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Tag: Olajide Awe

  • Police dismiss cop who shot Bamidele, five other APC Members

    … To face trial soon

    The Police have dismissed the trigger-happy mobile policeman who shot former House of Representatives member, Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele and five other party faithful on Friday.

    The culprit whose name was yet to be revealed opened fire at the All Progressives Congress (APC) secretariat last Friday at the welcome rally held for the governorship flag bearer, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

    Bamidele and five other injured party members were hospitalized but the former federal lawmaker has been relocated to Lagos for post-surgery treatment.

    The officer was battered by angry party members who smashed his head, inflicted injuries on him and dispossessed him of his service rifle.

    Commissioner of Police, Ekiti State Command, Mr. Bello Ahmed, disclosed on Monday that the mobile policeman has been dismissed from service to pave the way for his trial in court as soon as he is discharged from the hospital.

    The police boss who spoke on a live programme on Channels Television disclosed that the politician who brought the policeman to Ekiti State from his Lagos base has been detained and he is being grilled by interrogators.

    Ahmed said the politician will also be arraigned in court as soon as the Police conclude their investigation into the shooting incident.

    He said: “The policeman involved is dismissed already and even though he’s nursing some injury.

    “At the appropriate time, he will face the law of course. Nigerians will be briefed on the outcome of our actions.”

    Read Also: Ekiti Shooting: Bamidele in stable condition

    Ahmed also spoke on the readiness of the command to regulate the activities of political parties to prevent violence and other acts that could lead to breakdown of law and order.

    Part of the measures, according to him, was the deployment of armed policemen from neighbouring states which he said would be a continuous exercise as election approaches.

    He added: “We have robust arrangement to regulate and observe these political activities as they unfold in Ekiti State, in fact in the entire state.

    “We just got a robust deployment of mobile policemen and that will be increased as the campaigns are progressing.

    “You know what is on the ground will determine what will be done. If the satiation on ground dictates we behave otherwise, we will do provided it is within the confines of the law.

    “This morning (Monday) I’ll be having a meeting with all the political parties’ chairmen. We have programmes for them.

    “We are going to regulate every inch of activity in the state. We will not sit down and tolerate any act of lawlessness, whoever is involved.

    “The police, we are willing, competent to take action against any group or persons, either individual or groups as far this campaign is concerned.”

    Meanwhile, political parties have promised to rein in their members and maintain peace before, during and after the July 14 poll.

    They gave the commitment at a meeting held with the Police Commissioner, Bello Ahmed, at the state police headquarters in Ado-Ekiti on Monday.

    Ekiti State APC Chairman, Chief Olajide Awe, described the meeting as a fruitful deliberation, saying the police boss spoke frankly and expressed his feelings about the comportment of political parties.

    “The police boss spoke frankly and he told us to warn our supporters to respect the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act and this we have to do in the interest of our dear state.

    “We want to rule over living and not dead people, so we need to exercise restraint in the way we conduct ourselves”.

    The PDP Chairman, Chief Gboyega Oguntuase, said what the police boss preached at the meeting was civility and decorum from all political parties, which he assured his party will comply with.

    “As much as we believe in this, he must also not be unaware of something, you can’t rig election and be expecting decorum.

    “What our people will resist is corruption and rigging and once the police and other security agencies are ready to be neutral, then there will be peace”.

    National Democratic Liberty Party (NDLP) Chairman, Mr. Ifedayo Iyaniwura, said parties urged the CP to ensure security at the poll in which 35 parties will participate unlike the 18 that took part in the 2014 poll.

    Speaking at the forum, Ahmed said the command won’t fold its arms and allow people to breach the 1999 constitution and the Electoral Act in the name of election.

    He said the meeting convened for stakeholders to brainstorm on how to ensure peaceful conduct of the coming governorship election and that the riot act has been read to them to serve as a guided principle.

    The Police boss assured that his men will be neutral in the July 14 election and won’t do anything that would make them look as if they were working for a certain political party.

    “What I want from men is professionalism. We are going to be guided by the instrumentality of the law, because this election is going to be a different ball game”.

