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Tag: Ondo state

  • Court seals off Ondo property over disobedience

    Court seals off Ondo property over disobedience

    An Akure High Court Tuesday ordered the sealing off of an automobile market in Akure, the Ondo state capital owned by the state government following its alleged to obey the vacation order of the court.

    The court’s officials had marked the fence of the property located at Akure-Ilesa Expressway, Akure in order that the automobile dealers occupying the premises would vacate the premises until further notice.

    The owners of the land, one Chief Taye James and one Idowu Onanuga sued the government for illegally acquiring the land.

    The court, in a judgment delivered by Justice A.O Adebusoye, in 2014 ruled that the government should vacate the land, adding that the first claimant is entitled to a statutory right of occupancy over the property.

    Counsel to the claimants, Barrister Kehinde Ojo, said the government had allegedly disobeyed the court order on the land which made his clients to approach the court again.

    He said, “We have made several moves to the government to honor the initial agreement but to no avail, hence the reason we went back to the court for enforcement of the judgment.”

    One of the owners of the land, Chief James said he would give the government options of giving him back the land as directed by the court or the defendant should give him N100 million as compensation.

    He noted that the immediate past government of Dr. Olusegun Mimiko had agreed to pay them N100 million as compensation but the money was not paid until the government left in February this year.

    He added that the government should pay the money or vacate the land.

    The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, Segun Ajiboye said the government would study the court ruling and take further action on it.

     

     

  • Ondo warns residents against dumping refuse in waterways

    Ondo warns residents against dumping refuse in waterways

    The Ondo State Government has warned residents of the state to stop indiscriminate dumping of refuse in drains and waterways so as to overcome the perennial menace of flooding.

    Mr Olumide Kinga, the Director of Ecology in the Ministry of Environment, gave the warning in a statement signed by the Ministry’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Sunday Ajibola.

    “It has become necessary for all residents in the state to desist from the old way of dumping refuse in waterways to avoid flooding, especially during this rainy season.

    “This is the right time to give water and streams the necessary leeway to flow unhindered; the situation might get worse if not curbed, particularly now that the rainy season is at its peak,’’ it said.

    The director noted that ministry had started the removal of debris from streams and rivers across those areas that were prone to flooding and erosion to prevent any calamity.

    He said that the removal of debris from water channels had started in Owo Local Government Area of the state, as the residents of the Owo area had written to the government on the challenges they were facing with River Isokun.

    “After we received their letter, the amphibious excavator team of the ministry was deployed to the neighbourhood to address the challenges they are facing because the area is prone to flooding.

    “What we did is the channelisation of the stream to allow free flow of water.

    “But this is just a short-term solution because the permanent solution will involve a more concrete river channelisation, which the government is working on,” he said.

    He said that the ministry had also received complaints on similar challenges facing the residents of Ikare, Okitipupa and other neighbourhoods across the state.

  • Akeredolu laments rising cases of kidnapping

    Akeredolu laments rising cases of kidnapping

    Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State on Wednesday  decried the  rising cases   of  kidnapping across the country, urging security agencies to address  this.

    Akeredolu spoke in Akure when the General Officer Commanding,  2 Division, Nigerian Army, Ibadan, Maj.- Gen. Chukwunedum Abraham,  paid him a courtesy call.

    According to the governor,  kidnapping remains  one of the greatest problems confronting Ondo State  and other parts of the country.

    “There is insecurity in Nigeria and  total breakdown of law and order. People are being kidnapped here and there, causing panic.

    “It is getting alarming and I am not too sure it’s something within the powers of the police.

    “ It’s totally out of their hands and if we don’t get the military to assist, then we will all be at the mercy of kidnappers.

    “This is an opportunity to re-emphasise this key issue as an area of concern to us all, an area we believe you have to deploy more men to give us security in the state,” he said.

    Akeredolu further suggested an increase in the regularity of changing military posts in the state as a solution to the problem.

    “We cannot just allow these hoodlums to operate at will. We want more effective military roadblocks,” he said.

