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Tag: Oyo state

  • Oyo Chief Judge frees 51 inmates at Agodi prison

    The Chief Judge of Oyo State,  Justice Munta Abimbola, on Tuesday freed 51 inmates at the Agodi Prisons in Ibadan.

    The inmates, who were awaiting trial, were chosen out of the 205 considered.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that inmates  released included some  under-aged  persons,  those charged with minor offences or spent more than the number of years stipulated for the offences allegedly committed and  those with health challenges.

    NAN also reports that among those released were three girls,10 teenagers aged  between 14 and 17 years and an 86-year-old man.

    Read Also: Oyo teachers commence indefinite strike

    Speaking during the exercise, Abimbola said that the monitoring committee on Criminal Justice Law were not in the prison to arbitrarily  release inmates who were  awaiting trial.

    He said the body had  a duty  to ensure that criminals were not let loose on the  society in the task of  protecting  the rights  of the defendants and the victims.

    ” A total of 1,041 inmates are awaiting trial in Agodi prisons and no doubt the prison is congested and it is our responsibility to decongest the prison.

    “There is timeline in prosecution of criminal cases and Administration of Criminal Justice Law stipulates that the trial of the defendant must commence within 30 days of arraignment and completed within 180 days.

    “The responsibilities of the committee  is to ensure that criminal matters are speedy dealt with to decongest the prisons and the courts,” he  said.

    Earlier, the Controller of Prisons in Oyo State, Akinrujomu Tosin, said that the command was  relieved  that the chief judge was in the prison to exercise his constitutional duty.

    Tosin said that the Agodi Prison in Ibadan has the capacity to accommodate 390 inmates although it currently has 1,226 inmates.

    The controller, who expressed displeasure on the issue of under-aged persons being  remanded in the prison, said his command was doing its best to ensure there was no epidemic or break down of law and order in the facility.

  • Three jailed for 40-years each over illegal possession of arms

    Three men were on Wednesday sentenced to 40 years imprisonment each in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital for illegal possession of arms.

    They are Femi Olasupo, Musbau Oloyede and Ahmed Akinsanya.

    They were jailed by an Oyo State High Court after they were found guilty of a two-count charge of conspiracy and illegal possession of firearms.

    The accused were arrested by men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in 2011 following a report by Olasupo’s neighbours that he had no source of livelihood and was harbouring some people of questionable character who were terrorizing residents of Iwo Road area of the city.

    In the suit marked I/1786/2012, Olasupo was in March 2011 arrested and upon investigation, he led the security agents to an uncompleted building behind Mr Bigg’s eatery at Iwo Road, Ibadan, where four double barrel guns were recovered.

    His arrest led to the arrest of Musbau in whose possession some illegal firearms were also recovered at another uncompleted building around the area. When the third accused person was arrested, however, no arms were recovered from him but evidence from the prosecution witnesses revealed to the court that the trio had earlier been jailed together at the Ilesa, Osun State Prison from where they were released around the same time. They thereafter formed a gang operating around Iwo Road, Ibadan.

    The accused made confessional statements, though they alleged torture by men of SARS in their defence evidence, adding that they were also forced to sign their statements.

    Read Also: Friends in court for gang raping 21-yr-old woman

    Argument by their counsel, Oluwole Olukole, that the accused persons were not arrested at any crime scene, and that no forensic test was conducted on the firearms to link the accused persons could not sway Justice Adegboye Gbolagunte Feom jailing them.

    After the trial-within-trial conducted to establish the accused persons’ culpability in the crime, the court found them guilty based on circumstantial evidence led by the prosecution. The Judge found them guilty of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, as well as illegal possession of firearms recovered from them which corroborated the allegation of illegal possession contrary to the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Laws of the Federation.

    As part of his decision, the Judge said: “In my view, the recovery of firearms in possession of the accused persons is sufficient to justify their guilt. It was my decision after the trial-within-trial that the accused persons fell guilty of conspiracy. They were jailed together at Ilesa Prison and released at about the same time. Count 1 is well founded and sustained in this case.  I therefore hold that the accused persons are guilty of the offences as charged.”

    In his judgment, Gbolagunte relied on Section 2(3) and 6(b) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) and accordingly sentenced the three accused persons to “20 years on count 1 of conspiracy, and 20 years on count 2 of illegal possession of firearms.” The sentences are to run concurrently with the time they have spent in custody after the arrest deducted from the sentence.

  • Oyo renames roads after Lam, Akala, Ladoja, others

    Oyo State Government on Tuesday announced some roads and institutions have been approved for renaming by the Executive Council.

