Embattled TASCE staff plunges into river, body missing

Tajudeen Oropo, a senior member of the embattled staff of Tai Solarin College of Education (TASCE), Omu in Ogun State has been declared missing after his car plunged into a river.

DAILY POST had reported that staff of the college have been at loggerheads with the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, over their unpaid 60 months salaries. 

Oropo was said to have played significant roles, being a union leader, to effect the release of the five TASCE lecturers that were arrested, arraigned and detained on the orders of Gov Abiodun. 

A lecturer of TASCE told our correspondent that Oropo had been complaining of being financially handicapped as he was unable to pay his children’s school fees and take care of his home saying “he might have plunged into the river being in ‘deep thought’ while on steering.”

The Federal Road Safety Corps, Ogun State Command, confirmed that Oropo’s vehicle plunged into the River Ososa in Ijebu-Ode while travelling on the Sagamu-Ijebu-Ode-Benin Expressway on Saturday at about 06:15pm.

A statement by the Ogun FRSC spokesperson, Florence Okpe said, “The crash occured when the lone occupant who was driving lost control and flipped into the River Ososa,” adding that “The man who drove the vehicle is a non-academic staff of the Tai Solarin College of Education (TASCE).”

The FRSC said its rescue team and other sister agencies moved in immediately with proffesional divers to the scene for rescue operations

Okpe added that, “the ill-fated vehicle, a black coloured Honda Civic with registration number EPE892CV, had been recovered from underneath the river.

“The divers are still working hard to recover the lone passenger in the ‘ill-fated vehicle when the crash occurred.”

DAILY POST gathered that Oropo was travelling from Ilaro to Ijebu Ode when the accident occurred.

“The FRSC Sector Commander Clement Oladele has again advised motorists to drive cautiously especially around Bridges and reduce speed to prevent plunging into the rivers.

“The Sector Commander has assured that the rescue operations would not be called off till the man is brought out from the River.

“The Sector Commander has also engaged the Construction Company, RCC, to ensure that the safety railings around the bridge and other Bridges enroute the Sagamu- Ijebu Ode-Benin Expressway be replaced before the completion of the corridor currently undergoing rehabilitation, to prevent motorists crashing into the River,” Okpe said

Ogun guber: Akinlade's APM heads for Appeal Court, indicts Justice Halilu

Akinlade

The Allied Peoples Movement of Hon. Adekunle Akinlade said it had concluded plans to drag Gov Dapo Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress (APC) before the Appeal Court to contest the September 14 judgement of the Ogun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal. 

The Justice Yusuf Halilu-led tribunal had earlier dismissed Akinlade's petition on the ground that it was not proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the election that returned Abiodun as the governor of Ogun State was marred with irregularities. 

But the APM said it had "decided to appeal the September 14th judgement that purportedly "dismissed" our petition."

This decision, the APM said,  "was arrived at yesterday (Wednesday) evening after a number of questionable judicial proceedings was brought to the knowledge of our party leaders and stakeholders."

The party alleged that the Chairman of the tribunal, Yusuf Halilu, misled the public by claiming that he had never been to Ogun State or know anything about Ogun State. 

APM, during a press conference at its state secretariat, Leme, Abeokuta on Thursday, maintained that Halilu was being economical with the truth by saying during the tribunal proceedings that he had no prior knowledge of the Ogun State 2019 election case.

According to the APM, "Justice Yusuf Halilu did not only know about the Ogun State governorship elections, he had also given a favourable ruling to the second respondent, Prince Dapo Abiodun, in a related matter in October 2018 after the 'botched APC' primaries."

While addressing newsmen, with copies of the court documents given out as evidence, the Acting Publicity Secretary of the party in Ogun State, Olumide Balogun, informed that Halilu had earlier adjudicated on a preelection case between one Baruwa and Abiodun.

The party alleged that "Halilu's pretence when Mr Adedapo Abiodun counsel presented same as exhibit during the trial was misleading."

