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Tag: Ekiti

  • 12 Jailed for stealing goats, Assault

    An Ado-Ekiti Magistrate’s Court has convicted one Joshua Dada and eleven others for alleged theft, conspiracy and assault.

    Other convicts are Mathew Onipinla , Sunday Adekunle, Dayo Aluko, Adesua Ajayi, Adewale Oguntuase and Olu Owoeye.

    Others are Adeyeye Oguntuase , Adeyemi Owolabi, Ilesanmi Owoyemi, Samuel Ogunkaye all from Ilafon Ekiti.

    The convicts were tried on a six count charge for the crime committed against Raphael Kupolusi between 20th and 23rd October, 2017.

    The charges preferred against the twelve convicts are conspiracy, firing gun shots and forcible entry into Kupolusi’s farm land.

    They were also convicted for stealing three goats valued fifty thousand naira and assaulted the same Raphael Kupolusi.

    The convicts committed the offences under sections 516,86(2),81,451,390&351 of the criminal Code Cap C16 Laws of Ekiti State 2012.

    Delivering the judgment Magistrate, Mrs. Taiwo Ajibade who said the prosecutor, Inspector Caleb Leramo, had proved his case beyond reasonable doubt.

    She therefore convicted the twelve accused persons and sentenced each to one month imprisonment but with option of N10,000 fine.

    Magistrate Ajibade was of the opinion that the convicts will serve as deterrent to others.

  • Ekiti: Fayose sacked as PDP leader

    Stakeholders of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State yesterday removed former Governor Ayo Fayose as the leader of the party in the state while affirming the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Biodun Olujimi, as PDP’s new leader in Ekiti State and Southwest region. Olujimi is the party’s highest ranking political office holder in the southwest geo-political zone.

    They asked for the immediate dissolution of the present State Working Committee (SWC) led by the state PDP Chairman, Mr. Gboyega Oguntuase, and demanded the constitution of a caretaker committee. These are part of the resolutions reached at Ekiti PDP Stakeholders Meeting held in Ado-Ekiti, the State capital, and attended by serving and former political office holders.

    Party chieftains who attended the meeting included Olujimi, former Deputy Governor, Dr. Sikiru Lawal; former Acting Governor, Mr. Olatunji Odeyemi; Ekiti Assembly Deputy Speaker, Mr. Segun Adewumi; former state PDP Chairman, Chief Bola Olu-Ojo; governorship aspirants, former National Assembly members, former State Assembly members, former local government chairmen and former party officers.

    Speaking with reporters after the meeting, Senator Olujimi explained that Fayose was excluded from the meeting owing to the fact that he had just been released from detention by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged financial fraud. “We knew what he might have passed through by staying in detention and we know it might not be easy for him to attend this meeting, so there is no faction at all in our party. My being appointed the Leader does not mean there is crisis.

    “The very day he left office was the day he was summoned by EFCC and we knew the rigour he had passed through. We are going to work together, I mean with former Governor Fayose. What we are doing is that we don’t want to allow his exit from office to mean the end of PDP in Ekiti. So, let me assure our supporters that we are on the same page with former Governor Fayose and other stakeholders. We are not factionalised and we shall work hard and ensure we win in next year’s election,” she said.

    In the communiqué read by PDP Stakeholders Protem Secretary and former House of Assembly member, Chief Bunmi Olugbade, they overturned the suspension of former State Secretary, Dr. Temitope Aluko, affirming him as a “bona fide member of the party.” The leaders also resolved to throw their weight behind the candidacy of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in the 2019 presidential poll and other Ekiti candidates in the general elections.

     

     

  • 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.

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    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

  • Ekiti experienced four ‘wasted years’ under Fayose – Bishop

    The Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, the Rt. Rev. Christopher Tayo Omotunde, has described the tenure of former Governor Ayo Fayose as four wasted years.

    Omotunde noted that rather than moving forward, Ekiti retrogressed under Fayose and urgently needs repairs, resuscitation and rejuvenation to put it back on the right track.

    According to him, “the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) had a golden chance to make a difference in the lives of Ekiti residents, but abused the opportunity to the extent that the people became slaves under them.”

    The cleric warned the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration to learn from the mistakes of the immediate past government and never disappoint the teeming masses looking up to it for good governance and redemption.

    Omotunde made the remarks on Sunday during a thanksgiving service held in honour of the new Deputy Governor, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi, at the Cathedral Church of Emmanuel, Okesa, Ado-Ekiti.

    The Bishop said Fayose’s unrelenting criticisms and opposition to President Muhammadu Buhari denied Ekiti of many benefits while other PDP governors succeeded in attracting projects to their states and got financial support from the Federal Government because of their good relationship with the President.

