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Tag: former governor of Oyo State

  • Oyo: Akala, Buhari, others sure of victory for Adelabu

    Former governor of Oyo state, Otunba Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala and Senator Abdulfatai Buhari have expressed optimism that the APC candidate, Adebayo Adelabu will emerge as the elected governor.

    Akala until last week was the governorship candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) before he dropped his ambition to support the APC candidate, Chief Adelabu.

    Also, Hon. Olusegun Odebunmi representing Ogo-Oluwa/Surulere federal constituency who was returned to the red chambers for the third term during the last Presidential/National Assembly poll described Saturday’s Governorship/House Assembly election as very peaceful and full of hopes for the APC candidates.

    Hon. Odebunmi commended the people for their turnout and peaceful conduct during the poll.

    While admitting noticeable apathy towards the election, the former Governor Akala, Senator Buhari and Hon. Odebunmi said that people who are yet to come out to vote will eventually show up before the end of the voting exercise.

    Similarly, the Deputy governorship candidate of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), Hon. Georgina Ajibi attributed the low turnout of voters in Ogbomoso North to the coalition of political parties in Oyo state.

    She said “our people are disillusioned about the alliance among political parties, and that is the reason for the apathy”.

    While speaking to our correspondent after casting her vote at Unit19, Ward 10, Oke Elerin primary school in Ogbomoso North , Ajibi  said people have decided to stay back at home because of the delusions caused by the merger of various political parties.

    However, Senator Elect of Oyo North, Abdul-Fatai Buhari said the coalition of parties is not the determining factor of the low turnout of people.

    Buhari affirmed that Akala’s alignment with the All Progressive Congress (APC) is a good omen for the party.

    He said; “I pray and I hope my party’s candidate wins the election today.

    “The turnout is a bit low, compared to what we had two weeks ago.

    “We have a Candidate here who decided to support APC. Whether you like it or not, he has a sizeable number of supporters, and it is good for us.

    “I can assure you, in my senatorial district, Oke-Ogun, we are going to be victorious.

    “Oyo north is a determinant of the election; it had always been the determiner of election since 1999.

    “Any vote that comes from Oyo North determines the election, because Oyo South and Oyo Central will be shared among Ibadan people.”

    Similarly, Adebayo Alao-Akala expressed optimism that the APC candidate, Adebayo Adelabu will emerge as the elected governor.

    He said that people who are yet to come out to vote will eventually show up before the end of the voting exercise.

  • Alleged N4.7 billion fraud: Trial ends in Ladoja’s case

    The trial of a former Governor of Oyo State, Senator Rashidi Ladoja and one of his aides, Waheed Akanbi, for an alleged N4.7 billion fraud, came to a close Tuesday at a Federal High Court in Lagos.

    Justice Mohammed Idris wrapped up the trial after Ladoja gave his defence from the witness box.

    Read Also:Alleged N4.7b fraud: ‘Ladoja didn’t buy vehicles for lawmakers to avoid impeachment’

    The judge fixed January 18, 2019, for parties to adopt their written addresses.

    Earlier, in his examination-in-chief, Ladoja denied authorising the sale of Oyo State government shares at discounted price.

    He said the decision to sell the shares was taken by the State Executive Council upon his return to office on December 11, 2006, following the nullification of his impeachment by the Supreme Court.

    The former governor added that proceeds generated from the sale of the shares were deployed towards projects execution.

    “On our return to office, we found out that most of the items we had in our budget in 2006 were not touched. We were then looking for money and the second defendant, who was the commissioner for finance, was saddled with the responsibility of looking for the money. He then came up with the idea of selling the shares

    “We later called functionaries at the Ministry of Commerce but they told us that the shares had been tied down to the purchase of rice. We then found a way of freeing the shares and at that point, the second defendant made his submissions to the State Executive Council on the sale of the shares and it was approved.

    “A memo was later raised by the commissioner for finance and I approved it. I had no dealings with the Portfolio Manager, Fountain Securities Ltd or its Managing Director, Chief Kola Daisi,” he said.

    Ladoja explained that he was not privy to the total amount of money that was realized from the sale of shares and that he did not personally benefit from it.

    He said: “It is for the officials to follow-up with the revenue, my job stopped at the point of approving the sale of the shares. The revenue generated from the sale of the shares was expended on certain projects”.

