Olujonwo, son of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has pledged to support Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) if he joins the 2023 presidential race.
The Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Babafemi Ojudu, made this known in a Facebook post on Saturday.
According to Ojudu, Olujonwo visited him on Friday to register his wish that the VP should run for President in 2023.
Ojudu, who works in the VP’s office, wrote, “Olujonwo Obasanjo, son of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, visited yesterday (Friday).
“He too, like many others, came to register his wish and aspiration that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo throws his hat in the rings for the 2023 contest.
“Smart and brimming with ideas, he promised that if Osinbajo heeds the call of Nigerians he will be willing and ready to volunteer to join the campaign train.
“Thank you Olu. I will pass your message across.”
Ojudu said he had been receiving threat messages from “irritants” for declaring that he won’t support the presidential ambition of All Progressives Congress National Leader, Bola Tinubu.
Ojudu had stressed that his decision not to support Tinubu was based on personal conviction, adding that any coercion to do otherwise would not be democratic.
In an earlier statement, Ojudu had said that his refusal to support the presidential aspiration of the former Lagos State governor should not portray him as a betrayer.
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“The idea that everyone who has related with Tinubu and disagrees with him on this Presidential bid is a traitor and a betrayal is puerile. Many of us, his associates, were not made by him as you also want the world to believe.
“We were already made before meeting him and in the cause of relating we gave one another a helping hand… So, on this matter of 2023 I wish him (Tinubu) well but I cannot in good conscience give him my support or cast my vote for him in the coming primary. It is my right. I am above 60 years of age for God sake. I almost died seeking this inalienable democratic rights, held up in detention and severally tortured. Your god is not my god,” he had said.
Osinbajo was Lagos Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General from 1999 to 2007 when Tinubu was governor.
Tinubu had reportedly nominated Osinbajo to be the running mate of Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) in the buildup to the 2015 election.
Tinubu and Osinbajo were last seen together in public in late 2021 when the former returned from the United Kingdom where he underwent surgery and therapy for knee surgery.
Though Tinubu subsequently declared his intention to run for the exalted office on January 10, 2022, Osinbajo has not declared whether he would be running or not but his supporters have been urging him to do so and mounting campaign billboards in strategic places all over the country.
•Son’s life in danger as father accuses him of leaking information to mother •Sister in-law teams up with new wife to fight legal wife •Husband’s friends begging legal wife to forgive husband •Italy church suspends husband pending outcome of investigation
The centre is no longer at ease in the household of Mr. Vivian Olusola Omololu Wiwoloku, an Italy-based Pastor following the allegation of infidelity leveled against him by his legal wife, Mrs Bolaji Veronica Wiwoloku, also based in Italy.
Mrs Bolaji Wiwoloku who spoke with journalists weeks back, revealed that her husband of over 30 years secretly married another woman, a Nigerian based lawyer, Modupe Nancy Olajiga otherwise known as Modupe Nancy Wiwoloku since 29th July, 2019. An act described as bigamy under the law.
Aside from getting married illegally to Modupe Olajiga while still legally married to her; Mr. Wiwoloku was also accused of sleeping with different women in Italy, an act that once led to him being suspended from a Christian Pastoral Centre in Rome when he went for Pastoral training.
As if these were not enough, Mr. Wiwoloku moved out of their matrimonial home in 2019 under the pretense of not having much time for Pastoral duties. It later, after a series of investigations that the wife confirmed that her husband had another wife in Nigeria whom he had secretly married to.
While the story went viral on different platforms, Mr Wiwoloku tried to exonerate himself.
The dust was yet to settle on the matter when Mrs Bolaji Wiwoloku, again, cried out alleging death threats to her life by the trio of Mr Olusola Wiwoloku; his sister, Asteria Nihinlola Akinfolarin (Nee Wiwoloku); and Modupe Nancy Olajiga, otherwise known as Modupe Nancy Wiwoloku; the new wife.
Not only this, Bolaji Wiwoloku went further to narrate how her husband has been making life unbearable for their last born, Mr. Ibukun Wiwoloku, whom he has continuously accused of leaking out all his escapades.
