Oyo PDP faults harassment of protesting students

The Oyo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has berated security personnel in the state for allegedly attacking students of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, who stormed the state secretariat on Tuesday demanding a reduction in their tuition fees.
The students in their hundreds had converged on the secretariat with a demand that Governor Abiola Ajimobi reversed the fee hike which was approved by the PDP administration of immediate past Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala.
Policemen were reported to have dispersed the students who attempted to gain entrance into the secretariat with canisters of tear gas.
THE PUNCH had on Wednesday on its front page published a photograph of policemen brutalising one of the protesting students.
The PDP, in a statement by its state Secretary, Alhaji Bashir Akanbi, on Wednesday in Ibadan, the state capital observed that rather than using security personnel to brutalise the students who were on a peaceful protest, Ajimobi should fulfil his electoral promise to the students that he would slash their fees if elected.
The statement read, “The Peoples Democratic Party and its leadership in the state condemn in very strong terms the social unrest and attack on the innocent students of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, who embarked on a peaceful match to the Governor’s Office to demand for the actualisation of the promise of the ACN administration that their school fees would be reduced immediately it assumed office, only for them to be beaten and even stripped naked by security personnel attached to the governor’s office.
“And in just less than 24 hours after the inauguration of the Senator Abiola Ajimobi- led administration in the state, the peace enjoyed in the state was ruptured by the Alhaji Tokyo-led faction of the NURTW leaving at least two persons killed and several others injured, while property worth several millions of naira were destroyed, yet the government of the day has not come out to state its position on the development.”
The PDP urged the government to immediately rise to its responsibility and accede to the demands of the students so as not to allow the state to be plunged into unnecessary and avoidable unrest.
By Olalekan Adetayo, Ibadan                 Courtesy Of: Punch

ICPC to invite ex-Gov Alao-Akala

The Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission has said it may invite the former Oyo State governor, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, for questioning following the appearance of six of his commissioners before the commission.
The ICPC said it had also summoned the accountant-general of the state to appear before the commission.
The invitation came in the wake of Tuesday’s arrest by the ICPC of six commissioners of the state under Alao-Akala.
ICPC’s Resident Media Consultant, Mr. Folu Olamiti, said in Abuja that the six commissioners had been granted bail and told to return next week.
He added that other officials of the government, including the former governor, might be invited if the commission found anything against them.
“It may get to a stage where the governor too may be invited since those commissioners were his aides. We are closely studying the statements of his commissioners,” Olamiti said.
The AG, he said, would make clarifications on the statements made by the five commissioners to the ICPC.
Alhaji Majekodunmi Aborode(Environment and Water Resources); Mr. Adebayo Bankole(Finance); Alhaji Raheem Musilim (Works and Transport); Nureni Adeniran(Education); Kunle Ishola (Agric and Natural Resources); and Dr. Kola Balogun(Commerce and Cooperative) were arrested and interrogated by operatives of the commission on Tuesday over five petitions that the anti-graft agency received from members of the public.
Olamiti said the anti-graft agency was investigating the allegations of corruption against the commissioners in order not to leave any loopholes.
“Things should be done in a systematic and professional way. They have been asked to come back next week. We have commenced preliminary investigations based on the five petitions against them,” he said.
Olamiti said with so many public officers just out of office, there would be a barrage of petitions against them that the ICPC would have to investigate.
But the ICPC spokesman could not confirm if there were petitions against the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dimeji Bankole, with the commission.
“If there are any petitions against him (Bankole), the office of the chairman will be looking into that, but since our sister organisation, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, is working on petitions against the Speaker, we have to slow down,” he said.
By Olamilekan Lartey, Abuja                   Courtesy Of: Punch

SANs: NBA drops suit over shortlisted lawyers

The Nigerian Bar Association on Wednesday withdrew its suit at a Federal High Court, Abuja, in which it challenged the Legal Practitioner Privileges Committee over the list of 62 lawyers who were shortlisted for promotion to the rank of Senior Advocates of Nigeria.
The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Ignatius Katsina-Alu, and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice were also listed as 2nd and 3rd defendants in the suit.
Lawyer to the NBA and its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Emeka Obegolu, has consequently asked Justice Gabriel Kolawole to discontinue further hearing on the case which, he said, has been settled out of court.
Obegolu informed the court that following an agreement between the plaintiff and the defendants, a comprehensive report of settlement dated May 31, was duly filed before the FHC registry.
The lawyer to the defendants, Mr. Matthew Echo, did not object to the request.
Justice Kolawole adopted the signed terms of settlement as the judgment of the court on the matter.
The terms of the agreement signed on behalf of the NBA by its President, Mr. Joseph Daudu (SAN) and Mr. Fabian Ajogwu (SAN) for the defendants reads: “The plaintiff will submit to the 1st defendant her confidential references on the applicants for appointment to the rank of SAN on or before June 7, 2011 and the 1st defendant will receive and consider the said references so received in accordance with the Guidelines, anytime from the said June 7, 2011.
“The 1st defendant will consider representations from adversely affected applicants in the Appeal Process in accordance with the guidelines and will decide on whether or not to proceed with their application. Thereafter, the award can be made anytime from June 21 2011 upwards.”
The LPPC had invited 62 lawyers for interview ahead of the planned confirmation for the rank of SAN on deserving beneficiaries.
 By Friday Olokor, Abuja                 Courtesy Of: Punch