    In a statement by Commissioner for Information, Culture, and Tourism, Mr. Toye Arulogun, the government also disclosed Governor Abiola Ajimobi would commission some completed projects.

    The process for the amendment of the enabling laws for renaming of the institutions, according to Arulogun, commences immediately.

    The Commissioner said that the decision of the Executive Council is in recognition of the individuals’ contributions to the development of Oyo State, their Chosen Career and the humanity.

    Arulogun disclosed that the first flyover by a civilian administration in the state constructed at Mokola is named Transformation Flyover, Challenge.

    Efunsetan road is to be known as Lam Adesina road; Ijokodo – Apete road is to be called Ambassador Olu Sanu road; the newly constructed Zonal Mediation Centre, Ogbomosho will be named Justice Atilade Ojo Mediation Centre; the Ilorin Express Junction-Ikoyi – Takie – Palace – Ogbomoso Grammar School road is now Soun Oyewumi Ajagungbade road while the Ibadan/Oyo Express/Iseyin-Owode with change to Akesan-Palace and Old Ibadan-Oyo road is now Alaafin Lamidi Adeyemi III road.

    Read Also: Oyo residents hail completion of projects

    Eleyele-Dugbe ANCE Road is now Oba Saliu Adetunji road and Idi-Ape – Bashorun Akobo road is now Abiola Ajimobi way.

    The spokesman added that Ibarapa Polytechnic Eruwa will now be called Adeseun Ogundoyin Polytechnic, Eruwa; College of Agriculture, Igboora will be Lam Adesina College of Agriculture, Igboora; Maternal &Pediatrics Centre, Olodo Ibadan is named Abiola Ajimobi Maternal &Paediaitric Centre.

    Elebu Road is now officially Alao-Akala Way, Monatan – Olodo Road now Rashidi Ladoja; Onireke-Agbarigo road will now be known as Onikepo Akande Road and Festac Road, Mokola now Adebayo Faleti Road.

    The Commissioner added that some of the projects that have been scheduled for commissioning include Oba Akinbiyi Model School, the Dualisation of Challenge Roundabout-Efunsetan Roundabout (Phase II), the Rehabilitated/Constructed of the 3.6km Ijokodo-Apete Road and Associated Bridge Works, the Zonal Mediation Centre, Ogbomoso and Zonal Mediation Centre, Ogbomoso.

    Arulogun noted that some of the other projects are Abiola Ajimobi Maternal &Paediatric Centre, Olodo Ibadan, the Archive Management and Record Centre, Secretariat, Ibadan, Raw Materials Display Centre, Secretariat, Ibadan, Islamic Model School, Mini Water Scheme at Iganna Community in Oyo State and Ogunpa Market.

  • Why our administration will remain a reference point – Ajimobi

    Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, has declared that his administration will remain a reference point in the history of the state despite losing in the last election.

    He made the declaration last week at the Public lecture and Fellowship Investiture organised by Society for Peace Studies and Practice (SPSP) at the University of Ibadan.

    The outgoing governor also emphasized that he was ready for probe should his successor, Seyi Makinde, choose to open the books of his administration.

    According to him, the massive infrastructural development, peace and security, investments in education and health, among others, will retain his administration as a reference point in the history of the state regardless of what anyone feels about him.

    Ajimobi, who reeled out the achievements of his administration, said they were anchored on a pyramid of development which included restoration, transformation and repositioning.

    He said that the pyramid of development gave birth to a new wave of developmental strides in education that led to the establishment of School’s Governing Board (SGB) among other programs.

    Ajimobi said: “When they get there, let them cancel all the contracts we have signed. Let them investigate us and if we have stolen, they should arrest us.

    “The SGB model led to a significant improvement in public schools students’ performance in public examinations. Today, we can boast of the best results in WASSCE in the last 18 years.

    “We have given our best to the state and we will continue to do this. The feats recorded by our administration placed Oyo as one of the five safest haven of investment in the country.

    Read Also: I am ready for probe – Ajimobi

    “We are also the fourth investment friendly state in Nigeria according to the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS); with a four star rating for investment friendliness by the Nigerian Export Promotions Commission,” he said.

    The governor advised the incoming administration to approach governance with all strictness, especially in the course of maintaining the peaceful atmosphere that assisted in giving him the mandate he enjoyed from the people.

     

  • Court to Oyo governor, House of Assembly: you can’t sack, suspend elected council chairmen

    An Oyo State High Court Monday restrained the Governor and the House of Assembly from suspending or removing elected local government chairmen, vice chairmen and councilors.