    Recalling the events that led to his impeachment, Ladoja said: “The group that called for my impeachment was led by the late Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu.

    “The politician believed he has a right to security votes because he is securing the state but I thought otherwise. It was a running battle until I later found out that The Presidency was involved. Some members of the State House of Assembly were promised a lot of things by Adedibu. I later got to know that my Deputy was also involved in the plot to remove me”.

    He added that after his impeachment, one of his aides, Chief Adewale Atanda, advised him that he should leave Ibadan for Lagos to avoid any threat to his life.

    He said he only stayed in his house for just two weeks before he relocated to a ‘safe house’ provided for him by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was then the Lagos State Governor.

    “I had to find a place to be meeting my lawyers and supporters. So, Chief Atanda suggested that we should use a space in his hotel, Heritage Court and Inns.

    “Throughout my stay in the hotel, I was responsible for the entertainment of my guests and there was no time the place was closed to public,” he said.

    Upon cross-examination by the prosecution’s lawyer, Olabisi Oluwafemi, the former governor said he declared his assets on assumption of office in 2003.

    He added that the sold shares were purchased during his tenure as governor of Oyo state.

     

  • N4.7bn ‘fraud’: Court dismisses Ladoja’s no case submission 

    A Federal High Court in Lagos Monday dismissed a ‘no case’ submission filed by former Governor of Oyo State, Senator Rashidi Ladoja and his aide, Waheed Akanbi, in response to a N4.7 billion fraud charge.

    Justice Mohammed Idris ordered the defendants to open their case on November 20, the next adjourned date.

    The duo had in their no case submissions argued that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) did not establish any prima facie case against them to warrant them being called on to open their defence.

    Read Also:Alleged N7.65bn fraud: Court revokes Kalu’s 11-year bail

    But Justice Idris noted that the preponderance of evidence put forward by the anti-graft agency, required some explanations from the defendants.

    The judge held: “I have refused to consider the issue of whether or not I will believe the evidence. I have also refused to consider the question of credibility of witnesses at this stage.

    “In the light of all the evidences that has been tendered by the prosecution and in my opinion, the defendants might have to explain the contents of some of those exhibits.”

    Afterwards, Ladoja’s counsel, Bolaji Onilenla, sought an adjournment till next Tuesday for his client to open his defence.

    The other defence counsel, A. Olumide-Fusika (SAN) and the EFCC’s counsel, Olabisi Oluwafemi, were in agreement with Onilenla’s request.

    The case was subsequently adjourned till November 20 at 1pm for the defendants to open their case.

    The defendants were first arraigned in November 2008 on a 10-count charge before Justice Ramat Mohammed, formerly of the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court.

    The case suffered several adjournments until December 14, 2016, when the duo were re-arraigned before Justice Mohammed Idris on an eight-count amended charge of money laundering contrary to Section 17(a) and punishable under Section 14(1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004.

    The former governor and his aide were on November 5, 2018, for the second time in two years, arraigned by the EFCC for an alleged N4.7 billion fraud.

    The commission preferred an 11-count charge of money laundering and unlawful conversion of public funds against them.

    In the latest charge, EFCC accused Ladoja of “compelling” a broker to sell the state’s shares while he also failed to remit N1.9 billion realised from the sale of the shares. The anti-graft agency alleged that the money went to Ladoja, his family and friends.

    The defendants pleaded not guilty.

  • EFCC re-arraigns Alao-Akala, two others over alleged fraud

    EFCC re-arraigns Alao-Akala, two others over alleged fraud

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday re-arraigned a former governor of Oyo State, Adebayo Alao-Akala, and two others in an Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan over alleged N11.5 billion fraud.

    According to reports the other defendants are a former Oyo State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Sen. Hosea Agboola, and an Ibadan-based businessman, Femi Babalola.

    The defendants are facing an 11-count charge of conspiracy, awarding contract without budgetary provision, obtaining by false pretence, acquiring property with money derived from illegal act and concealing the ownership of such property, among others.

    EFCC’s counsel, Dr B. Ubi, told the court that when Alao-Akala was the governor of Oyo State, he awarded a road contract worth N8.5 billion between 2007 and 2009 to Pentagon Engineering Services.

    Ubi alleged that the firm owned by Babalola handled the contract on behalf of the 33 local governments without budgetary provision.

    The counsel further claimed that Alao-Akala ordered the supply of drilling machines on behalf of the 33 local governments in the state to the tune of N3.5 billion.

