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Tag: ONDO

  • Police search for missing boy in Ondo

    THE Ondo State Police Command has started investigations into the disappearance of a four-year-old boy, Sunday Daniel, who was reportedly kidnapped from his mother’s shop in Akure on Monday.

    Police spokesman Wole Ogodo said Daniel was declared missing by her mother after “she had made frantic efforts to find him, but to no avail”.

    The boy was reported missing from her mother’s shop, where she sells alcoholic drinks in a motor park.

    Ogodo said officers of the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (CIID) were already investigating the matter.

    He added that the mother of the missing boy, Mrs. Maria Sunday, reported the case at the Ifesowapo Police Post after all efforts to find her son failed.

    The police spokesman said Mrs. Sunday, in her statement, alleged that one of her male customers was suspected to be responsible for the incident.

    Ogodo assured that the police would employ all necessary strategies to rescue the boy.

    He advised parents to always look after their children to avoid similar situation.

     

     

  • Dead, retired workers on Ondo govt’s payroll

    Dead, retired workers on Ondo govt’s payroll

    ONDO State government has discovered discrepancies in its verification of status of workers, its Commissioner for Information Kayode Akinmade, said at the weekend.

    He noted that the state’s huge wage bill compelled the government to embark on another round of verification just about a year after a similar exercise to weed out ghost workers and pensioners.

    Akinmade, who spoke at a parley in Lagos, lamented that almost the total amount accruing to the state from the Federation Account is spent on wages, leaving little or nothing for development.

    Some workers, the commissioner said, had been discovered to be receiving salaries meant for grade levels higher than their levels.

    “In other instances, those who have died, resigned from service or retired were still earning salaries and emoluments from government,” Akinmade said.

    He added that at a primary school in Ikaramu-Akoko, someone, who died about a year ago, was discovered to be receiving salary.

    “Faceless people, using the names of the retirees and the dead are being paid,” the commissioner added.

    But he was optimistic that the government would save a lot of money after the verification.

    Akinmade said it might translate to saving the state from salary payment inconveniences.

    “About a year ago, a verification exercise was carried out in the MDAs after which we digitalised our payroll system. Despite the high number of retirees in the last one year, which should have naturally translated into reduction in wage, the reverse has been the case.

    “So, we have embarked on a fresh verification and all members of the state executive council are involved in this round of verification, which has been quite revealing.

    “Many who have died in various ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) are also discovered to still be collecting salaries. Another major discovery was workers who are on Level Two, but are receiving Level 12 salaries. Some people on Level Four, who are receiving Level 14 salaries. We also have people who have even left the country, still receiving salaries,” the commissioner alleged.

    Akinmade, who revealed that some workers were arrested for impersonation, said those on the payroll were made to come forward with their last promotion letters to make the exercise painless.

    He added that in the course of this, somebody on Level Nine was discovered to be receiving salary of a level 14 officer.

     ”So many discoveries were made. Now we are talking about bailout; if it comes, should we be using this to pay ghost workers? It’s a big challenge but we will get through it,” he said.

    On the government’s effort to create a databank to enable government implement its programmes, Akinmade noted that the registration for Kaadi Igbeayo  was targeted at getting the data of residents for proper planning and decision-making.

  • Ex-legislator attacked, three injured

    A former lawmaker representing Irele/Okitipupa Constituency at the National Assembly, Mr Akintoye Albert narrowly escaped death at the weekend when officers of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) allegedly shot his convoy.

    Three persons were also said to have sustained injuries in the incident while two of the former legislator’s vehicles were allegedly riddled with bullets.

    Speaking to reporters in Akure ,the former legislator said he was returning home after a political meeting at Ode-irele in Ondo State when men of the NSCDC numbering 12 suddenly accosted his convoy along Irele/Ore road and ordered him and members of his entourage to lie on the floor.

    He said his move to know the mission of the officers resulted in sporadic shooting by the officers following which three members of his entourage were badly injured.

    Akintoye said the officers who came with two Toyota Hilux vehicles belonging to the state command,allegedly beat them and damaged their vehicles.

    Those who sustained injuries according to him were still receiving treatment at a private hospital in Ore.