According to Balogun, the APM also discovered a "letter by the second respondent, Prince Dapo Abiodun, dated dated 8th February 2019, addressed to the Registrar, High Court No 26 of the Federal High Court Abuja, drawing the attention of the Ogun State Governorship Election Tribunal Chairman to facts of this (Baruwa) case," adding that "this prompted our legal team to dig further."

It is the position of the APM that Halilu erred by sitting twice on a case twice when it said, "it is trite in law that a judge cannot sit on a case twice, more so when in the first instance, he had been accused of familiarity with a party in the case. He not only heard the case in Abuja, he came to Ogun State to base his judgement on the Ogun State election on a matter he had earlier adjudicated upon."

To this end, Balogun said "the APM  and its gubernatorial candidate have come to the conclusion that there is miscarriage of justice in the case we instituted on the Ogun State governorship election; saying "Our notice of appeal will be filed at the appropriate time in accordance with the law."

Read the full statement below:

Leaders of our great party, the good people of Ogun State, gentlemen of the press. I heartily welcome you to the conference. I wish to thank you all for all your patience support and collective tenacity with regard to our quest to reclaim the mandate you freely gave Hon. Adekunle Abdulkabir Akinlade on the 9th of March 2019. There is no doubt that the last six months have been very challenging for all of us.

You will all recall that on Saturday 14th September 2019 the Ogun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal dismissed our petition on the ground that it was not proven beyond reasonable doubt and that the issues raised on the false information supplied in the affidavit submitted to INEC by Mr Dapo Abiodun is purely a "pre-election" matter.

The tribunal in its wisdom further ignored  the authorities provided by us but chose to rely on the Court of Appeal judgement in "Baruwa vs Dapo Abiodun" to affirm its position.

 You may recall that on Monday 16th September, our governorship candidate, Hon. Adekunle Abdulkabir Akinlade, popularly called Triple A addressed party faithful where he said that his counsel has been directed to study the judgement and advise us on what position to take on the judgement. My dear good people of ogun state and party faithful, I am happy to confirm that the Allied People's Movement (APM) has decided to appeal the September 14th judgement that purportedly "dismissed" our petition. This decision was arrived at yesterday evening after a number of questionable judicial proceedings was brought to the knowledge of our party leaders and stakeholders.

Although, the party has decided that it will allow the Court of Appeal to review those worrisome discoveries and consider the merits of our case, it is important to bring to your attention the following facts:

 Claims by the tribunal chairman, Hon Justice Yusuf Halilu that he has never been to Ogun State or know anything about Ogun State was misleading to say the least.

Claims by the Tribunal Chairman, Hon. Justice Yusuf Halilu that he had no prior knowledge of the Ogun State  2019 election case is also not true.

 Justice Yusuf Halilu did not only know about the Ogun State governorship elections, he had also given a favourable ruling to the second respondent Prince Dapo Abiodun, in a related matter in October 2018 after the botched APC primaries.

The tribunal chairman had prior knowledge of the "Baruwa" case, thus his pretence when Mr Adedapo Abiodun  counsel presented same as exhibit during the trial was misleading.

 Discovery of a letter by the second respondent, Prince Dapo Abiodun, dated dated 8th February 2019, addressed to the Registrar, High Court No 26 of the Federal High Court Abuja, drawing the attention of the Ogun State Governorship Election Tribunal Chairman to facts of this case prompted our legal team to dig further.

It is trite in law that a judge cannot sit on a case twice, more so when in the first instance, he had been accused of familiarity with a party in the case. He not only heard the case in Abuja, he came Ogun State  to base his judgement on the Ogun State election on a matter he had earlier adjudicated upon.

Gentlemen of the Press, as a result of these instructive findings the APM  and its gubernatorial candidate have come to the conclusion that there is miscarriage of justice in the case we instituted on the Ogun State governorship election. We have a duty to appeal the judgement to protect the integrity of our judicial system and restore the mandate freely given by the good people of Ogun State to our party.

 We shall be approaching the Court of Appeal to establish our case that there has been miscarriage of Justice and that the integrity of the judiciary has been compromised. We shall provide the details or our claimd in court.

