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Tag: Ikuforiji

  • Ikuforiji urges Lagosians to register

    Ikuforiji urges Lagosians to register

    Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforiji has urged Lagosians register with the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Rotimi Adebayo, the Speaker said: “As you all know, our former party, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), entered into a successful merger with two other national political parties – the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) – last year.

    “As a result of that merger, we are now members of the same family called the All Progressives Congress (APC). As we prepare for the 2015 elections, it is incumbent on our new party to conduct the registration of its members. This is why I now call on former members of defunct ACN, CPC and ANPP in Lagos State to register as members of the APC.”

  • Fayemi, Ikuforiji extol Okeowo’s virtues

    Fayemi, Ikuforiji extol Okeowo’s virtues

    Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi has commiserated with Nigerians on the death of the former President of the defunct National Union of Nigerian Students (NUNS), Mr. Segun Okeowo.

    In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Yinka Oyebode, Fayemi described Okeowo’s death as “the end of an era”.

    He said the late Okeowo was a freedom fighter, whose legacy will inspire future generations to defend the oppressed.

    Fayemi said the late Okeowo secured a place for himself in the nation’s history by leading Nigerian students in the “Ali Must Go” protest in 1978.

    He said Okeowo’s courage and refusal to be silent in the face of tyranny was a lesson to leaders to always respect the people’s rights.

    The governor said personalities like the late Okeowo inspired many people, including him, to join the Students’ Union movement as undergraduates at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), a development he said prepared him to become a pro-democracy activist, rights campaigner and governor.

    He also said the late Okeowo used his experience as an educationist to reposition the Ogun State Universal Basic Education Board.

    Fayemi urged the late Okeowo’s family to take solace in the deceased’s legacies and build upon them.

    Also yesterday, Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforiji described the late Okeowo as “a rare gem, who tried all he could to ensure that Nigerian youths had easy access to quality education”.

    In a statement by his media aide, Mr. Rotimi Adebayo, Ikuforiji said: “The death of Comrade Okeowo, a renowned and highly courageous former students’ union leader, is not only sad, but shocking. Though he departed this world at the ripe age of 73, we would have loved to still have him around us here for more time as an uncommon hero of the youths.

    “It is on record that the late Okeowo was among Nigerian heroes, who waged relentless battles against past military regimes in the country. If not for the efforts of great souls like that of the late Okeowo, the military may not have left for their barracks when they did.

    “On this sad occasion, on behalf of the Lagos State House of Assembly, I commiserate with Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun, the deceased’s family and Ogun people on this irreparable loss.

    “Apart from his dogged struggle to liberate Nigerian students, for whom he fought for unrestricted access to quality education, the late Okeowo was a committed patriot, who strongly believed in Nigeria throughout his lifetime.

    “It is on record, for instance, that since leading the defunct NUNS, he remained in Nigeria to impact on the lives of the young ones through the teaching profession, rather than see greener pastures abroad.

    “It is gratifying that he rose to the pinnacle of his career by becoming a secondary school principal and the icing on his cake was his appointment as the chairman of the Ogun State Teaching Service Commission.

    “May God grant his gentle soul eternal bliss and also grant his family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”

  • Money laundering: Appearance of new counsel stalls Ikuforiji’s trial

    The appearance of Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) as the new counsel to Adeyemi Ikuforiji, the Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, on Tuesday stalled his trial.

    Ikuforiji is standing trial along with his personal assistant, Oyebode Atoyebi, at a Federal High Court, Lagos, on an amended 54 count charge bordering on money laundering.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the court could not proceed with the case as Olanipekun announced his appearance as the new defence counsel.

    He informed the court that he was taking over from Mr. Tayo Oyetibo (SAN).

    Olanipekun said he could not go on with the case because he needed more time to get acquainted with the case files.

    “My lord, when a new counsel comes into a case it is natural for him to study the files and know the parties.

    “Criminal trial is a serious business and I must say that I am faced with a `mountain of documents’ to peruse, some of which were just served on us yesterday.

    “In this circumstance, I have no alternative but to seek an adjournment to enable me to study the files.”

    The prosecutor, Mr. Godwin Obla (SAN), however, did not object to Olanipekun’s request for an adjournment.

    Justice Ibrahim Buba, in a short ruling, adjourned the case to March 17 and 18 for further hearing.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had re-arraigned the defendants on June 24, 2013 on amended charges.