In a phone chat with selected media houses, the mother of three said she had to cry out to the whole world for her safety and that of her son. “I am crying out loud to the whole world to save me from my husband, his sister Asteria and the new wife, , Modupe Nancy Olajiga. She is a lawyer based in Ado-Ekiti, but currently on Study Leave at the University of Ibadan.
“It has been confirmed that my husband took my name to a spiritualist with the evil intention of harming me. I have it on record that his sister, Asteria Nihinlola Akinfolarin, has been telling whoever cares to listen to her intention to make me suffer. Majority of her threats were recorded for empirical evidence.
Not satisfied, Asteria called my neighbor accusing him of linking me up with the media. This is untrue. She also promised to deal with the neighbor at the appropriate time. My husband up till now is still denying marrying another wife, even when I showed him the marriage certificate.
•Mr Vivian Olusola Wiwoloku and Modupe Olajiga
What is my offence? “I have tried to see where I went wrong in all our over thirty (30) years of marriage. I was a homely and dedicated wife. Despite the fact that my husband has no visible job besides pastoring a church and managing an NGO which we established, I can proudly say that my African shop is one of the biggest in Italy. And this I used to assist him, not knowing he was even using part of the money to commit bigamy. The clothes he and the lady wore on their wedding day were brought by me. He told me he needed gifts for his sibling and unknown to me, it was for the wedding.
“I went further to investigate and found out that the new wife, Modupe Nancy Olajiga, a lawyer, made the first move. She seduced my husband during one of his trips to Nigeria. By the time my husband knew she had been married to four (4) different men before him; they both hurriedly went to the court to solemnize the unholy marriage. The woman at the centre of the controversy has been threatening to deal with me too. She told me that even husbands living in Nigeria with their spouses are not safe, not to talk of someone staying in Europe and allowing her husband to come to Nigeria on holiday.
“Modupe called me illiterate despite the fact that I left the higher institution when she was still in secondary school. She has been boasting that nobody can take away my husband from her.
“The trio, my husband, Olusola, his sister, Asteria and Modupe who is a serial husband snatcher, have connived together threatening me”.
On the allegation of her husband threatening their last son, Ibukun Wiwoloku? “May God save us from trouble?” It wasn’t Ibukun that leaked his escapades. In fact, not until the bubble burst in the media, Ibukun and his siblings (my children) were not in the picture. I did my own investigations myself and got the facts.
“Ibukun has not been to Nigeria for many years; Was it Ibukun that showed me the marriage certificate? Was he the one that gave me the secret of the new wife’s habit of snatching husbands? Was it Ibukun that showed me where the new wife took my car to in Nigeria? Olusola was just looking for excuses. He has stopped talking to his own son because of a new wife he married illegally. The wife he was not proud to call his wife openly. Nothing bad must happen to me and my children.
“As for my Sister-in-law, Asteria, her rantings were on the houses and land purchased. She has forgotten when I was her Messiah, when the roads were stormy for her. She has forgotten how I rescued her from the jaws of death in those days. So I am not surprised at her evil actions. She is an evil woman with a dirty mind”.
Going further, Mrs Bolaji Wiwoloku who has vowed to save her home and get justice for the bigamy committed by her husband said that her sister-in-law Asteria Nihinola Akinfolarin(Nee Wiwoloku) is completely envious of her and her stable home.
“Truly, I met my husband through her, does that make me her stooge? My husband had nothing when we met. He was residing in Italy and it was when I got there that I learnt he lied to me he was a doctor, that he was a successful man e.t.c. but the love I had for him superseded everything that I forgave him. Lies run through his veins.
“I did a survey and learnt that opening an African store where we reside is the antidote for survival. I opened a shop and God answered my prayer. In all these, my husband has never spent a penny on our children, not to talk of me, his wife. I stumbled on a letter the sister (Asteria Nihinola) wrote to him 3 months after our marriage that he shouldn’t allow me to know “that secret”.
