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Tag: Fashola

  • Fashola urges Lagos Assembly to review tenancy law

    Fashola urges Lagos Assembly to review tenancy law

    Former Minister of Works and Housing Babatunde Fashola has urged the Lagos State House of Assembly to review the tenancy law to compel landlords take six months rents.

    Fashola spoke during a Gala Night to mark 25 years of unbroken democratic governance in Nigeria, organised by the House of Assembly.

    The Tenancy Law was signed by Fashola in August 2011 which compels landlords to collect one year rent from new tenants.

    The former governor however said due to the present economic challenges, the Assembly should review the law to protect tenants from shylock landlords.

    Read Also: Aiyedatiwa, Agboola, 15 others make final list of Ondo Gov candidates

    He said: “We are using this law to protect tenants and citizens from shylock landlords. I remember that this House once started by reducing the tenancy agreement from three years to one year which had its impact.

    “At this time of economic challenges and cost of living issue, I think we can go back to the tenancy agreement where landlords should be compelled to collect three months to six months’ rent. This will help in no small way.”

  • How we got man behind claim that Fashola wrote PEPC judgments, by police

    How we got man behind claim that Fashola wrote PEPC judgments, by police

    • Court overrules defendant, admits statement

    A Federal High Court in Abuja heard yesterday how police investigators tracked the man behind an online publication which accused former Works and Housing Minister Babatunde Fashola of writing the judgments of the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC).

    Ibezim Chike Victor, who is alleged to be one of the three persons linked to the publication by an online platform – Reportera.ng – is being tried on a six-count charge which the Inspector General of Police (IGP) filed against him.

    Victor is charged with criminal conspiracy, cyber stalking, defamation, among others.

    Testifying before the court yesterday, a police investigator, Inspector Ikemba Cyprian said his team tracked Victor through his phone number by deploying technology.

    Led in evidence by prosecuting lawyer, E. O. Ochai, Cyprian said the defendant’s phone number – 08146435568 – was provided by Fashola in two petitions, dated August 7 and 8, 2023, which he addressed to the IGP.

    The witness said the nominal complainant (Fashola) stated in his petition that the publication alleged that his premises was surrounded by soldiers because he was writing judgments for the PEPC that was hearing the petitions on last year’s presidential election.

    He said immediately the petitions were assigned to his team, Fashola was invited and he volunteered a statement.

    “We analysed the phone number on the petition and found that it belonged to the defendant,” the witness said.

    Cyprian said having confirmed that the number belonged to the defendant, the police invited him and he wrote a statement.

    Read Also: How we tracked man behind claim that Fashola wrote PEPC judgments – Police

    The witness added that in his statement, dated August 10, 2023, the defendant admitted that he bought the MTN SIM card and registered it.

    Cyprian said the defendant told investigators that he had given the phone containing the SIM card to one of his friends, called Tope, who is said to be on the run.

    Ochai applied to tender the defendant’s statement, but Victor’s lawyer, Kanayo Okafor, objected on the grounds that sections 6(2)(d),17(2) and 15(4) of Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) were not complied with.

    In a ruling, Justice Bolaji Olajuwon overruled Okafor and admitted the statement on the grounds of relevance.

    Cyprian added that when his team contacted the Court of Appeal, authorities of the court said the judgments of the PEPC were written by Justices on the panel and not any outsider.

    The witness said his team also contacted the Nigerian Army headquarters and was told that no soldier was deployed to Fashola’s premises, as claimed in the offending publication.

    Cyprian also said his team’s investigation revealed that Fashola did not write the judgment, as claimed in the defamatory statement.

    The witness said investigation also revealed that the defendant and his collaborators used the same office and shared the same phone number.

    At the completion of Cyprian’s testimony, Okafor prayed the court for an adjournment to enable him return on a later date to cross-examine the witness.

    Although Ochai objected to the defence lawyer’s application for an adjournment, Justice Olajuwon adjourned till April 19 for a cross-examination.

