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Tag: Ekiti

  • Breaking: Alaworoko of Iworoko Ekiti dies

    Barely six days after the ghastly accident in Iworoko Ekiti, Irepodun/Ifelodun local government area of Ekiti State, that claim 15 lives, the monarch of the town, Oba Michael Oluwafemi Aladejana has died.

    Aladejana, who was in his 80’s died at the early hour of Wednesday at an undisclosed hospital in Ado Ekiti capital city.

    In the accident involving a trailer that carried branded rice of the Senator representing Ondo Central, Mr. Tayo Alasoadura on Saturday, 15 persons, including a yet to be identified youth corps members were killed by the truck.

    More than four houses and adjoining lock-up-shops were also destroyed as the trailer swerved off the road and entered a busy night market.

    The driver of the trailer had lost control of the heavy duty truck that lost its brake suddenly, which made the vehicle to ram into a mini market located within the heart of the town.

    News filtered into town at about 8am on Wednesday that the long-reigning monarch had died.

    When journalists visited the town around 12noon, the traditional rites had already begun with the cutting of the trees and blockage of the dual carriage Ado-Iworoko-Ifaki highway as a way of paying last respect to the departed king.

    The youths and other age groups also trooped to the streets killing house pets like goats and sheep sighted roaming about as tradition demands.

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    One of the prominent indigenes of the town, who craved anonymity, said the accident which claimed 15 lives and injured four had worsened the health situation of the monarch.

    “Our monarch was rushed to the hospital after the accident. Though, he had been having health issue before but that incident really made the situation worse for him.

    “When the news got to the town, he was said to have felt so devastated and the family had to rush him to the hospital early on Sunday.

    “The sickness was said to have improved on Monday before it relapsed on Tuesday causing his untimely death”, the source said.

  • Six held for murder of Ekiti lawmaker

    The Police in Ekiti State have arrested six suspects who allegedly killed a member of the House of Assembly, Hon. Michael Adedeji.

    Adedeji, a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker that represented Ekiti southwest constituency II, was shot in the head by the robbers on August 10, 2018 along Onigaari, GRA, Ado Ekiti capital city.

    The suspects were paraded by Commissioner of police Asuquo Amba, in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday.

    According to Amba, the suspects also killed one Kayode Omowaye when they raided OJAS Pleasure Hotels in Oye Ekiti on August 10, 2018.

    The police chief added the robbery gang also invaded Afe Babalola university junior staff quarters and snatched a car belonging to one Mrs. Bosede Ojo.

    Amba listed the murder suspects as Dele Obamoyegun, Idowu Sunday, Adeniyi Eunice, Leye Ojo, Akindahunsi Damilola and Olaosebikan Babatunde.

    The CP said the suspects were arrested by police officers at Safer highway in front of Ekiti State University gate, Iworoko Ekiti during a routine stop- and -search duty.

    The suspect leader, Dele Obamoyegun said: “We shot him (Adedeji) after robbing him. He did not struggle with us but one of us shot him. I have to confess, we didn’t know he was a lawmaker”.

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    The CP pointed out Dele’s mother, Bola Obamoyegun, was the one accepting and concealing stolen items for the gang led by his son.

    “Dele’s mother was the one concealing stolen items for them. As we speak, two of her children had been convicted for robbery and this to us was a failure of motherhood. Our parents must learn how to make their children responsible,” he said.

    He said exhibits recovered from the suspects included cut -to -size barrel guns, 17 live cartridges, 75 handsets, seven laptops, cash sum of N147,000, fourstolen vehicles, one of them belonging to the late Omowaye, among others.

    Amba said the case was under investigation after which the suspects would be charged to court for conclusive prosecution

  • 2019: Atiku promises youths, women 70% appointments

    Presidential candidate of People’s Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar on Monday promised to run an inclusive government with 40 percent of youth and 30% of women accommodated in his cabinet if elected.