“The secret unfolded later over the years by knowing that my husband Olusola Vivian Wiwoloku is a womaniser, a lazy man who pretends to be a man of God. He calls himself pastor and affixes it to his name.
“Asteria has no home and she wants everyone to be like her. This is a woman who beat up her own mother-in-law. This is a woman who turned her father’s house into a brothel by bringing in different men until I called her aside to correct her. This was when she had a slight quarrel with her husband.
“When she was homeless, I gave her home, when she was hopeless; I gave her hope and succour. She still owes me, yet I didn’t bother her. She wants to inherit all that I laboured for even when she knew that her brother had little or no contributions to what is on ground.
“She is the architect of the problems on the ground. She advised my husband to hate me and my children. She cajoled him to alter our landed documents. I tried all I could to let peace reign but to her, it is a cowardly act. Enough of all this stupidity. Mumu don do. God has exposed her, Ondo is my second home, no evil fashioned against me shall prosper. My good fortune is giving them headache.
“Asteria is so dubious that she embezzled half of the money sent to her to buy lands for us. Not until I took the land business from her, that we were able to achieve something tangible. I can recollect a time we came to Nigeria to buy land, she bought her own with her name and husband as Mr and Mrs Akinfolarin; She told my husband to buy our own as Mr Sola Wiwoloku and family. I raised eyebrows by asking why, Asteria told me not to worry. It was later I got to know again that it was a pre-planned action. Asteria believed I must slave for her and the larger family.
•Mrs Bolaji Veronica Wiwoloku (Legal wife)
“Sleeping enterprises is what Nigerians in Italy call my husband. He had no job but lived on me. You can verify this, when he is not sleeping, he will be out frolicking with ladies; irrespective of their ages.
“As for the so called newly wedded wife Modupe Nancy Olajiga who took them to a media house where they cooked up stories, she has been taking her relatives to my landed properties and telling whoever cares to listen that it was her inheritance. I want her to go and carry out research that she has come to a desert land as I am ready to take charge of all my properties.
“Well, no story as I have taken some of my possessions back legally and I will continue to do so until I take total control. Can you imagine a man that has not deemed it fit to take care of his children? A man that sleeps all day, goes out to commit fornication in the noon and make adultery his passion over the weekends.
“A man who even impregnated our househelp who is even related to him !!! A man who was sent out of an institution for sleeping around with ladies. I have endured all this while because of my children. I have remained calm because I love my husband.
“Many of his closest friends are not in support of what he did. They condemned all his actions, but can a Leopard change his colour? Even the Nigerian community here in Italy is not in support of his actions either .They believed that he was an ingrate. I have received calls and visitations from them too begging me to let it go, mostly those who knows what I have been through with him”
Asteria should leave one of my landed properties called “Industrial land” alone. She should stop harassing my tenants.
All efforts getting the duo of Mrs. Asteria Nihinlola Akinfolarin to speak to our reporters were futile. Same thing for Modupe Nancy Olajiga whom we learnt was on a study leave at the University of Ibadan.
Mr. Victor Olusola Omololu Wiwoloku’s phone wasn’t going as we learnt he had travelled back to Italy.
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State is blaming the Supreme Court for the delay in resolving the legal dispute over the Value Added Tax (VAT) between the state and the Federal Government.
Wike, speaking yesterday during the presentation of a book entitled: Contemporary Essays on Law & Practice in honour of retired Justice Anwuri Ichegbu Chikere of the Federal High Court, labeled the action of the apex court lethargic.
Wike also aimed a diatribe at the National Judicial Council (NJC) for allegedly becoming a willing tool to intimidate judges.
“While the entire country is waiting for its speedy resolution in the national interest, the Supreme Court of Nigeria remains lethargic in hearing this very important matter, thereby unjustifiably aiding the Federal Government to continue to enforce its illegal and oppressive VAT policy on the polity,” Wike said.
The governor said judicial independence suffered greatly when judges were subjected to summary trials and preconceived indictments by the NJC on the promptings of persons or parties with vested interest in the outcome of the litigation processes.
