The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ondo state

  • Rubber tapper remanded over fraud

    An Okitipupa Magistrates’ Court in Ondo State, on Wednesday remanded a 25- year-old rubber tapper, Mike Afunaya in prison custody over alleged N450, 000 fraud.

    The Magistrate, Mr Banji Ayeomoni, ordered that the defendant be remanded until March 29 for further investigation, and hearing of bail application.

    The defendant of no fixed address had pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge of advance free fraud and collecting money under false pretence levelled against him.

    The prosecutor, Insp. Zedekiah Orogbemi, had told the court that Afunaya, on Feb. 4, around 9:30 a.m. at No. 2, Ikumawoyi St., Ode-Aye, defrauded one Godfrey Alehen under false pretence of supplying him rubber lumps.

    Orogbemi said that the accused knowing that he would not supply the lumps, absconded after collecting the money until he was apprehended by the police.

    The prosecutor said that the offences were contrary and punishable under Sections 419 and 390 (9), Criminal Code, Cap.37, Vol.1, Laws of Ondo State, 2006.

     

  • Ondo Assembly gets acting Speaker

    Ondo Assembly gets acting Speaker

    The Ondo State House of Assembly has appointed an Acting Speaker, Mr. Malachi Coker, following the resignation of the Speaker, Jumoke Akindele on Monday in Akure.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the legislators at the plenary session, also appointed Arowele Samuel from Owo l Constituency, as the Deputy Speaker.

    Others are Olamide George, representing Akure North Constituency as the Majority Leader and Mukaila Musa as the Minority Leader.

    The officers are to be in office pending when election is held for the positions.

    The Speaker resigned after he was accused of withdrawing N15 million from the Assembly’s account without the knowledge of the principal officers.

     

  • Three die, five injured in Ondo road crash

    Three die, five injured in Ondo road crash

    Three persons have been reported dead, while five others injured in a road accident at Uso, along Akure/Owo road in Ondo

    State.

    It was learnt that the accident, claimed the life of an octogenarian and two brothers who were said to be siblings.

    An eye witness said the carnage which involved two vehicles occurred as a result of excessive speed of the drivers of the two ill-fated vehicles.

    One of the vehicles, a Toyota Highlander jeep was said to be heading to Akure from Abuja, while the other vehicle, a bus was going to Owo.

    It was gathered that the two vehicles were on high speed when the driver of the Toyota Highlander swerved to the other side of the road in an attempt to avoid a pothole, a situation which caused collision of the two vehicles.

    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the state police command, Mr Femi Joseph confirmed the accident, saying the two vehicles have already been impounded.

    He said the police were already investigating the cause of the accident.

    Joseph urged motorists and other road users to avoid excessive speeding on highways.

  • Ondo: Akeredolu dissolves boards and parastatals

    Ondo: Akeredolu dissolves boards and parastatals

    Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo state has approved the dissolution of all Boards and Parastatals in the state.

    The Head of Service, Mr Toyin Akinkuotu, on Saturday in Akure, announced the immediate dissolution of the boards and parastatals.

    Akinkuotu, through a statement, urged all chairmen, political appointees and non-career employees in all boards and parastatals in the state to hand over all government properties in their custody to the accounting officers in their respective offices.

    He, however, said that statutory commissions whose tenure is specified in the 1999 Nigerian Constitution were exempted from the dissolution.

     

  • Akeredolu will fulfill all electoral promises, says APC

    Akeredolu will fulfill all electoral promises, says APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State on Wednesday reassured residents that Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) would fulfil all his electoral promises.

    The APC reiterated this in a statement in Akure by its Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Adesanya.

    Adesanya promised prompt payment of workers’ salaries, job creation through industrialisation and agricultural revolution as well as peace and stability.

    Reacting to the advice by the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) against creation of new local council development areas, Adesanya said: “Akeredolu will fulfill all electoral promises.”

    PDP had warned the governor against his proposal to create new local council development areas out of 18 local government areas promised during Akeredolu’s electioneering campaign.

    Adesanya stressed that there would be creation of local council development areas as promised by Akeredolu during campaign.

    “Contrary to what played out during the last administration, APC-Akeredolu is poised to steer the state’s affairs in the right direction and also deliver the true dividend of democracy to the good people of Ondo State,’’ he said

    Adesanya berated PDP for leaving behind a whooping debt of about N150 billion, eight months unpaid salaries of workers and several months of unpaid allowances and gratuities of pensioners.

    “What moral justification has Ondo-PDP leadership to advise APC-Akeredolu’s government?”

    “We view your advice as anti-developmental and evil against the people of the state.

    “It’s a clear attempt to derail our government so as to create bottleneck and distraction for Akeredolu.

    “The former government has no useful ingredient at its disposal to complement the efforts of this current administration,” he said.

  • Ondo deputy governor promises dividends of democracy

    The newly sworn-in Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Mr. Agboola Ajayi, has said that the people of the state will benefit from the new government’s dividends of democracy.

    He said this at a reception held in his hometown, Kiribo, Ese-Odo Local Government Area of the state.

    The new state government of All Progressives Congress (APC) headed by Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu and Ajayi were sworn-in as Governor and Deputy Governor respectively on Friday in Akure.

    Ajayi said that there were enormous tasks ahead of the new government, coupled with high expectations of the people.

    He advised people to exercise patience with the new administration in order to be fair to all.