    It also ruled that the state electoral commission cannot conduct another election into the positions until the expiration of the three-year tenure of the incumbents.

    The chairmen and others were elected on May 12 last year.

    The court, presided over by Justice A. Aderemi, also restrained the state government from freezing or withholding the bank accounts of the councils while their tenure lasts.

    Justice Aderemi gave the judgment in a suit filed by 11 chairmen and councilors led by Bashorun Bosun Ajuwon. They were the claimants in the case. The suit challenged the constitutionality of the Oyo State Local Government Law 2001 (as amended) which empowers the governor to remove the chairmen and the councilors.

    According to the claimants, the outgoing governor Abiola Ajimobi, held a meeting with the chairmen, other elected members and top leaders of the party shortly after the 2019 elections. At the meeting, they recalled that the governor announced that he would dissolve the elected local government leaders as empowered by the Oyo State Local Government Law 2001 (as amended) and appoint t caretaker teams with a view to restructuring the party in the state. The governing party, All Progressives Congress (APC) lost the governorship and House of Assembly elections.

    Section 11 of the Local Government Law of Oyo State, 2001(as amended) empowers the Governor of Oyo State to appoint a 7-member transition committee to run the affairs of the council for a period to be determined by the Oyo State House of Assembly.

    Section 21 of the same law also empowers the Oyo State House of Assembly to remove a democratically elected chairman and vice chairman whose tenure is yet to expire by a resolution.

    But the elected chairmen and councilors challenged the constitutionality of the law.

    The claimants sought 10 prayers and had all of them granted.

    The court held that the Oyo State Local Government Law was  in conflict with Section 7(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As amended) and thus unconstitutional, ultra vires, null and void.

    It declared that the Oyo State law breached Section 7(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As amended) and is thus unconstitutional, ultra vires, null and void and of no effect whatsoever.

    Justice Aderemi also affirmed the three-year tenure of the elected officials and restrained the governor and the House of Assembly from removing or suspending them of freezing or withholding their accounts.

    In granting the reliefs, the judge relied on the doctrine of stare decisis relied on the Supreme Court case of Governor, Ekiti State v. Olubunmi [2017] All FWLR (Pt. 873), ATTORNEY-GENERAL OF PLATEAU STATE & ORS V. HON. CHIEF ANTHONY GOYOL & ORS (2007) LPELR-12875 (CA) and other cases.

  • Oyo CJ inaugurates ACJL implementation committee

    The Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Munta Abimbola on Friday said, for the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) to be effectively implemented, the members of the monitoring committee must avail and familiarize themselves with the provisions of the law.

    This is coming as the CJ also admonishes the members of a newly inaugurated committee of the ACJ Law 2016, in the state to rise up to the challenges of reinforcing confidence in the Justice system particularly criminal justice and its trial process.

    The event which held at the Conference room of the Oyo State High Court had in attendance top judicial officers in the state, representatives of security agencies, Non-Governmental Organizations, representative of Nigerian Bar Association among others.

    Abimbola reiterated that the Administration of criminal Justice Act, as domesticated in the state, has been acclaimed as revolutionary piece of legislation seeking to address the inefficiency and ineffectiveness of the Criminal Justice in the country.

    Recall that the State House of Assembly passed its own law on the domestication of the ACJ law in 2016.

    Noting that, although, the implementation committee was long overdue for inauguration, logistics issues hindered the implementation, expressing joy that the committee was eventually inaugurated.

    Citing various provisions of the Act, the Chief Judge emphasized that the law “is a paradigm shift in the criminal justice system of Nigeria from a punitive approach to a restorative approach towards the needs of the society, victims and human dignity.

    “Specifically in subsection (2), the provision has bestowed on this committee enormous challenges and tasking responsibilities of ensuring that all stakeholders in the Administration of Criminal Justice Sector apply the provisions of Administration of Criminal Justice Law to the letter with the aim of promoting:

    “Effective management of the Criminal Justice Institutions (System); speedy and expeditious determination of Criminal cases; decongestion of prisons and ensuring synergy and cooperation amongst all the sectors in the administration of criminal justice in the state.”

    He also charged the committee to be humane and merciful in their approaches and discharge of the duties.

    To ensure the effectiveness of the committee, the Chief Judge at the event put in place five subcommittees with practice directions.

    Read Also: 116 indigents get N2m Zakat proceed in Oyo

    The committees and the chairman are: Decongestion of Prison Committee (Justice Abimbola as chairman), committee on Non-Custodial Sentencing (to be headed by Justice Iyabo Yerima), committee on sentencing guidelines (to be chaired by Justice B. A Taiwo), committee on registered and licensing of bonds persons (Justice M. I. Sule) and the committee on decongestion of police/other law enforcement agencies, places of detention (to be headed by Justice A. F Adeeyo).