    Akintoye said the officers apologized to him when they discovered that they had mistaken his convoy for that of oil bunkerers.

    Akintoye believed that the attack was politically motivated, alleging that the officer who led the team is a younger brother of a top politician from the area who had engaged him in a contest in recent time.

    The incident brought to three the number of such attacks meted on innocent citizens of the state by NSCDC officials in the past.

    Akintoye said“The officer claimed that they were chasing some oil bunkerers who normally ply the route, but I want to believe that the attack was politically motivated.

    “I was returning fro ma political meeting at Irele on that fateful day when the incident happened. It was God that saved me. By now I would have been a dead man. The officers later apologized and claimed that they mistook my convoy for that of oil bunkerers”.

    The NSCDC spokesman , Kayode Balogun did not confirm or deny the incident

    Balogun said the officers only reported about the items confiscated from some oil bunkerers in the area to the command

  • Okada operation still suspended, says Ondo

    Ondo State government said yesterday that its suspension order on the operation of commercial motorcyclists, otherwise known as Okada, in the state capital, Akure, and the ban on ticketing by the operators are still in force.

    In a statement, the Commissioner for Information Kayode Akinmade said the “suspension order stands until government is done with its reformation process on the operation of the commercial motorcycle operators”.

    “The clarification came following reports that the order is being flouted by some commercial motorcycle operators in the capital city, where activities of the okada riders have been suspended,” Akinmade said.

    The statement added that the ban on ticketing activities by the operators was still in force, warning that operators should guide against falling prey to the activities of illegal ticket handlers who have been duping unsuspecting motorcycle operators under the guise of working for outlawed bodies.

    It enjoined the operators to maintain the peace and cooperate with government in its determination to ensure they have a regularised and effective mode of operation.

  • No Boko Haram threat in Ondo, says govt

    •Army: we didn’t arrest suspects 

    The Ondo State government and the Headquarters 32 Artillery Brigade, Nigerian Army, Akure have described as untrue, a report that suspected Boko Haram members were arrested in the state.

    Commissioner for Information Kayode Akinmade, in an interview with reporters in Akure, said the state remain the safest and most peaceful in the country.

    Akinmade said there was no record of any arrest as reported with the police and the military

    He added that the security meeting, which the report was hinged on, was a routine monthly security meeting, which the governor had since ordered must hold between the chairmen of local government areas and heads of security agencies in their locality.

    He mentioned that there are series of such security meetings that hold regularly at different levels on the governor’s instruction to ensure the maintenance of peace in the state.

    Akinmade said: “It is misleading and unfortunate that some people will allude the reason for a regular meeting on security matters in the state to the imaginary influx of  Boko Haram members.

    “The meeting is not new as it has been holding before now and it will continue to hold  because it has proved useful in the course of ensuring adequate security in the state.”

    Insisting that there was no threat to the peace of the state, he  said adequate measures were being taken to ensure security of lives and property, adding that “there is round the clock screening at every entry point to the state by joint security patrols”.

    Urging the people to go about their normal business without fear, he assured that “Ondo has what it takes to maintain its most peaceful status as the various arms of the security agencies have been cooperative”.

    Also, the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations of the Artillery Brigade, Captain Ojo Ifedayo Adenegan, in a statement, said: “The news story was not true, as no Boko Haram suspects were arrested anywhere in Ondo State”.

    The statement reads: “The Commanding Officer 323 Artillery Regiment Lt. Col. W. O. Ubi was in a sensitisation forum with the members of National Union of Road Transport Workers and other security agents at Ikare Akoko, where he had an interactive session on the need to be vigilant and keep the security informed on any suspected persons or actions that could lead to the threat of security in the state.

    “During the interactive session, he only recalled an effort by a commercial driver at Ifedore, who alerted soldiers at a check-point on some suspected persons who were later arrested and handed over to the appropriate authority for further investigation. That was in June.

    “We were surprised that such an advice could be misquoted. Therefore, we are once again informing the general public that no arrest of Boko Haram suspects anywhere in Ondo State.

