Former Deputy Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly, Kunle Taiwo Oluomo, emerged Speaker of the Ogun State 9th Legislative Assembly.
Oluomo who represents Ifo State Constituency 1, was nominated by Hon. Babatunde Sobukunola from Ikenne State Constituency and his nomination was unopposed by his 25 other colleagues.
The Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Opeyemi Oke, retired on Monday after attaining the mandatory retirement age of 65 years.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Oke, born on June 10, 1954, was appointed as the 16th chief judge of Lagos State by former Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode in September, 2017.
Oke, is an alumnus of the University of Ife, Ile-Ife now Obafemi Awolowo University, where she read law from 1973 to 1978.
She enrolled at the Nigerian Law School from 1978 to 1979 and the Coppin State College in Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. from 1980-1982 for a Master of Science Degree in Criminal Justice.
She began her professional career as a counsel at the law firm of Otesanya & Otesanya in 1979 before she joined the Lagos State Judiciary as a senior magistrate.
Oke rose through the ranks to become chief magistrate grade one from 1986 to 1996 and a deputy chief registrar between 1993 to 1994.
She was appointed Judge of High Court of Lagos State on July 19, 1996.
As the Chief Judge of Lagos, she took notably steps to curb touting in the court premises and corruption at the registry/cash office of the high court.
On Feb. 1, 2018, she inaugurated two new divisions of the Ikeja High Court, which are the Special Offences Court (three courtrooms) and the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court (two courtrooms).
Oke also introduced a number of reforms, including the Backlog Elimination Programme, the Small Claims Court and Restorative Justice System.
In a bid to improve justice delivery, the retired chief judge introduced the Sentencing Guidelines for Judges and Magistrates, the Civil Procedure Rules and Practice Direction and a Handbook for Court Registrars.
Justice Kazeem Alogba, the most senior judge in the Lagos State Judiciary is set to become Oke’s successor.
Britain’s economy contracted overall by 0.4 per cent in April after a 0.1 per cent decline in March, the Office for National Statistics said on Monday.
The office said the growth in the three months to April slowed to 0.3 per cent from 0.5 per cent in the first quarter of 2019, also a sharper deceleration than most economists had expected.
According to the office, annual growth slowed to 1.3 per cent.
The drop masked a far bigger impact for manufacturing, which shrank by 3.9 per cent for the month in April, the biggest fall since June 2002.
Car production in April fell 24 per cent on the month, the biggest drop since records began in 1995, and the broader category of “transport equipment” showed its largest drop since 1974.
“GDP growth showed some weakening across the latest three months with the economy shrinking in the month of April, mainly due to a dramatic fall in car production, with uncertainty ahead of the UK’s original EU departure date leading to planned shutdowns,” ONS statistician Rob Kent-Smith said.
BMW shut its UK Mini and Rolls-Royce plants for all of April. Peugeot’s Vauxhall car factory and Jaguar Land Rover also brought forward planned summer shutdowns to April.
Monday’s data confirm the economy is slowing after getting a bigger-than-expected boost in the first three months of 2019 from businesses stockpiling before a Brexit that never came.
The Bank of England forecast last month that GDP growth would slow to 0.2 per cent during the three months to June from 0.5 per cent in the first quarter of the year.
But the bank’s chief economist, Andy Haldane wrote that he still expected “solid” growth of 1.5% for 2019 overall.
Early in 2019, many motor manufacturers had announced temporary shutdowns in Britain for April, anticipating trade disruption around the time Britain was due to leave the European Union on March 29.
In the event, Prime Minister Theresa May delayed departure with just days to go and subsequently set a new date of Oct. 31 — but that was too late for businesses to change their plans.
May’s purchasing managers’ index surveys pointed to the economy being close to stagnation, although they were similarly gloomy in the first quarter when official data turned out strong, despite business concerns about Brexit.
“April’s dip in GDP and apparent ongoing softness in May reinforces our belief that the economy is headed for a markedly weakened performance in the second quarter,” Howard Archer, chief economist at consultants EY ITEM Club, said in a note.
“We had expecting GDP growth to be no more than 0.2 per cent quarter-on-quarter in the second quarter, but even this muted performance is now looking somewhat optimistic.”
Britain’s economy has lost momentum since 2016’s Brexit referendum – before which growth would typically exceed 2% a year – but the job market has strengthened and Haldane said the time for another rate rise was approaching.
This stance contrasts with the view in markets, where concern about the trade conflict between the United States and China has intensified, alongside the risk that Britain could still face a disruptive departure from the EU on Oct. 31.
The impact of the twin concerns of trade tensions and Brexit could also be seen in trade data, also released on Monday.
Britain saw its biggest monthly fall in goods imports since records began in 1998, down 14.4 per cent in April. Exports also slid on a monthly basis, down 10.9 per cent in April, the biggest fall since July 2006.
The trade deficit narrowed as elevated levels of imports by businesses to prepare for Brexit before the March 29 deadline fell back.