    “We are aware of the huge task ahead of us and the high expectations of the people of the state but we plead with the people to exercise patience for us to study what is on ground.

    “We will make our people happy and we promise to be fair to all and not to disappoint all for the trust and confidence that have in us,” Ajayi said.

    The deputy governor however gave thanks to the Almighty God for the opportunity to serve and also to the electorate that voted for the new government to steer the ship of the state for a four-year term.

    He advised indigenes of the state to cooperate with the new government by renewing their support and prayers for the government to succeed in order to re-distribute the dividends of democracy.

    “I am using this opportunity to thank God and the people of this state for voting us. We sought for their prayers and cooperation to be successful,” Ajayi said. 

  • Akeredolu sworn in as Ondo governor

    Akeredolu sworn in as Ondo governor

    Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) has been sworn in as the governor of Ondo state.

    Akeredolu took the oath of office at exactly 11.34 am on Friday in Akure, the state capital.

    His running mate, Ajayi Agboola was earlier sworn into office at the ceremony attended by many dignitaries.

    Among those who witnessed the event were state governors of Ogun, Sokoto, Oyo, Niger and  Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki.

    Former National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Chief Bisi Akande and leader of the party, former Lagos Governor, Senator Bola Tinubu were also at the inauguration.

     

  • Ondo residents task Akeredolu on fulfillment of electioneering promises

    Some residents of Okitipupa in Ondo State on Thursday reminded the incoming Gov. Olurotimi Akeredolu to fulfill his electioneering promises to the people.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the governor and the Deputy Gov. Agboola Ajayi would be sworn in on Friday in Akure.

    Some of the residents, who spoke with NAN in separate interviews in Okitipupa, said that the incoming government should prioritise prompt payment of salaries, empowerment of youths, agriculture and provision of social amenities.

    They alleged that the outgoing government of Dr Olusegun Mimiko failed the people almost in all ramifications which made them to vote for Akeredolu.

    Mr Ayodele Shotayo, a teacher, advised the incoming government to give more attention to education, adding that teachers’ welfare should be given utmost priority.

    “The incoming government should give education the priority it deserves and also quickly look into the seven months’ salaries owed by outgoing government,” Shotayo said.

    Mrs Roseline Akindiya, a medical practitioner, urged the incoming government to work with technocrats and accept criticisms by the people.

    A civil servant, Kayode Keshinro, urged the government to give priority to youth empowerment to guard against social vices like kidnapping, armed robbery and vandalism.

    “Any government that fails to recognise the youths is on the verge of collapse; governor-elect should empower youths to guide against social vices,” he said.

    Mrs Bolanle Ajetade, a hairdresser, said that she had been out of business because of poor power supply in Okitipupa and environs and urged the incoming government to critically look into the issue.

    “We have been in darkness in the last three years now, I urge Akeredolu to fulfill his promises by restoring electricity to our area,” she said.

    Mr Babatunde Alawode, a member of the Ondo State Farmers Congress, advised Akeredolu not to renege on his promises of giving priority to agriculture and elevating farmers for more productivity.

    “As for me, agriculture remains the bedrock of any government; the incoming government should invest in agriculture and empower farmers more to reap from the benefits of agriculture,” Alawode said.

    Mrs Boladale Akinusi, a market woman, urged Akeredolu to look into issues of high rent on market stalls given to market women, saying that it contributed to the high cost of food stuffs.

    “I pray for Akeredolu that God will help him; he should look into issues surrounding market stalls and help to modernise our markets too,” she said.

  • Rufus Giwa Polytechnic gets new rector

    Rufus Giwa Polytechnic gets new rector

    Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State has confirmed the appointment of Mr Idowu Ologunagba, as the substantive rector of the state-owned Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo.

    This is contained in a statement issued on Wednesday in Akure by Dr Aderotimi Adelola, the Secretary to State Government, and made available to newsmen.

    Adelola said Ologunagba’s appointment was with immediate effect.

    He urged the new rector to continue with his developmental strides to ensure the institution attained all necessary academic heights.

    Ologunagba, who holds an M. SC in Civil Engineering (Structures) with distinction and B. SC Civil Engineering, until his appointment, was the acting rector of the institution.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Olusegun Mimiko’s term as governor, expires on Friday, after eight years in office.

  • Fortune teller faces N100, 000 fraud charge

    A 25-year-old fortune teller, Olakunle Fayemi, who allegedly collected N100, 000 from a man, was on Monday brought before an Okitipupa Magistrates’ Court in Ondo State.

    The accused, whose address is unknown, is being tried for felony, fraud, fraudulent fortune telling and converting stolen money to personal use.

    Police Prosecutor Zedekiah Orogbemi told the court that the accused with others still at large conspired and committed the offences on Jan. 9 at about 9.30 p.m. at No 23, Oke Iloro St., in Okitipupa.

    According to Insp. Orogbemi, the accused and others collected the money from the complainant, Sodiq Olawale, on the pretext of predicting his future.

    The offences violated Sections 390 (9), 419 and 516 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ondo State 2006.

    Fayemi, however, pleaded not guilty to the four-count charge.

    Ruling on his bail application, the Magistrate, Mr Banji Ayeomoni, granted the accused bail in the sum of N100, 000 with two sureties in like sum, who must provide two years’ tax clearance.

    Further hearing in the case has been fixed for Feb. 28.