Akinlade's counsel optimistic of victory at Appeal Court

Governorship candidate of Allied People’s Movement (APM), Abdulkabir Adekunle Akinlade (left) flanked by his counsels, Sebastine Hon, SAN (right) and Mike O, SAN, shortly after the hearing of appeal filed by Akinlade challenging the judgment of a lower tribunal at the Court of Appeal, Ibadan, on Monday.

COUNSEL to the candidate of Allied People’s Movement (APM), in the 2019 governorship election in Ogun State, Hon Abdulkabir Adekunle Akinlade, Sebastine, SAN, has expressed optimism about his client’s victory at the Court of Appeal, having suffered a defeat at the lower election petition tribunal.

Akinlade is challenging the judgment of an election petition tribunal which upheld the election of Dapo Abiodun as the validly elected governor of Ogun State.

Speaking with journalists after the hearing of an appeal filed on behalf of his client, Adekunle Akinlade, at the Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan and presided over by Honourable Justices Abubakar Datti Yahaya; M.A Danjuma; I.O Akeju; A.A Adumein and J.Y Tukur, Hon, noted that he is sure of victory adding that the evidence at hand is tangible enough to earn his client a victory.

“We have argued so strongly inside the court that the appellant’s appeal is allowed. And we based our submission on the fact that the second respondent, the governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, had in 2019 in the build-up to the governorship election submitted an affidavit that he knew was false regarding his qualification.

“We argued that strong and we are hoping that judgment will be in favour of the appellant.”

Also, speaking with journalists after the court proceedings, Chairman, Allied People’s Movement (APM), in Ogun State, Mr Kehinde Oyatayo stated that the party believes in the principle of fair hearing which now reigns supreme in the judiciary, adding that his party will come out victorious at the end of the day.

INTERVIEW: Gov Abiodun ordered thugs to chase us out of office – Ogun Council Chairman, Osikomaiya

Hon. Adebayo Osikomaiya is the outgoing Executive Chairman of Ijebu East Central Local Council Development Area, Ojowo in Ogun State. In this interview with DAILY POST, the council boss talks about the suspension and reinstatement of the 57 council chairmen in Ogun by the State House of Assembly, as well as the freezing of their bank accounts.

Excerpts:

You were all reinstated last week by the Ogun State House of Assembly after almost four months suspension and barely 10 days to the end of your tenure. Has any of the Chairmen tried to resume office?

Yes. I resumed this morning and several of my colleagues also did.

Are you still vacating office on October 9/10 this year?

Yes. That’s when our tenure ends constitutionally.

Can it be said that you resumed to prepare your handover note?

Exactly so. That is what it looks like.

What will you say about your LCDA bank accounts?

The accounts are frozen and we don’t have any access to them, despite the fact that they said our suspension has been lifted.

Gov Dapo Abiodun’s loyalists said he should not be blamed for your suspension, that people should put all the blames on the Ogun Assembly. Do you agree?

I disagree in its entirety. The reason for my position is that we initially ignored the resolution of the House of Assembly because such (resolution to suspend us) couldn’t stand without the accent of the Governor. However, the State Governor, under the leadership of Gov. Abiodun, issued directives that the HOLGAs should lock up our offices. They also suspended the accounts. Some of our colleagues were also chased out of their offices with political thugs.

On the order of the governor?

Yes! You may also need to know that when the resolution was also passed, we made attempts to reach out to the Governor, he ignored all our attempts to see him. I stand by everything I said.

Sir, now that you resumed work, does that mean you have ‘abandoned’ your court case against the government?

Never! Our claim isn’t on recalling us alone. We have other claims against the government. A damage has also been suffered with the three months suspension.

What are the damages?

Damages started from the point we were stopped from serving our people.

We learnt you were paid till June, does that include allowances?

Not one single allowance was paid.

Sir, can you mention some of the allowances that you used to receive before, that was not paid by Gov Abiodun?