 You may recall that the Hon. Justice Yusuf Halilu panel was the third to sit on the Ogun State governorship election petition. First was the Hon. Justice Onyeabor panel that was unceremoniously disbanded when it became clear that the powers-that-be could not compromise it. In its place, the Hon. Justice Coker panel was constituted despite the fact that she was from Lagos State. APM rejected the panel on the ground that Hon. Justice Coker served under the VP Prof Yemi Osinbajo when he was the AG of Lagos State with His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as the Governor.

The panel was then replaced with the Hon.  Justice Halilu-led panel. As a party APM,  our position has always been that as long as the process is just, we will accept the conclusion. Those who have chosen to turn truth on it seems to forget that this is Ogun State. We owe it to the good people of Ogun State, our democracy and the sanctity of our judicial system to see this through.

 We hereby call on our party faithful and good people of ogun state to remain patient and hopeful. The process of real greatness isn't easy, they say, to this end, we thank everyone of you for your prayers and sacrifices. We thank Almighty God for his mercy and Grace in spite of all the attacks and unwarranted provocations. Our notice of appeal will be filed at the appropriate time in accordance with the law.

Kids inherit intelligence from their mums, not dads

Add caption

Mums and dads like to joke that the positive traits their kids have come from them, whether it's smarts, good looks, sports skills or their musical ability.

But it turns out that there's actually a scientific reason kids inherit their intelligence from their mums - so sorry about that, dads.

Multiple studies have shown that the X chromosome is responsible for carrying intelligence.

Women have two of these chromosomes (XX) and men have only one (XY) - so they are twice as likely to pass down intelligence to their children than the fathers are.

So if you're looking for a way to win the argument, mums, this could be it.

There have been several studies that have sought to prove the theory over the years.

One study at the Medical Research Council Social and Public Health Sciences Unit in Glasgow, revealed that kids' IQs tend to be similar to their mothers'.

Researchers interviewed kids every year from the age of 14-22, taking into account various factors like education and socio-economic status.

They found that the best predictor of intelligence was their mothers - and the young people's IQs were only around 15 points different.

Lots of parents argue about who their kids got their smarts from (Image: Iconica)

But not all scientists agree on this basic X chromosome principle.

Other researchers have highlighted genetics are not the only factor in determining a child's intelligence.

According to Psychology Spot it's estimated that 40-60 percent of intelligence is hereditary - the rest comes from our environment.

So dads, don't be glum, you can still play a very important role in your children's emotional and intellectual development by building confidence, playing and teaching them new skills.

DAILY MIRROR 

2019 Elections: How Osinbajo Couldn't Account For N90b Collected From FIRS - Timi Frank

R-L: Buhari and Osinbajo perusing a paper at an event  

2019 Elections: How Osinbajo Couldn't Account For N90b Collected From FIRS - Timi Frank 

A political activist and former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank has said the ongoing travails of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is allegedly due to corruption which has nothing to do with 2023 politics.

Frank revealed through a statement on Monday in Abuja that he has reliable information from his sources in the presidency to the effect that Osinbajo’s travail has nothing to do with 2023 but alleged mismanagement of about N90 billion Naira released by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to prosecute the last general elections in favour of the APC.

Frank said: “The presidency discovered how Osinbajo allegedly mismanaged N90billion from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

“When confronted by the presidency, he confirmed to General Buhari that he indeed allegedly took N90billion from FIRS but it was used for the 2019 presidential election campaign in strategic states of the South-west.

“Gen Buhari asked for a breakdown of how the money was spent and he said he gave N11 billion to Lagos State APC leader but when the said national leader and one former APC chairman were invited for an explanation, it was confirmed that Osinbajo gave only N5billion and not N11billion to Lagos State.

“The cabal is asking to know how come they beat PDP in the South-west with less than 60,000 votes if the money was actually spent in the strategic states of the South-west as allegedly claimed.”

The activist insisted that if the information is true, Osinbajo must resign his position as Vice President, adding that such is akin to the characteristics of ‘yahoo boys.’

Frank said since the former National Security Adviser, military Colonel Sambo Dasuki is being held on allegations of embezzlement while Osinbajo is also allegedly being accused of embezzlement, “they should be given the same treatment.”

