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Tag: Ekiti

  • Ekiti: Supreme Court upholds Fayemi’s election

    The Supreme Court has upheld the election of Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State.

    In a unanimous judgment yesterday, a five-man panel of the court dismissed the appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the last governorship election in Ekiti, Kolapo Olusola Eleka.

    The PDP and Eleka had appealed the judgment of the Court of Appeal, which upheld the decision of the Justice Suleiman Belgore-led election tribunal, which held that Fayemi was validly elected.

    In the lead judgment by Justice John Okoro, the court held that the appeal was unmeritorious and proceeded to uphold an earlier judgment by the Court of Appeal, Abuja, which affirmed the decision of the election tribunal to the effect that Fayemi was validly elected.

    Justice Okoro said he could not interfere with the concurrent findings of the two lower courts – the trial tribunal and the Court of Appeal – because the appellants (PDP and Olusola-Eleka) failed to establish that both lower courts erred and misapplied the law in their judgments.

    The judge said: “I have carefully considered the issues canvassed by all the parties to the appeal. I am satisfied to hold that there is no merit in this appeal.

    “It has to be noted that the two courts below are concurrent in their findings. It is trite that this court is always very hesitant to interfere with concurrent findings of two lower courts unless their findings are shown to be manifestly erroneous.

    “Only where the appellant has established that clear errors of law or facts which application leads to miscarriage of justice that this court can interfere to reverse the concurrent findings.

    “As I have said earlier, there is no merit in this appeal, and is accordingly dismissed. I affirm the judgment of the lower court, and I make no order as to cost.”

    The Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Muhammad, Justices Olukayode Ariwoola, Paul Galumje and Uwani Abba-Aji (who were also on the panel), agreed with the lead judgment.

    The Justice Belgore-led Governorship Election Tribunal, which sat in Apo, Abuja had, in its judgment on January 28, 2019 upheld the declaration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that Fayemi and the APC won the July 14, 2018 governorship election with a total of 197,459 votes as against the 178,121 votes scored by PDP’s Olusola-Eleka.

    Read also: NGF chair: Tinubu congratulates Fayemi, seeks promotion of fiscal federalism

    The Court of Appeal, Abuja, to which the PDP and Olusola-Eleka appealed the decision of the trial tribunal, dismissed the appeal in its judgment of March 28, 2019.

    Justice Stephen Adah, who read the lead judgment of a three-man panel, resolved the seven issues identified for determination against the appellants.

    Justice Adah proceeded to dismiss the appeal on the grounds that it was without merit; a decision the two other members of the panel – Justices Tinuade Akomolafe-Wilson and Emmanuel Agim – agreed with.

    Reacting to the judgment yesterday, Governor Fayemi extended an olive branch to Eleka, the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in the election.

    Fayemi urged Eleka to join him in building a prosperous Ekiti that would be economically viable to serve the populace.

    Fayemi, who had just returned to Ekiti from Abuja, said Eleka is an accomplished Ekiti person, going by what he had read and heard about him, adding that he was ready to work with him to move Ekiti higher.

    He said: “Prof Olusola Eleka is an illustrious Ekiti person. Though I am not close to him, with what I have heard and read about him, he is an accomplished Ekiti man.

    “He had served this state as a deputy governor, and having pursued his case to the Supreme Court, he should forget about party. He should come to Ekiti party; that is where we all belong, so that we can serve our people better and in a more beneficial way.”

    Fayemi described both his recent appointment as NGF chairman and his court’s victory as signals of good things to come for Ekiti and the Southwest region.

    Speaking further on the verdict, the governor said: “I have to give glory to God for finally bearing testimony to the fact that the election that brought me into office was credible, and that the primary of my party was the best ever conducted by any party in the history of our nation.

    “It also bears testimony to the fact that the so called white papers which indicted me was meant for nowhere but a trash can.

    “The supreme court said the foundation trial courts did a yeoman’s job by saying the election in Ekiti was substantially compliant with the provisions of the law.

    “Let me thank the Supreme Court for putting a finality to this endless litigation, because distraction is bound to happen when you have endless cases in court.”

    On his election as NGF chairman, Fayemi said: “It was Ekiti that elected me governor. But being NGF chairman won’t make me to withdraw from serving Ekiti.