    Justice Abimbola also thanked the state Governor Abiola Ajimobi for his efforts as well as “his unalloyed support and confidence in the leadership of the judiciary.”

    He also thanked the state Attorney General, Mr Oluseun Abimbola for “his steadfastness, hard work and contributions to the success of the Justice sector in Oyo state.”

    In her short remarks, the President, Customary Court of Appeal, Oyo state, Justice Eni Esan commended the CJ on ensuring that the ACJL implementation committee is inaugurated despite all challenges, noting that the CJ has done so much to move the judiciary forward in the state.

  • I’ve nothing to do with Sugar’s killers – Ajimobi

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has denied obstructing or manipulating investigation into the murder of Olatoye Temitope a.k.a. sugar, who represented Lagelu/Akinyele federal constituency in the House of Representatives.

    The late lawmaker’s elder brother, Olajide Olatoye, on Thursday, accused Ajimobi and the Oyo State Assembly of facilitating the release of the suspected killers.

    Speaking through his Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy, Bolaji Tunji, Ajimobi said the case was already before the police.

    The investigators, according to him, are already doing their job and have not contacted him on any challenges.

    He added his government is known for never interfering with the course of justice.

    According to him: “If a citizen of the state dies, I am not sure the governor will be the one that will say people responsible for it should not be punished.

    “So, I think they should go and get their information right. The governor is not privy to that kind of information and he will not support sweeping such a case under the carpet.

    “So, if people are saying the governor is trying to facilitate the release of the principal suspect and others, it is not true.

    “The governor said when the man died that those who perpetrated the act would be brought to justice. And he has never said anything contrary to what he said when the man died, and that still stands.

    Read Also: Court charges Ajimobi, three others with contempt

    “What the family should do now is to tell the police to do their job the way it should be done.”

    He added: “I don’t know the kind of bold statement they are expecting the government to make.

    ‘’The governor has already directed the security agencies to fish out the culprits, and they are on the case.

    “If the police are facing any challenge in their investigation, they are supposed to get across to the governor, and tell him their suggestions. The governor will now take it up from there.

    “I think they should go back to the police to find out how far they have gone in the matter instead of saying the governor wants to facilitate the release of the suspects. So, people should always get their facts right.

    “The governor will never be a party to a situation whereby an investigation being done by a statutory body will be compromised. The governor will never do anything that is against the law.

    “Why do we have peace in the state today? It is because people know that the governor will never act contrary to the law.

    “So, if people are saying the governor or the government is trying to subvert investigation, it is a no-no. The governor will never do that.”

     

  • Ajimobi facilitated release of Sugar’s killer, brother alleges

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi facilitated the release of killers of Hon Olatoye Temitope a.k.a Sugar, who represented Lagelu/Akinyele federal constituency in the House of Representatives, his elder brother, Mr. Olajide Olatoye, has alleged.

    Olajide made the accusation on Thursday during the lying- in- state for the slain federal lawmaker held at the House of Chiefs, Agodi, Ibadan.

    He noted that information reaching him indicated Ajimobi, in conjunction with some members of the Oyo State House of Assembly, were facilitating release of some suspects arrested in connection with the unfortunate assassination incident.

    “Governor Abiola Ajimobi should desist from facilitating the release of the killers of my brother, let justice prevail.

    “Oyo State government should remove hand in the investigation of the incident and allow the perpetrators of the evil act face the wrath of the law. Being a serving Oyo State House of Assembly member does not mean that you are untouchable,” he said.

    Speaking on behalf of the Olatoye’s family, the younger brother to the deceased, Mr. Dotun Olatoye, lamented the killers were yet to be nabbed despite all the support the family had been receiving from the federal and state government.

    He pointed out that there was need to value human life because human life is sacred, wondering how a serving federal lawmaker will be killed without proper investigation and arrest of the perpetrators.

    “Sugar was a great icon and the generalissimo of the masses, he has paid all his tributes while on earth, he was a man of peace, even when he lost an election, he remained calm,” he stated.

    Read Also: Court charges Ajimobi, three others with contempt

    Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Olagunju Ojo, said the death of the late lawmaker showed that Oyo State has lost an illustrious son that will not be forgotten.

    Olagunju reiterated that the deceased was monumental and unique while alive, noting that no one ever expected him to die like that.

    “In life, it is not how far, but how well, on behalf of the 8th Assembly, we wish you eternal life and journey mercy,” he declared.