    He also stated his commitment to provide create jobs, security and resuscitate the weak economy to a vibrant one.

    He spoke at the PDP campaign rally in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, assuring Ekiti people he would not abandon them like the ruling party has allegedly done.

    Atiku said: “The good people of Ekiti state, APC has stolen all your jobs, now they want to steal your votes.

    “They did it in Ekiti and Osun, Ogun, Bauchi, they even stole in Kastina where they come from. I don’t know why they have to steal in their home.

    “This state has always been a PDP. When we paid a courtesy call to Ewi of Ado, he said he wants us to build the roads. We will complete all federal projects not completed, we will restore standard and quality education, so we can give you jobs.

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    “APC don’t know how to create jobs and don’t know how to give you 40 percent of our portfolios will go to youths while 30 percent will go to women and that is 70 for youths and women.

    “We know how to do it and we have done it before we will do it again”.

    The Director General of Atiku Campaign Council, Dr. Bukola Saraki urged youths to vote Atiku, saying he will give you jobs as he has given millions through his private business.”

    “There is no story, youths are the future, a leader has to make fulfilled promises but Buhari promised you jobs, security and to fight corruption, has he fulfilled his promises?

    “No! Atiku is a man who knows how to create jobs, secure the country and also fight corruption.”

    Speaking at the campaign rally, the former governor Ayo Fayose urged Nigerians to reject the APC, saying the party has ruined the economy and made life difficult for the downtrodden masses to live.

    “In Ekiti we will deliver, he that the gods will destroy, he will first make to run mad. That is the case of the current Federal Government but PDP will deliver Nigeria from their poverty and misrule”, Fayose said.

    The National chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Prince Uche Secondus warned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Idris Ibrahim, to desist from actions that can plunge the nation into unnecessary chaos by attempting to subvert the mandate of the people in the forthcoming general elections.

    Secondus, who expressed optimism his party would win the presidential poll on February 16, added President Mohammadu Buhari has failed to fulfill his promises of job creation, fighting insecurity and surmounting the challenge of corruption because he is too weak to rule a complex country like Nigeria.

    He added that Nigeria needs a president that is energetic and ready to work 24 hours a day and not the one that would work for three hours.

  • Fayemi mourns victims of Ekiti truck accident

    Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi has consoled with the people of Iworoko and families of the bereaved over Saturday’s accident which led to the demise of about 12 people and four casualties.

    The fatal accident was caused due to brake failure of an articulated truck fully loaded with customized rice which bore the name and picture of a senator in a neighbouring State.

    The Governor who had earlier directed the Deputy Governor, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi, to pay a condolence visit to the community on Sunday morning, said in a statement that he was saddened and disheartened by the news of the fatal accident.

    Fayemi who noted that many lives have been lost to the recklessness of many trailer drivers said government might be compelled to re-introduce some old laws and previous arrangements to deal with the menace.

    He urged the community leaders and families of the victims of the accident to remain calm even as “we collectively mourn the death of our beloved ones in the unfortunate incident.”

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    The Governor lamented: “This is a huge tragedy and a painful experience, not only for the families of the victims but for all of us”.

    “We share with the people of Iworoko and families of the victims the pain and sorrow of the unfortunate development.

    ” Our prayer is that God will be with you during this painful period.

    ” Government will also look at areas of support with a view to ameliorating the pains”, he said.

  • Fayemi’s ex-commissioner, other regain freedom

    The abducted former commissioner of Governor Kayode Fayemi, Remi Olorunleke, on Thursday evening regained freedom.

    The Director of Administration, Gbonyin Local Government, Mr. David Jejelowo who was kidnapped on separate occasion was also set free by abductors.

    They were kidnapped on Monday along Ado-Ikare road and spent four days in the kidnappers’ den before getting off the hook.

    Olorunleke, who hails from Aisegba in Gbonyin local government area of the State, was Commissioner for Lands, Housing, Urban Renewal and Physical Planning during Fayemi’s first term.

