The Nation Newspaper

Tag: ONDO

  • Give us justice in Ondo, CPC urges CJN, NJC

    The Ondo State chapter of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) yesterday demanded justice in the petition of its governorship candidate in last year’s governorship election, Prince Olusoji Ehinlanwo.

    At its emergency meeting attended by the state executive members and other stakeholders from the 18 local governments, the party ratified the position of Prince Ehinlanwo in respect of his petition to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and the National Judicial Commission (NJC).

    A communiqué signed by the party’s state Chairman, Olalekan Obolo and the Secretary, Fisayo Falarungbon, said: “We implore these two judicial institutions to as a matter of urgency consider the recent petition written by our governorship candidate with a view to ensuring that the door of justice is not shut against us.

    “Furthermore, there is need to review the conduct of the lower tribunal to ensure that judicial officers saddled with the duty of justice delivery do not compromise or desecrate the temple of justice without sanctions.

    “We also urge the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) not to be deterred by the ruling of the Court of Appeal by taking the matter a step further to the Supreme Court.

    “This is to keep hope alive for the good people of Ondo State, who are groaning, following the unprecedented deprivation and ravaging poverty occasioned by the self-serving and clueless Mimiko administration.”

  • 54 freed inmates re-arrested in Ondo

    The Ondo State Police Command yesterday said 54 freed inmates have been re-arrested and returned to the Olokuta Prison.

    Its spokesman, Wole Ogodo, said yesterday’s report was a fallacy and a misrepresentation of what transpired during the attack.

    The command refuted the report that 10 travellers were killed during Sunday’s invasion by gunmen.

    Ogodo said nobody died during the jailbreak, stressing that the attack was aimed at freeing some members of the gang, who were in prison custody.

    He said the attackers were bandits, and not Boko Haram members as being speculated.

    “I want to tell the public that nobody died. The media should crosscheck their facts before going to bed,” Ogodo said.

    According to him, efforts are on to re-arrest other fleeing inmates.

    A group, Ondo Awareness Security Network, has attributed the attack to police lapses.

    It noted that security in the state, which has been porous in recent time, gave the armed robbers the opportunity to operate.

    A statement by the group’s Chairman, Sola Odundun, slammed the police for security lapses.

    According to the statement, if the police were fully on ground in Akure before and during the attack, the operation would have failed.

    The group said before the Sunday jailbreak, the activities of night marauders were high in Akure and other towns.

    The group said with the jailbreak, robbery and other crimes would be rampant in some parts of the state.

    The statement reads: “In recent times, police have not been up-and-doing in the area of crime control in some areas of the state. Hardly will a day pass without robbers not striking in Akure and other towns.

    “Kidnapping and other crimes, such as armed robbery have become the order of the day.

    “We urge the police to wake up from their slumber and face the insecurity squarely before the situation gets out of hand.”

    Reacting to the allegation, police spokesman Mr. Ogodo said the group’s opinion was based on ignorance.

    He said the prison service had its security guards trained to provide security.

    Ogodo refuted the allegation that crime was high in the state. He urged the group to get its facts instead of relying on hearsay.

  • Ondo: Appeal Court dismisses Akeredolu’s appeal

    Ondo: Appeal Court dismisses Akeredolu’s appeal

    The Appeal Court sitting in Akure, the Ondo State capital has dismissed the appeal of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and its governorship candidate Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu[SAN].

    The five-man panel also struck out the appeal of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Chief. Olusola Oke for lacking in merit.

    They were all challenging the verdict of the state Election Petitions Tribunal which affirmed the victory of Dr. Olusegun Mimiko in last October’s governorship election in the state.

    The panel noted that their grounds of appeals are not substantial enough to convince the court to upturn the judgment in favour of the appellants.

    In a unanimous judgment, the chairman of the panel, Justice Garba Mohammed, said the issue of injection of unlawful names into the voters’ register is not a pre election matter, stressing that the tribunal had the jurisdiction to entertain the petitions.