His words: “By doing so, the National Judicial Council (NJC) may be joining the league of unholy forces now assailing the independence and reputation of judicial officers across the country.
“My candid opinion is that the National Judicial Council must tread with utmost caution in matters of judicial complaints and discipline lest it wittingly or unwittingly turns itself into another bully to be feared rather than being respected in its roles as both the headmaster and guardian angel of the nation’s judiciary,” he said.
The governor said no nation could be seen and reckoned with to be free, fair and just without a strong, independent and functional judiciary.
He also observed that no democracy could survive, flourish and deliver social and economic progress without a courageous, efficient and effective judiciary.
Wike, himself a lawyer, asked judicial officers to remember the time when the nation’s judiciary was truly independent, manned by men and women of courage, who were publicly trusted to deliver justice fairly and equally to everyone.
He said: “There was also a time when our judges were respected the world over for their independence, courage and credibility.
“Again, time was that decisions from Nigerian courts were widely accepted and celebrated across the world as timeless models of judicial precedents.
“But today, what is your candid assessment of the character and integrity of our country’s judiciary, which is becoming more confusing and painfully contradictory?”
Wike listed factors eroding confidence in the judiciary as case backlogs, poor case management and rampant delays in the administration of justice.
He said: “There are also serious concerns about the apparent lack of courage among several judges and the declining quality of judgments from our courts at all levels.
“Having succumbed to fear, intimidation and blackmail, most of our judges are being compelled to tailor their judgments towards the wishes and desires of powerful political interests.”
Wike, however, commended the few judicial officers who he said have kept hope alive with their extraordinary courage.
He spoke highly of what he called the years of meritorious judicial service of Justice Chikere, saying as a judge, he demonstrated absolute independence of mind.
He also noted that Justice Chikere exhibited excellent judicial temperament of being calm always, courteous and compassionate towards everyone, including her colleagues, lawyers and litigants in or outside the office.
The Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State had, in a landmark judgment last year, held that it was unconstitutional for the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to collect VAT and personal income tax in Rivers State.
Following the judgment, the Rivers and Lagos State Governments introduced separate laws conferring on them the right to collect VAT.
But the Court of Appeal headed by Haruna Tsammani on September 10 last year issued orders that all parties should maintain the status quo.
Dissatisfied by the action, the Rivers State Government approached the Supreme Court to challenge the decision of the Appeal Court.
In his remarks at yesterday’s book presentation, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Terhemba Tsoho, represented by Justice Binta Nyanko, noted that Justice Chikere served the judiciary meritoriously from the bench for 19 years with her health and integrity intact.
Tsoho said keeping pace with a long judicial career in Nigeria was no mean task and Justice Chikere weathered the adversities and challenges successfully.
He said: “As we gather to celebrate this outstanding judicial officer for her years of impressive service to the nation, the occasion evidently climaxes the fame attribute that excellence and selfless service are virtues worthy of emulation.
“Hon. Justice Chikere is notably calm and collected and is much like a mother to many colleagues.
“As a Christian, she is fervently adherent to the tenets of Christ, especially love for humanity. He has been remarkably humble, peaceful, friendly, humane, honest, generous, incorruptible and hardworking.”
In her response, Justice Chikere said her sojourn in the federal judiciary made her a better person.
She expressed gratitude to Dr. Peter Odili, who was accompanied by his wife, Justice Mary Odili of the Supreme Court, for allowing her to be transferred from the State Judicial Civil Service to the Federal Judicial Service.
All eyes are on the political parties, especially the ruling All Progressives Congress and the biggest opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party, as Nigerians get set for the general elections in 2023. Being a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country, the electorate are waiting for the parties to come out clear on which region – North or South – is the presidency going next. Within the regional agreement, the zones, especially in the South, are also agitating for the coveted presidential seat.
Political historians have noted that out of the six geopolitical zones, only the South-East has yet to produce the president. Others, i.e. North-West, North-Central, North-East, South-West and South-South have had at least a shot, either as a democratically elected president or a military head of state. According to the pundits, this is arguably why the cry of marginalisation is now loudest in the South-East.