Security votes – some months are being owed and we are demanding it from this government as government is continuum, office Imprest, furniture allowance – every political office holder in the state has gotten it aside the political functionaries at the Local Government. Today’s date is 8th of October, 2019. The government paid June and July salaries. What happened to August and September? Or have other political functionaries not gotten paid for those months also? They were paying the salaries of N229,000 without any other allowances.

As a lawyer, how will you describe the whole scenario?

It’s sad, the government simply played politics against the interests of the people of the state. We were elected to serve the people, he should have allowed us to complete our term which was just four months from the time he was sworn in. In all of this suspension, who has suffered most? The people.

Ask around about me, despite the minimal support from the state government under Former Gov Ibikunle Amosun, I leveraged on the companies in my LCDA, formed a solid partnership with them and we jointly executed projects.

I employed Medical Doctors in partnership with NYSC. I was paying them over N240,000 monthly for 11 months. I set up a drug revolving account with over N500,000 and grew it to N750,000. There were always drugs in my health centres at subsidized rates.

A grader was given to my LCDA after asset sharing; the grader had been abandoned for six years. I partnered with one of the companies, fixed it and we graded over 45 roads in the LCDA. How about payment of school fees for indigent students? I grew the IGR of the LCDA particularly at Imusin market from N15,000 every five days to N50,000 every five days.

I never failed to observe environmental sanitation, it was a must. You need to see how the community will bring out wastes on that day. I constructed 10 lock-up shops at Imusin market, renovated the LCDA secretariat. (We have one of the best in the state.)

How about investment in farming? We invested in Ugwu market, plantain farm. We made money from both, unlike in most local governments. We supported some youths with free land for farming. I am just saying this to let you know it is the people that suffered.

Now, what are the requests of all the chairmen?

Unfortunately, we can’t turn around the time. We would like the court to pronounce that the government erred by suspending us. They should pay us all our entitlements and damages. It’s sad that we also carried the weight of suspicion for gross misconduct and misappropriation of public funds, when there was nothing like that.

(Culled from Daily Post)

Gov Abiodun constitutes 51-member Elders Council, appoints one woman

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has constituted Governors’ Elders Council (GEC).

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Kunle Somorin, on Friday, said “the list comprises critical stakeholders in the All Progressives Congress (APC).”

Somorin said, “Members of the Council include statesmen and ‘women’ who have the requisite governance, business and political experiences necessary to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people.”

However, DAILY POST observed that Chief Mrs Iyabo Apanpa was the only woman on the list, while the remaining 50 are men.

See the full list as released by Somorin below:

1. Senator Biyi Durojaiye

2. Prince Segun Adesegun

3. Senator Gbenga Kaka

4. Chief Muyideen Sabitu

5. Chief Segun Osibote

6. Chief Johnson Ogundeko

7. Chief Folorunso Elias

8. Alhaji Sarumi

9. Chief Rasheed Adenusi

10. Chief Bisi Rodipe

11. Chief Segun Aderibigbe

12. Dr. Olukoya Adeleke Adedoyin

13. Alhaji Dauda Afolabi Olokun

14. Chief Tolu Daodu

15. Chief Adepegba Otemolu

16. ACP Lamidi Odulawa Rtd

17. Otunba Adekunle Orekoya

18. Chief James Dina

19. Chief Sam Durojaye

20. Senator Odujirin

21. Dr. Ogunbiyi

22. Chief Shoyemi

23. Chief Sodiyan

24. Hon. Dave Salako

25. Chief Yemi Adefulu

26. Chief Fohun ABIOLA

27. Chief Dayo Abatan

28. Engr. Michael Joda

29. Pa Olutunji E Sotomi

30. Chief Aiyedogbon

31. Senator Akin Odunsi

32. Chief Babatunde Fadun

33. Chief Muftau Ajibola

34. Chief Mrs Iyabo Apanpa

35. Chief Waliu Ajibode

36. Chief Olusanya

37. Chief Musibau Obanla

38. Chief Olu Agemo

39. Bashorun Hon. Bisiriyu Popoola

40. Chief Samuel Elegbede

41. Alh. Adesokan

42. Dr. Femi Majekodunmi

43. Chief Sunday Sowunmi

44. Chief Muyideen soremekun

45. Hon. Babatunde Adesina

46. Chief Bode Mustapha

47. Engr. Seni Ayorinde

48. Chief Michael Adeleke Fajimi

49. Barr. Moshood Taiwo

50. Alhaji Adebesin

51. Chief Shamusideen Osho

Somorin informed that the Council will act in pure advisory capacity.