    He also alleged that Alao-Akala conspired with Ayoola to withdraw N2.9 billion from Oyo State Local Government Joint Account.

    The prosecutor told the court that Alao-Akala also illegally acquired some property on Old Bodija road, off Rotimi Williams road, when he was the governor of the state.

    He said that the offences contravened Section 22 (4) of the Corrupt Practices and  Other Related Offences Act and Section 1 (18) of the Advanced Fee Fraud Act.

    The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    Mr Hakeem Afolabi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and counsel to Alao-Akala and Babaloa prayed the court to exercise its discretion in granting bail to the defendants.

    Afolabi said that the charge before the court was not a fresh one but a re-arraignment.

    He said the matter was first filed on Oct. 11, 2011,  before Justice Moshood Abas and bail was granted after  the defendants met the conditions.

    It would be recalled that the defendants had also appeared before Justice Akintunde Boade  and  Justice Bayo Taiwo who was recently transferred out of Ibadan Division.

    Afolabi said  that Alao-Akala was granted bail in the sum of N5 million with two sureties in  like sum while the other defendants were granted bail in the sum of N3 million each with two sureties in like sum.

    Afolabi urged the court to allow the defendants to enjoy the earlier bail condition granted to the defendants.

    Mr Richard Ogunwole, another Senior Advocate of Nigeria and counsel to Ayoola, aligned with the submission of Alao-Akala’s counsel.

    The EFC counsel said he would not oppose the bail applications.

    Justice Muniru Owolabi granted the defendants’ prayers and adjourned the case till April 16 for trial.

    NAN

    Read Also: Akala’s followers defect to APC

     

  • Ladoja , Ex-Oyo SSG, others escape death in Ibadan

    Ladoja , Ex-Oyo SSG, others escape death in Ibadan

    Former  governor of Oyo state, Senator Rashidi Ladoja and ex-SSG, Barrister Sarafadeen Abiodun Alli  and others escaped unhurt Monday  when some suspected gunmen numbering about seven (7) attacked the Popoyemoja Palace of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji.

    Alli who is also the Asiwaju Balogun of Ibadanland, though was unhurt when the gunmen shot his car (a black land crusier jeep with registration EPE 447 ER) several times

    Three journalists ( Femi Atoyebi  (Punch), Demola Babalola ( ThisDay), and Jeremiah Oke ( Daily Trust) were not so lucky as they sustained various degrees of injuries on their legs, heads arms ,and fingers.

    The trio and their colleagues had gone to the palace to cover the installation of some Baales by the Olubadan.

    The three journalists were just arriving at the gate of the palace when they were caught in the gunfire.

    They were said to have taken   refuge in the gutter‎ in front of the palace for about 10 minutes until the gunmen sped off towards Molete end of Popoyemoja.

    Their cloths were also toured while running to save their lives.

    Though the identity of the gunmen were not known, it was gathered that the gunmen who rode in a black Toyota sienna car attacked the palace at about 11.45am.

    A source said they had gone to the palace to prevent the installation by the Olubadan.

    Also attacked during the sporadic shooting is one Alhaja Iyabo Adeyemi whose car, a Black Honda Accord with registration number GGB 690 CU was damaged. Other occupants of the car also sustained injuries.

    Scores of sympathisers who stormed the palace after the incident, expressed shock on the development.

    They however thanked God no lives were lost.

    But the attack did not prevent the installation of the new Baales by the Olubadan.

    Those installed are Chief Saheed Adeyemi Alatise who was installed as Baale Lagelu Aboke Village and Chief Taye Makinde Aikomo who emerged as Baale Adigun Village.

    Present at the event are former Governor of the state and the Osi Olubadan of Ibadanland, Senator Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja; Senator Olufemi Lanlehin and Iyalode of Ibadanland Chief Aminat Abiodun.

    Others are Mogaji Abduljeleel Adanla (Mogaji Adanla), Mogaji Abass Oloko (Mogaji Oloko) among others.

  • 2019: Ladoja, Alli, Akala, others meet

    2019: Ladoja, Alli, Akala, others meet

    Former Governor of Oyo State, Senator Rashidi Ladoja on Thursday led other top leaders of the People’s Democratic Party in the state to the residence of his erstwhile deputy governor , Otunba Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala for broker peace ahead 2019 election in the state.

