja on the orders of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Abubakar.

    The Chief Magistrate, Soji Adegboye, ordered that the suspects be remanded in prison custody.

    The police prosecutor, Samson Oshobu, said the offence is criminal and carries a death penalty on conviction. He pleaded for an adjournment, pending the advice of the Justice Ministry.

    Defense counsel Ademola Okeya was not opposed to an adjournment.

    The case was adjourned till January 10.

    During the proceedings, some youths, under the aegis of Ekiti Vibrant Youths, stormed the court premises, protesting against “politically motivated killings in Ekiti”.

    Dressed in black, they carried a picture of the slain Ogundare and placards with inscriptions, such as, “Justice must be served”; “Justice is all we ask for”; and Ogundare’s killers must pay for their sins”.

    Spokesman of the group Isaac Adedipe said: “When did it become a sin for opposition parties to have their ward meetings in Ekiti State? We believe every party has the right to sell its programmes to the electorate.”