He said the council’s responsibilities would be to make inputs to fulfil “the Building our Future Together” Agenda of the Dapo Abiodun administration and to ensure strategic allocation of resources to projects and programmes that will make the most impact on the citizenry, irrespective of party affiliations or any other sectional sentiments.

Ogun APC crisis: Osoba, Abiodun, Oluomo, others hold closed-door meeting in Abeokuta

Osoba 

The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, and other stakeholders of the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Friday, held a closed-door meeting at the party’s secretariat in Abeokuta; the Ogun State capital.

The meeting, according to feelers, was presided over by a former governor of the state and national leader of the party, Chief Olusegun Osoba.

The meeting, DAILY POST learnt, was convened amidst the controversies arising from a court ruling ordering status quo in respect to the subject matter of the suit filed by a faction of the party loyal to former Governor Ibikunle Amosun, challenging the dissolution of the Derin Adebiyi-led Ogun APC executive by Adams Oshiomhole. 

DAILY POST reported on Thursday that loyalists of Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, and those of his predecessor, Amosun, renewed their rivalry as they battle for who controls the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Speaking with newsmen after the meeting, Gov Abiodun said the meeting created the opportunity to bring to the fore, things that have been on the minds of the party leaders; while also allowing them to ventilate.

His words: “The purpose of the meeting was to afford him the opportunity to brief the state caucus on the activities and programme of his government in the last four months.

“The purpose of the meeting was to afford me the opportunity as governor of the state to brief the state caucus formally on our activities over the last three and half months, within which we have not held the caucus meeting as defined by the constitution since we assumed office.

“Having done that, I needed to also deliberate with the party over certain range of issues. The tenure of our local government council chairmen is up. I needed to inform the party officially that we need to begin to plan on those that will be in capacity as caretaker chairmen and so on.

“There are things that have been on the minds of the party leaders; we also brought them to the fore at meeting

“Generally, it was an opportunity for leadership at the caucus level to ventilate and for us as governor to pass information to them. At the end of the day, we had a very fruitful deliberation.

On the formation of his cabinet, Abiodun said, “it was part of what I informed the caucus about, that very soon, our cabinet will be formed and to share with them the process that will take. I shared with them the process that would require them to also contribute to that nomination of candidates for commissioners.”

Others at the meeting included the state Deputy Governor, Eng. Mrs. Noimot Salako-Oyedele; Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Olakunle Oluomo; former National Assembly members under the party; former State Assembly members under the APC; principal officers of the State House of Assembly; a former Governor of the State, Chief Segun Adesegun, among others.

Daily Post 

Ogun APC: Court document confirms 'status quo' ordered

A certified true copy of a court document made available to DAILY POST has confirmed that Justice Jude O. Okeke of a Federal High Court in Abuja on October 8, 2019 ordered that “status quo” be maintained in respect to the subject matter of a suit filed by Chief Derin Adebiyi-led faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State, pending the hearing and determination of some applications.

Derin Adebiyi-led APC executive in Ogun had in 2018 filed a suit to challenge its dissolution by the National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole for alleged anti-party activities.

Oshiomhole had replaced the elected executive, loyal to former Governor Ibikunle Amosun, with a three-man caretaker committee led by Yemi Sanusi.

DAILY POST reported on Thursday that loyalists of Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, and those of his predecessor, Amosun, renewed their rivalry as they battle for who controls the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC). 

While Amosun’s faction claimed that the court has recognised and reinstated the dissolved Derin Adebiyi-led executive, party members loyal to Abiodun, insisted that the court never made such pronouncement.

Meanwhile, a court document on the case with suit number: FCT/HC/363/2018, showed that the court resumed sitting on October 8 with the claimants and defendants absent. They were, however, represented by their counsels.