He added: “This goes to confirm the NEMA case against Osinbajo concerning the N5billion that he was alleged to have siphoned.

“The ball is in Gen Buhari’s court to show Nigerians that he supports corruption from his cabinet members and do nothing or he is indeed truly fighting corruption and, therefore, force him to resign.

“No wonder the fight against corruption under this administration is not yielding positive results as expected.”

Frank wondered why Osinbajo would always be the first to brand people like Bukola Saraki and ex-President Goodluck Jonathan with corruption “whereas he is the chairman of ‘yahoo yahoo’ in Nigeria.

“How do we expect the ‘yahoo boys’ to change when the VP is their chairman? Nigerians must not feel sorry for Osibanjo as the time to pay for his yahoo activities has come.

While calling on Nigerians to ignore the claim that Osinbajo is being witch-hunted by the cabal, Frank said: “If Osinbajo is investigated, Nigerians will be shocked to find more revelation about his activities.

“If he fails to resign, the National Assembly must begin the process of impeachment against him as a matter of urgency to prove to Nigerians that the 9th Assembly is not a rubber stamp of the executive.

“Finally, I call on Osinbajo to immediately apologise to God for his ‘yahoo yahoo’ behavior and repent otherwise he will be disgraced out of office.”

One chance driver in police net for robbing and raping customers in Atan

A driver, Abiodun Makinde, who the police said is "a member of 'one chance' robbery syndicate, terrorising commuters along Sango/Owode/Idiroko road", has been arrested.

The Ogun State Police Command said the suspect was arrested on September 13, following a distress call made by two of his victims, Gloria Edoh and Saidat Akinola, who complained that they both boarded a cab from Owode to Sango in Ogun.

But on getting to Olokopupo area of Atan Ota, two men they met in the car suddenly brought out knives and other dangerous weapons with which they forced them to surrender their belongings. 

The sum of N37,000 and N480,000 was collected from each of them, as well as their Tecno phones, after which they were pushed out of the moving vehicle, consequent upon which they sustained various degrees of injuries, the police said. 

The Spokesperson of Ogun Police, Abimbola Oyeyemi said the victims "subsequently found their way to a nearby hospital for treatment. But while coming from the hospital, they sighted and identified Abiodun Makinde as one of the hoodlums who robbed them, hence they raised alarm.  

"The alarm they raised attracted the DPO Atan Ota, SP Abiodun Salau, who was on routine patrol of the area with his men and they raced to the scene where the suspect was arrested with the help of members of the public."

Oyeyemi said, "On getting to the station, one woman (name withheld), who had earlier complained of similar incident also identified the suspect as one of the hoodlums who robbed and raped her on the 12th of September and made away with her pants."

The suspect, it was gathered, had confessed to participating in the two robbery incidents. 

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Bashir Makama, had ordered the transfer of the suspect to the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) for discreet investigation.

Five passengers burnt to death along Lagos-Ibadan highway

Five persons were burnt to death while ten others sustained injuries in an accident involving a white Mazda bus at Onigaari, on Lagos-Ibadan expressway late Friday morning.

Mr Clement Oladele, the Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abeokuta.

Oladele said that the accident which occurred around 8:49 a.m was caused by speed and loss of control.

The sector commander said that the crash involved 18 passengers comprising 17 male adults and one female adult.

The FRSC boss said that 10 males sustained injuries from the crash while five of the passengers comprising of four males and one female died from the crash.

“The lone crash involved a commercial bus that traveled all the way from Sokoto state but stopped briefly in Ibadan to pick other passengers.

“The white colour Mazda bus with registration number WWD 302 CB, was heading to Lagos before it lost control at Onigaari due to speed and collided with the road median and upturn,” he said.

Oladele said that the injured victims were taken to Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu, while the dead bodies were deposited at the mortuary of the same hospital.

The sector commander reminded motorists of the need to drive cautiously on the Lagos – Ibadan expressway, saying the road was still undergoing rehabilitation.