    Speaking with journalists through a telephone call in Ado Ekiti on Friday, Olorunleke said he was kidnapped around 6.30pm on Monday and whisked away to an unknown destination where he was confined before his family was contacted.

    He said: “Yes, I have regained freedom after spending four days with the kidnappers.

    “It was a traumatising experience and I thank God that I came back alive.

    “We were two. I was there together with the Director of Administration in Gbonyin Local Government . We were both given freedom.

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    “We were both set free around 5.30 pm on Thursday. I want to thank my admirers and my family for standing by me during this period.”

    Olorunleke called on the security apparatuses in the state to rejig and reinvigorate architecture to be able to live up to expectations of the citizens.

    The Public Relations Officer, Ekiti Command, Mr Caleb Ikechukwu, confirmed that the two captives had regained freedom.

    Ikechukwu assured the police will continue to work round the clock to ensure protection of lives and property.

  • Updated: Ekiti governorship Tribunal adjourns indefinitely

    The Ekiti State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on Wednesday in Abuja adjourned for judgment.

    The tribunal, led by Justice Suleiman Belgore, adjourned indefinitely, but told parties they would be informed 48 hours before the day to be set for the delivery of the judgment.

    Justice Belgore announced the adjournment on Wednesday after parties adopted their final written addresses and prayed the tribunal to grant their prayers.

    The tribunal Chairman praised the conduct of lawyers and parties in the case. He particularly noted that the senior lawyers were professional and mature in their conduct.

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the last governorship election in Ekiti State, Professor Kolapo Olusola are challenging the outcome of the election won by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

    Listed as petitioners in the petition marked: EPT/EKS/GOV/01/18 are PDP and Olusola, while the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), APC and Fayemi are listed as respondents Charles Edosomwan (SAN), Akin Olujinmi (SAN) and Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) adopted the final addresses by INEC, APC and Fayemi.

    Edosomwan, Olujinmi and Fagbemi urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition by the PDP and Olusola on the ground that they failed to prove their allegations that the election was flawed and was not held in substantial compliance with Electoral Act.

    They also faulted the petitioners’ argument that Fayemi was not qualified to have contested the election because he was allegedly indicted in a report by a commission of inquiry constituted by the Ekiti State Government to probe Fayemi’s first term in office as the state governor.

    Edosomwan, Olujinmi and Fagbemi, in separate arguments, contended that, although the petitioners raised criminal allegations of votes’ manipulation, they failed to meet the standard of proof required to sustain such allegations.

    They also adopted their separate notices of objection, in which the respondents prayed the tribunal to strike out some paragraphs in the petition on the grounds that they are vague.

    Edosonman, who identified six issues for the tribunal’s determination, argued that the first issue, relating to Fayemi’s qualification, was beyond questioning.

    He contended that the document the petitioners had relied, which is the report of a commission of enquiry and the white paper issued thereto, have been quashed by a competent court.

    Edosomwan also argued that the petitioners also failed to sustain issues two, three and four, which relate to whether or not the Fayemi and his party won the election and whether the election was held in compliance with the Electoral Act.

    He said: “all efforts by the petitioners to disqualify the fact that the 3rd and 2nd respondents (Fayemi and APC) won the election turned out in vain.

    “Evidence showed that they (the petitioners) have not even scratched the surface, in terms of evidence to prove, their claim that the election was not conducted in substantial compliance with the Electoral Act.

    On the fifth issue which relates to the question about the legitimacy of the election, Edosomwan argued that

    “there is nothing put forward by the petitioners to show that there was massive fraud to warrant the cancellation of the election.”

    He urged the tribunal to resolve the sixth issue in favour of the respondents. He argued that since the petitioners, by the evidence led, failed to shake the election, there is no need for the tribunal to order a fresh election, as prayed by the petitioners.

    Edosomwan, who urged the court to dismiss the petition, noted that the petitioners failed to carry out the burden placed on them by the law, to prove all the relevant elements of their claim.