    Responding, the GOC commended Akeredolu for the  assistance to the army in the state.

    “We are here for the Warrant Officer and Sergeant competition.

    “We chose 32 Brigade, Akure, as host, to use the opportunity to visit the governor personally and appreciate him for his show of love to us,” he said

    He said the competition was to train the warrant officers and sergeants on weapon handling, map reading, physical fitness and also to create an atmosphere for  espirit-de-corps among officers in the division.

    Abraham said the GOC  of  2 Division,  comprising  Oyo, Ondo, Ekiti, Osun, Kwara and Edo, was saddled with the responsibility of  protecting  Nigerians.

  • APC Chieftain Celebrates Akeredolu’s Birthday at Orphanage Home

    APC Chieftain Celebrates Akeredolu’s Birthday at Orphanage Home

    The Founder of Dele Ologun Foundation and a Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Mr. Dele Ologun over the weekend donated food stuff and cash to orphans and less privileged at the Ondo State Children’s Home along Oba Ile, Akure, the state capital in commemoration of the 61st and 64th birthday of the State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN and his wife, Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu respectively.
    Ologun said his passion for ameliorating the suffering of the masses and the uncommon passion of Akeredolu towards the less privileged in the State prompted him to donate to the orphanage home.
    Speaking to newsmen at the orphanage home, Ologun said “I am glad to celebrate the birthday of my mentor in line with his directive that those who wishes to celebrate with him on his birthday should go to the orphanage and less privileged home across the state to add more value to them.”
    Akeredolu who clocked 61 on July 20th had in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Segun Ajiboye said well-wishers who wish to celebrate his birthday with him should do so by celebrating with the poorest of the poor in their respective communities and at orphanage homes across the state.
    Materials donated by Ologun at the orphanage home are; one bag of rice, five cartoons of noodles, five cartons of pampers and two big packets of detergent soap.
    Others materials donated were two cartons of caparison juice, one park of tissue paper and sum of #50,000.
    The elated children at the orphanage home thanked Ologun for the gesture and prayed for more years of grace and sound health for the Governor.
    On the entourage of Ologun to the orphanage home was a Supervisory Councillor in Akure North Local Government Area of the state, Hon. Temitope Aluko, the state coordinator of Progressive Youth league, Comrade Blessing Akinlosotu, among others.
    This news medium reports that Dele Ologun became famous during the 2016 governorship campaign in the state when he branded about 10,000 loafs of bread with Akeredolu’s picture and APC logo which he used to mobilize voters within Akure metropolis towards the success of his party at the poll.
  • Triple birthday celebrations for Akinruntan royal family

    Triple birthday celebrations for Akinruntan royal family

    There is no shortage of cheer in the month of July in the royal household of flamboyant monarch, Oba Frederick Obateru Akinruntan, the Olugbo of Ugboland, Ondo State. The whole family is in a frenzy as three of their members celebrate their birthdays.

    The roll call is led by none other than the patriarch of the royal family, Oba Frederick Akinruntan, who turned 67 on Sunday. The wealthy monarch is the head honcho of Obat Oil, one of the country’s oil and gas giants. He is also regarded as one of the richest monarchs in the country.

    His birthday was commemorated with the launch of the Obateru Akinruntan Foundation, which provided free medical diagnosis and treatment for the people.

    It was also a week to remember for the monarch’s second son and heir apparent, Femi Akinruntan, as he attained the symbolic age of 40 on Tuesday.

    Much like his father, Femi opted against throwing an elaborate birthday shindig. Instead, he held a small thanksgiving ceremony at his Ikoyi office, which was presided over by Pastor Ituah Ighodalo and was attended by the likes of Oba Saheed Elegushi.

    Rounding off the trinity of Akinruntan birthdays in the month of July is the monarch’s daughter, Layo, who celebrated her birthday on Wednesday.

  • Ondo APC Primary Court Ruling: Democracy at work – Abraham

    Ondo APC Primary Court Ruling: Democracy at work – Abraham

    The first runner-up in the last governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Segun Abraham, Monday hailed the ruling of the Appeal Court that dismissed the application for stay of court’s proceedings filed by Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.