    According to the judges, the voters’ register was used in the election and formed part of the process, saying the tribunal was wrong to say it is a pre election matter.

    The court also affirmed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) failed to display the voters’ register for public to scrutinize properly before the election, adding that it is a breach of a section of the electoral law.

    But, It however stressed that the breach was not enough to discredit the entire process.

    The panel said the ACN and Akeredolu failed to substantially prove how the unlawful injection of names affected the result of the election.

  • Ondo election dispute: Court delivers judgement tomorrow

    Ondo election dispute: Court delivers judgement tomorrow

    The Court of Appeal sitting in Akure, Ondo State will tomorrow deliver judgment in the appeal filed by the Action Congress of Nigeria (CAN) and its governorship candidate, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) against the judgment of the Governorship Election Tribunal.

    The lower tribunal headed by Justice Andova Kaka’n upheld the election of Dr Olusegun Mimiko as the winner of last year’s poll. Counsel to ACN and Akeredolu, Titiloye Charles, confirmed the receipt of judgment notice from the Court of Appeal over the weekend.

    There had been anxiety over the delay in notifying the contending

    parties on the judgement date in the last days.

    The main issue for determination before the Court of Appeal is the validity of 2012 voters’ registers used for the conduct of the election allegedly injected with more than 100,000 names by the

    Independent National Electoral Commission [INEC] without complying with provisions of the Electoral Act on procedure for updating the voters’ registers.

    INEC admitted the injections but the lower Election Tribunal ruled that it lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter on ground that it was a pre-election matter.

    Political analysts said the decision of the Court of Appeal would affect the conduct of future elections in Nigeria as this is the first

    time the use of an allegedly compromised voters’register will be seriously contested by political parties before the court.

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Court hears Ondo ACN’s appeal today

    The Court of Appeal sitting in Akure will today hear the appeal filed by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and its candidate in last October’s governorship election in Ondo State, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) challenging the judgment of the Election Petition Tribunal.

    The party is praying the court to set aside the judgment of the Justice Andova Kaka’n-led Tribunal, which declared Dr. Olusegun Mimiko of the Labour Party (LP) winner of election.

    The briefs by both parties will be adopted today.

    ACN is alleging that the tribunal caused a miscarriage of justice when it rejected its expert’s evidence, which were earlier admitted by the tribunal.

    It said the tribunal failed to evaluate the evidence of its 41 witnesses, whose evidence were unchallenged by the respondents, particularly the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and LP, which did not call any witness.

    ACN said even though its evidence of irregularities and non-accreditation of voters were corroborated on cross-examination by Mimiko’s 14 witnesses, the tribunal ruled that it lacked sufficient evidence to cancel the election.

    It said despite the tribunal’s “finding of fact” that there were injection of strange names into the 2012 voter’s register used by INEC, it refused to void the register and declined jurisdiction to adjudicate on the matter.

    The party said Section 131(5) of the Electoral Act, which was heavily relied on by the tribunal to decline jurisdiction, does not exist.

    It alleged that the judgment was full of inconsistencies, saying at one length, the tribunal ruled that the 118 documentary evidence tendered by ACN was demonstrated before the tribunal, and in another part, ruled that they were not demonstrated but dumped on the tribunal, thus appropriating and reprobating its judgment.

    ACN and Akeredolu are urging the Court of Appeal to order a fresh election “since the respondents failed to defend the allegations”.

    The first respondent, Mimiko, is challenging the jurisdiction of the Court of Appeal to hear the ACN’s appeal.

    He said some of the grounds of appeal are argumentative, repetitive and “sometimes without particulars”.

    Mimiko is praying the Court of Appeal to strike out the ACN’s Appeal. LP and INEC, who are co-respondents, have filed their briefs.

     

  • Ondo ARG holds June 12 memorial lecture

    The afenifere Renewal Group (ARG), Ondo State chapter, will tomorrow hold a lecture to mark the 20th anniversary of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election, which has been said to be the most free and fair election in Nigeria.