    The service was attended by the wife of the governor, Mrs. Bisi Fayemi; wife of the deputy governor, Mrs. Margaret Egbeyemi; Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Mr. Adeniran Alagbada; his wife, Mrs. Kike Alagbada; former deputy governor, Prof. Dupe Adelabu; Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji; Chief of Staff, Mr. Biodun Omoleye; Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe and other traditional rulers.

    The Bishop, who described himself as “a father of all politicians” because all members of his church are in all political parties, said he was duty bound to speak the truth when the need arises.

    Omotunde said God has given Governor Kayode Fayemi another chance to make the difference in the lives of Ekiti people and must not fail to do that because “the expectations are very high.”

    While likening Fayemi to the biblical Nehemiah, Omotunde said the President had so much trust in the governor (Fayemi) by releasing him from the federal cabinet to come and repair Ekiti allegedly damaged by bad governance.

    Omotunde said now that Fayemi’s party, APC, is in power at the federal level unlike what obtained during his first tenure, the Federal Government must grant all the requests of the governor to repair Ekiti and assist the state financially for its people to be relieved.

    The cleric said: “This our God is a God of another chance, he gave PDP another chance also but unfortunately they abused the chance to the extent that people became slaves under them, they rendered everybody hopeless under them.

    “They bewitched everybody that our eyes were closed, they bewitched us that we called evil good and the few that their power of bewitchment had no effect upon prayed and God looked down from heaven and visitedthis state again opening another door for Fayemi’s government.

    “Your party (APC) is in power now, let them know that I said, it’s a government of another chance and God will try you again and see whether you will be faithful or not. It is left for you to prove yourself.

    “Tell me of one youth that the immediate past government empowered even though they called it a government of okada riders; how many okadas did he buy for the youths?

    “I was watching the television recently and Ebonyi State governor was listing his achievements in agriculture, he gave the Federal Government credits for his success and my (former) governor was also a PDP governor.

    “In many states, Buhari had many achievements and successes to show but the only achievement here was the repair of Ado-Itawure Road but our (former) governor would not give him room to work.

    “The whole four years (under Fayose) was wasted; we were retrogressing, going backward. Many states were given opportunities in agriculture, nothing was given to Ekiti and all we needed was for the governor to give them land and banks were ready to finance the projects.

    “With hunger ravaging the land, the former governor was collecting N1,000 from each pupil. What did he use the money to do? We did not see what they did with the money.

    “Our people are hungry and they are suffering financial difficulties. They have been thrown into poverty so that they will become slaves to the ‘rock’ but God brought somebody who knows how to break the ‘rock’ into pieces.”

    Omotunde further charged Fayemi to prevent the state from being taken over by herdsmen and ensure security of lives and property.

    Retired Archbishop of Ondo Province, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, the Most Rev. Samuel Adedayo Abe, conducted a special prayer session for the new government at the service which also witnessed a special thanksgiving for Egbeyemi.

    Addressing the congregation, Deputy Governor Egbeyemi called for the prayers and support of Ekiti people for the new government saying: “the welfare of the people remains the focal point of this administration.”

    The deputy governor promised that more people in Ekiti will be employed and empowered to reduce the rate of unemployment, hunger, political thuggery and other vices.

    Egbeyemi further assured that the Fayemi administration would execute more projects in the grassroots to reduce rural-urban migration.

    He assured that measures have been put in place to prevent herdsmen/farmers clash in the state.

  • Ekiti: APC, Bamisile hail Fayemi over executive order

    More commen-dations have been coming the way of Ekiti State governor, Kayode Fayemi, for signing an Executive Order abrogating the collection of illegal fees and levies in public schools. The state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) praised Fayemi for his determination to revive education and give priority to teachers’ welfare. Also, the party’s House of Representatives candidate for Ekiti South Federal Constituency 2, Mr. Olufemi Bamisile, said the executive order would grant more Ekiti children access to education.

    The state APC Publicity Secretary, Mr. Ade Ajayi, in a statement yesterday, said Fayemi’s gesture has shown that the current government has the interest of the masses at heart. While further applauding the signing of the Executive Order, Ajayi facilitated with the people of the state because it would provide free and compulsory education in government primary and secondary schools. Ajayi said the era of collection of illegal levies and fees in public primary and secondary schools by some principals, head and class teachers were gone and gone forever, adding that it would afford poor parents to send their children to school.

    Bamisile said the imposition of education levies on pupils in private and public schools showed that former Governor Ayo Fayose was not a friend of the masses as he claimed to be. The former Ekiti Assembly Speaker said the abrogation of the levies by Fayemi was “a declaration of emergency on the education sector”, noting that the masses will benefit from the executive order irrespective of their political backgrounds.