    “You can say Ekiti is in the eye of the storm, because I was elected NGF chairman to serve the nation, but there is no way I won’t defend my people in whatever is coming to states. It is not unlikely that I will argue for Ekiti when things like this happens.

    “The NGF is a national role. I am just a first among equals.”

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South West yesterday described the Supreme Court victory of Fayemi as the triumph of the supremacy of the Nigerian constitution, rule of law and a new dawn in the independence of the judiciary.

    A statement by the APC South West Zonal Publicity Secretary, Karonwi Oladapo, said: “Those who know the workings of the rule of law and tenets of democracy cautioned former Governor Ayo Fayose and his minion, Prof Eleka, against filing their petition, saying such was a mere shadow-chasing, considering the frivolity of the petition and the preponderance of complaints that lacked evidential value in the petition.

    “Reasonable people knew that Eleka would not be able to sustain his case after complaining in more than 900 polling units but could only provide witnesses in less than 50 polling units. But because of PDP’s over-reliance on the rule of men over the years to illegally seize people’s mandates, particularly in the South West, Eleka tested the waters again but Buhari’s administration had already straightened the path of the nation’s justice system to allow Nigerians get justice.”

    The South West APC leadership applauded Fayemi for maintaining focus while the frivolous litigations were going on.

    “He was busy implementing life-lifting programmes and commissioning projects that have impacted positively on the life and well-being of Ekiti people. We are proud of him,” Karounwi said.

  • Updated: Supreme Court upholds Fayemi’s election

    The Supreme Court has upheld the election of Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State.

    In a unanimous judgment on Friday, a five-man panel of the court dismissed the appeal filed by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the last governorship election in Ekiti, Kolapo Olusola Eleka.

    The PDP and Eleka had appealed the judgment of the Court of Appeal, which upheld the decision of the Justice Suleiman Belgore-led election tribunal that held that Fayemi was validly elected.

    In the lead judgment by Justice John Okoro, the court held that the appeal was unmeritorious and proceeded to uphold an earlier judgment by the Court of Appeal, Abuja, which affirmed the decision of the election tribunal, to the effect that Fayemi was validly elected.

    Justice Okoro said he could not interfere with the concurrent findings of the two lower courts both – the trial tribunal and the Court of Appeal – because the appellants (PDP and Olusola-Eleka) failed to establish that both lower courts erred and misapplied the law in their judgments.

    The judge said: “I have carefully considered the issues canvassed by all the parties to the appeal. I am satisfied to hold that there is no merit in this appeal.

    “It has to be noted that the two courts below are concurrent in their findings. It is trite that this court is always very hesitant to interfere with concurrent findings of two lower courts unless their findings are shown to be manifestly erroneous.

    “Only where the appellant has established that clear errors of law or facts which application leads to miscarriage of justice that this court can interfere to reverse the concurrent findings.

    “As I have said earlier, there is no merit in this appeal, and is accordingly dismissed. I affirm the judgment of the lower court and I make no other as to cost.”

    The Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Muhammad, Justices Olukayode Ariwoola, Paul Galumje and Uwani Abba-Aji (who were also on the panel), agreed with the lead judgment.

    Read Also: Fayemi extends olive branch to PDP’s candidate Olusola 

    The Justice Belgore-led Governorship Election Tribunal, that sat in Apo, Abuja had, in its judgment on January 28, 2019 the declaration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that Fayemi and the APC won the July 14, 2018 governorship election with a total of 197,459 votes as against the 178,121 votes scored by PDP’s Olusola-Eleka.

    The Court of Appeal, Abuja, to which the PDP and Olusola-Eleka appealed the decision of the trial tribunal, dismissed the appeal in its judgment of March 28, 2019.

    Justice Stephen Adah, who read the lead judgment of a three-man panel, resolved the seven issues, identified for determination, against the appellants.

    Justice Adah proceeded to dismiss the appeal on the grounds that it was without merit, a decision the two other members of the panel – Justices Tinuade Akomolafe-Wilson and Emmanuel Agim – agreed with.

  • Ekiti monarch returns to palace after six months in exile

    THE Owalogbo of Ilogbo Ekiti, Oba Edward Ajayi, has returned to his palace, following the resolution of the lingering crisis that bedevilled the town.

    The indigenes of Ilogbo Ekiti in Ido/Osi Local Government Area had on October 21, last year, evicted the monarch from the palace and chased away from the town during a violent protest during which one person was killed and properties worth millions of Naira destroyed.