    He added: “The criminal allegation were not proved, not even on the preponderance of evidence, much less beyond reasonable doubt, as required in such instance.”

    Olujinmi noted that the issue of non-qualification based on alleged indictment by a commission of inquiry on allegation of embezzlement of funds, provided in Section 182 of the Constitution, has now been deleted by the First Alteration of the Constitution (2010).

    He added: “We argued further that, even if it was not deleted, what the petitioners were required to prove to sustain this ground, based on several decided cases, is that a court of law has found him guilty of embezzlement of funds. That did not happen in this case.”

    Olujinmi also referred Edosomwan’s observation that the report had been nullified by a competent court of law.

    He added: “We also argued that, even if Section 182 (1) of the Constitution was not deleted, the report did not make any finding of embezzlement against the 3rd respondent, the report only said he failed to honour the commission’s invitation, and then recommended that he should be banned from politics.
    “So, the first ground is not available to the petitioner,” Olujinmi said.

    He noted that a number of witnesses’ statements were the same in sequence and presentation.

    Olujinmi argued that: “Where the statements of several witnesses are all the same in sequence and presentation, the Supreme Court said such witness statements should be disregarded. We identified 32 of such witnesses.”

    Arguing the petitioners’ case, their lawyer, Yusuf Alli (SAN) urged the tribunal to discountenance the respondents’ arguments and grant the petitioners’ prayers.

    Alli also urged the court to reject the respondents’ preliminary objection and held that the petition and all its paragraphs were filed in accordance with the relevant laws.

    The petitioners’ lawyer added: “We succeeded in establishing our case through the witnesses the respondents called.

    “We urge the court to take judicial notice of the white paper issued on the finding of the commission of inquiry and the touted judgment.

    “There is nothing in the respondents’ arguments that has taken away the sting of the white paper. There was no answer of substance by the respondents in respect of the petitioners’ points on the voiding of votes.”

    Alli urged the tribunal to grant the reliefs sought in the petition, dismiss the objection and help in upholding the sanctity of the country’s electoral process.

  • Ekiti cleric distributes foodstuff, others to less-privileged

    Prophet Ade Ologbonyo, the Senior Pastor and the Planter of Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Church of Boanerges, is a renowned cleric in Ekiti State.

    He preaches the gospel and uses  prayers to minister to the needs of his congregation. But the cleric is adding philanthropy to his ministry.

    To make more positive impact on the lives of the people, especially the less privileged, Ologbonyo established the Lost Hope Foundation to translate this dream to reality.

    The Foundation is a non-political, non-profit, non-religious and non-governmental organisation to bring smiles to the faces of the downtrodden and practice the biblical injunction of loving one’s neighbour as oneself.

    Ologbonyo in the mood of the Yuletide season extended his hand of love to the needy in his hometown, Ise-Ekiti, headquarters of Ise/Orun Local Government Area of Ekiti State.

    The man of God distributed food stuffs, generating set and working tools to over one hundred widows, orphans and vulnerable in his land of nativity.

    It was a spectacle to behold as Ologbonyo danced with orphans, widows and other beneficiaries of the largesse made available by his Foundation.

    The clergyman was joined in giving out the materials by his wife, Evangelist Mercy Ologbonyo

    Speaking at the 2018 edition of the programme, Ologbonyo said the annual event was aimed at addressing the challenges facing the less privileged set of people in the society.

    He noted that many lives had been positively affected since the Foundation began over 10 years ago.

    According to him, many orphans had been assisted to further their education with some empowered after learning a vocation or trade of their choice.

    Ologbonyo, who noted that the foundation is interdenominational, said the initiative was designed not only for his church members, but people from other Christian churches and Muslims.

    He explained that the Lost Hope Foundation has forwarded a bill to the Ekiti State House of Assembly  for the state government to cater mainly for the widows across the state.