It was seen from the court document that Akinola Afolarin, I. Damisa and M. Egbinine appeared for the claimants; while N. A. Ojile appeared for the first to fifth defendants, holding brief for Wale A. Ajayi. There was no legal representation for the sixth defendant – the Independent national Electoral Commission (INEC).

In his words, counsel to the claimant, Afolarin, recalled that the court, on June 20, 2019, had granted the claimants leave to amend their processes and join the third to sixth defendants; he informed the court that the amendment was effected and served.

The defendants in the suit were the All Progressives Congress (APC); APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomohle; Yemi Sanusi; Ayo Olubori; Tunde Oladunjoye (Chairman, Secretary and Publicity Secretary of the said Ogun APC Caretaker Committee respectively) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)

Afolarin told the court that the defendants have served his clients a counter affidavit in opposition to the originating summons – a preliminary objection and an application for extension of time.

He told the court that they would not be able to proceed with the substantive matter that day, in view of the fact that the claimants needed time to react to the preliminary objection and counter affidavit filed by the defendants in opposition to the originating summons.

Afolarin said the claimants filed motion number M/8514/2019 for interlocutory injunction and motion number M/8533/2019 for interim injunction; to prevent the defendants from interfering with the subject matter of the case.

He, however, applied to withdraw the motion for interim injunction and proceeded with the motion for interlocutory injunction in respect of which he said the defendant have filed a counter affidavit; adding that the notice was served on INEC against the October 8 fixture.

Reacting, counsel to the defendants, Ojile, said the defendants did not object to the application for adjournment to enable the claimants react to process served on them on October 7.

But Ojile, however, objected to the hearing of the motion on notice with number M/8514/2019 on the ground that the defendant already have a notice of preliminary objection to be taken and determined first.

In his submissions, Justice Okeke said: “The settled position of the law is that a challenge to jurisdiction is a threshold issue which should be heard and determined promptly once raised. In this case, however, the claimant has complained that the defendants are interfering with the subject matter of the suit and on account, therefore, seeks to restrain them via a Motion on Notice for Interlocutory Injunction to this proceeding. In the light of this, the court is minded to consolidate the hearing of both applications. It is so ordered.

“As the claimants need time to react to defendants preliminary objection, both application shall be heard on the next date.”

“In the interim, parties are directed to maintain the status quo as at today with respect to the subject matter of the suit pending the hearing and determination of the above application.

“The claimants motion with number M/8533/2019, having been withdrawn, is struck out.

“The case is adjourned to 26th November 2019 for consolidated hearing of the defendants preliminary objection and claimants Motion on on Notice with number: M/8514/2019.”

“Hearing notice to be served on the 6th defendant.”

Daily Post

Melaye loses as Appeal Court orders rerun

Senator Dino Melaye on Friday lost the appeal of a tribunal ruling that nullified his election as the Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District in the Senate.

“I just lost my election at the Appeal Court and Fresh election ordered,” Dino Melaye tweeted on Friday.

The Kogi State National Assembly Election Tribunal Friday, 23 August nullified Dino Melaye’s election.

Melaye, a candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was declared the winner of the February election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

His victory was challenged in court by Smart Adeyemi, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Adeyemi challenged Melaye’s victory on three grounds of irregularities, over voting and non-compliance with the electoral acts.

The three-man panel led by Justice A. O. Chijioke in a unanimous judgment accepted Adeyemi’s appeal and ordered reelection.

Despite the court ruling, Melaye said, “In all things, I give God the Praise.”

He continued that “He who started a good thing will definitely complete it.”

Melaye expressed hope in winning the reelection ordered by the court and asked his supporters to be law-abiding, noting that he and his supporters will “always overcome”.

Court reinstates Amosun APC executive - Wole Elegbede

Loyalists of the former Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Thursday said court has ruled in favour of the Chief Derin Adebiyi-led State Executive Committee of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State. 

While Amosun’s faction claimed that a court has recognised and reinstated the dissolved Derin Adebiyi-led executive, party members loyal to the Governor, insisted that the court never made such pronouncement.