    Oba Ajayi was accused by his subjects of alleged highhandedness, autocratic tendencies, withholding of monthly allowances of his chiefs, failure to control his children whom they accused of involvement in cultism and bringing suspected cultists to their community to unleash terror.

    Barely six months in exile, the indigenes have pardoned their monarch.

    It followed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) under the supervision of the Deputy Governor, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi, after series of peace meetings to reconcile the embattled traditional ruler with his estranged subjects.

    According to a statement signed yesterday by his Special Assistant (Media), Odunayo Ogunmola, the Deputy Governor said the Owalogbo is now free to come back to the throne and assume his royal duties.

    Egbeyemi said the traditional ruler has learnt his lesson after spending six months in exile, urging indigenes still aggrieved with him to bury the hatchet and allow peace to reign.

    Apart from Oba Ajayi, other signatories to the peace accord are the representative of Ido/Osi monarch and the Alayetoro of Ayetoro Ekiti, Oba Olufisan Ajayi; the Coordinating Director of Ido/Osi Local Government, Mr. Akinola Adebayo; a prominent Ilogbo indigene and former Ekiti State House of Assembly Deputy Speaker, Chief Adetunji Orisalade; leader of Egbe Ilosiwaju Ilogbo, Chief Gabriel

  • Ekiti, Ondo, Kwara, Benue ready for N30,000 minimum wage

    GOVERNORS Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Abdulfatah Ahmed Kwara) and Samuel Ortom (Benue) have assured workers of their readiness to pay the N30,000 new minimum wage.

    They spoke yesterday at different fora on the minimum wage, which was signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari

    Fayemi said the welfare of the workers had always been his concern, stressing that his government would pay  the minimum wage for effective and efficient service delivery.

    The governor, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr. Biodun Omoleye, spoke in Ado-Ekiti at the Nigeria Labour Congress  (NLC) delegates’ conference, where Olatunde Kolapo was elected as the new chairman of the state NLC.

    He said the newly elected leadership of the trade unions would be invited soon for a meeting on the modalities to ensure the payment.

    He announced that facilities at government offices would be upgraded and conducive environment would be provided to ensure the optimal performance of workers.

    At the event, NLC National President Ayuba Wabba, who was represented by an ex-officio, Maureen Onyia-Ekwuazi, stated that the workers would not accept any minimum wage that is less than N30,000 from the governors.

    Read also: Minimum wage ‘ll give workers sense of belonging, says TUC

    Wabba said the new minimum wage has become binding, having been signed into law by the President, stressing that the excuses by some governors that they would not be able to pay was not tenable.

    But, Akeredolu pleaded with the Federal Government to review the present revenue sharing formula to enable states to cope with the new increment.

    He spoke through the Head of Service (HoS) Toyin Akinkuotu during the election of Mr. Sunday Adeleye as the state NLC Chairman.

    The governor said: “We are not against the new minimum wage and if we are not against it, we are in support. Our prayer is that the Federal Government should look into the revenue allocation sharing formula, by giving more money to states and local governments to enable them to implement the new minimum wage”.

    Congratulating the new NLC executives, the governor, who hailed the peaceful conduct of the election,  advised workers to cooperate with the new executives.

    To Ortom, workers deserved more than N30,000 minimum wage if funds were available to pay.

    The governor said consultations would soon begin towards successful implementation of the new wage.

    The governor, however, called on the Federal Government to review the Revenue Allocation Formula in favour of states to facilitate the smooth implementation of the new wage.

    He spoke at the JS Tarka Foundation, Makurdi while opening the Benue State NLC Council delegates’ conference.

    Ortom urged those that would be elected at the conference to brace and provide selfless service to the organised labour, stressing that they should be servant leaders.

    Ahmed said his administration was also committed to paying the new minimum wage.

    Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Communications Dr. Muyideen Akorede said “in this regard, the government set up a committee headed by the Head of Service, Mrs. Modupe Susan, to work out the modalities and sources of revenue for the payment months before the President signed the new minimum wage into law”.

    “The committee is expected to submit its report to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed next two weeks,” the media aide said.

    Ahmed said the state government did not owe core civil servants any salary arrears.

    But, he stated that the state government is owing junior secondary school teachers and local government workers some months’ salaries.