    The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja had on Monday dismissed the application for stay of court’s proceedings filed by the governor against his candidature in the last governorship primaries of the party in the state.

    Abraham in a statement in Akure,the state capital signed by the Director General, Abraham Support Group(ASG) Kunle Eko-Davies described the ruling as a “quit notice” to the governor and his supporters.

    It noted that the ruling was a clear sign that democracy is strengthening and more people oriented, stressing that “the ruling is a victory for all members of APC locally and in diaspora most especially the “disenfranchised members in the state.

    According to the statement, “The events leading to the 2015 Ondo state APC primaries is still fresh in our memories. The unilateral act of our party National Chairman to submit the name of Akeredolu as the candidate of the party contrary to the decision of the party’s Appeal Committee and National Working Committee is also fresh in our memories.

    “This is a quit notice to Governor Akeredolu and his members to vacate the state house that was acquired illegally.”

    It however appealed to all members of the ruling party and supporters alike to remain calm and be prayerful, saying it is a family issue that would soon be resolved by courts.

  • Appeal Court resolves Obaship tussle in Akoko Community

    Appeal Court resolves Obaship tussle in Akoko Community

    The Court of Appeal sitting in Akure, Ondo State capital, has resolved the protracted obaship tussle between the rival Owa-Ale of Ikare and the Olukare of Ikare in Akoko North East local government area of Ondo State.

    It struck out a suit filed against the recognition of Owa-Ale, Oba kolapo Adegbite-Adedoyin as a traditional ruler in the ancient town.

    The Appellate court panel led by Justice Obande Ogbuinya ruled that the appeal A/AK/103/2011 instituted by the Olukare, Oba Akadiri Saliu-Momoh and five members of his family against Owa-Ale and the Ondo state government“ lacked merit, an abuse of judicial process and the case was status barred”.

    The unanimous court’s judgement read by Justice Danjuma held that Olukare lacked legal ground to challenge the Chieftaincy Status of Owa-Ale as a monarch in Ikare, considering various laws such as the Public Officers Protection Law, Cap 103, Volume 5, Law of Ondo state 1978 and Section 4(1a) of the Limitation Laws Cap 61, Laws of Ondo state 1978.

    The Appeal Court subsequently resolved three issues raised by the appellants for determination in favour of the three respondents- Owa-Ale, State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice as well as the State Commissioner for Local government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

    The trial judge, Justice D.I. Kolawole of the Ondo state High Court in Akure had on July 26, 2011 held in a Suit No: Ak/260/2010, that the case was an abuse of court process, status barred and that the court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the suit.

    The Appellants through their lawyer, Dele Adesina(SAN)had filed the appeal against the verdict of the state High court, praying the Appeal court to declare Owa-Ale Chieftaincy as illegal and to compel the state government to stop recognizing as a monarch in Ikare-Akoko.

    In their counter arguments, Counsel to the State Attorney General, the State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Akeredolu and the Lead Counsel to Owa-Ale, Olawale Ijatuyi had urged the appellate court to dismiss the appeal since similar case had been resolved in favour of Oba Adedoyin in 2009.

    The Defendants Counsels also argued that Owa-Ale was recognised under the 1976 Chieftaincy Law, in the judgments of the state High Court in Suit No: AK/43/81 and AK/171/2007 while the 1999 white Paper on the Report of Justice Adeloye Commission also listed “Owa-Ale” title among recognised Obas in Ondo State.

  • Cyber Cafe fraudsters to face prosecution

    Cyber Cafe fraudsters to face prosecution

    The Coordinator of the Cyber-Protection Corps of Nigeria (CPCN) Longe Olarenwaju Thursday said hard time awaits cyber cafe fraudsters in the country.

    Besides, he cautioned Nigerians against the abuse of social media to prevent cyber menace.