African Advocate learnt that following the alleged forceful takeover of the APC secretariat in Ogun State by the group loyal to Abiodun in August, Amosun loyalists had filed a motion before an Abuja High Court presided over by Honourable Justice Jude O. Okeke

A statement signed by Wole Elegbede, the faction’s APC Publicity Secretary said, “Based on the complaint by the claimants’ lawyer, Afolabi Afolarin of Kalu Agabi’s Chambers, that the defendants had been interfering with the subject matter of the case, the judge ruled that in the interim, the parties in the suit should maintain the “status quo” pending the hearing and determination of the case.”

Elegbede spoke further that, “Chief Adebiyi and nine others who are the claimants in the suit had applied to the court to declare the purported dissolution of the executives of the party in the state and the appointment of the Care-taker Committee by the National Working Committee (NWC) under the leadership of Adams Oshiomohle as illegal, null and void.

“The Defendants in the suit are the All Progressives Congress (APC), APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomohle, Yemi Sanusi, Ayo Olubori, Comrade Tunde Oladunjoye, the purported Chairman, Secretary and Publicity Secretary of Ogun APC Care-taker Committee respectively, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“At the hearing on Tuesday, the claimants lawyer alleged that the defendants had been interfering with the the subject matter of the case, warranting the filing of the motion for interlocutory and interim injunctions.

“Responding to the allegation, N. A. Ojile who stood in for Habeeb A. Ajayi, for the defendants, objected to the hearing of the motion on notice on the ground that they had a motion of preliminary objection.

“In his interim ruling, the presiding judge maintained that “the settled position of the law is that a challenge to jurisdiction is a threshold issue which should be heard and determined promptly once raised. In this case however, the claimant has complained that the defendants are interfering with the subject matter of the suit and on account therefore seeks to restrain them vide a Motion on Notice for Interlocutory Injunction to this proceeding. In the light of this, the court is minded to consolidate the hearing of both applications. It is so ordered.”

He added that Justice Okeke also ruled: “In the interim, parties are directed to maintain the status quo as at today with respect to the subject matter of the suit pending the hearing and determination of the above applications.”

However, the Spokesperson for the APC caretaker committee in Ogun State, Tunde Oladunjoye said “court did not reinstate Derin Adebiyi as APC Chairman in Ogun.”

He said, “Therefore, any reinstament rumor should be disregarded as their characteristic pattern of telling lies”.

Hilarious: Ogun Assembly reinstates Amosun's LG Chairmen 7 days to go

Barely seven days to the end of their tenure, the Ogun State House of Assembly, on Thursday lifted the suspension it placed on Chairmen of the 20 Local Governments (LGs) and the 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state.

The council bosses has till October 10, 2019 when their administrations would constitutionally expire, having been sworn in for a three-year tenure on October 10, 2016.

The Assembly also accused the immediate-past Governor of the State, Ibikunle Amosun, of “short-changing” local governments in the distribution of federal allocations during his administration.

The chairmen were suspended by the eighth legislature led by former Speaker Suraju Adekunbi at the twilight of its expiration shortly after Amosun left office on May 29, few days after Gov Dapo Abiodun placed an embargo on the LGs and LCDAs accounts.

The Assembly’s directive to lift the ban was consequent upon the passage of a resolution titled “HR No./043/ OG/2019 — Report of the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in respect of the suspended political office holders in all the Local Government Councils and Local Council Development Areas across the State.”

The passage of the resolution came shortly after the committee chairman, Akeem Balogun, presented his report and moved the motion for its adoption.

It was seconded by Bolanle Ajayi and supported by the whole House through a voice vote.

The report presented by Balogun partly reads, “Following the receipt of various petitions on allegations of financial misappropriation and non performance leveled against the chairmen of the 57 Local Government Councils and Local Council Development Areas in the State, the 8th Legislature via House Resolution 018/2019 on Friday, 31st May, 2019 suspended all political office holders in all the Local Government Councils and LCDAs in the State.”

Balogun said after the Assembly’s various investigations, the House noted: “All the Local Government and LCDAs were shortchanged in terms of allocation from the Federation Account by the immediate past administration in the state.