  • How we tracked man behind claim that Fashola wrote PEPC judgments – Police

    How we tracked man behind claim that Fashola wrote PEPC judgments – Police

    …as court overrules defendant, admits his statement

    A Federal High Court in Abuja heard on Monday, April 15, how police investigators were able to track the man behind an online publication that accused the ex-works and housing minister, Babatunde Fashola of writing the judgments of the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC).

    Ibezim Chike Victor, who is alleged to be one of the three individuals linked to the publication made on an online platform – Reportera.ng, is being tried on a six-count charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/434/2023 brought against him by the Inspector General of Police (IGP).

    Victor is charged with criminal conspiracy, cyberstalking, and defamation, among others.

    Testifying before the court on Monday, a police investigator, Inspector Ikemba Cyprian said his team was able to track Victor through his phone number by deploying technology.

    Lead in evidence by prosecuting lawyer, E. O Ochai, Cyprian said the defendant’s phone number – 08146435568 – was provided by Fashola in two petitions, dated August 7 and 8, 2023 which he addressed to the IGP.

    The witness said the nominal complainant (Fashola) stated, in the petition, that the publication was to the effect that his premises were surrounded by soldiers because he was writing judgments for the PEPC that was hearing petitions, challenging the last presidential election.

    He said immediately the petitions were assigned to his team, Fashola was invited and he volunteered a statement.

    “We analysed the phone number on the petition and found that belonged to the defendant,” the witness said.

    He added that upon realising that the number belonged to the defendant, Victor was invited and when he subsequently responded to the invitation, he volunteered a statement.

    The witness added that, in his statement, dated August 10, 2023, the defendant admitted that he bought the MTN SIM card and registered it.

    Cyprian said the defendant told investigators that he had given the phone, containing the SIM card to one of his friends called Tope, who is still at large.

    Ochai applied to tender the defendant’s statement, but Victor’s lawyer, Kanayo Okafor objected on the grounds that Sections 6(2)(d),17(2) and 15(4) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) were not complied with.

    In a ruling, Justice Bolaji Olajuwon overruled Okafor and admitted the statement on grounds of relevance.

    The witness added that when his team contacted the Court of Appeal, authorities of the court said the judgments of the PEPC were written by Justices on the panel and not any outsider.

    He said his team also contacted the Nigerian Army Headquarters and was told that no soldier was deployed to Fashola’s premises as claimed in the offending publication.

    “At the completion of the investigation, we found that the defendant made the publication to smear the hard-earned reputation of the nominal complainant. We also found that there was no siege on the nominal complainant’s house by the army,” he said.

    Read Also: Trial of man who accused Fashola of writing PEPC’s judgments begins

    The witness added that the investigation also revealed that the nominal complainant did not write the judgment as claimed in the defamatory statement.

    He added that the investigation revealed that the defendant and other of his collaborators use the same office and share the same phone number.

    “We found that the publication was such that could lead to the breakdown of law and order,” the witness said.

    At the completion of Cyprian’s testimony, Okafor prayed to the court for an adjournment to enable him to return on a later date to cross-examine the witness.

    Although Ochai objected to the defence lawyer’s application for adjournment, Justice Olajuwon adjourned till April 19 for cross-examination.

  • Trial of man who accused Fashola of writing PEPC’s judgments begins

    Trial of man who accused Fashola of writing PEPC’s judgments begins

    The Federal Government has begun the prosecution of a man, Ibezim Chike Victor, for claiming that former Works and Housing Minister Babatunde Fashola, authored the judgments of the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) which dismissed the petitions by the Labour Party (LP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Victor, who is alleged to be one of the three individuals linked to the publications, has been arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja on a six-count charge.

    He is charged with criminal conspiracy, cyber stalking, defamation, among others.

    Read Also: FEC approves fund to bridge $878bn national infrastructure deficit

    The case, now before Justice Bolaji Olajuwon, has been adjourned till April 15 for continuation of trial.

