The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ondo state

  • Ondo: Osinbajo’s absence stalls inauguration of the Dome

    Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, on Friday in Akure, postponed until Monday, the inauguration of the International Event Centre due to the absence of Acting President Yemi Osinbajo.

    Osinbajo was expected to inaugurate another of Mimiko’s project, the International Event Centre, also known as the Dome.

    NAN reports that a large number of people had converged at the event centre as early as 9 a.m to witness the event.

    People from all walks of life, including traditional rulers, political stakeholders and lawmakers, were present at the venue

    After waiting for almost five hours, and it became obvious that Osinbajo would not be coming, the crowd thinned out.

    At about 2:30 p.m, Mimiko mounted the podium and announced the postponement.

    He explained that Osinbajo had actually been airborne and he had to return to Abuja due to bad weather.

    According to Mimiko, Osinbajo further waited at Abuja Airport between 10 a.m and 2 p.m for the clouds to clear.

    The governor described the gesture of the acting president as an act of humility for someone in a very high position.

    “He is the vice president and acting president for now, and we can all imagine how tight his schedule will be.

    “Therefore, on behalf of your government, I apologise and give you greetings from him.

    “He is very touched that he kept people waiting for so long due to no fault of his, but he said it would be unthinkable for him not to find time and come.

    “He has, therefore, asked me to postpone the inauguration of this project till 1p.m on Monday,” Mimiko said.

    Speaking on behalf of Osinbajo, Mrs Janet Olisa, his Chief Protocol Officer, also apologised on behalf of her principal.

    She said the visit would serve a double purpose; a fact-finding mission on issues in the Niger Delta, and to also honour Governor Mimiko for a job well done.

    To assure people of the state that Osinbajo would be on ground on Monday for the inauguration, Olisa said that her team would remain in Akure till Monday

  • Osibanjo’s visit to Ondo state rescheduled for Monday

    The much celebrated visit of the Acting President Yemi Osibanjo to Ondo State has been rescheduled till next week Monday.

    Osibanjo, who was expected in the state Friday for a stakeholders meeting with the people from the Niger Delta communities in state, on eleventh hour, cancelled his trip due to poor weather.

    The Acting President was also expected to commission some projects including the International Event Centre, Dome in Akure done by the outgoing governor, Olusegun Mimiko

    Already, the acting President’s advanced team and the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Brig Gen Paul Boroh have arrived the state.

    Also, as early as 9.am, the Dome, which was awaiting presidential commissioning, has been filled to the bream by dignitaries including traditional rulers, religion and political leaders, civil servants among others.

    Mimiko, who arrived the event centre, exactly 2.55pm, with Osibanjo’s aides after waiting patiently at the Akure airport, apologized on behalf the acting President.

    He said “let me thank you all, the acting President is a man that always stick to time.

    “He was stranded at Abuja Airport due to cloudy weather. Between 10.30am and 2pm, he was at the airport waiting for the weather to be cleared.

    “Acting President has resheduled his visit till Monday and he has directed his advanced team to remain in the state”.

  • Two students arraigned over alleged burglary, rape

    The Police on Friday arraigned two students, Oluwaseun Olumeko, 20 and Logo Ayokunle, 21, in an Okitipupa Magistrates’ Court in Ondo State, over alleged stealing and rape of one Taiwo Meduoye.

    The accused of no fixed addresses were standing trial on a four-count charge of felony, burglary, stealing and rape.

    The prosecutor, Insp. Zedekiah Orogbemi, told the court that the accused on Dec. 28 around 2:00 a.m. at No 30 Amona St., conspired to commit felony with burglary.

    He said that the accused burgled into the residence of one Godwin Meduoye, stole an LG plasma TV valued at N78,000 and also have a canal knowledge of Meduoye without her consent with means of threat and intimidation.

    Orogbemi said that the offences contravened Sections 516, 411(2), 390(9) and 358 Criminal Code, Cap.37, Vol.1, Laws of Ondo State 2006.

    The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the four-count charge levelled against them

    The Magistrate, Mr Banji Ayeomoni, granted the accused bail in the sum of N500,000 each with their mothers as sureties in like sum.

    He also said their mothers should produce an evidence of a year tax clearance as part of the bail conditions as he adjourned the case to Feb. 27 for further hearing.