    Ologbonyo commended Governor Kayode Fayemi for his care for the elderly citizens during his first tenure, saying “taking care of the aged is a social responsibility that must not be relegated to the background.”

    Foods stuffs, vegetable oil and others were distributed to the widows. Some got sewing machines.

    Respite came the way of a physically challenged person, Mr. Tope Adu as the Foundation presented him with a modern shoemaking tool and generating set to boost his business.

    Medical experts were on ground to treat patients with various degrees of ailments free of charge.

    Guests at the event include the wife of Arinjale of Ise Ekiti, Olori Tayo Ajayi and Evangelist Bamikole. They lauded the cleric and called on well-to-do Nigerians to support the foundation.

     

  • Gunmen Kidnap another Ekiti LG official, driver

    A Director of Administration in Gbonyin Local Government Area in Ekiti State, Mr. David Jejelowo and his driver have been kidnapped by a group of unidentified gunmen and whisked away to unknown destination.

    Jejelowo was kidnapped on Monday evening along Ado-Ijan road while returning from Ode Ekiti, the local government headquarters to Ado Ekiti capital city.

    The incident occurred few days after an accountant with Emure local government, Mr Abayomi Ajayi was killed and two other officers of the Emure local government were kidnapped along Ise-Ikere road.

    The Nation gathered that Jejelowo was returning to Ado Ekiti around 7.15pm with his official car when he was abducted on the way.

    The Police Public Relations Officer, Ekiti Command, Mr. Caleb Ikechukwu, confirmed the incident, saying the driver had been released.

    “We confirmed the kidnap incident on Monday. It happened along Ado-Ijan road and it involved the Director of Administration of Gbonyin local government and his driver.

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    “But the driver has been released, we can confirm that to you. We are monitoring the situation and our men are working assiduously to ensure that the man is rescued from the hideout.

    “The driver has been giving us useful information that we are going to work on to facilitate the release”, he said.

    Ikechukwu added that the command is strategising on the way to tame the pillaging kidnappers, who were fond of abducting men of affluence with the sinister intention to collect ransom from them.

    The spokesman charged the members of the public to give sensitive and veracious information that would help in tracking down these miscreants.

  • Kidnapping: Ekiti summons emergency security council meeting

    Apparently concerned on the rising cases of kidnapping within its territorial boundaries, the Ekiti State government has summoned an emergency security council meeting for Wednesday.

    The Deputy Governor, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi, disclosed this on Tuesday while playing host to traditional chiefs under the aegis of Association of Ekiti Traditional Chieftaincy Title Holders (AETCTH) in his office in Ado-Ekiti.

    The meeting is expected to be chaired by Governor Kayode Fayemi and will have heads of all security agencies in the state in attendance in a bid to strengthen the state security architecture.

    Egbeyemi in a statement signed by his Special Assistant (Media), Odunayo Ogunmola, said government was taking some steps to ensure security of lives and property in the state.

    The deputy governor emphasized that traditional rulers and chiefs must be on red alert in their domains and be fully involved in security of their areas.

    He warned that government would not tolerate a situation in which monarchs and chiefs allow their domains to be used by kidnappers as bases for their nefarious activities.

    The traditional chiefs who were led by their spokesman, the Odofinyin of Iyin-Ekiti, High Chief Ayodeji Esan, had listed a ten-point demand which include official recognition by government and their involvement in the maintenance of peace and security in each community.

    They also advised the government to involve local hunters and vigilance groups as part of measures to ward off the incursion of armed herdsmen and kidnappers.

    He said: “We would frown against any oba or chief in whose domains people are kidnapped, we would frown against any place where people are kidnapped or used by kidnappers to operate.

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    “Henceforth, obas and chiefs must now be on alert and you must know people in your vicinity. Be on alert especially for strange persons in your neighbourhoods and farms who may want to use those places as hideouts.

    “Those coming in and those going out of your domains, you must know them. Government is ready to assist you to ensure that there is security of lives and property.