    At a forum on Cyber Crime in Akure, the Ondo state capital, Olarenwaju said it is dangerous for people to give information about their daily activities on the social media for security reasons.

    He noted that social media is for positive interaction and information sharing.

    Olarenwaju pointed out that cybercrime is an illegal activities committed on the internet with the use of the computer.

    The CPCN coordinator said the cyber protection corps carry out investigation on issues of cybercrime to expose cyber criminals.

    According to him, the agency has been assisting law enforcement agents to arrest cyber criminals and recently trained members deployed to each state in the Southwest to assist in fighting cyber criminals.

    He urged Nigerians to be wary of the antics of cyber criminals, stressing that their action could take any form including spoofing, blackmail, sports betting, child pornography, prostitution and copyright infringement.

    Another Information Communication Technology (ICT) expert with CPCN, Godspower Otali said people should desist from getting involved in internet financial scheme that make them loose substantial money.

    Otali cited the Ponzi scheme as an example of scams on the internet that has made many people loose valuables with negative effects on the economy.

    He expressed concern over the large number of youths involving in cybercrimes especially yahoo boys who are denting the image of the country.

    The ICT expert implored youths to be engaged in profitable ventures on ICT development that could develop their potentials.

  • 2017 Hajj: Board screens 128 intending pilgrims in Ondo

    2017 Hajj: Board screens 128 intending pilgrims in Ondo

    Ondo State Muslim Welfare Board on Monday says it has screened 128 intending Muslim pilgrims in the state for the 2017 hajj.

    Alhaji Khaleel Fawehinmi, Chairman of the board, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Akure that those screened were from the 18 local government area of the state.

    “At the end of the exercise, about 128 intending pilgrims were screened while 302 slots was allotted for the state in this year’s hajj.

    “The screening featured all health and medical check-ups, Passport bio data page details verification and special lectures by different clergymen,” he said.

    According to him, the board has extended its deadline for payment of the hajj fares by another one week for willing pilgrims unable to meet up with the earlier deadline.

    The chairman warned the intending pilgrims to avoid acts that would tarnish the image of state while in the Holy Land.

    Fawehinmi also admonished them against carrying excess luggage, as arraignment had been made for them to get good food by competent Nigerian caterer in Saudi Arabia.

    He also charged those with ailment to take care of their health before embarking on the journey because of its stress.

    “You don’t need to carry food stuffs, if you are on special medication, deposit your medication with the medical team,” he added.

  • Ondo pledges to upgrade School of Nursing, Akure

    Ondo pledges to upgrade School of Nursing, Akure

    The Ondo State Government says it is working hard to upgrade the School of Nursing in line with the National Policy on Education.

    Dr Taye Oni, the Permanent Secretary, State Ministry of Health, made the assertion on Thursday in Akure.

    Oni, represented by Dr Ola-Oba Ado, the Director, state Public Health, spoke at the graduation ceremony of 138 students of the school for the 2015 and 2016 academic sessions.

    The permanent secretary advised stakeholders to complement the state government’s efforts in taking the school to greater heights, saying that government could not do it alone.

    He also urged the graduating students to emulate good leaders in the nursing profession, by projecting the good image of the school.

    Oni urged them to discharge their duties in line with the medical practice.

    The school Principal, Mrs Idowu Edward, also advised the graduating students to display the good virtues they were taught in school.

    Edward urged them to shun illegal and unethical practices, saying that discipline and honesty should be their watchwords.

    She said that the school was among the best in Nigeria with one of the students emerging as the overall best candidate in the 2017 Florence Nightingale Competition.

    Edward commended the state government for according the school priority in the scheme of things.

    The overall best academic students in 2015 and 2016 respectively, Miss Nlemchukwu Chisom and Miss Tawakalitu Mojeed, attributed their outstanding performances to God.

    They promised to portray their alma mater in good light through hard work and discipline.

    In his remarks, Dr Supo Ijabadeniyi, a former student of the school, got the institution’s award for excellence.

    He said that the award would propel him to do more, urging the upcoming ones to be focused and worked harder.