The trade balance for goods narrowed to 12.1 billion pounds ($15.36 billion) from 15.4 billion pounds in March.
Gov. Gboyega Oyetola of Osun has ordered council chairmen in the state to suspend their planned foreign trip to Dubai for a workshop.
The directive is contained in a statement issued on Monday in Osogbo by Mr Adeniyi Adeshina, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor.
According to Oyetola, although the trip was approved in 2018, embarking on same this time is not auspicious.
The governor said though it was desirable to continue to expose government officials to capacity building, the financial situation in the state at present did not permit such.
Oyetola, however, assured public officers in the state that they would continue to be given the benefit of training at the appropriate time as the financial situation of the state permits.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt that the 68 Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas were billed to travel to United Arab Emirates for a 10-day workshop.
It was also gathered preparations for the foreign trip started during the administration of former Gov. Rauf Aregbesola but was delayed until now due to lack of funds.
Meanwhile, some Local Government workers in the state have commended the governor for suspending the foreign trip.
A Senior Local Government staff in one of the Local Government Areas who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the directive of the governor suspending the trip, was commendable.
He said the Local Government Chairmen were only interested in using the trip to enrich their pockets and not for any serious workshop.
“I wonder why they have to travel to Dubai for a workshop when the same workshop can be organized here.
” I personally commended the governor for giving the directive and I hope the money for the trip will be used to do something meaningful,” he said.
Thirty-two-year-old Adebo Ogundoyin, a member representing Ibarapa East area has emerged the Speaker of the Ninth Oyo state House of Assembly.
Ogundoyin emerged unopposed and with the unanimous voice vote of the 32 members Assembly.
Ogundoyin, a graduate of Babcock University’s emergence is favoured by a combination of factors such as his party affiliation, zoning consideration and experience being one of the four returning lawmakers to the Ninth Assembly on the platform of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
In the same vein, the lawmaker representing Ona Ara state constituency also emerged the Deputy Speaker through the unanimous voice vote of the lawmakers.
The event which is being witnessed by the Governor Seyi Makinde, his deputy, Rauf Olaniyan among other top government functionaries and stakeholders is currently only at the hallowed chamber of the Assembly.
The election of other principal officers underway…….
It is expected to be a strong legislative battle on Tuesday as the incoming and returning Legislators of the Niger state House of Assembly conveys for the inauguration of the 9th Assembly and the election of a new Speaker.
The immediate past Speaker of the Niger state House of Assembly, Honorable Ahmed Marafa Guni has declared his intention, so also has a very vibrant member of the 8th Assembly, Honorable Madaki Malik Bosso.
Although, there is a third contender who is being thumbed as the candidate of the state government but the member has not come out to declare his intention.
In two different interviews, the Immediate past Speaker affirmed that he was in the race to lead the house for the second time and was confident of winning.
Marafa said that the recent amendment to the house standing rules which only allows ranking members to contest leadership position in the assembly was not meant to deny newcomers opportunity to contest positions in the house.
“Tell me where this is not obtainable. All over the world, parliaments respect this tradition where members who served more than once are privileged to become leaders over those who are new. It’s a natural phenomenon.”
He said that he believes his work in keeping the Assembly as one in the past four years would go a long way to up his chances for the battle of Speakership.
Meanwhile, Honorable Madaki Malik Bosso said he was amply qualified to become the next speaker expressing confidence that the old and new members would vote for him.
He said as a returning member from zone B and from the majority party, he has all the qualifications to vie for the position adding that he is seeking the support of all members in his quest to become the next speaker.
Malik Madaki said when he becomes speaker, he will carry every member along, engender harmonious working relationship with the executive while also striving to maintain the independence of the legislature.
He said his record as one of the most vibrant members in the last house will add to his impetus to bring a new leadership culture that will bring more dividends of democracy to the people.
The Niger state House of Assembly would convey on Tuesday for the inauguration of the 9th Assembly where a new speaker would be elected.
Federal Government has appointed Capt. Mukhtar Yusuf Muye as the Director of Airport Operations DAO, for Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN.
Spokesperson of FAAN, Mrs Henrietta Yakubu disclosed this in a statement on Monday.
The new Director of Operations is a highly trained Commercial and Multi-Engine Instruments Pilot.
According to Mrs Yukubu , Capt. Muye has had a distinguished career in the aviation Industry. Until his recent appointment in the FAAN, he had worked with IRS Airlines as the Chief Pilot.
He takes over the office of DAO which became vacant due to the appointment of the former DAO, Capt. Hamisu Yadudu as Managing Director / Chief Executive Office of the Authority.
In line with the enactment into law of June 12 annually as Democracy Day in Nigeria, the Federal Government has declared Wednesday, June 12, 2019, as Public Holiday to commemorate the maiden National Democracy Day.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Barr. Georgina Ekeoma Ehuriah, who made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government congratulated all Nigerians at home and abroad for the entrenchment of democratic rule in the country.