    The charge against Victor, among others, reads: •That you Ibezim Chike Victor, male, with Jackson Udeh, Nnamdi Emmanuel Ibezim, and Reportera.ng (body corporate), now at large, on or about 05/08/2023 at Abuja, did commit illegal act to wit: criminal conspiracy; when you jointly agreed to publish a defamatory statement of false allegations in your online social media, the reportera.ng news, against His Excellency Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN, CON, without justification, you thereby commit offence punishable under Section 27(1)(b) of the Cyber-crime Prohibition, Prevention Act 2015.         

  • Fed Govt begins trial of man who accused Fashola of writing PEPC’s judgments

    Fed Govt begins trial of man who accused Fashola of writing PEPC’s judgments

    The Federal Government has commenced the prosecution of a man, Ibezim Chike Victor, accused of being behind some publications, claiming that the former works and housing minister authored the judgments of the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) that dismissed the petitions by the Labour Party (LP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Victor, who is alleged to be one of the three individuals linked to the publications, has been arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja on a six-count charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/434/2023.

    He is charged with criminal conspiracy, cyberstalking, and defamation, among others.

    The case, now before Justice Bolaji Olajuwon, has been adjourned till April 15 for continuation of trial.

    The charge reads:

    *That you Ibezim Chike Victor, male with Jackson Udeh, Nnamdi Emmanuel Ibezim and Reportera.ng (body corporate) now at large on or about 05/08/2023 at Abuja, did commit an illegal Act to wit: criminal conspiracy; when you jointly agreed to publish a defamatory statement of false allegations in your online social media, the reportera.ng news, against His Excellency Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN, CON, without justification, you thereby commit offence punishable under Section 27(1)(b) of the Cyber-crime Prohibition, Prevention Act 2015.

    *That you Ibezim Chike Victor, male, with Jackson Udeh, Nnamdi Emmanuel Ibezim and Reportera.ng (body corporate) now at large on or about 05/08/2023 at Abuja, did commit illegal Act to wit: Cyber stalking against His Excellency Hon. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, CON, the immediate past Honourable minister for Works and Housing, false allegation through reportera. ng online news that “Nigeria Army takes siege of his Excellency Fashola’s Abuja residence, restrict movement to and fro the former Minister of Works and Housing, amidst the scare of a possible miscarriage of justice at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) and with Fashola’s rumoured involvement in drafting a controversial verdict to throw out the case of opposition parties LP and PDP.

    That the Nigeria Army has barricaded the Abuja residence of Babatunde Fashola, the immediate past Minister of Works and Housing and Tinubu stooge and close confidant.” That the hatred, ill-will, needless anxiety and criminal intimidation, is being operated by Nnamdi Emmanuel Ibezim with phone number 06146435568, without justification, you thereby commit offence punishable under section 24 (1) (b) of the Cybercrimes Prohibition, Prevention Act 2015.

    *That you Ibezim Chike Victor, male, with Jackson Udeh, Nnamdi Emmanuel Ibezim and Reportera.ng (body corporate) now at large on or about 05/08/2023 at Abuja, did commit illegal act to wit: injurious falsehood; when you publish in your social media, through the online reportera.ng news, hate and false speeches against his Excellency Hon. Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN, CON, that he drafted a controversial verdict in the case of opposition parties LP and PDP respectfully and that Nigerian Army have taken siege of his Abuja residence, restrict movement to and fro, to tarnish and injure the good image of His Excellency Hon. Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN, CON, without justification, you thereby committed an offence punishable under section 393 of Penal Code law.

    *That you Ibezim Chike Victor, male, with Jackson Udeh, Nnamdi Emmanuel Ibezim and  Reportera.ng (body corporate) now at large on or about 05/08/2023 at Abuja, did commit illegal act to wit: criminal defamation; when you, through the online reportera.ng news, published the above false defamatory statements that his Excellency Hon. Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN, CON, drafted a controversial) verdict, to throw out the case of opposition parties LP and PDP and that the immediate past Minister of Works and Housing and Tinubu’s stooge and close confidant. You published the said online news on your web page X to tarnish the good reputation of His Excellency Hon. Babatunde Raji Fashola as a former Governor of Lagos State and Minister of Federal Republic of Nigeria before the eyes of the public without justification. You thereby commit an offence punishable under Section 392 of the Penal Code law.