From 1999, the South appears to have spent a longer time in power than the North. The Fourth Republic began with Olusegun Obasanjo (South-West) as President for two tenure of four years each, from 1999 to 2007. Obasanjo was succeeded by Umaru Yar’Adua (North-West) from 2017 to 2010 when he died in office. The then Vice President, Goodluck Jonathan (South-South), assumed office and completed Yar’Adua’s first tenure in 2011. Amidst protests from the North and after a long negotiation, Jonathan contested for the Presidency in 2011 and won. The protests were from those who felt that Yar’Adua did not complete a term and ought to have two – for the North. Jonathan again sought a second term at the poll in 2015 but lost to the incumbent President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), from the North-West.
Cumulatively, in the almost 23 years of Nigeria’s return to democracy, the South has had approximately 13 years, while the North will be having 11 years by the time Buhari’s second term ends in 2023. Since 1999 to date, only the PDP and the APC have produced presidents. Within the period under review, the PDP, through Obasanjo, Yar’Adua and Jonathan spent 16 years, while the APC would have spent eight years by next year. From all indications, the two parties have remained dominant in Nigeria’s political space, the reason why they bear the burden of expectations from the voting population.
Ahead of the next presidential elections, socio-political, ethno-religious and cultural groups are already clamouring for power, with some dismissing the zoning arrangement. For instance, state governors in the South have met at regional and zonal levels and resolved that power must shift to the South in 2023, a demand that the North has criticised as illegal. Several northern bodies like the Arewa Consultative Forum and the Northern Elders’ Forum have separately and on different occasions asked the governors and other stakeholders to rather lobby for the presidency, saying the race should be thrown open. Even a former governor of Kano State and ex-minister of Defence, Rabiu Kwankwaso, from the North-West, recently faulted rotational presidency, declaring that he was already consulting stakeholders on his presidential ambition. Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, a serial presidential aspirant from the North-East, who has yet to officially declare his bid this time, may also run for the office.
Indeed, some legal practitioners have stated that zoning of power does not exist in the Constitution but was only an intra-party plan introduced by the PDP. The proponents of zoning have, however, argued that it is a way of ensuring fairness and equity in the polity, giving each zone a sense of belonging.
Already, the PDP has zoned its national chairmanship to the North – North-Central precisely, with Senator Iyorchia Ayu emerging the occupant of the office at the party’s elective national convention last year. Close watchers of the PDP have said the party has a tradition of alternating its chairmanship and presidential offices to different zones. Now that its chairman is from the North, its presidential candidate should come from the South, they said.
Similarly, the leadership of the APC is said to be considering zoning its national chairmanship to the North (North-Central) while the other positions in its National Working Committee that were occupied by northerners in the last committee chaired by Adams Oshiomhole, would be given to southerners, and vice versa. Again, public offices such as the presidential, vice-presidential and National Assembly leadership seats are also to be allocated to regions and zones.
The Caretaker/Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee of the APC has, however, said it will announce its zoning arrangements ahead of the party’s first national convention scheduled for February 26, 2022. “But we have yet to meet it,” the Secretary of the APC CECPC, Senator John Akpanudoedehe, told our correspondent.
The immediate past National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, noted that the zoning and rotation of power was introduced based on the mood of the country and the current realities as of the time. According to him, the present-day realities may lead to changes in the arrangement. Ologbondiyan said, “It is for the purpose of unity, equity, fairness and justice in the country. That was why the drafters of the PDP’s constitution, I believe, put that in the constitution of the party.”
Speaking on the argument of not placing zoning over competence, the former PDP spokesman stated, “It is a new thought. If you remember, the constitution of the party was written over 20 years ago and it served the purpose of that generation. If the new generation of Nigerians believes that what they require is competence, I believe that they should be listened to. But you can find competence in different people all over the world; so, I don’t think that competence is dependent on a particular region or zone. Whichever direction the party believes that it should pick its candidate from, competence should be a major consideration.”