According to a statement issued on Monday by the Director (Press & Public Relations), Ministry of Interior, Mohammed Manga, the Permanent Secretary called on Nigerians to continue to cherish the sacrifice made by heroes of democracy, particularly those who lost their lives in the struggle for the actualization of Democratic Governance in Nigeria in order to make the country a better place for all.
She further called for the collaboration and cooperation of all Nigerians with the Administration of President Muhammadu Buhari towards achieving our collective aspiration for the unity, peace and socio-economic development of Nigeria and wished all Nigerians at home and abroad a happy Democracy Day Celebration.
Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has appointed Justice Kazeem Alogba as acting Chief Judge of the
state with effect from Tuesday, June 11, 2019.
The information is in a statement issued by the Deputy Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Gboyega Akosile in Lagos on Monday.
He stated that Alogba would be in acting capacity, pending the recommendation of the National Judicial Council and subsequent confirmation by the state House of Assembly.
According to him, the appointment followed the need to prevent a vacuum in the state judiciary, given the imminent retirement of the present Chief Judge, Justice Opeyemi Oke.
He said Alogba would be sworn in on Thursday at the Lagos House, Alausa.
Prior to his appointment, Justice Alogba was the most senior of the 58 honourable justices in the state judiciary next to the outgoing chief judge.
Alogba had chaired the Committee on Review of High Court Civil Procedure Rules, which culminated in the new High Court of Lagos (Civil Procedure) Rules of 2019 that came into force on Jan. 31, 2019.
NAN
There is anxiety in Ogun State House of Assembly Complex, Oke – Mosan, Abeokuta, over who becomes the Speaker for the 9th Legislative Assembly to be inaugurated in less than two hours by Governor Adedapo Abiodun.
The eight Legislative Assembly headed by Speaker Suraj Adekunbi from Ogun West Senatorial district, ended it’s tenure last Friday.
The race for his successor hots up this morning as intense horse trading, alliance building and fence mending thickened at the Assembly complex.
Former members of the House were sighted subtly making last minutes strategies to ensure the candidates of their respective choices between the duo of Kunle Oluomo, the immediate past Deputy Speaker of the House representing Ifo State Constituency and Daisy Elemide, representing Odeda State constituency, who happened to be the known and major contenders.
It could only be a late hour shock if another candidate surfaced from the blue to indicate interest in the Speakership position at the eleventh hour.
The seat, expectedly, had been zoned to Ogun Central since Ogun East has the Governor while the Ogun West has the Deputy Governor.
The atmosphere remained tense at the Assembly complex on Monday morning as hundreds of supporters of both contenders filed and milled in different directions and discussing.
Police Ordinance (Anti – bomb Squad) stationed at the Assembly entrance gate and other sister – security agencies screened visitors thoroughly before allowing them access.
Honourable Kunle Oluomo, a robust contender, has eight years of legislative experience on his side. He is a grass root politician, and mobiliser and often rated as the grand master of Ifo politics by supporters and is expected to spring surprises.
In the last eight years, Oluomo, an activist, has been running people – centric and welfarist representation for his Ifo 1 state constituency, providing free school shuttle buses that convey pupils and students to and fro schools in Ifo town and surrounding communities.
He is making his third appearance at the Ogun Assembly where of the 26 – member legislators, about a dozen of them are making their first appearances.
He was an Amosun loyalist to the core, dating back to the time of the All Nigerian Peoples Party(ANPP). He was first elected a lawmaker on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria(ACN), 2011 when he followed Amosun to the party, got re-elected on the ticket of APC 2015 and now in 2019 on the strength of same party.
He, however, fell out with Amosun when his former boss denied him ticket and had to align with Dapo Abiodun and Osoba camp to get the ticket to run.
Oluomo is banking on the likely support of colleagues – past and present, who would be returning to the House to clinch the Speakership position and The Nation gathered that they are living no stone unturned to accomplish the goal.
The odds against him is his connection with the Amosun, and even when the relationship between them had taken different directions, political expediency and need for healthy and stable forthcoming Ogun Assembly may make the choice of Oluomo a difficult one but not insurmountable.
He is well loved by fellow lawmakers who are rallying round him and wooing the first timer legislators to his side and should Governor Abiodun and the All Progressives Congress decide to significantly allow the legislators their independency, Oluomo may floor Elemide during voting session because of his perceived popularity.
Elemide is a warhorse, intelligent and calm politician. He was in the House before during the time of former Governor Aremo Segun Osoba and remained his loyalist.
He was with Osoba when they moved to the Social Democratic Party(SDP) in 2015 and also joined the camp to successfully fight their way back to APC.
Elemide enjoys the trust of the party chieftains, his constituency and has charisma for the office but how these pans out to help his ambition remained to be seen about an hour away to the inauguration of the Ogun State 9th Legislative Assembly but he is quite hopeful of becoming the Speaker.