    Count V

    That you Ibezim Chike Victor, ‘M’ with Jackson Udeh, Nnamdi Emmanuel Ibezim & Reportera.ng body corporate now at large on or about 05/08/2023 at Abuja, did commit illegal act to wit: Influencing cause of justice; when you intentional published defamatory statements against his Excellency Hon. Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN, CON, and the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) with intend to influence the cause of justice that his Excellency drafted a controversial verdict of the election petition to throw out the case of opposition parties LP and PDP for the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal Panel without justification. You thereby commit offence punishable under Section 182 of the Penal Code law.

    Read Also: Sanwo-Olu, Fashola, others seek collaboration to deepen democracy

    *That you Ibezim Chike Victor, male, with Jackson Udeh, Nnamdi Emmanuel Ibezim & Reportera.ng body corporate now at large on or about 05/08/2023 at Abuja, did commit illegal act to wit: Inciting disturbance of public peace; when you published a defamatory statement against both his Excellency Hon. Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN, CON, and the Presidential Election Petition Panel, to incite supporters of both LP and PDP parties against the Hon. Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN, CON, and Presidential Election Petition Panel without justification. You thereby commit an offence punishable under section 114 of the Penal Code law.

  • Sanwo-Olu, Fashola, others seek collaboration to deepen democracy

    Sanwo-Olu, Fashola, others seek collaboration to deepen democracy

    The governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, alongside former Minister of Works, Babatunde Fashola, and the speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, together with other political figures, have emphasised the necessity of cooperation between the executive and legislative branches to ensure the tangible benefits of democracy reach all Nigerians.

    Their sentiments were shared during the 18th Lagos State Executive and Legislative Parley, with the theme ‘Engaging All for Inclusive Governance: Hands on For A Greater Lagos Rising’, which took place yesterday at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island.

    Sanwo-Olu said the current economic challenges Nigeria is facing can only be solved if the executive and legislature work together to build bridges.

    Sanwo-Olu said: “We have key roles to play as representatives of our people. We must make life better for our people and create an economy where people can breathe. We should continue to ensure that our collaboration and mutual understanding create direct benefits for our people. We owe it to the citizens to always show up for them.

    Read Also: Fashola urges landlords to collect monthly rents

    “The present challenges call for higher dedication. We must rise up with a sense of urgency to solve them. All of us need to work together, both the private and public sector, to ensure our people live.”

    The governor added that his administration has embarked on initiatives such as fare rebates on all government-owned transport schemes, payment of over N70 billion pension liability, and creation of food hubs, among other programmes, to cushion the effect of economic hardship on Lagosians.

    Fashola, on his part, urged political leaders ‘to make democracy work for our people’. He noted that people do not know why they vote in an election.

    Fashola noted: “People don’t really understand we are there for them. Sometimes they don’t know what they are voting for. The big issue is how to put more money in the hands of the people.”

    He added that for the government to show it has the people’s interest at heart, certain taxes and levies could be suspended for a few months while more money is put into projects such as the repair and construction of roads.

    The former minister also suggested a meeting between the government and small business owners to find out what the government can do to keep them in business.

    Obasa, who was represented by the House Majority Leader, Noheem Adams, said the parley signifies a deep commitment between the executive and legislature at building cordial relationships for the benefit of the state.

    “It’s important for us as executive and legislature to meet our responsibility. We must recognise the power of unity. We should build bridges where there are divides to create resilient Lagos. Our differences are opportunities for growth,” Obasa said.

    Special Adviser to the governor on Political, Legislative and Civic Engagement, Abiodun Tajudeen, noted that the synergy between the executive and legislature stands as a pivotal force behind Lagos’s monumental achievements. He added that the purpose of the parley was to strengthen the bond further.