    “We are using this medium to appeal to the general public to discard such untrue information and go about their normal legal business and be assured that the security agencies in the state will continue to secure the state.”

     

  • Ondo to resolve ban on okada operation

    Ondo to resolve ban on okada operation

    THE Ondo State government has signified its intention to resolve the suspension of operation of commercial motorcyclists in the state capital, Akure.

    Its Commissioner for Information, Kayode Akinmade, who said this, added that the state government would meet this week to deliberate on the report of the  committee  set up to look into the issue.

    He added that the state would  come up with recommendations expected to guarantee a proper and regulated operation of the commercial motorcyclists.

    Akinmade said activities of the operators would be reviewed, stressing that every motorcycle plying the state’s roads must be duly registered to enable easy identification.

    He said government was determined to arrest the trend of using motorcycle to kidnap and snatch bags of defenceless citizens.

    The commissioner said: “There is the need for the okada operators to be properly identified. The state government wants them to perfect their papers  and be well-regulated. That is what government is working to achieve and the cooperation of  everyone is needed in this regard.

    “Okada operators are part of the society and they deserve to earn their living, but they must do that in accordance with the law of the land.”

    The suspension  of the okada operations followed a protest by the operators  over the directive that their motorcycles should be properly registered.

  • Suspected ‘ritualist’ dies in his room in Ondo

    A thirty-year-old suspected ritualist mysteriously died in his room in Ondo State at the weekend while trying to perform a rite.

    The  incident occurred at Igbalaye Street Akure, the state capital.

    He was found dead in his sitting room with one bottle of gin, one bottle of disinfectant, a knife and two dead fowls.

    His body has been deposited at the State Specialist Hospital, Akure for further examination.

    The suspected ritualist, who was said to be an auxiliary nurse in a hospital, allegedly locked himself inside his sitting room during the ritual activity, which eventually led to his death.

    A source in the house revealed that they had been suspecting the activities of the deceased for more than a month.

    The source alleged that he had turned the house to a mini hospital, where he used to performed abortions.

    Another source said around 11am on Sunday morning, his wife raised alarm about the incident.

    Other residents stormed the man’s room after breaking the door, where they met him naked on a chair.

    Efforts to speak with the wife proved abortive, because the family and friends prevented her from speaking to reporters.

    Confirming the incident, police spokesman, Mr. Wole Ogodo, said the matter had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for proper investigation.

    Ogodo said it was the man’s wife that came to the station to report the incident, after she discovered that the leaving room was locked.

     

  • Appeal Court restores Ondo APC petitions for retrial at tribunal

    The Court of Appeal sitting in Akure, the Ondo State capital, has set aside the ruling of National and State Houses of Tribunal dismissing the two petitions of All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates for Akure South Constituency I, Festus Aregbesola and Ilaje Constituency II, Gbenga Edema.

    In a unanimous lead judgments read by the presiding judge, Justice Mojeed Owoade, Justice Danjuma and Justice Abiriyi, the court found merit in the two appeals filed by counsel to the APC, Charles Titiloye.

    It, therefore, set aside the order of the tribunal dismissing the two petitions.

    The Appeal Court mandated the constitution of a new panel of judges of the election tribunal to retry the election petitions on its merit.

    It held that the application made for pre-hearing session by Titiloye was properly made within the contemplation of paragraph 18(1) of the First Schedule to the Electoral Act.

    The court contended that the tribunal erred in law to have dismissed the petitions as abandoned.

    It reasoned that the tribunal was in the third day of pre-hearing session and hence the petition cannot be said to be an abandoned petition.

    The court further held that even if the application for pre-hearing session was made pre-maturely, all the respondents were deemed to have waived such non-compliance under paragraph 53(2) by participating in the pre-hearing session, filing applications and arguing same without objecting to the pre-hearing session for three days.

    It noted that paragraph 18(1) of the First Schedule to the Electoral Act did not use the word close of pleadings as the basis for application for pre-hearing.

    The court said it was wrong, therefore, for the tribunal to have imported the provision from the Federal High Court Rules on close of pleadings, which was not expressly contained in the Electoral Act to dismiss the petition.