Oladele said that the recommended speed at construction areas was 50 kilometers per hour.

Yewa-Awori loses again as Abiodun retains MAUSTECH in Abeokuta

Abiodun 

The Yewa-Awori people, occupying Ogun West Senatorial District of Ogun State, have once again suffered another loss as their struggle to have the new Moshood Abiola University of Science and Technology (MAUSTECH) established in their area hit a brick wall yesterday.

Ogun West is the only zone in the state without a university, a situation, the people said, had contributed to the educational backwardness of the area.

There have been controversies in Ogun State over where the new university founded by the immediate past governor, Sen. Ibikunle Amosun should be established.

MAUSTECH came into being when Amosun upgraded Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY), in Abeokuta into a degree-awarding institution; thereby relocating the polytechnic to Ipokia.

But Gov Abiodun, after his inauguration, reversed Amosun’s policy by restoring MAPOLY and constituting a committee to review the new university and Ogun State Polytechnic, Ipokia; the committee has since submitted its report.

Recently, the people of Abeokuta and Ogun West were at loggerheads as they competed to have MAUSTECH located in their domains.

The Yewa-Awori people said Ogun West deserves a university, being the only marginalised area in Ogun State, having been denied the opportunity to rule the state since its creation 43 years ago.

In their arguments, Ogun West traditional rulers, elders and youths, including the Paramount Ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, maintained that, while the Ijebus and the Egbas have different public universities in their domain, Yewa has none; begging Gov Dapo Abiodun to ensure equal distribution of the state's wealth and locate MAUSTECH in Ipokia, especially after the polytechnic had been returned to Abeokuta.

But the people of Egba said MAUSTECH must remain in Abeokuta, notwithstanding the fact that  MAPOLY, which was earlier relocated to Ogun West had been returned to the state capital.

Their agitation was that Egba, though has some federal universities, it does not have an Ogun State government-owned university; vowing that they would not allow MAUSTECH to be moved to Ogun West.

While the two zones were still expecting the recommendation of the committee as well as the decision of government over MAUSTECH, Gov Abiodun broke the news on Tuesday when he confirmed that MAUSTECH would be retained in Abeokuta.

The governor disclosed this during an interdenominational thanksgiving service for the victory he recorded at the governorship election petition tribunal, held at June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto Abeokuta.

Abiodun said he was aware that both Ogun Central and Ogun West were interested in having MAUSTECH established in their areas, but he insisted that the new university would remain in Abeokuta.

However, Gov Abiodun said he would establish a university in Ogun West in the site being developed for the reversed polytechnic in Ipokia.

The establishment of the universities, Abiodun said, would be done in phases.

During his campaign, Abiodun had promised that his administration, if elected into office, would establish a university in Ogun West Senatorial District.

He had dropped the hint while responding to the request made by the Oloke of Oke-Odan, Oba (Dr) Oluremi Fagbenro, during his ward to ward campaign in Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State in January.

Abiodun was said to have acknowledged the fact that only the Ogun West had no university in the state while the remaining two districts have universities in their areas.

DPN

Gov Abiodun seeks Assembly's approval to access another loan

Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, has written the the state House of Assembly seeking approval to access a concessionary loan of N1.5billion from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme with a single-digit interest rate.

The Speaker of the Assembly, Mr Olakunle Oluomo, disclosed this while acknowledging the governor’s correspondence dated September 6 during plenary in Abeokuta on Monday.

According to the letter, the state government indicated interest to participate in the CBN programme to access the fund provided for land clearing and other logistics requirements and support.

It said the government, having identified with CBN and produce off takers (the Anchors), had concluded that agropreneurs could fairly predict selling process even before harvest.

”This will greatly enhance the wealth creation and employment generation efforts for our teeming youth, building capacity, reduce crimes and generally improve the living conditions of the participants.

“The funds that will be accessed under the scheme will be utilised by farmers organised into clusters across the state with particular focus on cassava, rice and maize production.

”Consequently I write to seek the concurrence of the House in support of our request to participate in the programme, ” the governor stated.