    On the deployment of more anti-riot policemen to Ekiti since last week, Ahmed said:  “You know what is on the ground will determine what will be done. If the satiation on ground dictates we behave otherwise, we will do provided it is within the confines of the law.

    “We are going to regulate every inch of activity in the state. We will not sit down and tolerate any act of lawlessness, whoever is involved.

    “The police, we are willing, competent to take action against any group or persons, either individual or groups as far this campaign is concerned.”

  • Ekiti withdraws murder case against APC chair, two others

    The Ekiti State government has withdrawn the charge of murder preferred against the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman, Chief Olajide Awe.

    Awe and two others were accused of complicity in the murder of two Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members, Mrs. Juliana Adewumi and Mr. Murphy Jeje on March 30, 2013 in Erijiyan-Ekiti, Ekiti West Local Government Area.

    The two other accused persons who are also APC members are Mr. Sola Adenijo and Mr. Sefiu Owonifari. Owonifari died about three weeks ago.

    Awe was forced to flee the state after the Ayo Fayose-led administration filed the charge against him.

    Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Kolapo Kolade, moved an application for the withdrawal of the case which came up for hearing on Wednesday before Justice Dele Omotoso of High Court 7.

    Consequent upon the adoption of the application to withdraw the case, Justice Omotoso subsequently discharged and acquitted all the accused persons.

    Granting the application, the judge said the court supported the development because it was to promote peace.

    Kolade said: “What happened in court today is far beyond politics, the governor in his usual characteristic manner of promoting peace and brotherliness in all communities in Ekiti and across party lines has intervened.

    “In this matter, so many good people across Nigeria, even the defendants in this matter, has appealed to His Excellency to intervene in this matter, particularly in Erijiyan.

    “More so as the defendants and complainant are of same family, the complainants has given the go-ahead and said the matter should be withdrawn.

    “This development equally supports the cause of justice. One of the cardinal principles of justice is promotion of peace.

    “The major beneficiary is Chief Jide Awe, the APC chairman in Ekiti State. He, alongside his aide and other party members were alleged to have murdered late Madam Juliana Adewumi, mother of the Deputy Speaker, Ekiti State and Murphy Jeje, a member of the PDP 2013.The complainant is the Deputy Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly.

    Defense counsel, Mr. Ibrahim Olanrewaju, said: “reason seems to have prevailed today; the Attorney General himself came to court to withdraw the charge.

    “And by the provision of our law, the court was left with no option, than to discharge and acquit the defendants. This simply means that this charge can’t be filled in any court again.

    “Like you all know the genesis of the case. We are not saying that somebody was not killed or murdered, but we all know that it is more of political fight than looking for justice.

    “Taking from the words of the Attorney General himself, he said that they are trying to allow peace to reign in the community and to promote good neighborliness and we support it.

    “We salute the state for doing this, we salute the courage of the Attorney General for the bold step and we salute the courage of our lord Justice Omotoso for discharging and also acquitting the defendants. He could have just discharge without acquitting them.”

  • Oyegun: Ekiti governorship poll, a must win for APC

    Assures aspirants of credible primary

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, has declared that the July 14 governorship election is a “must-win” for his party.
    He also assured all aspirants interested in the party’s ticket that a credible, free, fair and transparent primary election will be conducted to choose the flag bearer.
    Oyegun stressed that the Muhammadu Buhari Administration would not compromise the integrity of the ballot box despite the party’s quest to regain the governorship seat in Ekiti.
    The party leader promised that the APC structure in the entire country will mobilize all available resources to assist members in Ekiti to win the forthcoming governorship poll.
    Oyegun spoke in Ado-Ekiti on Monday during a one-day official visit to Ekiti State to flag off the membership mobilization drive into the party.
    The APC National Chairman registered new members at the state secretariat along Ajilosun in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.
    He was joined by some members of the National Working Committee (NWC) including the National Organising Secretary, Senator Osita Izunaso.
    Oyegun and his team made a stopover at the state secretariat where thousands of party members mobilized by governorship aspirants had waited to receive the team.
    The train later moved to Eagle Hall along Ikere Road where another crowd of party faithful had gathered.
    The National Chairman, Ekiti State APC Chairman, Chief Olajide Awe, Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, State Working Committee members and governorship aspirants sauntered into the hall at about 1.15 pm to a rapturous ovation by party supporters.