    Also present is the PDP National Chairman, Senator Ahmed Makarfi and other national officers of the party.

    Makarfi had at the meeting also confirmed the return of former Social Democratic Party Governorship candidate in Oyo State, Seyi Makinde as well as Chief Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli, who was the running mate to Alao-Akala during the 2015 governorship election under the Labour Party.

    Makarfi, had warned intending returnees to hurry up, stressed that “while we reconcile and accommodate, we are not waiting for any individual to make up their mind”.

    For the second week running now, Ladoja who left PDP for Accord in 2011 had been hosting his erstwhile footsoldiers who served under him but deserted the camp due to irreconcilable political differences in 2011 to work for the success of then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). Safe for a former Senate Deputy Chief Whip, Hosea Ayoola Agboola and former PDP Chairman, Chief Jacob Adetoro who remained in PDP, Sarafadeen Alli, Alhaji Alli Dodo Oyedeji and a former lawmaker, Tunde Adegbenjo headed for then ACN.

    The incumbent Governor Abiola Ajimobi who has been the major beneficiary of the crack within the hitherto solid Oyo PDP, jetted out of country few days ago and met with both Akala and Folarin with the social media agog of their meeting;  regarded in the political circle as subtle move by the Governor to mend fence with the duo ahead of impending 2019 race.

    Seyi Makinde had also been meeting with Ladoja, and a few other bigwigs as he officially announced his defection from the SDP to PDP two weeks ago.

    Folarin, a former Senate Leader, who on arrival from London told reporters on phone that he has not left PDP but on consultations across political divides, visited Ladoja 48hours ago for a closed door meeting as political permutation and intrigues get underway.

    At Thursday meeting in Bodija, Akala was the first to visit Ladoja in his residence but the latter was not around yo receive him. Shortly in return, Ladoja headed to Akala’s house, which was about a kilometer away and had two-hour closed door meeting with his erstwhile deputy.

    Pictures of the visit showed Ladoja, Akala and others in frenzy mood as they wine and dine together to the consternation of their supporters. A serving PDP lawmaker, Segun Odebunmi, Alhaji Ado Marafa and erstwhile State Accord Chairman, Bashiru Lawal among others watched with keen interest.

    Before now, both Ladoja and Akala had been at loggerheads since January 12th, 2006 when Ladoja was illegally removed from office to pave way for Akala as Acting Governor and later elected Governor under PDP.

  • N4.7b fraud: Ladoja bought 22 cars to avoid impeachment – Witness

    N4.7b fraud: Ladoja bought 22 cars to avoid impeachment – Witness

    A witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Adewale Atanda, Thursday told the Federal High Court, Lagos, that former governor of Oyo State, Senator Rasheed Ladoja, bought 22 vehicles for the state’s lawmakers in 2005, to avoid being impeached.

    Atanda, a lawyer, said 14 of the vehicles were distributed among Ladoja’s loyalists in the Oyo House of Assembly, while the remaining eight were shared among his family members.

    Atanda said the 14 lawmakers were those whose loyalty Ladoja was sure of, out of the 22 he required to stop his impeachment.

    The House of Assembly, he noted, had 32 lawmakers and for Ladoja to have stopped his impeachment he needed the votes of 22, which was why he bought 22 cars.

    Atanda testified as the second prosecution witness before Justice Mohamed Idris in the trial of Ladoja and Mr Wahab Akanbi, a former Commissioner of Finance.

    The accused persons were re-arraigned last December on an eight-count charge bordering on the laundering of N4.7b contrary to Section 17(a) and punishable under Section 14(1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004.

    Led in evidence by EFCC prosecutor, Mr. Oluwafemi Olabisi, Atanda, who claimed to have met Ladoja in the year 2000 when he (Atanda) was vying for a senatorial seat on the platform of the same political party that Ladoja was then running for Oyo State Governor, stated how Ladoja’s administration encountered political difficulty after he become a governor.

    Atanda said: “Well, I don’t know exactly how it started but it appeared as if there was a rift between members of the Oyo State House of Assembly on one hand, some political actors in the state, like the late Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu and Senator Ladoja, and some other external influences from Abuja at the material time. Very many attempts were made to remove Senator Ladoja from office; various petitions were written and at the end of the day an impeachment process was set in motion.

    “Oyo State has about 32 members of the House of Assembly and to successfully impeach the governor, it would require two-thirds majority support of the members of the House of Assembly. That will be about 22 members.