When asked if it was automatic or compulsory for the president to emerge from the North if the national chairman of the PDP was from the South or vice versa, Ologbondiyan said, “All these are a function of the exigencies in the party, they are not carved in stone; it bothers on the exigencies of the party. What is the mood of the party? What is the mood of the nation? These are the parameters that will be used. What is essential is what will give us peace, unity, putting our nation together in a stronger form than what the APC has bequeathed to the country.”
In his submission, a Professor in the Department of Political Science, University of Abuja, Saleh Dauda, dismissed the argument by those who say competence should take priority over the ethnic and regional considerations. According to him, there are credible and competent Nigerians across the zones.
Dauda said, “Zoning is the appropriate thing to do in a plural society like Nigeria, and considering the level of our development. To maintain a delicate balance in a country where the polity is fragile, there is a need to adopt a zoning system where people will feel a sense of belonging. People will feel that they have a stake in the Nigerian project. Competence and integrity can be located in every part of this country. So, for the sake of unity and equity and fairness, zoning should be adopted and adhered to. There are many instances and circumstances in our polity that are not written in our Constitution but if we want to promote national unity, I think it (zoning) should be encouraged.”
When asked if the right of presidential aspirants from the North who are seeking to succeed Buhari would not be infringed upon due to zoning, the political scientist said, “Considering the level of our development, you are to come out and contest but let there be a common understanding that for this country to work perfectly well, there should be zoning.”
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Northern Elders’ Council, Tanko Yakassai, stated that zoning of public and party offices predated the PDP and the current Fourth Republic that began in 1999, noting that it had been in existence since the defunct Second Republic. The former Liaison Officer to the then President, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, also stated that participation in politics and electoral process was superior to the competence of those to be elected into public offices.
Yakassai, who is a founding member of Arewa Consultative Forum, said, “Election is wholly and essentially about people’s participation. People should be given the opportunity to elect their leaders and people should be allowed to produce leaders that will rule their country. It is after that that you come to the issue of competence. So, zoning is related to the ability of the people to elect their own leaders by themselves.”
Going down the memory lane, the elder statesman said, “I will give you a brief history of zoning. The idea of zoning in Nigerian politics was first introduced by the (defunct) National Party of Nigeria – NPN – during the Second Republic. At that time, the intention was to make sure that every section of Nigeria is given a sense of belonging in composing the government that was going to be formed after the military (rule). So, the NPN decided that the presidential candidate should come from the North and the running mate should come from the East. At that time, we had three or four regions. Then the national chairman of the party should come from the West and the President of the Senate should come from the minority in the East or the South…that includes the Midwest. And the Speaker of the House of Representatives should come from the minority in the North. That was the history.”
Yakassai further added, “That desire is still relevant in Nigeria today. Everybody will like to participate in the governance. That is the reason why the struggle for political positions or offices became almost a matter of life and death. So, what comes first is the participation; second is the issue of competence.”
However, President of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Yerima Shettima, said zoning or power rotation was no longer important, alleging that the PDP, which introduced the formula, had since dumped it.
When asked if it would be fair to have presidential aspirants from the North seeking to succeed Buhari in 2023, Shettima said, “We run a constitutional democracy and if it is a constitutional democracy, all these things are stipulated. It is only on moral ground, and moral ground cannot be taken to be biding or legal. If that is the case, let us practise true democracy. Whether zoning or not zoning, as long as it is not a legal deal, it cannot be binding on anybody. Let competence take the lead.”
When asked if power rotation should consequently be dismissed from the process entirely, Shettima said, “It has been jettisoned since; zoning does not exist as far as Nigeria is concerned today. Even those who agreed on the arrangement of zoning at some points, as a party with the President of this country in 2011, should not have contested if zoning was well respected. If that agreement still remained an agreement, Jonathan should not have contested in 2011. So, it has been jettisoned.”