According to the governor’s letter, the pursuit of the administration was aimed at ensuring sustainable economic development of the state and individual prosperity of the citizenry with emphasis on boosting production and optimisation of the value chain.

The Speaker, thereafter, directed the Director-General, Debt Management Office in the state, Economic Adviser to the Governor, Permanent Secretary and Directors in the State Ministry of Agriculture to appear before the lawmakers on Tuesday for further briefing on the proposed credit facility.

NAN

Xenophobia: Ogun tops list of South Africa returnees

Ogun State has the highest number of the 187 returnees evacuated from South Africa last week.

The Federal Government did a profile of the recent victims of xenophobic attacks in South Africa who had willingly accepted to return to the country.

The profile showed that the first batch of the 187 returnees are from 16 states of the federation.

Chairman of the Nigerian Diaspora Commission, (NIDCOM) Abike Dabiri-Erewa, appealed to state governments to provide succor for the returnees. 

NIDCOM boss who gave an update on the returnees at a press conference on Tuesday said that among the returnees were over 30 children and a widow who has four children.

She also revealed that from the profiling, Ogun State has the highest number of 30, followed by Imo State with 28 while Kogi and Benue have the least number of one each.

The states of returnees are – Abia – 7, Anambra 13, Benue 1, Delta 15, Ebonyi 2, Edo 13, Ekiti 6 and Enugu 7.

Others are Imo 28, Kogi 1, Kwara 3, Lagos 7, Ogun 30, Osun 6, Ondo 6 and Oyo 23.

She said that her commission was already communicating with every state listed.

She added that information had already been sent to the states but they will take the final decision.

According to her, the widow with four children is from Ondo State.

Ondo State government, she said. is already trying to ensure the children are back in school.

The NIDCOM chair said the states are expected to have their representatives on ground to receive their indigenes.

She said: “We have profiled them according to their states and we expect the governors to take responsibility for their citizens that have returned.

“I am going to stress one thing, those who returned are not criminals. In fact they are very hardworking Nigerians and have lost everything they have ever worked for in South Africa.

“So their only crime is being black and being Nigerian. We had father’s separated from their children, we have a widow with four children who just had to come back home. They are already offers for scholarships for her children.”

The NIDCOM CEO said those that return already for SIM card and air time that will last about two months and some money for transportation.

According to Dabiri-Erewa , the returnees are already being profiled to get soft loans from the Bank of Industry (BOI).

“As I speak with you now the bank of industry has their contacts and will be calling them to come for the soft loans. Those are the immediate plans for them. But as they settled in we are going to profile them and do a need assessment because somebody might want to trade and you are saying go and do hairdressing. There is also a number for just the returnees to reach the bank of industry.

Dabiri-Erewa added that a lot of people have also offered counseling, entrepreneurship training which the commission was compiling and the returnees will also be contacted and link up with these offers.

She commended President Muhammadu Buhari for giving the instructions that Nigerians should be evacuated from South Africa, the minister of foreign affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama for showing leadership and the chairman of Air Peace, Allen Onyema for immediately offering to evacuate the volunteer returnees, the Nigerian Consul General in South Africa who opened his doors for the returnees to sleep and later got them a hotel and treated them good, Airtel for the phones and airtime, MTN for supporting the returnees with airtime, data among others.

She called on other Nigerians and corporate bodies to follow suit.”

Dabiri-Erewa said another set of 319 are expected back Tuesday evening and will be warmly welcome as directed by President Buhari.

She said the list containing details of the returnees will be forwarded to the various states to ensure proper reintegration.

She added: “This is the time to show ourselves love and unity, it doesn’t matter what part of Nigeria you come from, we are one united Nigeria and the love and unity, the sense of togetherness was very prominent in this case, where we were being externally attacked.”

Dabiri-Erewa assured that any Nigerian anywhere in the world, the government under President Buhari is determined that you will be protected.

“Any Nigerian anywhere in the world be hardworking, be law abiding and whether you are abroad or home be rest assured that government protection and welfare is guaranteed anywhere in the world.”

On the issue of compensation, she said it was a policy issue that will be decided by the minister of foreign affairs.

