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Tag: Ogunlewe

  • Counsel battle to secure FUNAAB Pro –Chancellor, VC bail

    Counsel battle to secure FUNAAB Pro –Chancellor, VC bail

    Counsel for former Works Minister and Pro – Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture (FUNAAB), Abeokuta, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, and the Vice – Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Olusola Oyewole, are engaging in an intense legal battle at state High Court sitting in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, to secure bail for duo before end of Friday.

    Ogunlewe and Prof. Olusola who were brought to court in an air conditioned fitted Urvan bus marked BWR 633 AT by over half a dozen operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC), were arraigned before Justice O.O. Majekodunmi on- 18 count charge.

    They were docked at 9:12am and pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    Also docked alongside Ogunlewe and Oyewole is the university Bursar, Mr. Moses Ilesanmi.

    Part of the 18 -count charge preferred against the trio include putting N400m in a fixed deposit account with a commercial bank without following due process, and  paying the interest accruing from it into the personal account of an individual.

    When the bail application was first announced, there was confusion about which counsel should appear for the first accused – Ogunlewe.

    Son of the ex-minister, Mr. M. Ogunlewe, who announced appearance for his father, did not move the application for the bail, saying a lead counsel who should do that was yet to arrive the court.

     

  • EFCC to arraign Ogunlewe, others

    EFCC to arraign Ogunlewe, others

    THE Ibadan Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will, tomorrow, arraign principal officers of Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB).

      Those to be arraigned for   alleged abuse of office and misappropriation of funds are Pro-Chancellor Adeseye Ogunlewe, Vice Chancellor Prof Olusola Oyewole and Bursar Moses Olusola Ilesanmi.

    A petition to EFCC by Concerned Stakeholders of FUNAAB alleged that the pro-chancellor, vice chancellor and bursar engaged in “unbridled corruption and betrayal of public trust”.

  • Ogunlewe retains title

    Ogunlewe retains title

    Defending champion of the men’s 100m, Seye Ogunlewe, has run a time of 10:12sec on Friday to retain his title at the just concluded National Olympic trials held at the Sapele Township Stadium.

    Ogunlewe who had qualified for the 2016 Rio Olympics had said in a chat with NationSport:“I “I give thanks to God for making this possible,” Ogunlewe said after the race. “Winning the 100m event again and qualifying for the Olympics is a dream come true.”

    Meanwhile former junior international, Divine Oduduru, had been the cynosure of all eyes as he finished second with a time of 10.25secs ahead of Ogho-Oghene Egwero who finished third in 10.36secs.  Oduduru however won the 200m for men in 20.51secs.

    Nigeria’s queen of the track, Blessing Okagbare, won the women’s 200m  race in 22.78secs on Friday.

    However it was sad day for Paul Dedewo who was disqualified in the men’s 400m final after he jumped the gun.

    US-based, Kunle Fasasi, however won the race in 46.22secs to become the new champion, although the time was not good enough for him to qualify for the Olympics.

    Speaking after the race, Fasasi said the delay affected his performance as all the athletes have already lost the zeal to run after more than three disruptions.

    In the women’s 400m race, the outcome was never in doubt as defending champions; Patience Okon-George retained her title with time of 51.67secs with Omolara Omotosho finishing second.

     Also on Friday, the Nigeria duo of Emmanuel Gyang and Deborah Pam both won the 10,000m in the men and women categories respectively.

    Gyang finished first with a time of 31:31:58 while Solomon Yilbam finished second with a time of 32:05:19.

    Daylong Sylvester of Nigeria Immigration came third with a time of 32:29:71.

    In the women’s 10,000m run, Deborah Pam, also of NSCDC, won the race with a time of 36:53:73, while Olamide Oluwaseun came second on 37:25:17, Olumidi Aderonke however finished third.

  • How to resolve zoning crisis in PDP, by Ogunlewe

    How to resolve zoning crisis in PDP, by Ogunlewe

    Former Minister of Works and a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, is not happy with developments in his party. In this interview with EMMUANUEL OLADESU, he explains why the party should zone the National Chairman to the Southwest.

    What does the proposed convention portend for the PDP?

    If the convention is properly managed, it is going to be peaceful. But, if it is not well managed, it may divide the party and perhaps destroy it. We must not repeat the mistakes of 2014 when some of our members walked out of the convention. They went to a private place to hold their own convention. In this dispensation, the convention must be free and fair. It should be all inclusive. There should be no predetermined script, to sideline some people. This will be very dangerous for the party.

    But, you have the secretary and publicity secretary zoned to the Southwest…

     It is the secretary and the chairman of the party that have been zoned to the North. But, what we are saying is that we should sustain a zoning arrangement that every Nigerian will understand. That is, if the presidency goes to the North, the chairman of the party comes to the South. It must move either way and must be done in such a way to entrench harmony, otherwise there will be problem.

    Why is the Southwest divided on this issue?