    At the parley were members of the House of Assembly, National Assembly, former governors, former deputy governors, and members of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), among others.

  • Why regular communication with constituents necessary for inclusive governance, by Fashola

    Why regular communication with constituents necessary for inclusive governance, by Fashola

    Former Minister of Works, Babatunde Fashola, has urged leaders to have regular conversations with people at the local level to understand their pains with a view to alleviating it. 

    This, he noted, will help residents feel the inclusiveness of governance. 

    Fashola spoke at the 18th Lagos Executive Legislative parley held today.

    The parley is themed ‘Engaging all for an Inclusive Governance: Hands on for a Greater Lagos’.

    Read Also: Fashola urges landlords to collect monthly rents

    He also canvassed for a revisiting of the special status for Lagos at the National Assembly to cater for its large population.

    The former governor, who expressed his belief in the democratic process of governance, however lamented that democracy is fast becoming dysfunctional and ‘should be salvaged by those in power’.

    Fashola, who commended the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration for the palliatives given to residents, also urged it to suspend some levies and taxes for small, medium and large scale businesses to give them a temporary relief so they can remain in business at this crucial time.

    Governor Sanwo-Olu, who acknowledged that the present economic challenge is not peculiar to Nigeria alone, said with the collaborative efforts of the executive and legislature, residents would enjoy the dividends of democracy.

    He urged political office holders to show empathy to their constituents and put smiles on their faces, which he described as the major reason they are elected into office.

  • Fashola urges landlords to collect monthly rents

    Fashola urges landlords to collect monthly rents

    Former Works and Housing Minister Babatunde Fashola (SAN) has called for the review of tenancy laws in states to compel landlords to collect rents monthly.

    The former governor of Lagos State spoke at the launch of his book titled: “Nigerian Public Discourse: The Interplay of Empirical Evidence and Hyperbole,” in Lagos.

    He also reflected on the burden of housing surplus in rural areas whereby their owners are confronted with deficits in cities, thereby predisposing them to renting houses.

    Fashola said payment of rent for up to three years or more by tenants to landlords should be discouraged, adding that it is overwhelming to tenants.

    He pointed out that many houses are unoccupied due to the way rents collection are structured and collected.

    Fashola said: “If you do not understand how dramatic and painful that three, four or five years rent has become to our nation, we have not consciously done anything to it.

    “Can we bring it down from three years to one year? Can we hopefully bring it down to six months? Can we let it coincide with when people get paid; at the end of the month instead of in advance?”

    Read Also; Ex-soccer star, estranged wife bicker over mysterious death of two-year-old daughter

    The former minister and author also described data as the most important currency in the world, which no central bank could print.

    In his view, accurate data should be utilised for better planning in the country.

    He said: “Accurate data will help us determine how many we are, what amount of water we need, what quantity of food; data makes this very important. Accurate data therefore will be beneficial for us.

    ”Life without shortage of basic needs, like food, like water, like shelter and energy will be a good life, and data is critical to this objective,” he said.

    The book was reviewed by Mr. Opeyemi Agbaje, an author and academic.

    A panel of experts discussed the importance of data to development at the book launch.

    They agreed that data should be used as a basis to form policies and decisions, which would bring about changes that would make an impact on the people.

    The panelists were Tolu Ogunlesi, a former Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Digital/New Media; Mrs Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji, a social entrepreneur; and Adesuwa Giwa-Osagie, a lawyer and historian.

    At the ceremony were Presidential Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila,  who represented President Bola Tinubu; former All Progressives Congress (APC) Interim National Chairman Chief Bisi Akande,  wife of the author, Mrs Dame Abimbola Fashola, Lagos Deputy Governor,  Obafemi Hamzat; and Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, former Senior Special Assistant to the President of Nigeria on Sustainable Development Goals, former Deputy Governor Sarah Sosan, former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, former Lagos House of Assembly Speaker Yemi Ikuforiji; former Attorney-General and Commissioners For Justice, Supo Sasore and Moyosore Onigbanjo; a former Chairman, First Bank of Nigeria, Mrs Ibukun Awosika; traditional rulers, politicians, and students.