    It will hold at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre in Alagbaka, Akure, the state capital, by 11am.

    The lecture, according to ARG Coordinator, Dr. Bayo Ademodi, would be delivered by Senator Babafemi Ojudu.

    It is titled: “The sanctity of electoral mandates: June 12, its aftermath and what the last 20 years should teach us”.

    Ojudu will be supported by a member of the DAWN Commission, Mr. Wale Adeoye, and activist lawyer Gbenga Awosode as discussants.

    Serious issues about governance will be discussed at the lecture.

     

  • Ondo CPC candidate slams Mimiko over NGF dispute

    The candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in last October’s governorship election in Ondo State, Prince Soji Ehinlanwo, yesterday condemned the “role” played by Governor Olusegun Mimiko in the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) crisis.

    He said the rejection of Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi as the forum’s chairman by Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang’s group, even though he won the election, showed desperation for power.

    Ehinlanwo said “this kind of desperation” portends grave danger for our democracy.

    In a statement yesterday, he said: “As an Ondo State indigene, I am embarrassed by the disgraceful role played by Mimiko in this unfortunate saga. Before and after last October’s governorship election in Ondo, it become clear to many that Mimiko had chosen to subjugate himself and his Labour Party (LP) to the whims and caprices of the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    “Undoubtedly, his LP is now effectively PDP, except in name. This is largely borne out of a shameless quest to draw support and affirmation for the discredited election in which he was declared winner and his desperate attempt to cling to power.

    “His decision to ignore the truth and rationalise that Jang, who clearly lost, is the NGF’s leader must be seen clearly from the context of this desperate disposition.

    “And this is not his only motivation. Many who have monitored his orientation and direction closely in recent years will agree that the fact that he was nominated as the vice chairman by the Jang group was enough for him to align and promote the untenable and curious position of his group that they have the greater support of the governors, even after they secured lower votes.

    “Mimiko’s support for Jang is mainly driven by non-altruistic considerations and definitely runs counter to the principles that our people hold dear.

    “I find his defence of his position weak and appalling. His attempt to discredit the video recording of the proceedings, including the counting of the votes, simply because it did not show him voting is simply egoistic and futile because he cannot refute what is clearly recorded in the video.

    “Mimiko’s argument that Amaechi should not have sought a second term is self serving and contradictory, given the fact that he (Mimiko) also sought a second term in Ondo State.

    “His claim that the previous NGF chairmanship was decided by consensus does not vitiate the fact that the chairmanship, in this case, could be decided by majority votes.

    “CPC members are not surprised by this new low. After all, Mimiko has been promoting last October’s governorship election, which was marred by massive irregularities, as free, fair and credible.

    “It should also not be out of place to draw attention to the recent allegation of forgery of the security report relating to the 2007 election presented by the LP and Mimiko.

    “Many of the people who backed the governor at the time were unaware of this information and essentially premised their support on the need for change and what has turned out to be a misplaced confidence in his perceived ability to dramatically transform the state.

    “If these revelations are confirmed to be true, they would further expose Mimiko and his cohorts as a bunch of desperate power seekers. We urge Mimiko to resist the temptation of following the ‘anyway’ approach and consider at all times the implications of the positions he takes for himself and the people he represents.”

    Mimiko challenged Amaechi to show proof that he voted during the election.

  • ‘No plan to locate poly in Ondo’

    ‘No plan to locate poly in Ondo’

    The Ondo State Government yesterday said it had no plan to establish any polytechnic. It also said the Federal Government had no such plan.

    It debunked the rumour that a polytechnic proposed to be located in Ile Oluji had been relocated to Idanre.

    The rumour led to protests in Ile Oluji on Monday and Tuesday.

    In a statement, the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Governor, Mr. Eni Akinsola, said: “The state is not contemplating a new polytechnic now. It is busy repositioning its two universities in Okitipupa and Akungba and the polytechnic in Owo.