     

  • Ekiti lawmaker shot by unknown gunmen

    A member of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Mr. Michael Adedeji, is now battling between life and death after being shot in the head by unknown gunmen.

    Adedeji was waylaid in the early hours of Friday while 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 had been transferred to Ido Ekiti. The bullets hit him in the head and he would have to undergo neurosurgery as soon as possible”.

    But the Ekiti Assembly Deputy Speaker, Mr. Segun Adewumi, described the attack on Adedeji as unfortunate.

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    Adewumi in a telephone chat disclosed that his colleague has been 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 to another direction, 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 has not been brought to his notice.

    Ikechukwu said: “We have not been officially briefed but when we have the information, we shall act appropriately.”

  • Ekiti Assembly confirms Fayemi’s commissioner nominees

    Ekiti State House of Assembly has screened and confirmed two commissioners-designate nominated by Governor Kayode Fayemi.

    The two candidates, Mr. Olawale Fapohunda and Mr. Oladapo Kolawole, appeared before the lawmakers at about 2.30 pm on Thursday where they were asked questions.

    Fapohunda, a lawyer, served as Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice while Kolawole, a chartered accountant and tax expert, served as Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development during Fayemi’s first tenure.

    The House at its plenary also approved the request of the governor seeking approval for the appointment of ten Special Advisers.

    Speaker Adeniran Alagbada who read a letter from the governor to his colleagues at plenary, urged them to adequately look into the request for smooth runnings of government.

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    After being grilled by the legislators, Fapohunda and Kolawole were found qualified and fit for positions of commissioners.

    The duo are expected to return to their former offices and would be sworn in by the governor any moment from now.

    The lawmakers unanimously observed that both men had served the state in the past and performed creditably well.

    Deputy Speaker Olusegun Adewumi charged the two commissioner nominees to “think outside the box by attracting businesses into the state to improve the economy instead of overtaxing the people.”

    Alagbada also commended Governor Fayemi for choosing people of integrity as commissioners and praised his colleagues for their prompt action.

  • Residents chase Ekiti monarch out of town over subject’s death

    Violence has rocked Ilogbo-Ekiti in Ido/Osi Local Government Area of Ekiti State as the residents have chased their monarch, Oba Edward Ajayi, and members of his family out of the town.
    The angry locals accused the Owa of Ilogbo-Ekiti of aiding and abetting cultism in the community. Vehicles and other properties were vandalized in the riot that erupted on Tuesday.
    The subjects alleged that many of them were attacked by suspected secret cut members allegedly led by a son of the traditional ruler, Adeleye Ajayi.
    They claimed that the attack by the suspected cultists led to the death of a boy in the community.
    An indigene of Ilogbo who spoke with reporters in Ado-Ekiti on condition of anonymity said the community had reported the alleged activities of the monarch’s son to his father whom they accused of not taking any action.
    Another resident of the community claimed that Adeleye was expelled from a University in Ondo State for alleged cultism related activities about five years ago .
    “The prince and his group has been terrorizing our community with the shield and protection of the palace.
    “The people were forced to violence because of failure of the Oba to put his child and his group under check and the death of the boy sparked the riot.
    “Sacred trees usually cut when a king dies have since been cut down while the palace and Oba’s cars were vandalized.
    “Seven persons including the Oba’s son have been arrested in connection with the incident while the body of the boy killed has been deposited in the mortuary.”
    Efforts to speak with Oba Ajayi proved abortive as his phone was switched off.
    The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Caleb Ikechukwu, confirmed the arrest of the suspects adding that the incident was still under investigation.

  • Court grants Fayose N50m bail, trial to begin Nov. 19

    The Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday  granted former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose N50m bail with one surety in like sum.

    Justice Mojisola Olatoregun ruled on his bail application following his arraignment on Monday for alleged money laundering.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Fayose for allegedly receiving and using N1.2billion and $5million stolen funds.

    His lawyer, former Attorney-General of the Federation Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), urged the court to grant the former governor bail on self-cognisance as a former governor.

    According to him, there was a presumption of innocence of an accused until guilt is established.

    Besides, he said the former governor was very eager to see the conclusion of the case and so would not jump bail.

    Agabi told the court that Fayose willfully submitted himself to the EFCC immediately after leaving office as governor, which shows his readiness to face the charge.

    He said: “We have before your Lordship a bail application. It is supported by a 15-paragraph affidavit and a written address in support of our motion. We urge your Lordship to grant our application.

    “We agree that bail is totally at the discretion of court and urge your Lordship to grant it. The prosecution has filed a counter affidavit but the law allows for presumption of innocence.