    The state is claiming that the junior teachers and council workers are in the payroll of Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).

    Teachers under the aegis of Kwara State Concerned Teachers have blamed their predicament on Nigerian Union of Teachers’ (NUT) leaders.

    The group said the NUT leaders had mortgaged the welfare and interest of its members.

  • Ekiti appoints 17 permanent secretaries, retires eight

    EKITI State Governor Kayode Fayemi has approved the appointment of 17 new Permanent Secretaries in the state civil service.

    A statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary yesterday said: “In a bid to further position the government for better service delivery, Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi has approved the appointment of 17 new Permanent Secretaries in the state civil service.

    “The newly appointed Permanent  Secretaries included Mayowa Emmanuel Oyedeji, Mr. Idowu Olalere Oguntuase, Mr. Samson Olufemi Osasona, Engr. Adetiloye Fatoba, Mr. Ayodele Michael Ajimati and Pham. Mercy Olabisi Arogundade.

    “Also appointed were Mr. Adebayo Ajobiewe, Mrs. Kemisola Olabisi Ayegbusi, Mr. Matthew Olusesan Fabamise, Dr. Williams Mobolaji Afolabi and Mr. Adeniyi Olatunji Familoni.”

    Others were  Mr. Joseph Aderemi Obaparusi, Mr. Bamidele Simeon Arowosola, Mr. Abayomi Michael Opeyemi, Mr. Ibrahim Titilope Ganiyu, Mr. Samuel Akinjide Akinleye and Mr. Oluwadare Benjamin Ajayi.

    It added that the appointments take immediate effect.

    The governor had earlier approved the immediate retirement of eight permanent secretaries.

    Fayemi hailed the permanent secretaries for their immense contributions to the development of the state and in upholding the ethics of the civil service.

     

     

  • ‘Years of holocaust, uncertainty gone in Ekiti’

    Senator Fatimat Raji Rasaki represents Ekiti Central at the National Assembly. In this interview with SINA FADARE, she speaks on the Buhari administration, Ekiti politics and why she failed to secure renomination into the Senate.

    The APC is now in full control in Ekiti State. What can be done to erase the agony of the past?

    Since Ekiti State has just emerged from a previous reign of terror and perfidy, which nobody will ever pray for again, it is very pertinent that the APC should try to run an all-inclusive government where everybody will have a sense of belonging. Ekiti people have witnessed the years of holocaust and uncertainty when Fayose was the governor. This time around, the music has changed for the better. Likewise, the dancing step. The APC should prove to the people that it is different; that it has a mission and a purpose in government. That purpose should be tenaciously followed, so that all those who worked for the party are integrated. Also, the party should avoid the pitfalls of the past where hangers-on who contributed nothing to the success of the party were parading themselves as warlords over the party. The party should make sure that it has a listening ear to all the needs and aspirations of the people, particularly in the area of employment generation, in order to ban poverty and penury.

    You dumped the PDP for the APC. Do you have any regret?

    No, I have no regrets, as long as President Muhammadu Buhari appreciates my little contribution towards his victory. While I was in the National Assembly, we had a group that was supporting the aspiration of the President then; though we were not from the same party. One day, we had a cause to visit the President and l told him that though we are not in the same party, but l will always support his aspiration, because we are from the same constituency. The President is from the same military background with my husband. Therefore, there is a meeting point and l cannot do otherwise. When my husband was contacted, he told me straight that the President was his boss and that l have no choice than to support his political aspiration no matter the party affiliation.

    Politics is a dynamic game and at times, all things work for good. The PDP in Ekiti then was more or less a theatre of war. There was only an emperor that symbolised the governor who did not want to recognise anything about party politics. He was all in all; nobody could talk to him and anybody who had any meaningful opinion that was contrary to his view was tagged an enemy. There were about four factions of the same party in the state. It was a chaotic situation, no respect for elders of the party. Because of what the few ones who called themselves executive of the party were benefitting from the crumbs from the table of the master, only the governor was dictating where the party goes. No meetings, no discussion, no dialogue, there was no rally point. In fact, things fell apart to the extent that the centre could not hold. At this stage, l had no choice than to leave the party for APC.