    It agreed that the tribunal lacked jurisdiction to have raised an objection to the petition and dismiss the petition based on the said objection when the tribunal had earlier ruled that all objections would be heard along with the substantive petition.

    The judges held that the tribunal was functus officio after making the said ruling and cannot thereafter raise the objection suo motu and rule on it without hearing the petition on its merit based on its earlier ruling.

    The court held that the view of the trial court in its ruling that application for pre-hearing ought to be made for each and every respondent is an obiter dictum, which is not the reason of the judgment of the said tribunal.

    It noted that tribunal now administers substantial justice in election petition cases and all provisions of the Electoral Act must be read together to do substantial justice.

    The judges awarded N100,000 each against the first and second respondents in the appeal of Aregbesola and Edema.

    Titiloye hailed the court for standing for justice and fairness in its “judgments in the appeals, which have opened up the electoral legal jurisprudence in Nigeria”.

    Also, the Appeal Court restored three other petitions for APC in Idanre, Ilaje Constituency I and Akoko North East earlier struck out by Justice Anthony Ogar-led Election Tribunal and directed the tribunal to hear the petitions on their merit.

    The Acting Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC, Mrs. Amina Zakari, had earlier faulted the conduct of Ilaje 1 and 11 State Assembly election because of alleged irregularities.

  • Two Ondo areas to get mother-child hospitals 

    Ondo State Government has concluded plans to build two additional mother and child hospitals in the state’s southern and northern senatorial districts, with one already earmarked for Okitipupa.

    The announcement came after the feat of its mother and child hospitals chosen by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as research centres for maternal health delivery.

    Commissioner for Information Kayode Akinmade, who spoke in Akure yesterday, said the state government was determined to consolidate on what he described as “the unprecedented success so far recorded by the government’s Safe Motherhood programme, which runs basically on the operations of the mother and child hospitals”.

    The commissioner offered that the decision of the WHO to  choose the hospitals in Akure and Ondo as research centres among other local and global recognitions of the accomplishments of the initiative, has further reinforce the determination of government to ensure that the state senatorial districts were exposed to the facility.

    Akinmade said government has, therefore, concluded plans to build additional two of such hospital in the southern and northern senatorial districts with one already earmarked for Okitipupa.

    He added that the government would do “everything to actualise its vow to ensure pregnancy no longer translates to death sentence”.

    Akinmade said Governor Olusegun Mimiko, who was dissatisfied with the increasing level of maternal mortality when his administration came on board in 2009,  introduced the Safe Motherhood Programme, otherwise known as Abiye.

    He added that it necessitated the building of the  Mother and Child Hospitals exclusively for the treatment of pregnant women and children below the age of five free of charge.

    This, Akinmade said, attracted patrons from neighbouring states, adding that the influx is, however, being controlled by the introduction of residency card introduced recently introduced in the state.

  • Scores dump PDP for APC in Ondo

    Scores dump PDP for APC in Ondo

    Leaders of the Ondo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and over 600 members in the oil rich Ilaje Local Government Area yesterday defected to the rival All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Led by Prince Glory Okuntade, the defectors said they were leaving PDP, which they described as Egypt, “because of its leadership failure and mismanagement it plunged the state into in the last six years”.

    Besides Okuntade, other leaders of the defectors that dumped the PDP included former political and party office holders.

    They were Timi Olowofoyeku, Dele Asogbon, Ademibo Okuntade and Festus Ademuwagun, Chief Ebini Idowu and Oronla Adebanjo.

    Okuntade, who spoke on behalf of other defectors, said they had nothing to show their supporters for the development that their membership of PDP had brought to them.

    A leader of the party, who was also the state PDP governorship candidate in the last election, Chief Olusola Oke, said it was time for Ilaje sons and daughters to dump the PDP, which has allegedly brought untold hardship to the people.

    His words: “I am ashamed of being a member of a party that has plunged the country into calamity. With the revelation coming out now, I have to apologise to my teeming supporters and Nigerians that my former party brought Nigeria to her knees.”

    Oke, who was a former Legal Adviser of the party, said the change that has taken root at the Federal level would soon berth in the state in next year’s governorship election and the local governments’ poll later in the year.