Ex-ministers lobby Jonathan for reappointment

There were indications on Tuesday that President Goodluck Jonathan was under pressure from many members of the cabinet, which he dissolved on Monday.
THE PUNCH learnt of this just as Jonathan held a closed door meeting with the former ministers and senior aides at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Investigations showed that many of the ex-ministers had not only approached the President directly, but had also sought the assistance of various groups to ensure their re-appointment.
Some of the interest groups, including the Organised Private Sector, are believed to have intervened on behalf of some of the former ministers.
Our correspondents learnt that some highly placed Lagos State indigenes had moved against the re-appointment of the ex- Minister of Finance, Mr. Segun Aganga, to represent the state.
A Peoples Democratic Party member, who pleaded anonymity, said, “Indigenes of Lagos State are not against the appointment of Aganga, but he should not be reappointed to represent Lagos.
“If he uses Lagos slot, what happens to qualified indigenes of the state? The era of using our state as a scapegoat is gone.”
Those who are opposed to the reappointment of Aganga on the Lagos platform cited Section 147 (3) of the Constitution to back their position.
Section 147 (1) of the constitution states, “There shall be such offices of Ministers of the Government of the Federation as may be established by the President.
(2) Any appointment to the office of Minister of the Government of the Federation shall, if the nomination of any person to such office is confirmed by the Senate, be made by the President.
(3) Any appointment under subsection (2) of this section by the President shall be in conformity with the provisions of section 14(3) of this constitution:-
Provided that in giving effect to the provisions aforesaid, the President shall appoint at least one Minister from each state, who shall be an indigene of such state.”
It was learnt that in Edo State, where Aganga hails from, the state chapter of the PDP had declined to include his name in its ministerial nominees list.
“We do not know Aganga as a member of the PDP in the state so why should we include his name? He has not indentified with us in the state. We cannot therefore nominate him,” said an Edo State member of the party.
But members of the OPS are believed to have “put in some words” for the former minister ” with the President.
Besides the OPS, groups such as the New Nigeria Northern Forum have also lobbied on behalf of some ministers, whose chances of returning were slim.
Such former ministers are Aganga; Prof. Ruqayyat Rufai, and Mrs. Diaezani Alison-Madueke.
While Rufai is on the PDP’s ministerial list in Jigawa, Allison-Madueke’s names is missing on the lists from Bayelsa and Anambra State.
Mrs Madueke hails from Bayelsa State but is married to an indigene of Anambra State.
The NNNF, in an advertorial in national newspaper on Tuesday urged the President to reappoint the three ministers and Mr. Odein Ajumogobia.
It was also learnt that some former female ministers purposely attended a pre-inauguration party organised by the wife of the President, Patience, for female politicians on Friday to brighten their chances.
The source stated, “Many of them want the first lady to talk to her husband to ensure that they are reappointed.”
Jonathan had at the inauguration lecture on Thursday, lamented that he was under pressure from lobbyists, 90 of whom he said, were seeking appointments for either themselves, their wives, children, brothers or friends.
Meanwhile, the President on Monday played host to the sacked FEC members at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa.
Although details of what transpired at the meeting were not made known, one of our correspondents learnt that the Jonathan formally thanked them for their service to the nation.
He also wished them well and informed them that their services might still be needed.
An interesting development in the Villa was the requirement for clearance for the former ministers before being allowed inside the Villa to attend the inauguration of Senator Anyim Pius Anyim as the new Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
The President was said to have invited the ex-ministers to witness the event, but, in a development that shows that power is ephemeral, they were made to first receive visitors tags at the security post.
They were also not allowed to enter the complex with their cars.
By Niyi Odebode and Ihuoma Chiedozie                   Courtesy Of: Punch