    Read Also: APC moves to reconcile Buhari, Saraki, others

    Oyegun said the flag-off of nationwide registration of new party members was brought to Ekiti to show the readiness of the APC to win the forthcoming governorship poll in the Southwest state.
    He said: “We did not choose Ekiti to flag off this event (new membership drive) by accident. Ekiti is facing an important election that will happen in this nation.
    “God has put it in our hand, God has put it on your laps and God has chosen Ekiti to be a major factor in the politics of this country in July 2018.
    “We in the National Executive have decided that the coming election in Ekiti is one we will work as hard as possible. No stone will be left unturned; it is a must-win election.
    “As you know, the Muhammadu Buhari Administration will not compromise with offering voters a level playing field, the Buhari Administration will not compromise on having a free and fair election.
    “It means whether we are in power at the federal level or not, we must all work hard to deserve the victory that belongs to us.”
    Oyegun also reeled out some guidelines to ensure that aspirants and their supporters conduct themselves with decorum and ensure that the party organizes a transparent primary.
    He said further: “The aspirants should not campaign as if there is no tomorrow, don’t campaign with enmity because there should be no discord in the party and anybody that wants to fly the party flag must sign an undertaking to maintain decorum.
    “We at the national headquarters, having guaranteed a free and fairprimary, because there cannot be peace without justice, will guarantee a free and fair primary.
    “We must not have bad losers, all aspirants must collapse their structures into the person that is chosen at the primary. There must be no division and factionalisation in the party.
    “No officer (in the state exco) should join the campaign bandwagon of any aspirant whatever position you hold. The moment you do that, you have factionalised the party.”
    Speaking on the issue of rumour to impose a candidate, Oyegun said: “I want to assure that in Ekiti State, we will have free, fair and credible primary. We will provide security at the primary, it will be an open event and will be covered and recorded on television from the beginning to the end.
    “There will be proper identification of delegates to prevent impersonation. Once the delegate list is out, every aspirant that pays the prescribe fee will be given the delegates list.
    “At the voting point, party chairmen of the local government (chapters) and wards will stand at a distance away but they will ensure that those that will vote are bona fide delegates and anybody found impersonating will be handed over to the Police.
    “A formidable group of (APC) governors will be mobilized who will superintend, guide and ensure that the election is totally free and fair.
    “Finally, as far as Ekiti governorship election is concerned, we are going to mobilise the entire country, the entire APC structure to ensure that you (Ekiti APC) are not alone and that all resources you need for the election are made available to you.
    “At the end of July, Ekiti will be APC.” Governorship aspirants who present include Chief Segun Oni, Dr. Wole Oluyede, Mr. Kola Alabi, Mr. Victor Kolade, Dr. Bayo Orire, Senator Gbenga Aluko, Captain Sunday Adebomi, Dr. Mojisola Kolade, Chief Diran Adesua, Mr. Bimbo Daramola, Senator Ayo Arise, Dr. Wole Oluleye and Dr. Makanjuola Owolabi.

  • Ekitigate: APC writes AGF, demands review of guber poll

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has written the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), seeking a review of the June 21, 2014 governorship election and the prosecution of those accused of manipulating the poll.

    The party which described the alleged poll fraud as “extraordinary shame of the nation and unprecedented in Nigeria’s electoral history,” maintained that the action of those indicted amounted to serious breach of the Constitution and Electoral Act.

    In the petition endorsed by APC Chairman in Ekiti, Olajide Awe, a copy of which was made available to reporters in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday, the party said the alleged fraud was a “criminal manipulation of the electoral process” insisting that all the personalities indicted must not go unpunished.

    Awe contended that the review of the matter had become imperative in national interest and to prevent a cycle of politicians that could seize the reins of government through treason.

    He said the petition which was the third to be forwarded to the office of the AGF was precipitated by the recent confessions on Channels Television by the Peoples Democratic Party secretary in Ekiti, Dr. Temitope Aluko, published and broadcast on other electric and print media.