“It was detected that each of the local government councils and LCDAs only obtained the sum of twelve million Naira (N12m) each, paid in six months installments for the entire period of thirty (30) months under review.

“Majority of the chairmen were found guilty of complacency and docility in the face of constitutional breach of their functions and finances by the immediate past administration of the state.

“Majority of the chairmen were found guilty of not keeping proper records of activities of their councils and nonchalant attitude and violation of procedural rules and financial guidelines by council officials.”

Consequently, the Assembly recommended that those chairmen found culpable be referred to the appropriate agencies of government for further investigation, with a directive to them to put their respective councils in order to ensure transparency and accountability in the administration of the third tier of government.

The Assembly, in its report of the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, said it had found that Amosun’s government paid only N12m to the local governments and Local Council Development Areas in six-month installments for the 30 months under review.

Akinlade asks Appeal Court to set aside Abiodun's tribunal victory on 20 grounds

Hon. Adekunle Akinlade of the Allied People’s Movement (APM), has asked the Appeal Court in Ibadan, Oyo State, to set aside the decision of the Ogun State election petition tribunal, which dismissed his petition against Gov Dapo Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

DAILY POST recalls that Akinlade, who was the closest rival to Gov Abiodun in the March 9 governorship election, had earlier approached the tribunal, praying it to nullify Abiodun’s election on the grounds that the election was marred with irregularities and over voting and that Abiodun submitted false information to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

But the Justice Yusuf Halilu-led tribunal on September 14 dismissed the petition, saying Akinlade and the APM could not prove without a reasonable doubt that the election was marred with irregularities.

Akinlade, who was not satisfied with the judgement, has, therefore, headed for the Appeal Court, asking it to grant the reliefs earlier sought in petition no: EPT/OG/GOV/01/2019, by declaring him winner of the 2019 Ogun governorship election.

In the Appeal Notice filed on Wednesday, a copy of which was made available to DAILY POST, Akinlade said “the learned trial Judges of the lower tribunal erred in law when, they came to the conclusion that a comparison between Exhibit P331A and P331 (Forms CF001) submitted by Abiodun (at two different elections) did not reveal a falsity in the information supplied by the second respondent in exhibit P331, that is, the Form CF001 which he submitted for the 2019 gubernatorial election.”

According to Akinlade, in the form submitted in 2015 for his senatorial race, “Abiodun claimed he attended Comprehensive High School, Ayetoro State Primary School without including the date of attendance/graduation, while in the form he submitted for his governorship election, Abiodun stated that he attended and graduated from International Primary School Ayetoro.”

The petitioners also said Abiodun claimed in 2015 “that he attended Saint Joseph College, Ondo from 1972 to 1977 and Ondo High School from 1977 to 1978, whereas in 2019, he only filled in WAEC under secondary school attended without disclosing the name of the secondary school.”

Speaking further, Akinlade said “Abiodun’s Form CF001 in 2015 shows that he attended two separate universities, namely University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) in 1986 and Kennesaw State University, however, the second respondent in 2019 stated that that he did not attend a university.”

He maintained that “the falsity in the assertions is easily discernible from a simple comparison of both affidavits,” adding that “the conclusion by the tribunal that Abiodun’s failure to disclose the universities he attended does not amount to falsity is perverse.”

The petitioner accused the tribunal of miscarriage of justice and self-contradiction for saying that issue that has to do with Exhibit P331A was a pre-election matter, even after it had held that Section 138(1)(E) of the Electoral (Amendment) Act, 2015 contains an additional ground for challenging the outcome of an election.

Also, the decision of the tribunal was faulted by Akinlade who said the panel failed to properly evaluate the documents tendered in prove of non-compliance with electoral regulations and guidelines.

According to him, Forms EC8A, EC8B, EC8C, EC8D, EC8D, EC8E, voters registers, and smart card reader report were well pleaded in his petition and properly tendered without objection at the trial of the petition; saying “relevant facts in support of the contents of documents were pleaded by the appellants at the trial.”