ICPC arrests six Oyo ex-commissioners

Six persons who served as commissioners in the government of the immediate past Governor of Oyo State, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, have been arrested by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission.
They are Alhaji Majekodunmi Aborode(Environment and Water Resources); Mr. Adebayo Bankole(Finance); Alhaji Raheem Musilim (Works and Transport); Nureni Adeniran(Education); Kunle Ishola (Agric and Natural Resources); and Dr. Kola Balogun(Commerce and Cooperative).
The ex-commissioners were interrogated by operatives of the commission for several hours on Tuesday and were asked to write statements.
Details of their encounter with the ICPC operatives were still sketchy as at the time of going to press.
Investigations by our correspondent however showed that there were five petitions against the former commissioners.
Sources close to the commission said that the former commissioners were asked to respond to issues raised in some of the petitions.
As at the time of this report, the six were yet to perfect the bail conditions granted them by the ICPC.
Meanwhile, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, has raised the alarm over an alleged plot by suspect to embark on what it described as “campaign of calumny” against the commission and its officials.
The commission, in a statement on Tuesday, said information at its disposal showed that the suspect had chosen to attack the agency and its leadership, using some unnamed individuals.
The statement by the commission’s Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Babafemi, indicated that the persons to be used were being coordinated and funded by “a high profile suspect” who was involved in a case of criminal conspiracy, diversion of public funds and money laundering which the body was investigating.
The statement reads, “We again wish to alert the public about a fresh plan to launch all manner of attacks on the Commission by persons we are presently investigating for corruption charges.
“They were last weekend mobilized with ill-gotten funds to launch series of attacks against the commission and its leadership.”
The statement further alleged that the persons had been paid to stage appearances on popular television and radio stations’ discussion programmes under the banner of some civil rights groups and under the guise of analysing the nation’s anti-graft war.
“It is also part of their plan to author newspaper advertorials and articles, all for the sole aim of rubbishing the progress being made in the anti-graft war and ultimately weaken the morale of staff of the Commission,” the agency said.
By Olusola Fabiyi and Kunle Falayi                          Courtesy Of: Punch

EFCC finally arraigns Akingbola, associate

A former Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Intercontinental Bank Plc, Mr. Erastus Akingbola, alongside an associate, Mr. Bayo Dada, was on Tuesday arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in a Lagos High Court, sitting in Ikeja.
They were finally arraigned after three adjournments on 22-count charge of stealing as against 29 counts of about N50bn theft earlier filed by the EFCC.
The trial judge, Justice Habeeb Abiru, also ordered the defendants, who had been in the custody of the EFCC since they were re-arrested on May 3 to be remanded in prison custody till the next adjourned date on June 6.
The judge said it was the standard practice to detain an accused person in the prison custody after arraignment especially when the EFCC had declined to further hold the defendants in its custody.
It will be recalled that Akingbola and Dada, after their re-arrest on May 10, were to be arraigned in the court.
The arraignment had been stalled by series of amendments to the defendants’ application with which they were challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the suit and the competence of the information contained in the charge preferred against them.
Justice Abiru, before the arraignment on Tuesday, had earlier in a ruling dismissed the defendants’ application dated May 19.
The defendants, through their lawyer, Mr. Felix Fagbohungbe (SAN), had sought the court to pass an order restraining the EFCC from arraigning them, claiming that the information with which they were charged before the Lagos State High Court was the same with which they were being tried before the Federal High Court, Lagos.
Justice Abiru in his ruling said the sets of information in the suits had nothing in common.
At the four-hour proceedings, the court struck out seven of the initial 29 counts to be answered by Akingbola’s wife, Anthonia.
The prosecution counsels led by Mr. Godwin Obla, had prayed the court during the proceedings to strike out the said counts as Anthonia was said to still be at large.
In the charge, Akingbola was said to have fraudulently converted billions of Naira belonging to Intercontinental Bank Plc to personal use and the use of some companies in which he was a director.
The charge sheet reads in part, “That you Erastus B.O. Akingbola, whilst being the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Intercontinental Bank Plc sometime in March 2009, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this court stole £8,540,434, property of Intercontinental Bank Plc by fraudulently converting same to your own use.”
By Ade Adesomoju                Courtesy Of: Punch

Police quiz Daniel’s aide

The Ogun State Police Command on Tuesday quizzed the state’s former Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Sina Kawonise, allegedly on the orders of Governor, Ibikunle Amosun.
Our correspondent gathered that the former commissioner, who served under the immediate past administration of Otunba Gbenga Daniel, was interrogated by the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Musa Daura, at the police headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta for about an hour over his statement faulting Amosun’s renaming of a stadium.
Amosun during his inauguration address on Sunday disclosed that the stadium should be named after the governorship candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Otunba Dipo Dina.
Kawonise had on Sunday in a statement issued in Abeokuta faulted the new governor’s decision, stressing that he had no properly constituted cabinet yet before announcing the decision and Amosun, who was miffed by the statement, directed the police to interrogate the former commissioner.
Sources said the former commissioner was released by the police after about one hour.
Speaking in an interview with journalists in Abeokuta on Tuesday Kawonise expressed shock that Amosun could order his arrest for defending the action of the immediate past administration in the state.
By Agency Reporter                      Courtesy Of: Punch