     

  • Court sentences welder to 3 years in prison for theft of motorcycle

    An Okitipupa Magistrates’ Court in Ondo State on Friday sentenced a 22-year-old welder, Kingsley Orimisan, to three years in prison for stealing a motorcycle valued at N93,000.

    The Magistrate, Mr Banji Ayeomoni, gave the verdict without an option of fine, saying that the convict was guilty as charged.

    Ayeomoni, who said that the sentence was to serve as deterrent to others, ordered the police to release the motorcycle to the owner.

    Orimisin, with unknown address, was tried on one-count charge of stealing and had earlier pleaded guilty to the charge.

    The prosecutor, Insp. Zedekiah Orogbemi, told the court that the welder on Jan. 1 around 1 a.m. at Anglican Church, Igbodigo in Okitipupa, stole one blue Qlink motorcycle, property of Seyi Omowole.

    Orogbemi said the convict stole the motorcycle with registration number FST 670 QH, engine number DR 16192 and chasis number QLPCKKJIDD016735, parked in a Church premises when the owner was praying.

    He said the offence was punishable under Section 390(9), Criminal Code, Cap. 37, Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State 2006.

     

  • N15m Fraud: Our lives under threat, Ondo lawmakers cry out

    N15m Fraud: Our lives under threat, Ondo lawmakers cry out

    Following the impeachment of the Speaker, Ondo State House of Assembly, Mrs. Jumoke Akindele,‎ Deputy Speaker, Fatai Olotu and Majority Leader, Ifedayo Akinsoyinu, over alleged N15 million fraud scandal, some members of the assembly have alleged threat to their lives.

    The immediate cause of the Speaker’s impeachment, on Friday, January 27, 2016, was the Assembly’s paymaster and ally of the Speaker, Mr. Makanjuola Adesina, who was caught with N15 million in cash at the Assembly Complex.

    Mr. Adesina was said to have confessed that he was holding the money for Mrs. Akindele.

    Addressing journalist in Ibadan Wednsday, the spokesperson of the Assembly, Mr Iroju Ogundeji who was accompanied by the Acting Speaker, Mr Malachi Coker and other 11 lawmakers who signed the impeachment of the erstwhile speaker, Iroju said they ran down to Ibadan because they have been receiving series of text messages and calls from unknown person threatening their lives if they do not reverse the impeachment of the former speaker.

    Iroju called on the Inspector General of Police and the State Commissioner of Police to provide adequate security for them and protect their families.

    He also urged the State Commissioner of Police to immediately withdraw security aides attached to the impeached Speaker since she is no more the speaker, adding that all heads of the security agencies in the state should also withdraw their men from Mrs. Akindele.

    “20 out of 26 members signed the notice of impeachment. The impeachment has come to stay and there is no going back on it because the members that carried out the impeachment formed the 2/3 majority of the State House of Assembly,” he said.

    Iro‎ju also accused the State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko of backing the impeached Speaker, adding that he has been calling each of them and playing a divide and rule tactics.

    “The executive arm has been interfering in the impeachment of the speaker which ought not to be so because we are an independent body. ‎Both Mrs Akindele and Olotu should have been impeached last year March for high-handedness but Governor Mimiko intervened and assisted her to escape impeachment.

    “We are not against Governor Mimiko but we are against corruption. These principal officers of the house has committed an offence and they must go,” he said.

    He also disclosed that the impeached speaker has approached the court to obtain an injunction stopping her impeachment but the court declined her and adjourned the case till March 6, 2017.

    Similarly, the new Majority leader, Mr Olamide George said the impeached speaker claimed to have used the N15 million ‎for the execution of the assembly project, but challenged her to produce the contractor and identify the project.

    “The impeachment of Mrs Akindele and others have nothing to do with the new governor coming into office and it is not All Progressive Congress (APC) that is using us as it is been speculated in some quarters. APC has nothing to do with this. Those of us that are People’s Democratic Party (PDP) members are not thinking of crossing to APC. We shall remain and stay in PDP. We are in control of the house now because we have the Maze of office and other instrument of office,” he said.

    George called on all well-meaning indigenes of Ondo State to prevail on the impeached officers to allow peace reign in the state and allow the Assembly to work.

     

  • Man to pay N500,000 for allegedly tearing a policeman’s uniform

    An Okitipupa Magistrates’ Court, in Ondo State on Tuesday slammed a N500,000 bail on a 33-year-oldman, Ranti Netufo, for allegedly tearing the uniform of one Insp. Seyi Masewonu, attached to the Okitipupa Police Division.