The governorship candidate also disagreed with the tribunal Judges by saying “they erred in law and misdirected themselves when they held that the evidence led by PW1- PW34 failed to prove that there was over voting in the 34 polling units.”

Akinlade submitted that the judgement of the Justice Halilu-led tribunal “is against the weight of evidence,” thereby urging the Appeal Court to upturn it.

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.”

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.”

Ogun tribunal dismisses application seeking to join suit against Akinlade

Akinlade

An application filed by some governorship candidates to be joined in the Ogun State governorship election petition tribunal between Hon. Adekunle Akinlade of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and Gov Dapo Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been dismissed.

It was learnt that seven 2019 governorship candidates in Ogun State under the aegis of the League of Registered Political Parties had on August 23 sought the permission of the tribunal to be joined as interested parties in the petition.

The applicants submitted their application barely one week after the counsels in the petition had adopted their final written addresses on August 19.

Despite having knowledge that the tribunal had reserved judgement in the petition with suit number EPT/OG/GOV/01/2019, the candidates and the political parties that participated in the March 9 governorship election said they, “strongly believe that the decision of the tribunal will affect” them as ‘critical stakeholders’.

The affidavit of support was deposed to by Otunba Adebayo Mosuro of Independent Democrats, on behalf of other governorship candidates that contested the 2019 Governorship election in Ogun.

When he was speaking on the late submission of application to the suit, Mr. Moshood Adesina of the Mega Party said, the parties had exploited many out-of-court settlement approaches to plead with the appellants to allow Gov Abiodun, focus on giving the electorate dividends of democracy.

He said since the petitioners had refused to withdraw the petition from the tribunal, the registered political parties decided to resort to legal means of seeking judgement.

It will be recalled that the same League of Registered Political Parties had on July 2 told Akinlade to withdraw his petition against Abiodun, from the election petitions tribunal.

On Friday, the tribunal reconvened to hear the application of the said governorship candidates.

It, however, turned out to be a dramatic session as counsels to Abiodun, the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) joined counsel to Akinlade, Isiaka Olagunju, in opposing the application.

Olagunju had in a reply to the application asked the tribunal to impose fines on the applicants and their counsel, who he accused of abuse of court processes.

For the first time, counsels to the petitioners and the respondents agreed in opposing an application which they said was unknown to the electoral act; accusing the applicants of trying to arrest judgement and waste the time of the tribunal.

The applicants admitted that the application was filed in error and withdrew same with apologies.

Ruling on the application, the Justice Yusuf Halilu-led tribunal dismissed what he described the ‘invented application’, after issues had been joined; while also appreciating the fact that the applicants displayed maturity by wasting no time to withdraw same.

Halilu appealed to Olagunju, who had earlier prayed the tribunal to award N10m cost against the applicants, to forgive them.

Meanwhile, the tribunal said it would deliver two rulings and the main judgement of the governorship election petition at 10am on Saturday, September 14.

Source: Daily Post 

Tension in Ogun APC as tribunal removes lawmaker

There is uneasy calm among members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ogun State as the Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, on Monday nullified the election of Hon. Kolapo Korede Osunsanya (KKO), who represents Ijebu Central Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives on the platform of the APC.

The Honourable Justice Wakkil Alkali Gana-led election petition tribunal cancelled elections in Ward 5, Unit 5 of Ijebu Ode Local Government; in Ward 10, Unit 3 of Odogbolu Local Government and the entire votes in Ward 8 of Ijebu North East Local Government in the Federal Constituency.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Barrister Taiwo Shote, had filed a petition challenging Osunsanya's declaration as winner of the February 23 election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The tribunal in his judgement ordered that a rerun should be conducted within 90 days.

The judgement, it was gathered, had created panic among loyalists of Gov Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, who was also dragged before the tribunal by Hon. Adekunle Akinlade of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).

The tribunal however upheld the election of Senator Tolu Odebiyi representing Ogun West Senatorial District.

Odebiyi was former Gov Ibikunle Amosun's Chief of Staff until he resigned as a result of his senatorial ambition.

In the same vein, the tribunal confirmed Hon Olushola Ojugbele as the winner of Ado-odo/Ota Federal Constituency.