    “Opposition by the prosecution cannot take away the discretionary power of your Lordship.

    “The defendant reported to the EFCC the day after he left office as a governor. I urge your Lordship to grant him bail on self-cognisance.

    “I assure your Lordship that he will not jump bail; he won’t run away.”

    But, prosecuting counsel Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), opposed the bail application.

    He informed the court about a counter affidavit in opposition to the bail motion, adding that although bail is a constitutional right, there were limitations.

    “The issue of presumption of innocence has to do with trial and for now, no one is saying he is guilty,” he said

    Jacobs opposed the application for bail on self-cognisance on the ground that being a former governor was not a yardstick for being granted bail on liberal terms.

    According to him, intelligence reports revealed that the defendant would interfere with witnesses and proceedings, and may jump bail if granted bail.

    He urged the court to refuse bail, adding that Fayose allegedly reported at EFCC with thugs.

    Jacobs said: “We filed a 22-paragraph counter-affidavit. We agree that bail is at the discretion of the court but the constitutional right to liberty is can be deprived.

    “Self-cognisance should not be for special people and office. If a poor man cannot be admitted to bail on self-cognisance, then it should not apply to anyone else.

    “Rather, we urge the court to order accelerated hearing.”

    Jacobs added that intelligence reports also revealed that some of the listed witnesses who served in Fayose’s administration had already expressed fear of intimidation.

    In a short ruling, Justice Olatoregun noted that the issues raised by the prosecution in its counter affidavit were grave, but that the accused would be given benefit of the doubt.

    She held: “The defendant is admitted to bail in the sum of N50 million with one surety in like sum.”

    The surety, she said, must present a bond of N50 million from a reputable insurance company or a first line bank acceptable to the court.

    The judge held that the surety should produce three-year tax clearance.

    Justice Olatoregun urged Fayose to ensure he attends court for trial unfailingly, otherwise, the bond would be forfeited.

    The former governor was directed deposit his international passport in the court’s registry.

    Justice Olatoregun ordered that Fayose be remanded in EFCC’s custody in the interim.

    EFCC arraigned Fayose on an 11-count charge of violating the Money Laundering Act.

    He was charged with his company, Spotless Limited.

    EFCC said Fayose and his associate Abiodun Agbele, who is facing a different charge, allegedly took possession of N1, 219, 000, 000 on June 17, 2014 to fund the former governor’s 2014 gubernatorial campaign.

    The commission said Fayose “reasonably ought to have known” that the money “formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: criminal breach of trust/stealing.”

    The alleged offence is contrary to Section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15 (3) and (4).

    EFCC said Fayose, on the same day, received cash payment of $5million from then Minister of State for Defence Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, without going through a financial institution, the sum having exceeded the amount authorised by law.

    The alleged offence, EFCC said, contravenes Sections 1 and 16 (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011.

    The commission said Fayose benefitted from N4.65billion slush funds allocated by the Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA) under Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) during the Goodluck Jonathan Administration.

    EFCC listed Obanikoro as one of 22 witnesses that will testify in the trial.

    Fayose was also accused of retaining stolen N300million in his fixed deposit account, and allegedly deposited another stolen N317million in an belonging to Spotless Investment Limited, a company controlled by him and members of his family.

    He was also accused of acquiring several property in Lagos and Abuja, including one bought in his elder sister’s name using part of the stolen funds.

    In the last count, EFCC said Fayose, on or about January 30, 2015, did procure Still Earth Limited to retain in its account, the sum of N132.5million.

    The sum, said the prosecution, “formed part of the proceeds of your unlawful activity, to wit: gratification which you received from Samchase Nigeria Limited.”

    The alleged offence is contrary to Section 18 (c) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15 (3).

    Fayose pleaded not guilty to the 11-count charge.

    Justice Olatoregun adjourned until November 19 for trial.

  • Man remanded for ‘defiling’ own daughter

    An Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday remanded a 57-year-old man, ‎Daramola Kehinde, in prison for allegedly raping his daughter.

    The accused of no fixed address is facing a charge of rape.

    The prosecutor, Inspector Johnson Okunade, told the Court that the accused committed the offence on August 10 in Iyin-Ekiti.

    He alleged that the accused raped and incest his 16-year-old daughter which cause her death.

    He said the offence contravened Section 31 (2) of Child Rights Law and Section 214 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.

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    The prosecutor urged the Court to remand the accused in prison pending legal advice from office of Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).

    The plea of the accused was not taken.

    The Chief Magistrate Court, Mr Adesoji Adegboye, ordered the remand of the accused in prison and adjourned the case until November 2 for mention.