    “Obas and chiefs in communities between Igede and Efon, Ikere and Emure, Ado and Ikere, between Iworoko and Ifaki and Ifaki and Omuo, the obas there should be up and doing.”

    “You will recall that during the first tenure of Governor Fayemi, he committed a lot of resources to security by equipping the police and purchasing over 35 vehicles for them.

    “But after four years, the vehicles are damaged and there are no replacements for them.”

    The traditional chiefs, however, pledged their loyalty to the Fayemi administration which they acknowledged invested in the development of grassroots.

    They also promised to mobilize people in the grassroots for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming general elections to ensure victory for the party’s candidates.

  • Fayose, Olujimi fight over Atiku’s campaign council 

    Former Governor Ayodele Fayose and Senate Minority Leader Biodun Olujimi have disagreed over the composition of PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar’s campaign council in Ekiti State.

    The composition of the council sparked a quarrel among loyalists of the two political heavyweights in the party.

    While Ayodele Fayose- led faction endorsed the campaign council, the Olujimi’s group kicked against it.

    Olujimi, who petitioned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman, Chief Uche Secondus, called on the National Working Committee to dissolve and reconstitute Atiku Abubakar Campaign Council in Ekiti State.

    The senator told Secondus to compel Fayose to adhere strictly to the resolution reached by stakeholders on how the council should be constituted at a stakeholders’ meeting in Ado Ekiti on December 28, 2018 to forestall cracks and crisis in the party ahead of the forthcoming election.

    She accused Fayose of having hijacked the council and placing his cronies in all strategic positions with the portentous intention to sideline other members of the party from participating in mobilising for the PDP presidential candidate during election.

    In a petition dated January 6, 2018, Olujinmi said: “Only immediate dissolution of the highly ‘lopsided’ campaign council can avert unnecessary division in Ekiti PDP”.

    She warned failure to accede to the request could be deleterious for the party’s chances in the state”.

    According to her: “The original composition had Prof Olusola Kolapo as chairman: Otunba Yinka Akerele as Director General: and Chief Sanya Atofarati as Spokesperson/Director of Media among others while the position of Secretary did not exist in the original composition by the National Directorate,” she said.

    But the composition, which Olujimi is repudiating, has Prof Olusola as chairman; Chief Dipo Anisulowo as DG; Chief Gboyega Oguntuase as Secretary; Jackson Adebayo as spokesperson and Lere Olayinka as Director, Media and Publicity.

    Olujimi warned the PDP might lose the state to APC despite people’s resolve to vote against the ruling party in the presidential poll, if urgent curative action was not taken to rectify the perceived injustice.

    “It should be understood that this is another orchestrated plan of former Governor Ayo Fayose to convert the party’s resources and fortunes to his personal enterprise as usual.

    “He did it during the last governorship election and our party paid dearly for it in spite of my advice, warnings and outcry. Once beaten is twice shy,” she alleged.

    But Director of Media for the council, Lere Olayinka, declared Olujimi’s claim was baseless and holds no water Olujimi.

    Olayinka added she lacks the right to seek dissolution of the campaign council since she was neither the campaign DG nor the Chairman of the council.

    He said: “The question to ask Senator Olujomi on her call for the dissolution of the Atiku/Obi  campaign council n Ekiti is that in what capacity is she asking for such ? What is her status?

    “Secretary of the South west is the chairman of the south west zone, Chief Eddy Olafeso and the chairman of the council is former Deputy governor Olusola Kolapo, the South west Coordinator is former governor Fayose and the Director General of the campaign at the national level is Senator Bukola Saraki. So what is the status of Senator Biodun Olujimi in this arrangement?

    “The truth of the matter is that the PDP in Ekiti State will no longer accommodate dissidents. If she likes, she can be accommodating the dissidents in her own right.

    “That is not how a responsible PDP leader should behave. I tell you, that woman, Senator Olujimi has not behaved responsibly well in the last six months.”