The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Owoseni Ajayi

  • Lawyer writes Fayose, demands unpaid N600m fee

    A lawyer based in Ado-Ekiti, Mr. Owoseni Ajayi, has urged Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose to pay him professional fee amounting to N600 million for legal services rendered in the past.

    Ajayi, who was Fayose’s personal lawyer for many years before he was appointed Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice twice, listed thirteen high profile cases handled for the governor which had not been paid for.

    In a letter he wrote to Fayose which was made available to newsmen in Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday, Ajayi said he made a moderate demand of a sum of N600 million at the rate of N50 million per each of the cases listed subject to accruable interest.

    Ajayi said the cases were not handled free but were not paid for by Fayose because he was financially handicapped then noting that the governor is now buoyant enough to pay for the services rendered.

    The cases include a defamation case: Ayo Fayose v Independent Communications Network Limited with suit number HAD/8/2004 and the appeal case emanating from the same suit marked CA/AE/58/2010.

    Federal Republic of Nigeria v Ayo Fayose with charge number FHC/C/179C/2006 which was a criminal case heard both in Lagos and Ado-Ekiti Federal High Courts until he (Fayose) was discharged and acquitted in October 2014 in which Ajayi appeared in all the cases.

    Another case was Peter Ayodele Fayose v Comptroller General of Prisons Suit Number: FHC/AK/CS/08/2008, which was about Fayose’s ‘controversial’ release from Ikoyi Prisons to face murder charge in Ekiti.

    Other cases listed by Ajayi include Peter Ayodele Fayose v EFCC appeal marked CA/I/144/2011, Peter Ayodele Fayose v the State marked HAD/16/2007 to stop his arraignment for murder by the Segun Oni administration, the appeal case that arose from it marked CA/14C14/2007 and the Supreme Court that emanated from it still pending marked SC449/2011.

    Ajayi listed Peter Ayodele Fayose v EFCC and Inspector General of Police with Suit No: FHC/A14CS/85/2006 following his illegal removal from office and the appeal case that followed it IGP & AG Federation v Peter Ayodele Fayose marked CA/B/44/2007.

    The last case mentioned by Ajayi, who is also a former Chairman of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ado-Ekiti Branch, was E-Eleven v Peter Ayodele Fayose and 2 Ors filed to frustrate his swearing-in to office after winning the 2014 governorship election.

    Ajayi said: “You will recall that you never paid our chamber, Owoseni Ajayi & Associates for the services rendered throughout the time because of your financial incapacitation despite numerous demands because you were already out of office at the material time.

    “It should be stressed that we never acted free because we are legal practitioners working for our legal fee nor offered you “pro bono” service because you were not a pauper to be qualified for such a service.

    “We merely showed understanding up till now because of the prevalent circumstances verily known to you. And now that you have served another term as Governor of Ekiti State, you are financially strong enough to pay the said sum as demanded.

    “Sir, you will agree with us that a labourer deserves his wages. We thank you for your patronage and we also deserve commendation for having discharged our professional responsibility with diligence and without compromise.

    “And also for saving Your Excellency from several legal embarrassments.”

  • Ekiti poll: Aspirants reject Fayose’s deputy as PDP flag bearer

    Ekiti poll: Aspirants reject Fayose’s deputy as PDP flag bearer

    Two Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirants in Ekiti State, Chief Dare Bejide and Mr. Owoseni Ajayi, has rejected the adoption of Prof. Kolapo Olusola as the party’s “sole candidate” by Governor Ayo Fayose and his loyalists.

    Fayose had at a event in the state capital picked his deputy as the PDP “consensus” candidate for next year’s governorship election in Ekiti.

    The aspirants said Olusola’s adoption won’t pose any threat to their participation in the party’s governorship primary slated for first quarter of next year.

    Bejide, a former Nigerian High Commissioner to Canada, expressed optimism that he would win the party’s governorship ticket.

    According to him, nobody can impose a candidate on the party.

    Ajayi, the immediate past Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state, said the party’s delegates at the primary would determine the flag bearer.

    Bejide said: “Any caucus of the party can adopt any candidate. Whether the choice of Olusola by his caucus has Fayose’s backing hold no water as no one can impose a candidate on the party.

    “This would not stop me from emerging the party’s governorship flagbearer in March 2018.”

    Ajayi added: “The decision to conduct primary and determine who gets the party’s ticket belongs to the National Committee of the PDP.

    “The emergence of Olusola would not affect my decision to run for the ticket of our great party.”

  • Ekiti: Man jailed life for alleged rape

    Ekiti: Man jailed life for alleged rape

    An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti has sentenced a 35-year-old man, Tope Odeyemi, to life imprisonment after being found guilty of the offence of rape.

    Odeyemi, who is married with two children, raped a 27-year-old woman (name withheld) which led to a grievous bodily harm on the victim. The sexual assault landed the victim in the hospital.

    The prosecution led by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Owoseni Ajayi, told the court that the offence was committed in Iyin-Ekiti in Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state on September 4, 2014.

    Ajayi explained that the offence contravenes Section 358 of the Criminal Code, Cap C 16 Laws of Ekiti State 2012.

    He urged the court to convict the accused on the strength of the evidence tendered before the court

    In the course of the trial, the prosecution called five witnesses to prove the case of rape against the convict while defence counsel, Taiwo Adeloye, called two witnesses to defend him.

    Odeyemi in his defence claimed that the victim was his girlfriend. He alleged that the victim lied against him because he refused to buy her a Blackberry phone

    Counsel to the accused prayed the court to discountenance all evidence of the prosecution describing them as “feeble and porous.”

    But the trial judge, Justice Lekan Ogunmoye, in his judgment said the prosecution has proved the case of rape against Odeyemi beyond every reasonable doubt.

    He held that based on the confessional statement of the accused and the other corroborative evidence of the prosecution reinforced the conviction, found them guilty as charged.

    The judge expressed concern that the act of rape and defilement is rampant in the state.

    Ogunmoye said: “I have carefully considered the evidence of the witnesses for the prosecution and that of the accused persons.

    “I found the evidence of the prosecution credible and reliable.”

    Justice Ogunmoye hereby sentenced the accused person to life imprisonment.

    Odeyemi betrayed emotion after his conviction and waved emotionally to his wife and kids who were present in the courtroom as he was led to the prison vehicle waiting for him.

  • Fayose sets up campaign organisation

    The flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 21 June governorship election in Ekiti State, former Governor Ayo Fayose, has appointed Chief Dipo Anisulowo as the Director-General of his campaign organisation. In a statement yesterday, Fayose named other members of the team as Mr. Owoseni Ajayi, Deputy Director-General; Chief Akin Awodunmila, Treasurer; and Chief Gboyega Aribisogan, Publicity Chairman.