    The Magistrate, Mr Banji Ayeomoni, also ordered the defendant to produce a surety in like sum, as part of the bail condition.

    The accused of no fixed address and occupation is standing trial on a two-count charge of felony and unlawful assault.

    The prosecutor, Insp. Zedekiah Orogbemi, had told the court that the accused on Jan. 9 around 8:30 p.m. at Hospital Road, Okitipupa, resisted arrest.

    He alleged that the accused tore the uniform of a policeman while performing his lawful duty.

    The prosecutor said that the offences were contrary and punishable under Sections 516 and 356(1) of the Criminal Code, Cap.37, Vol.1, Laws of Ondo State 2006.

    The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge levelled against him.

    The case was adjourned till Feb. 13 for further hearing.

     

  • Scores injured as protest rocks Ondo Assembly

    Scores injured as protest rocks Ondo Assembly

    Scores of people sustained injuries Thursday at the Ondo State House of Assembly complex when security operatives shot sporadically to disperse the protesting youths.

    The youths had been on peaceful demonstration at the entrance of the Assembly along Igbatoro road in Akure, the state capital since last Sunday against the outgoing state governor, Olusegun Mimiko decision to present the 2017 budget and some bills 21 days to the end of his ‎tenure.

    They were also chased away on Wednesday ‎when news filtered in that the governor would be presenting the last budget of his administration.

    Already, there was a crack among the lawmakers as two factions led by Hon. Malachi Cokers and Hon. Jumoke Akindele are laying claim to the leadership of the parliament.

    Coker’s faction had hijacked the Assembly by resuming every day to perform their constitutional plenary sessions, while those who were in Akindele’s camp and also loyal to Mimiko had shunned the Assembly.

    The drama ensued when Mimiko and his aides attempted to enter the Assembly but was rebuffed by the protesters, who allegedly barricaded the road.

    In the process, the police was said to have allegedly shot sporadically to disperse them thereby leading to many of them sustaining injuries.

    The governor immediately drove away from the spot of the incident.

    Our reporters, who were at the Assembly premises, noticed heavy security presence at complex.

    Coker’s faction, who are 13 in number were still holding their plenary session as at the time the incident occured.

    The state Commissioner of Police, Mrs. Hilda Ibifuro-Harrison was seen entering the Complex.

    One of the lawmakers, who spoke in confidence said the CP asked them to leave the complex but they insisted that they would complete their sitting for the day before leaving the hallowed chamber.

    A leader of the protesters said “we normally have our peaceful protest at the premises of Ondo State House of Assembly, just like what we had on Wednesday, but surprisingly today (yesterday), Police men started shooting sporadically, stray bullets, and this is uncalled for.

    “We believe there is room for peaceful protest, as entrenched in our constitution, we believe we have the right to this protest, Just yesterday we called on the Inspector General of Police to call Ondo Commissioner of police to order, and I will want to reiterate that it is uncalled for.

    “We learnt that the Commissioner of police was even persuading the members of the house of Assembly already seated to move out of the assembly complex.

    “It is the same Commissioner of Police who was there few days ago and asked that the place be closed down,  it is the same Commissioner of Police who authorize the presentation of budget, it is the same Commissioner of Police who now asked the members of the house of Assembly to leave the complex

    “We don’t know why there is this issue of sporadic shooting in a peaceful protest,  it is uncalled for,  and we are calling on the Inspector General of Police to look into the matter and we’ll meaning Nigerians and citizens of Ondo State.

    “We have been at the Assembly for the past three days,  we didn’t know Governor Mimiko was even coming,  we have always been there to protest

    “What we are protesting for is to tell our people that the governor is bringing a bill that will bring untold hardship to the people of the state

    “We are harmless people,  we don’t have enemy to fight,  we don’t have guns,  we don’t have cutlass,  we don’t have any dangerous weapon,  so why shooting sporadically

    “Many of our members are injured,  it was sporadic gunshot everywhere and in the course of this  gun shot,  many of our members are injured‎”

    ‎But the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Femi Joseph denied that live bullets were used to disperse the crowd.

    Joseph said the police only used tear gas on them when some of them attempted to attack the convoy of the governor.

    “We have been diplomatic in our approach to the protesters since they have been around the Assembly.