Ogun, where Consultants, Advisers act as Commissioners

Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun had appointed Consultants and Advisers to oversee the activities of the various ministries in place of Commissioners. 

Barely three months after his inauguration, Gov Abiodun is yet to appoint members of his kitchen cabinet; a situation that has been generating discussions among political observers in the state, especially when his colleagues in Lagos and Oyo have succeeded in doing same. 

Abiodun, it was learnt, had written the Ogun State House of Assembly in July,  requesting for the deferment of Commissioners’ appointment in favour of Senior Special Advisers and Special Advisers’ appointment.

Granting the approval at a plenary held at the Assembly Complex on July 2, the State House of Assembly gave Gov Abiodun the green light to appoint two senior special advisers and 20 special advisers to oversee the affairs of the state pending the appointment of Commissioners for various Ministries.

On July, Abiodun's new appointees were reported  as Chief Economic Adviser – Dapo Okubadejo; Senior Special Adviser on Political Affairs – Hon. Tunji Egbetokun; Special Adviser on Information – Modele Sarafa-Yusuf; Special Adviser, Government House – Hon. Babatunde Olaotan.

Others are Special Adviser on Job Creation and Youth Empowerment – Mr Lekan Olude; Special Adviser on Housing – Jamiu Akande Omoniyi; and Senior Special Assistant on New Media, Emmanuel Ojo. 

But it seems the governor, who has not appointed up to the number of Advisers he sought to appoint, has discreetly appointed consultants to man the ministries as he seems not ready to appoint commissioners for now.

African Advocate learnt that some of the consultants have been deployed to the governor's office or agencies for official assignments.

It was gathered that a total of 20 consultants had been appointed with portfolios and had since resumed for duties. 

Some of the consultants include Adeosun Adekunle for Revenue generation; Yemisi Ogundimu for the Ministry of Information and Strategy; Sola Arobieke for the Ministry of Commerce and Industry; Ade Adesanya for the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure; Olaoluwa Olabimtan for the Ministry of Budget and Planning; Biyi Adeleye for Political affairs among others. 

I am no under pressure to form cabinet - Abiodun 

Gov Abiodun has reacted that he is no under pressure to appoint his commissioners, saying he wanted to put the right peg in the right hole.

Speaking during the week when he played host to editors of a national newspaper in his office, the governor said:

"Nothing has prepared me for this job except my experience from the private sector but the private sector is different from the experience here. But I am striving to have the best people in the right places.

"A lot of people have talked about forming the cabinet. It is not about how quick but having the right peg in the right hole. I am not under any pressure by anybody to form the cabinet, nobody has put any pressure on me. I am the one putting pressure on myself to get the right people. 

"We are carefully looking for people and the process will be completed in few weeks. We are not short of stars in Ogun but you have to find them."

Meanwhile, political observers in Ogun State are of the opinion that the State Executive Council, which is the highest decision-making organ of government, has a role which could not be hijacked by advisers or consultants. 

The Ogun State Executive Council 

The Ogun State Executive Council, also known as, the Cabinet of Ogun State is the highest formal governmental body that plays important roles in the Government of Ogun State, headed by the Governor of Ogun State. 

It consists of the Deputy Governor, Secretary to the State Government, Chief of Staff and Commissioners who preside over ministerial departments, and the Governor's special aides.

The Executive Council exists to advise and direct the Governor. Their appointment as members of the Executive Council gives them the authority to execute power over their fields, on behalf of the government.

As it is, the Ogun State Executive Council is yet to be formed as it has Gov Abiodun, his Deputy, Nimot Salako-Oyedele; Secretary to the State Government, Olatokunbo Talabi; the Head of Service, Engr. Lanre Bisiriyu; and the Chief of Staff, Shuaib Salisu, but no Commissioners.

The council meets weekly to take decision of government projects, policies and programmes for the development of the state. 

Presently, the weekly State Executive Council meeting has not been holding in Ogun State as there are no commissioners in place. This, some locals believe has been responsible for the slow pace of work in Ogun State.