    “We have also found out that the Federal Government has also not decided on citing any higher institution in the state. We are therefore shocked to hear that the crisis is linked to a rumoured relocation of a polytechnic from Ile-Oluji.

    “Not only is the information false, it is dangerous, as it suggested that the polytechnic had been relocated to Idanre, a reality that could have stoked inter-communal crisis.”

    Akinsola urged residents to always confirm the authenticity of any information before taking action.

    “We cannot, as a society, depend on rumours and unsubstantiated allegations for our actions,” he added.

    The government has set up a judicial commission of enquiry to look into the remote and immediate causes of the crisis.

    It is headed by Justice Nelson Adeyanju. The members include Mr. Ajose Kudehinbu, Chief Olugbenga Ale and Mr. Fredrick Oye, the secretary.

    The panel is to identify those involved in the crisis; the extent of their involvement; recommend sanctions and ascertain the damage done by the protesters, among others.

    The governor will inaugurate the commission today at the Cocoa Conference Hall in Alagbaka, Akure. It is expected to submit its report 14 days from its first sitting.

  • Ondo gets council caretakers

    Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko yesterday swore in new caretaker chairmen in the 18 local government areas.

    This followed Monday’s expiration of the tenure of the former caretaker chairmen.

    The new caretaker chairmen are: Lekan Bada, Akoko North East; Olusesan Kumuyi, Akoko North West; Sola Agbi, Akoko South East; Gbenga Adeniyi, Akoko Southwest; Olu Aderuku, Akure North; Michael Adeleke, Akure South; Festus Dabo, Ese-odo; Jerome Odesanmi, Idanre and Pius Adebusuyi, Ifedore.

    The rest are Soji Ayenuro, Ilaje; Kole Akinbolarin, Ile oluji/Okeigbo; Dele Olatunji, Irele; Felix Olatunde, Odigbo; Niyi Pirisola, Okitipupa; Wale Akinlosotu, Ondo East; Bola Makinde, Ondo West; Victor Olotu, Ose and Tunde Owadimbola, Owo.

    None of the former caretaker chairmen was reappointed.

    Mimiko warned the appointees against recruiting workers without the government’s permission.

    He urged them to generate revenue to implement laudable projects and to make their impacts felt at the grassroots.

    Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, Adebusuyi said they would overhaul the local government system.

     

  • Three feared dead in Ondo protest

    •Monarch flees town

    The protest against the alleged plan to relocate the proposed Federal Polytechnic in Ile Oluji, headquarters of Ile Oluji/Okeigbo Local Government of Ondo state, entered its second day yesterday.

    Three persons were feared dead and four injured.

    On Monday, youths, commercial motorcyclists and senior citizens began a protest. They accused the town’s monarch, Oba Suulade Adedugbe, of converting money meant for the community’s development to private use.

    The protesters invaded the palace and chased the monarch out of his home.

    They reassembled yesterday around 8am and went to the palace, demanding the monarch’s removal.

    Sources said unknown to the youths, Oba Adedugbe left the town on Monday evening.

    A source said policemen fired tear gas at the protesters and shot into the air to disperse them.

    He said: “Some youths were hit in the process. At least, three youths were feared dead. Some of them, who were injured, were taken to the hospital.”

    However, another source said the protesters went to the police station to demand the release of some youths that were arrested during Monday’s protest.

    The source alleged that the protesters attacked some policemen and the police shot at them.

    Banks and other businesses abruptly closed for the day around 10am.

    Police spokesman Wole Ogodo said no one was killed.

    He said a policeman, who was attacked by the protesters, has been hospitalised.

    Ogodo said armed mobile policemen have been deployed in the town to restore order and urged residents to go about their normal duties.

    “We are on top of the situation”, he added.

    It was learnt that soldiers from the 32 Artillery Brigade, Akure, have been drafted to Ile-Oluji to maintain order.

    The Prime Minister of the community, Lisa Akin Fagbamiye, said the monarch was safe.

    He said the protesters razed a building in the palace.