    “But unfortunately yesterday, they went ahead to block the highway and they were also approaching the Assembly complex.

    “We have to react by using tear gas to disperse them when they attempted to attack the convoy of the governor‎,” the PPRO said.

  • Exclusive breastfeeding averts childhood deaths — UNICEF

    Exclusive breastfeeding averts childhood deaths — UNICEF

    Mrs Ada Ezeogu, a Nutrition Specialist with United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), said on Wednesday that 13 percent of death among children could be averted if mothers embark on exclusive breastfeeding.

    Ezeogu made the assertion in Igbara Oke, Ondo state during a five-day workshop organised by Ondo State Ministry of Information in collaboration with UNICEF on “Production of Radio Scripts on Facts For Life’’.

    He said that children that were well breastfed had six times greater chances of survival in the early months than children not well breastfed.

    “An exclusively breastfed child is 14 times less likely to die in the first six months than the non-breastfed child.

    “Breastfeeding drastically reduces deaths from acute respiratory infection and diarrhoea, the two major child killers.

    “Exclusively breastfed child do better on intelligence and behaviour tests than formula-fed babies,” she said.

    Also speaking at the event, Dr Adebola Hassan, Health Specialist with UNICEF reiterated the importance of immunisation to children.

    Hassan said wrong notions about immunisation must be corrected through a partnership with the media.

    “Immunisation has been a cost-effective public health intervention in the prevention of childhood diseases,” she said.

    Part of the objectives of the workshop was to develop a radio programme that would create the much-needed awareness on facts of life topics.

    The topics are; Exclusive breastfeeding, Immunisation, Open defecation, Hand washing with soap and water and Essential newborn care.

  • Akeredolu: I’m not soliciting for funds

    Akeredolu: I’m not soliciting for funds

    Ondo State Governor-elect Rotimi Akeredolu yesterday denied soliciting for funds for the February 24 inauguration ceremony.
    Akeredolu, in a statement by the Secretary, Steering Committee, Transition and Inauguration, Kunle Adebayo, said he was informed that some fraudsters have been sending text messages, phone calls and letters to some prominent personalities, pretending that they were sent by him to source for money for the inauguration.
    He described it has outright case of fraud, impersonation and obtaining under false pretense.
    “The public are warned to ignore such letters, phone calls, text messages and/or other forms of unapproved and fraudulent communications to this effect.
    “Nigerians are also advised to report any and all such cases to the police for investigation,” the governor-elect said.

  • Ondo: Poor masses to benefit from Akeredolu’s admin

    Ondo: Poor masses to benefit from Akeredolu’s admin

    The Deputy Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo state, Engr. Ade Adetimehin has said that the incoming administration of the governor-elect, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu will be beneficial to all.

    Adetimehin spoke with reporters in Alade Idanre where he attended the 2nd anniversary of the 130 Krown Klub whose members are purely grade “b” monarchs.

    The APC deputy chairman said the administration of Akeredolu will take a critical look at the issues affecting the state, particularly the poor masses and tackle it adequately.

    Adetimehin who also served as the Chairman of Akeredolu Campaign Platform said the people of the state should be rest assured that the incoming administration will be masses friendly.

    He said “Akeredolu is a man of the people, he has so much passion for the development of this state, he is so passionate about ensuring that Ondo state come to the fore front in the committee of states in the country

    “With Akeredolu, you can be rest assured, accountability, transparency and justice, he will ensure these things in the state

    “You can see that he already set up a policy implementation committee, to provide blueprint for his government

    “That is a man who is coming to work and ensure that the sun of our dear state shine brighter again.

    Adetimehin said the state is particularly lucky to have a technocrat like Akeredolu coming in at the helm of affairs.

    He said rather than playing politics with issues that affect the common man in the state, Akeredolu will ensure that the value of the common man is restored in the state.

    “When you look at the governor-elect, he is a man of great intellectual prowess, he is a determined man, he does not negotiate with the well-being of the people, he is so concerned about human development

    “He is not the kind of man that will play politics and forget the purpose the people of the state voted for him, he has told the people what his administration will do and he will deliver

    “By February 24th, the journey will commence, and I am sure that it is a kind of journey that will bring succour to the people of the state. To us, it is a new dawn in Ondo state.

    Speaking on the anniversary of the 130 Krown Klub, Adetimehin said the incoming administration will work with traditional rulers.