    That is what I don’t understand. It is the selfish interest of some individuals. I don’t know why they believe that we don’t deserve the chairmanship of the party?  They are undermining our people with such a position. The late Adisa Akinloye was the chairman of the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN). What this implies is that we have competent people. But now, it is like asking if there are people in the Southwest that are credible enough to be the chairman of the party. I think it is reasonable for the Southwest to get the chairman. The chairmanship of a political party has nothing to do with elections. Winning elections are based on the calibre of candidates presented for the offices. It is in view of the pedigree of the person presented, they vote for such candidate. All we need to do is to present a candidate with reputation, to carry every Nigerian along. This has nothing to do with the northern acceptance or not. People will support PDP, if the candidate is appropriate. So, the chairmanship of the party has nothing to do with government. When Adamu Mu’azu was the chairman of the party during the last election, so why didn’t we win in the North? So, saying that zoning the party to the North will make the northerners to like the party does not hold water. It is the candidate that determines the success during elections.

    Will this not further divide the Southwest?

    What we are saying is that they should give it to the South. If the Southwest does not like it, it goes to the Southsouth or the Southeast. I am not saying it must be Southwest, I am just saying that it must be South. Whoever is interested in South should come out. We have prominent people in the South that can come out. It should be zoned to the South, so that we can feel that we are part of the party.

    Are you endorsing Bode George for the position of the chairman…

    No, our gathering for the Southwest Elders Council meeting is a southern agenda. They will not name any person, are you saying that if it is zoned to the South, they will name a particular person? So, zone it to the Southwest, the Southsouth or the Southeast, that is what we are saying. If you want to include Bode George fine, as long as it is the South it is okay.

    What is the assurance that your party will not hold a parallel convention?

    If they don’t listen to the South, it is evident that a parallel convention will take place. Certainly, we will never accept that the chairman should go to the North. It is not possible because the same party has conceded the presidency to the North. How do you now concede the chairmanship of the party to the North again? What are we going to tell our people? We are going to be discouraged about it. The South should present chairman, just as in the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Chairmqan. Chief John Odigie-Oyegun is from the South. We have somebody like Tom Ikimi, let him be the chairman of the party; we also have Peter Odili. There are prominent people that can be the chairman of the party. We have Emmanuel Uduaghan, Liyel Imoke, Donald Duke and so on. These are people that have been part of government before. They have been governors before; we have many of them in the South and any of them can be the chairman of the party.

    Is this crisis beyond resolution?

    The resolution is zoning the chairman to the South. If you don’t want trouble, zone it to the South. But, if you zone it to the North, you are destroying the party.

    How would you accommodate prominent members from the Southwest, who do not agree with your idea?

    That is why they need to reflect on the matter because the North cannot have the two positions. Which other party has ever done that? It is very unreasonable. So, what are we going to tell our people in the South? That they will not have the presidency or the chairman?  So, what will they have then? It is not a Southwest issue; the South must present the chairman of the party. If you don’t want to give it to the Southwest, give it to the Southsouth or the Southeast. If you believe that there are no southern candidates for the chairmanship position, then you are wrong.   

  • George, Ogunlewe, Daniel: Southwest should produce PDP chairman

    George, Ogunlewe, Daniel: Southwest should produce PDP chairman

    The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) escalated yesterday as prominent Southwest leaders reiterated their opposition to the zoning of the chairmenship slot to the North.

    The PDP elders, including former National Deputy Chairman Chief Bode George, former Works Minister Senator Seye Ogunlewe, Board of Trustees (BoT) member Senator Bode Olajumoke, former Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Oloye Jumoke Akinjide and former House of Representatives Majority Leader Hon. Mulikat Adeola-Akande, said crisis  may hit the party if the zoning arrangement is not reversed.

    At the meeting of the PDP Governors’ Forum held two days ago, the governors insisted that the chairman should come from the North, despite pleadings by its Chairman, Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State. According to sources, it was resolved at the meeting in Abuja that the PDP, which has already zoned the presidency to the North,  could only consider the bid of the Southwest for the position next year, ahead of the 2019 elections.

    The zoning formula, added the sources, enjoys the support of Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose, Senator Buruji Kashamu, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, and five of the six state chairmen in the Southwest.

    However, objecting to the move, other Southwest leaders, who held a summit at the Goldengate Restaurant, Ikoyi, Lagos maintained that Yoruba will no longer play the second fiddle in the PDP.

    At the PDP Elders Summit were former former Sports and Special Duties Minister Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, Ogun State former Governor Gbenga Daniel, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, former Osun State Deputy Governor Olusola Obada, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, former presidential spokesman Dr. Doyin Okupe, Senator Adefemi Kila, Lagos PDP Chairman Capt. Tunji Shelle, Ambassador Dare Bejide, Senator Segun Bamigbetan, Senator Ogunwale, Alhaji Hafiz Gbolarunmi, Chief Ladosu Ladipo and Chief Joju Fadairo from Ogun State.