    When l joined the APC, some people thought that l was committing a political suicide, but l had made up my mind and there was no turning back. A lot of offers were also made, including the promise of a return ticket to those of us in the National Assembly, if we supported the political aspiration of the President then. That was why immediately l decamped l went home to my constituency because l carried them along as l was negotiating. l told them that l was fully ready to work for the  re-election bid of the President. I am happy that l was able to mobilise and actualise this dream.

    But, the APC later denied you the return ticket earlier promised by the Presidency. How do you feel about that?

    As a human being, l am not happy about the development. At that level, if you make a promise it should be fulfilled, since l have fulfilled my part. When l got to my state, it was a different ballgame. Some people believe that they are the all in all in the party and that they can do whatever they like. These people believe that whatever was agreed in Abuja is not binding on them at the grassroots. Unfortunately, this set of people have nothing to offer in terms of contribution and mobilisation to win an election until l joined the party and brought in my political experience which assisted us in winning the governorship.  Everybody knows the political integration of Fayose and my constituency — Ekiti Central, which encompasses Ado Ekiti, the state capital. It was a keen political battle, but we won, with the support of the people at the grassroots. The most interesting aspect of it was that when the chips were down, the so-called people who said they were the owner of the party and that Abuja could not dictate to them were found wanting when it mattered most. They could not mobilise the people to vote; they had to rely on people like us to do that. As a party loyalist, l did not want the President to see me as a spoiler. Therefore, I have accepted all the political shenanigans that took place, to scheme me out. l have taken it in a philosophical way that if we could win all our elections, there would always be other positions.

    How did you lose the Central senatorial ticket to Opeyemi Bamidele?

    Everybody knew that Opeyemi Bamidele was incapacitated and could not move around as he would have done, due to his health condition. But with the help of the party and my people at the grassroots who believe in me, we all went out to campaign for him. As a serving senator, l campaigned vigorously that anything they did was for me. Even some of my supporters who felt that l was cheated were of the opinion that l should play a spoiler’s role. But, l told them that in party politics, the party decision is supreme; no matter how unfavourable it may be. I told them that we should work for the success of the party, so that posterity would be on our side. Thank God that l took that decision and l am happy that the President appreciates my little contribution towards his electoral victory.

    There are many tendencies within the ruling Ekiti APC. What do you think needs to be done to close ranks?

    We should be able to tell ourselves the naked truth. All members of the party knew that without the contribution of the forces that joined the party at the tail end, success could have eluded the party. Therefore, the party should go back to the drawing board, by giving everybody a sense of belonging. It should also identify all those that contributed to its success and rally them for a common aspiration and future electoral success. Those who thought they were an island and the owner of the party should realise that a tree cannot make a forest.  These are the people who were nowhere to be found when the chips were down. If we did not put all the political machinery that we assembled, it could have been difficult to beat the incumbent governor. We need to have a round table discussion and tell ourselves the bitter truth, so that we can move forward. Another four years is just around the corner and there will be another election. The earlier we harmonise and come together as a force, the better it will assist us in our future elections.

    How would you summarise the last tenure of Governor Fayose?

    The people of Ekiti were unlucky to have witnessed such a draconian era in their history. It was a whole four years in the wilderness. When he wanted to come back to the party for the second time, l was one of those who took him round to sell his candidacy to the people. But, somewhere along the line, he pretended to have learnt his lessons and indicated that he was coming back to make a difference. But, alas, he came back as an emperor and grounded everything that was good in Ekiti State. He had no single manifesto to follow; he will just wake up from the bed and whatever idea that came to his head was what he implemented. We thought that he was matured enough to take Ekiti State to a greater height, but unfortunately he did not understand anything about good governance. The money he spent on the so-called overhead bridge could have turned around the fortunes of the state in terms of economic viability and the multiplier effect could have been massive. But, he left a legacy of poor governance and political clownishness. If he had a dream of eating corn, behold immediately he wakes up, he would drag all the state apparatus out and be looking for where they are selling fresh corn. And before you knew it, that was what would be done for that day. In fact, the Fayose era was like a bad dream that nobody would ever pray to experience in Ekiti again.

    What is your expectation of President Buhari’s next level agenda?

    The President should be ready to take the bull by the horn and go out of his way to pick those people who are competent among those that worked for him to make his new cabinet. There are a lot of hangers-on who have relocated to Abuja now and are desperately looking for one position or the other. He should run a security check on all these people, so that they will not be a cog in the wheel of his progress in his second term. He should try and work with those people who are loyal to him, so that they will be on the same page in order to take the country to the next level. He must look for a round peg in a round hole in terms of seasoned technocrats that can assist him to put the county on the path of enviable glory.