    “In order to secure the loyalty of these 22 members of the House certain promises were made by different political actors. One of such was that loyal members would be given vehicles.

    “In the course of all these, I had discussion with Senator Ladoja and explained to him that it was important that that this promises be kept. At the material time, it was rather impossible to buy these vehicles because they were not included in the budget for the year, so, we started looking for alternative ways to accommodate the request.”

    He said he eventually obtained a loan of N80m from Wema Bank with his personal assets to assist Ladoja, who was his political associate.

    “The vehicles were bought and collected from the various dealers by the drivers of the Oyo State Government and delivered to the Government House in Ibadan. In spite of this, I think, by December 2005, the governor was impeached from office.”

    After the impeachment, Atanda said Ladoja and his allies, including the 14 lawmakers loyal to him fled and regrouped in Lagos, where Ladoja continued to take responsibility for the welfare of the lawmakers, who demanded to be paid a monthly income of N1m each after their salaries and allowances had been stopped.

    Ladoja, he added, also assembled a team of lawyers, who increased their fees from N50 million to N370 million, before they agreed to challenge the impeachment up to the Supreme Court.

    Justice Idris adjourned till March 27, 2017 for Atanda to continue his testimony.

     

  • Ladoja cautions against shifting election dates

    Ladoja cautions against shifting election dates

    National leader of Accord Party and former governor of Oyo State, Senator Rashidi Ladoja has cautioned against adverse implications of shifting election dates in the country by ruling government.

    He said that Edo governorship election would not have been postponed if the All Progressive Congress (APC) was sure of winning.

    Ladoja who said the federal government needs to fulfill the promises it made to Nigerians in the spirit of Ramadan festival messages noted that while the government complained of lack of money, it was wasteful in its approach to governance.

    Ladoja who stated this while speaking with newsmen at his Bodija home shortly after observing the Eid-prayer at the University of Ibadan Central Mosque said nobody is convinced by the argument being put forward on security concerning Edo guber election.

    While lamenting that Billions of naira has been wasted on the shifting of the election date, Ladoja said the federal government should stop playing games with the life of Nigerians adding that the economy cannot improve if the leadership continues to waste scarce resources.

    On the launch of “Change Begins with Me” Ladoja noted that the change should begin with president Mohammadu Buhari, his cabinet while Nigerians will follow suit wondering how the attitude of those who are being owed over six months of salaries will change because the government has asked them to change their attitude.

    The former governor who noted that diversification being championed by different governments has to start from gradual transition from artisanal culture to industrial agriculture while he lampooned states which asked civil servants to go and farm for two days.

    While noting that the work of civil servants should not be mixed with that of a committed farmer who has passion for farming, Ladoja asked government to be creative and provide lands and inputs for people genuinely interested in farming.

    He also carpeted the State governor Abiola Ajimobi over the creation of local government development areas asking the government to be more creative and not be lazy.

    He said “Its mixed, look at what Emir Sanusi said. Sanusi does not believe that there is sincerity with the anti-corruption crusade. He said he as Emir can source $1m by telephone at N197 and sell it at over N400 which means he knew some people are doing it. You see economy and corruption go together. As long as you have a lot of roadblocks there will be more corruption. Liberalisation is better. Do you need to bribe anybody to get GSM today? Go and try it in the days of NITEL. They will ask you to go and bring the ladder and you had to bribe them for them to render the service. Corruption is not only public servant or politician thing. It is endemic in us and it is caused by blockade, redtape. Remove the red tape and you will see. Sanusi has said it that the dollar has gone up but there is corruption there. I don’t have anything against religion but I believe that we should not do something that is not sustainable. There is no corruption and yet some people can buy at N197 and those that want to employ people and do business can go and buy at over N400 and we want the economy to improve? All these do not add up. Who does he (Buhari) want to please. That is subsidy, if you do it for Muslim you have to do it for the Christians.

    ” I think the change starts with president buhari. Look at what INEC said about the change in date in Edo State elections. They said it is colossal waste and nobody has convinced us about the postponement. They said security reasons. Billions of naira have gone down the drain. We are wasteful. I am not in their party. My party has no candidate in Edo. I just know that it is wrong. We have fixed this date for a long time.  Are you now going to ask WAEC to change the date also? We are still playing games. I am sure that if APC were sure that they will win Edo election they will not have postponed.”