Don't politicise N15.8b spent on roads by Amosun - Perm Sec warns

The Permanent Secretary of Ogun State Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, Engr Kayode Ademolake, has said that the Ogun State House of Assembly was in custody of records containing how the ministry, under Former Gov Ibikunle Amosun, spent N15.8b on roads in six months; warning politicians not to drag him into unnecessary politicking.

Ademolake came under serious criticisms recently after a report quoted him as saying, “the Ogun State Ministry of Works and Infrastructure had spent over N15.8bn on construction of roads in some parts of the state between January and June this year.’

Ademolake, disclosed this while hosting members of the state House of Assembly Committee on Works and Infrastructure at his office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

Ademolake also revealed that the ministry expended over N216m, representing over 57 per cent of the N375m approved budget on salaries.

He said, “Apart from the N15.8bn spent on road construction, N221m was spent on recurrent expenditure out of the total budget of N435m approved for the year.

The report generated serious reactions from indigenes, causing the Ogun State government of Gov Dapo Abiodun to swiftly disown the report on Friday; thereby leaving Ademolake to himself.

The Permanent Secretary came under fire when Gov Abiodun, through his Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin, issued a statement saying: “Our attention has been drawn to a malicious, libelous and patently misleading publication, suggesting that the Ogun State government spent N15.8bn on the rehabilitation and construction of roads.

“The headline has misled people into believing that the cost was incurred by the present administration.

“That is not true. The amount quoted was incurred by the previous administration – between January and June this year.

“Mr Kayode Ademolake, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Works, who made the disclosure should have taken responsibility for this humongous expenditure as the chief accounting officer and permanent secretary while playing host to members of the Ogun House of Assembly Committee on Works.”

However, Ademolake, in an exclusive interview with DAILY POST, said all necessary documents concerning how the N15.8b was spent were with the Ogun State House of Assembly.

Ademolake expressed shock that the “whole issue is being turned into politics unnecessarily.”

According to him, the budget allocation for the Ogun State Ministry of Works, as approved by the state House of Assembly, was N51b from January to December 2019.

Out of the approved budget, Ademolake said, “N15b has been expended within January and May 29, on roads, flyover bridges (not less than 15 of such), various bridges over the rivers and housing projects.”

This, he said, represented 30 per cent performance at the middle of the year.

His words: “Necessary documents are with the House of Assembly.

“The approved budget allocation was N51b for a year (Jan – Dec 2019) and approved by the house of assembly, out of which N15b have been expended within January and May 29, on roads, flyover bridges (not less than 15 of such), various bridges over the rivers and housing projects.This represents 30 per cent performance at the middle of the year.

“The whole issue is just being turned into politics unnecessarily. I am not a politician but a professional Engineer.”

Akinlade set to appeal tribunal's judgement

The governorship candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in Ogun State, Hon. Adekunle Akinlade said he had applied for a copy of the election petition tribunal’s judgement for a review by his legal team.

Akinlade, speaking for the first time after the tribunal gave its judgement on Saturday, said he was aware that “the executive power to sustain the mission to rebuild Ogun State would come at a cost.”

He expressed satisfaction seeing a mammoth crowd behind him even after the outcome of the petition, saying, “you can buy judgement, but you cannot buy the conscience of the people.”

The Justice Yusuf Halilu-led tribunal on Saturday held that Akinlade and the APM failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the election was marred with irregularities.

While addressing his party faithfuls Monday at the APM secretariat, Leme, Abeokuta, Akinlade appreciated them and “the people of Ogun State for standing firm and steadfast against all odds.”

According to him, the people of Ogun State were not happy with the judgement delivered by the tribunal on Saturday.

“I know all of you are not happy with the judgement delivered on Saturday, considering the pains we all went through to campaign across the length and breath of Ogun State.

“That judgement is from man and not from God. We all know this journey will be tough and rough. It isn’t a day’s journey. Let’s remain calm.

“I didn’t join this race to amass wealth; it is for the development of Ogun State and because we stand for the truth, that is why the good people of Ogun State are still standing firmly with us. Even those with them have nothing to show for it.