  • ‘Ekiti ready for African Drum Festival’

    EKITI State Council of Arts and Culture Director-General, Mr Wale Ojo-Lanre, has said the state Cultural Troupe would participate in this year’s edition of the African Drum Festival, opening in Abeokuta tomorrow.

    The third African Drum festival, which ends on April 27, a cultural event initiated by the Ogun State government, is a global pot of cultural convergence of creative arts stakeholders with opportunities.

    Speaking with reporters at the Cultural Centre, Ado Ekiti, Ojo-Lanre said Governor Fayemi has mobilised the Council to ensure quality participation at the global cultural event.

    He revealed that the level of preparedness of the state cultural troupe is encouraging, pointing out that the troupe was ready, not only to participate, but also to coast home with honour and trophy.

    He said: “The troupe is oiling its rehearsals and toiling night and day to stage the best performance during the festival and I am sure its effort will translate into victory at the festival and another cultural event in the country.”

    Ojo-Lanre added: “Part of my plans as the DG is to enhance the performance of this wonderful troupe, promote its activities and ensure its prominence in events within and outside shores of Nigeria.

    “The vision of our Governor Kayode Fayemi is to rejuvenate, showcase and promote the cultural values of Ekiti to the whole world and he has promised to give us necessary moral and financial empowerment to pursue and achieve this.”

    The DG also pledged the Council’s readiness to construct an art village and gallery as well as create enabling an environment for the development of talents and creativity to thrive in the state.

    Ojo-Lanre, however, called on indigenes to support the Council of Arts and Culture in promoting the rich and unique cultural values and heritage of Ekiti people and Nigeria at large.

  • Ekiti governor regrets killings by herdsmen

    EKITI State Governor Kayode Fayemi has expressed regrets over the death of two persons in Iyemero-Ekiti in Ikole Local Government Area.

    Fayemi, who described the incident as pathetic, said it was a pity that people have replaced compassion with inhumanity.

    Some suspected Fulani herders on Monday invaded a farmstead called Eda under Iyemero and shot a seven-year-old boy during a raid and a couple – the husband later died in the hospital.

    The governor, who was represented by the Commissioner of Information, Muyiwa Olumilua, during a condolence visit to the monarch of the community, said the government would take every necessary step to apprehend the men of the underworld, who masterminded the massacre.

    “We sympathise with you because lives of Ekiti people are precious to us in this government.

    “As part of the ways to arrest this situation, the construction of a police post in Iyemero has begun. We are assuring you that something like this won’t happen again.”

    He promised that his government was ready to pay the hospital bill of the victims to relieve them of the burden.

    On the revelation made by the monarch that two persons had died due to the attack contrary to the police’s report that no life was lost, Fayemi said: “The governor knew there was loss of lives and that was why we are here to commiserate with the town.

    “But in spite of this provocative attack, they should remain calm and be law-abiding, particularly the farmers because violence cannot be the solution.

  • ‘My husband punishes me whenever I deny him sex’

    A housewife, Mrs. Tosin Rabiu, yesterday implored the Ado-Ekiti Customary Court, Ekiti State, to dissolve her marriage because her husband starved her whenever she denied him sex.

    Tosin, 33, of 8, Onisinla Bank Road, Ado-Ekiti, alleged that her husband was fond of beating her, adding that each time they fought, he would throw her belongings out.

    The mother of two told the court that she could no longer withstand the persistent maltreatment by her man, Ayodeji Rabiu.

    She alleged that Ayodeji had been beating her since they wedded, adding that she thought he would change.

    The petitioner said there was a day she went to the market and he threw out her personal effects before she returned.

    She added that when she begged him to allow her pack the remaining items, he beat her up and seized her phone.

    Tosin said she called her grandmother to intervene, but he locked the door and she forced the door open and asked for her phone, but he refused to give it to her.

    She said they fought and he ordered her grandmother out of the house.

    The woman said they fought regularly because he refused to give her feeding allowance.

    She said each time she denied him sex; he would not give her money to cook.

    The petitioner said she heard that her children were staying with her mother-in-law, adding that they would not enjoy good care.