    Al member of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Segun Olaleye, called on the Olatoye’s family not to retaliate the unfortunate incident.

    He said they should instead focus on how to take care of the deceased wife and children.

    He said: “Sugar told me in my dream that no one should take revenge on his behalf but his wife and children should be well taken care of.”

    Olaleye however promised to sponsor two of the deceased children to university level, noting that Oyo State has lost a freedom fighter and a goal getter.

  • Oyo Assembly nullifies sack of council bosses

    Oyo state house of Assembly on Tuesday nullified the purported suspension of the Executive Chairman, Irepo Local Government Area, Mr Asifu Adediran-Sulaiman and his vice, Mrs Ojedele Victoria for breaching the law guiding the process.

    The Assembly which described the suspension process as inconclusive also noted that pending the time the House Committee on local government Affairs investigates and reports back to it, the suspended chairman and his vice remains the constitutionally recognized leaders of the council and must be allowed to perform their duties.

    The council bosses were last week suspended by the council lawmakers who accused him of gross misconduct, high-handedness and lack of respect for party supremacy.

    The suspension was conveyed in an April 25 letter detailing the allegations against the chairman for which he was allegedly found guilty. The letter was signed by seven out of the 10 lawmakers in the council.

    The disapproval by the House follows a letter written by the Irepo LG councilors to the state lawmakers notifying them as well as seeking their approval of the suspension of the chairman and his vice.

    But, addressing journalists after Tuesday plenary, Speaker Olagunju Ojo urged the people of the council area to remain calm, noting that the House Committee has been mandated to handle the issue procedurally in line with the Oyo Assembly law 2001 which the councilors refused to comply with.

    The speaker said “The House has mandated the committee on LG to handle the issue procedurally in line with the law of Oyo Assembly passed in 2001 that Irepo LG failed to comply with in its procedures at suspending the chairman and vice chairman.

    Read Also: Will Makinde make a difference in Oyo?

    “The House has asked the LG committee to investigate the issues leveled against them. We urged the people to remain calm and maintain status quo.”

    Buttressing the speaker’s remarks, the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Mr Joshua Oyebamiji added that the Assembly law of 2001 on removal and or suspension of elected officials, especially chairmen, vice chairmen emphasis certain roles to be played by the Councilors, the Chief Judge and even the House of Assembly, which were not followed as stipulated.

    He said “So, the suspension is inconclusive because the other two tiers of government have not been involved. We punctuated an error and the committee on LG will look at the nitty gritty of the issues and if the procedures is to continue, the CJ and Assembly have to be involved.

    “So, they (the chairman and vice chairman) should go back to their offices until the committee reports back to the house. The elected chairmen are still the lawful officials.”

    The committee has one week to report back to the house.

    According to the purported sack letter issued the council bosses, the LG lawmakers said they received a letter of ‘no confidence’ by the party executive dated April 24, 2019 in which he was accused of insubordination and anti-party activities. The party leaders were accused the chairman of open declaration that he is no more a member of the APC.

    The council lawmakers also accused the suspended LG boss of running the council “as if it was his personal business, and disregard for the rule of law.”

    They also rated as poor, his relationship with the Head of Local Government Administration (HLA) and other career officers and workers in the council.

  • Oyo: Tribunal orders INEC to allow Makinde inspect election materials

    The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Oyo State on Tuesday ordered the  Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to allow the Governor-elect, Seyi Makinde, to inspect the materials used in March 9 governorship election in the state.

    INEC declared  Makinde, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), winner of  the March 9 governorship election in Oyo State after polling 515,621 votes.

    NAN reports that Makinde defected his closest rival, Adebayo Adelabu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who had 357,982 votes.

    The Charmian of the three-man panel, Justice Muhammed Sirajo, granted the application following a prayer by Counsel to Makinde, Mr Jamiu Makinde, seeking the order of the tribunal to inspect all the election materials used in the March 9 election.

    Adelabu and his party had gone to the tribunal to challenge the declaration of Makinde as the winner of the March 9 governorship election in the state.

    Read Also: Will Makinde make a difference in Oyo?

    The other respondents in the matter are the PDP and INEC.

    Counsel to Makinde, Mr Jamiu Makinde,  on Tuesday informed the court that the respondents had filed an expert application seeking the order of the tribunal to inspect all the election materials used in the March 9 election.

    Makinde said that the application was brought under section 281 (1, 2) of the electoral Act 2010 as amended.

    He said the application was supported by 18 paragraph affidavit and a written address sworn to by one Emmanuel Igu.

    NAN