  • Fashola urges landlords to collect monthly rents

    Fashola urges landlords to collect monthly rents

    Former Works and Housing Minister, Babatunde Fashola (SAN) has called for the review of tenancy laws in states to compel landlords to collect rents monthly.

    The former governor of Lagos state spoke at the launch of his book titled: “Nigerian Public Discourse: The Interplay of Empirical Evidence and Hyperbole,” in Lagos.

    He also reflected on the burden of housing surplus in rural areas whereby their owners are confronted with deficit in cities, thereby predisposing them to renting houses.

    Fashola said payment of rents for up to three years or more by tenants to landlords should be discouraged, adding that it is overwhelming to tenants. 

    He pointed out that many houses are unoccupied due to the way rents collection are structured and collected.

    Fashola said: “If you do not understand how dramatic and painful that three, four or five years rent has become to our nation, we have not consciously done anything to it.

    “Can we bring it down from three years to one year? Can we hopefully bring it down to six months? Can we let it coincide with when people get paid? At the end of the month instead of in advance?”

    The former minister and author also described data as the most important currency in the world, which no central bank could print. 

    In his view, accurate data should be utilised for better planning in the country.

    He said: “Accurate data will help us determine how many we are, what amount of water we need, what quantity of food; data makes this very important. Accurate data therefore will be beneficial for us.

    ”Life without shortage of basic needs, like food, like water, like shelter and energy will be a good life, and data is critical to this objective.”

    The book was reviewed by Opeyemi Agbaje, an author and academic.

    A panel of experts discussed the importance of data to development at the book launch.

    They agreed that data should be used as basis to form policies and decisions, which would bring about changes that would make impact on the people.

    Read Also: Lagos by-election: Fashola absent at polling unit

    The panelists were Tolu Ogunlesi, a former Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Digital/New Media; Mrs Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji, a Social Entrepreneur; and Adesuwa Giwa-Osagie, a lawyer and historian.

    At the ceremony were Presidential Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, who represented President Bola Tinubu; former All Progressives Congress (APC) Interim National Chairman Chief Bisi Akande,  wife of the author, Mrs Dame Abimbola Fashola, Lagos Deputy Governor,  Obafemi Hamzat; and Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, former Senior Special Assistant to the President of Nigeria on Sustainable Development Goals, former Deputy Governor Sarah Sosan, former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaaechi, former Lagos Housecof Assembly Speaker, Yemi Ikuforiji; former Attorney-General and Commissioners For Justice, Supo Sasore and Moyosore Onigbanjo, a former Chairman, First Bank of Nigeria, Mrs Ibukun Awosika; traditional rulers, politicians and students. 

  • Lagos by-election: Fashola absent at polling unit

    Lagos by-election: Fashola absent at polling unit

    A former governor of Lagos State, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN),  was inexplicably absent  at his polling unit, to vote for his party’s (APC) candidate for the Surulere 1 House of Representatives.

    Fashola, who was expected at the polling unit with the wife, Mrs Abimbola Fashola, was not seen throughout the election.

    Journalists, who waited for the former Minister of Power, Works and Housing, from 8.a.m. when the election started,  left for other places after hours of waiting, while some stayed till the end   on the possibility of him coming.

    One of the party members who pleaded anonymity said that the former governor was actually expected to come around to exercise his franchise.

    ”We actually expected him but along the line it was clear that he will not be coming again. I heard that he is not in town,” the party member said.

    Read Also: Lagos by-election: No voting in parts of Epe

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that voting for  the  Surulere Federal  Constituency 1  in Polling Unit 002, at State Junior Grammar School (Special), Itolo Street, Eric Moore, Surulere, started at 8.00 a.m, as INEC agents arrived on time to set up the unit.

    The unit, which is the venue where  Fashola was expected to cast his vote, saw voters trickling in.

    The unit which had 750 registered voters, recorded only 45 voters who came to exercise their franchise.

    (NAN)