“I know what you are going through from them; the insult and the abuses, just be calm and eschew violence. We all know the judgment was at variance with the evidence before the tribunal. But our lawyers will review the judgement and advise us accordingly. We have applied for the judgement. The constitution of Nigeria is very clear about what we can do whenever we don’t agree with any decision.

“Thanks for your maturity. Thanks for standing against all odds. Thanks for standing for the truth,” he said.

Speaking further, Akinlade said, he, as a student of Political Science, was aware that power would come at a cost.

“I know power will come at a cost. The executive power to develop Ogun State, to empower the people, to sustain the mission to rebuild Ogun State, must all come at a cost. We are up to the task. We are not cowards.

“This is not just about me personally. It is about the people who came out to vote. I am very proud to be associated with them. They stood with us right from the day we were robbed in the primary. It takes courage and strength to have achieved what we achieved together. You can only buy judgement, but you cannot buy the people’s conscience,” he added.

He urged the people to be calm, peaceful and law-abiding even in the face of all provocations, adding “don’t fight anybody because better days are coming.”

FUOYE killings: NANS says another injured student at point of death, begs Nigerians for prayers

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) said one of the students who sustained injuries in a protest that led to the death of two students of the Federal University of Oye Ekiti last week, Azeez Elijah, can no longer lift his legs and hands, calling on Nigerians to pray for him.

NANS had on Wednesday condemned the alleged killings of two students FUOYE, and injuring of others by security details attached to Chief (Mrs) Bisi Fayemi; wife of Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi.

The students – Dada Kehinde Abiodun, a part one student at the Department of Crop Science and Horticulture and one  Joseph Okonofua, were allegedly shot dead during protest on Tuesday by security personnel suspected to be in the convoy of Bisi Fayemi.

A statement signed by the National Public Relations Officer of NANS, Azeez Adeyemi said, Elijah, who is the President of the National Association of Ogun State Students, NAOSS, FUOYE chapter, "went into the horrible state after a police officer acting under instruction of the wife of the Ekiti State Governor, shot a teargas canister at his head during the protest, which led to his paralysis. He has kept everyone including his parent in limbo as he barely speaks to anyone."

Adeyemi said Elijah had been looking helpless on the hospital bed since the day of the 'horrific' incident, which he alleged was masterminded by Mrs Fayemi. 

NANS added, "We however call for a nationwide prayers for our FUOYE students currently bedridden at different hospitals in Lagos, Ekiti among other states as well as student leaders and their parents, I as we cannot withstand the agony of losing any one of them  again. 

"Although, the Fayemi's family are yet to be remorseful but we are not begging for that, but we want to advise them to fast and pray for other injured students because God forbid, if anything evil happens to any of them, we shall pray negative prayers (Curses) for your(Fayemi) family."

Adeyemi spoke further, saying, "Although, the fayemi's family are in charge of the tax payers money in Ekiti and Dr Kayode Fayemi himself is the Chairman of Governors Forum, making him very powerful before men but not before God. 

"We however use this medium to calm the nerves of our students on their colleagues in police custody, as we assure you that they will come out unhurt very soon."

Ogun tribunal upholds Abiodun's election

The governorship election petition tribunal sitting in Ogun State has on Saturday September 14, upheld the election of Gov Dapo Abiodun.

The tribunal dismissed the petition filed by Hon Adekunle Akinlade of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) against the election of Gov Dapo Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Details later... 

Tight security at Isabo High Court as tribunal delivers judgement today (Photos)

There is tight security at the Isabo High Court Abeokuta, premise of today's election petition tribunal between Hon. Adekunle Akinlade of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and Gov Dapo Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Justice Yusuf Halilu-led tribunal said it would deliver judgement on the petition filed by Akinlade today, starting from 10am.

As early as 6am, security agents have cordoned off Isabo-Kuto road to forestall breakdown of law and order.

An armoured personnel carrier has been mounted in front of the court to scare away criminals.

African Advocate reports that some electronic media stations like OGTV, OGBC and others will air the proceedings live.

Media men setting their gadgets