    “I pray this court to divorce us and give me the custody of my children, namely Rabiu Fathia, nine, female and Rabiu Faidat, three, female.

    Ayodeji, 37, of 42, Omisanjana Street, Ado-Ekiti, denied beating his wife constantly, but admitted that he beat her once.

    He said she was temperamental, adding that she was fond of fighting co-tenants and even landlords. “This is why we are always ejected.”

    The respondent alleged that his wife was in the habit of committing adultery.

    He denied disgracing her, saying she instead abused and disgraced him.

    Read also: I no longer love my husband – Housewife seeking divorce tells court

    Ayodeji said he supported the dissolution of the union and sought the custody of the children.

    The court President, Mrs. Olayinka Akomolede, held that the marriage had broken up irretrievably and consequently dissolved it.

    She gave the custody of the children to the petitioner, saying the respondent should be responsible for their upkeep.

    Akomolede ordered that the respondent should pay N3,000 each on the children as their feeding allowance.

    Access was granted to him to see his children.

     

  • Training for 150 miners in Osun

    No fewer than 150 participants drawn from Osun, Ogun, Oyo, Ekiti and Ondo states attended a five-day training programme tagged “Extension Services to Artisanal and Small-scale Miners” in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.

    The training programme was sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development. The workshop provided technical knowledge and competence on mining for the participants to improve their skills and boost the economy of the state and the country.

    In his address, the team leader of the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development to the workshop, Engr. Olabisi Mojoyinola, said the Federal Government has recognised the importance of mining to national economy.

    Mojoyinola, who represented the ministry’s Director of Artisanal and Small-scale Mining, Mr. Patrick Ojeka, said the Federal Government has adopted a strategy termed formalisation through “Co-operation” to address the artisanal mining issues and to use it as an instrument to address poverty in the host mining communities in the rural areas.

    He further said in spite of inherent problems associated with informal mining, the artisanal and small-scale mining is a livelihood strategy adopted primarily to alleviate poverty in rural areas in most countries and “when properly organized, it can contribute to the socio-economic development at the grassroots.”

    Speaking further, he said: “Section 91 of the Mineral and Mining Act 2007 provides for extension services for registered and performing mining co-operatives, quarrying association and small-scale mining companies. Government, therefore, is expected to provide extension service programmes for the miners.

    “Prospecting and exploration services should be provided for to determine the geological setting, structure and nature of occurrences, quantity and quality of minerals being mined. Government should provide mineral testing standard and determination of mineral grades and provide proven mineral reserves evaluation, including feasibility reports. Government should also assist small-scale miners on mine design and planning suitable for the deposit.”

    In his goodwill message, the Chairman of the Osun Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Chief Babatunde Falohun, urged the Federal Government to recognise the place of mining in boosting national economy.

    Falohun, a geologist, maintained that mining could provide an opportunity for the government to diversify the economy.

    Also, a mining consultant, Engr. Garuba Bida, advised the government to sanitise the mining sector in order to maximise its benefits for the individuals, communities, states and the country. The representative of the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel in Osun State, Engr. Umar Kabir, who acknowledged the role of technology in mining exploration, said the workshop was designed to expose participants to trending methods and skills in the mining sector.

    Speaking at the opening session before declaring the workshop open, the Osun State Governor, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola, promised to make mining of mineral resources found in the state work for the development of the people and the host communities. The governor said rejuvenation of the mining sector of the state economy is a major cardinal programme of his administration.

    Represented by the Executive Secretary, Office of the Forestry and Natural Resources, Mr. Simeon Lanlehin, the governor said his interest in the mining sector is based on its potential for its prosperity multiplier effect and huge labour employer.

    Stressing that the training programme will ginger the participants to be more active on the field, Oyetola said mining could create employment opportunities for teeming young population in the state.

    The governor, who said the objective of the workshop is to provide technical competence for stakeholders in the mining sector of the state economy, lamented that illegal activities of some miners have become inimical to the environment and exposes the people in “our communities to serious health hazards.”

    Oyetola revealed that gold is the most mined natural resource by artisanal and small-scale miners in the state whose activities are majorly unprofessional, unregulated, unsafe and unprofitable to government.

    He, therefore, pledged support for the Federal Government to make mining take the country to the next level, saying Osun and many other states are blessed with abundant mineral resources, including gold.