    Both Ikuforiji and Atoyebi had pleaded not guilty to the charges and were granted bail in the sum of N1 billion with two sureties each in the sum of N500 million.

     

     

  • ‘Ikuforiji, performer, worthy administrator’

    SPEAKER of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, has been described as a performer and worthy administrator.

    A member of the Lagos State House of Assembly representing Ifako/Ijaiye 1 Constituency 1, Dayo Saka Fafunmi, who said this during an interview in his office on Saturday, added that Ikuforiji has exhibited good leadership qualities since he was elected as Speaker in 2005.

    Fafunmi, who is also the Chairman, Public Accounts Committee (Local) of the House, stressed that the House has passed numerous people-oriented bills into laws and moved ‘progressive’ motions in recent years under Ikuforiji.

    While enumerating some of the achievements of the Speaker which include the construction of new physical structures in the House, exposure of the state lawmakers to series of trainings in Nigeria and overseas, amongst others, Fafunmi said he was optimistic that the Speaker will be vindicated at the end of his ongoing trial by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    He said that the likes of Ikuforiji deserve higher offices so that they could liberate the people from poverty and under-development.

  • His death, a monumental tragedy, says Ikuforiji

    His death, a monumental tragedy, says Ikuforiji

    Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, has described the death of South African legend, Dr. Nelson Mandela, as a monumental tragedy for the whole of the continent of Africa and her people.

    In a press release signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Rotimi Adebayo, Ikuforiji described the passing of Mandela as “ most saddening and very unfortunate.”

    He said: “For me, my family , my fellow legislators and the entire management and staff of the Lagos State House of Assembly, the demise of Dr. Nelson Mandela, at this time is so shocking, sad, and most unfortunate.”

    According to him, as Nigerians and then Africans who greatly appreciate his monumental accomplishments for his people and indeed Africans, “we would have wished that a great soul like that of Mandela would have remained here with us forever.

    “Since we as human beings, however, have no control over our lives and those of others, all that is left for us to do as humans, at a time like this, is to look back and bless the name of the Almighty God for blessing us in Africa with such a great soul like Dr. Nelson Mandela.

    “As Mandela, therefore, closed his compassionate and visionary eyes forever, we salute and mourn him, the greatest African legend of the 21st century, the greatest freedom fighter of our time, an embodiment of Godliness, the man of uncommon courage, compassion and love for his people and country, a most contented man, a man of steel and an unconquerable spirit, an uncommon visionary and most selfless African legend of all seasons. Above all, we salute and mourn this great African soul who made the love for children the hallmark of his being,” Ikuforiji said.

    He said though Mandela is now dead, his spirit will live forever.

    “The lesson that all African leaders must take away as we all mourn and celebrate the life and times of this great son of Africa is great love and compassion for our people. Just like Mandela, all those in the positions of authority in Africa must do all within our capacity to empower our people and set them free, “ Ikuforiji said.

    “On this sad occasion, we commiserate with the government and people of South Africa and all Africans, and mourn with members of his family on his irreparable demise.

    “May the Almighty God grant the soul of this uncommon African legend eternal rest. May he also grant members of his family the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss “, Ikutoriji said.

  • Ikuforiji urges Fed Govt to ‘reform’ roads

    Ikuforiji urges Fed Govt to ‘reform’ roads

    Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforiji has urged the Federal Government to repair its highways to prevent further deaths.

    The Speaker said many of the federal roads had become death traps where needless carnage continued to be recorded across the country.

    Ikuforiji was reacting to the death of Prof. Festus Iyayi in a road crash involving the convoy of Kogi State Governor Idris Wada on Tuesday.

    In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Rotimi Adebayo, the Speaker said: “The sad news of the loss of this great and illustrious Nigerian patriot at a time he was making efforts at resolving the protracted four-month old ASUU strike is sad.

    “It is also most unfortunate that Prof. Iyayi, who had devoted his life to the transformation of our nation’s universities, met his end in an avoidable road crash on his way to Kano to resolve the lingering four-month-old ASUU strike. It is not only painful but also highly ironic.”

    According to him, though death will come when it will come, “we, as humans, have been endowed by the Almighty God to take certain precaution to check certain calamities from befalling us.”