    Others are former Lagos PDP Women Leader Mrs. Onikepo Oshodi, former Minister of State for Agriculture Chief Remi Awotorebo, former Minister of Regional Integration Dr. Bimbo Ogunkelu, former Acting national Secretary Dr. Remi Akitoye, Prince Nekan Olateru-Olagbegi, Chief Jide Adeniji, Chief Soboyeje, Jelili Amusan, Mrs. Kikelomo Olugbemi, Mrs. Kudirat Obayan, and Hon. Tajudeen Agoro.

    George, the convener of the meeting, chided Southwest chieftains who are supporting zoning to the North, saying that they are traitors who cannot defend the integrity and interest of the Southwest.

    Reiterating his opposition to the zoning arrangement, the former National Deputy Chairman said: “We will never accept a situation where Yoruba are shoved aside.”

    He said Southwest leaders who stormed the PDP National Secretariat to compromise the Yoruba interest by opposing zoning to the Southwest were dishonourable elements.

    George said the Acting Chairman, Senator Modu Sheriff should vacate office after the convention, adding that “the midwife cannot transform into the new born baby.”

    Urging Yoruba to assert themselves in the PDP, he said: “The die is cast.”

    Babatope, who welcomed the delegates from the six states to the summit, lamented that some party members went to Abuja to compromise the interest of the region by canvassing positions that were irreconcilable with Yoruba interest.

    He added: “We will not allow ragamuffins to tamper with Yoruba interest in the PDP and Nigeria.”

    Olajumoke lamented the discordant tunes in the PDP over zoning, saying that Yoruba should have taken a common position.

    He said the PDP is disturbing itself at a time Nigerians are warming up to it as an alternative to the APC government.

    The BoT member added: “There are discordant tunes in the PDP and the BoT. Southwest PDP owe it a duty to the entire zones to give leadership. Prof. Tunde Adeniran was saying that we are not even playing the second or third fiddle again; that we are not playing any fiddle, not to talk of a second fiddle.”

    Okupe said since the PDP was formed in 1998, no Yoruba has served as its national chairman, adding that it is a disgrace. He said those opposing zoning to get the Southwest are not only bastards, they are not honourable Yoruba people.

  • Happy times for Okoya, Ogunlewe

    Happy times for Okoya, Ogunlewe

    Party Former Minister of Works, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, was one of the hardest hit chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the gale of defeats the party suffered in the hands of rival All Progressives Congress (APC) in the just concluded general elections. However, his spirit would seem to have been lifted by the impending marriage between his lanky son, Moyosore, and his heartthrob of many years, Temitayo, the granddaughter of Eleganza boss, Chief Rasaq Akanni Okoya.

    The solemnisation of their union, scheduled to hold today, promises to be graced by scores of notable Nigerians. The love birds were said to have met at the Nigerian Law School, where they both studied for their degree in Law. Moyosore is 30 years old while enchanting Temitayo is in her late 20s. Theirs look like a union made in heaven. Besides the fact that they are both lawyers, the two belong to the class of silver spoon children.

  • Ogunlewe harps on self-reliance

    Pro-Chancellor/Chairman of Council, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, has urged students to contribute to the development of their institutions.

    He made the call while leading a team, which included the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Olusola Oyewole, on an inspection of facilities in the university.

    On-going projects included the Information and Communication Technology building, the link road from the Unity Building, the fence along Alabata Road and College of Management Sciences (COLMAS), the 2,500-seater Auditorium, Centre for Entrepreneurship Building and the 1,000-seater Auditorium.

    Others were the reception and office buildings for the laboratory complex, and the 250-capacity Biology, Physics and Chemistry laboratories.

    During the tour, it was decided that the location of the main bus-stop should be moved.

    Presenting the proposal to Ogunlewe, Oyewole said an alternative location would be allotted to the park, while a gigantic, three storey building would be constructed on the current site.

  • Ogunlewe denies clash with FUNAAB VC

    Ogunlewe denies clash with FUNAAB VC

    Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, has refuted a newspaper report that there is a clash between members of the institution’s council and its Vice-Chancellor, Prof Olusola Oyewole.

    The denial followed a recent report in a national daily (not The Nation), titled: Ogunlewe, VC clash over administrative style, which alleged that there was tension between the duo.

    In a statement by Ogunlewe’s Media and Publicity Director, Mark Mayah, the former Minister of Works described the report as distressing, unfortunate and completely repugnant to natural justice.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, at no time did the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council, either in his public engagement or private, have an interactive session with journalists at his Ogudu residence as published in the said report.

    “I have had one-on-one interview session with either Politics or Education reporters, but there was no mention of clash between the VC and myself or any member of the Governing Council. I hereby expressly and comprehensively deny and refute the entire report,” Ogunlewe said.