    Ikuforiji added: “This is why everything possible must be done by the Federal Government to transform our federal highways, which have been turned into death traps.”

  • Ikuforiji berates Jonathan over national confab

    THE Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Ade-yemi Ikuforiji, has berated President Goodluck Jonathan for proposing a National Conference just 14 months to the next general elections.

    According to him, a conference of such magnitude will take time to organise and implement its resolutions.

    The Lagos speaker raised a few posers: “How do you bring the different groups in the country together under 14 months to a general election? When will the campaign for general election start and when are we starting the National Conference?

    Ikuforiji stressed that if the President was sincere, the National Conference should have held in the first year of his administration when there would have been enough time for him to address all the issues.

    He noted, “I think if the Presidency is really serious about it (National Conference), this should have been an agenda that should have come to the forefront right in the first year of his administration.

    “But with the crisis in the PDP and the level of distrust among citizens in his government and all his pronouncements before now, not many Nigerians will really take the President serious”, Ikuforiji said.

    Ikuforiji warned that the National Conference should not be used as an excuse to delay the general elections or elongate the President’s tenure.

     

     

  • Judge’s absence stalls Ikuforiji’s trial

    Judge’s absence stalls Ikuforiji’s trial

    The absence of Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court, Lagos, yesterday stalled the trial of Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker, Adeyemi Ikuforiji and his aide, Oyebode Atoyebi.

    Ikuforiji and Atoyebi were re-arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Buba, following the retirement of Justice Okechukwu Okeke.

    They pleaded not guilty to the charge and were granted N1 billion bail each with two sureties in N500 million.

    They are being accused of accepting cash payments amounting to N273,303,780 million from the State Assembly without going through a financial institution.

    Ikuforiji was accused of misappropriating about N500 million belonging to the Assembly.

    The court fixed yesterday for the prosecution to open its case but did not sit. It was learnt that Justice Buba was away at the ongoing Judges’ Conference.

    Trial has been fixed for October 17 and 18.

  • EFCC re-arraigns Ikuforiji, aide

    Court grants defendants N2b bail

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday re-arraigned Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforiji on amended charges bordering on money laundering.

    The speaker is facing 24-count charges. His personal assistant, Oyebode Atoyebi, was also re-arraigned on 49 counts.

    They pleaded not guilty.

    Justice Ibrahim Buba granted them N1 billion bail each with two sureties.

    He said they would be remanded in prison unless they meet the bail conditions.

    The court refused to adopt the bail conditions granted them by the former trial judge, retired Justice Okechukwu Okeke.

    Justice Buba surprised the courtroom when he first pronounced a bail of N5 billion each for the defendants.

    He said he was not bound by the former judge’s bail conditions since the case was beginning afresh before him.

    Ikuforiji’s lawyer, Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), requested that the bail conditions be varied and the judge reduced it to N1 billion each.

    Justice Buba said the sureties must file an affidavit of means and the defendants must undertake to always be present in court.

    In the amended charges, Ikuforiji and Atoyebi were accused of accepting cash payments from the House of Assembly on or about April 27, 2010, without going through a financial institution.

    EFCC said the “various cash payments” amounted to about N338.8 million.

    Justice Okeke, before he retired, adjourned proceedings in the trial indefinitely, after accusing the prosecution of delaying the trial.

    Justice Buba adjourned the case till September 25.

  • Court postpones Ikuforiji’s re-arraignment

    Court postpones Ikuforiji’s re-arraignment

    A Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos, yesterday adjourned the re-arraignment of Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforiji and his aide, Oyebode Atoyebi, till June 24.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) could not re-arraign them because the Speaker was not served the hearing notice by the court’s officials.

    It was the court’s duty to do so following the indefinite adjournment of the case by the former judge, Justice Okechukwu Okeke (rtd).

    Justice Okeke accused the prosecution of delaying the trial and adjourned the case sine dine.

    The case was re-assigned to Justice Ibrahim Buba.

    Yesterday, Ikuforiji’s lawyer, Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), said his client was absent because he was not served the hearing notice.

    EFCC’s lawyer, Godwin Obla, said he would liaise with the court’s officials to ensure that Ikuforiji is served.

    If the speaker is re-arraigned, the case will begin afresh.

    EFCC is accusing the defendants of allegedly accepting over N500 million from the Assembly without the money passing through a financial institution. The accused denied the allegation.