Though a list emerged on Wednesday (January 26, 2022) on a purported zoning of offices allegedly announced by the Chairman of the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, Mai Mala Buni, such information relating to not only the zoning of the presidency, but other sensitive positions like the Vice President, Senate President and others had since been dismissed by Buni, who described it as a figment of the author’s imagination.
However, one thing is clear, as the northern and southern regions continue to wait for the verdicts of the two major political parties (the APC and PDP), many politicians continue to show interest in the presidency ahead of the 2023 general elections with more aspirants coming from the South-West and the South-East.
A Yaba Chief Magistrate’s Court Lagos has remanded Alhaji Azeez Adekunle Lawal aka Kunle Poly and two others in the custody of the Nigeria Police Zonal Monitoring Unit, Zone 2 Headquarters, Onikan-Lagos for 30 days, over last Thursday’s mayhem at Idumota, Lagos Island.
Kunle Poly is the Lagos Island ‘B’ Branch chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).
Those remanded alongside him were Prince Idowu Onikoyi Johnson and Agboola Akeem Kosoko.
Chief Magistrate Linda Balogun gave the order following an application by police counsel Morufu Animashaun.
Animashaun based his application on section 264(1), (2), (3), (4) and (6) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State (ACJL), 2021; sections 4 and 10 of the Police Act, 2020, and sections 6(c), 35(1)(C)(5) and (7)(a) of the 1999 Constitution.
The prosecutor told the court that the order would enable the police conclude investigation of allegations of threat to life and property, violence, cultism, mayhem, conduct likely to cause breach of peace, unlawful possession of firearms, conspiracy and murder against the defendants.
The prosecutor also supported the application with a 14-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Inspector Monday Ohion.
In a bench ruling, the Chief Magistrate held: “I have listened to the submission of the counsel, as well as perused the application for remand and the attached affidavit.
“I find merit in the application and it is accordingly granted. The three defendants are to be remanded in the facility of the Nigeria Police Zonal Monitoring Unit, Zone 2 Headquarters, Onikan-Lagos, for the next 30 days, to enable the police to conclude investigation”.
Operatives of the Lagos Rapid Response Squad (RRS), led by its Commander, Olayinka Egbeyemi, a Chief Superintendent (CSP) arrested Kunle Poly and the Treasurer of the Lagos State Council of the NURTW Alhaji Mustapha Adekunle (aka Sego) last Thursday following the clash between factional union members,
The RRS said the constant clashes in Idumota and its environs intermittently crippled commercial activities in the area. See less
Embattled Yoruba actor and comedian, Olanrewaju James, alias Baba Ijesha has dropped plans to file a no-case submission in his trial before an Ikeja Special Offences over allegations of rape.
When a no-case submission is made, it means that the defendant is asking the court for an acquittal without it having to present a defence.
Baba Ijesha is charged with six counts of indecent treatment of a child, sexual assault, attempted sexual assault by penetration and sexual assault by penetration.
NAN reports that during proceedings on December 15, 2021, the defence counsel, Kayode Olabiran informed the court that the defendant had no case to answer and intends to file a no-case submission at the next court date.
Court proceeding However, during Tuesday proceedings, A.O Alo, a defence counsel informed the court that the defence team had made a change of plans after a review of the case with the defendant.
“The defendant after the review has decided to put in his defence and we have decided not to file the no-case submission again.
“Given this, we will be humbly praying that the court should give us a short adjournment,” he said.
Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo however queried the request of the defence counsel for an adjournment, noting that there was sufficient time from the last proceedings on Dec.15, 2021, to prepare a defence.
She said that Baba Ijesha should enter the witness box to commence his defence.
Reacting, Mr Alo revealed that it was his first time appearing in court for the case despite being a representative of the law firm of one of the lead defence counsels, Dada Awosika.
“My lord, the learned Silk is indisposed. The other lead defence counsel, Mr Babatunde Ogala, SAN, has also communicated to the court that he is also indisposed,” he said.
Opposing the request for adjournment, Babajide Martins, Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) described the excuse of the defence counsel as “quite unfortunate”.
Mr Martins noted as the recently appointed DPP, he is also appearing before the court for the first time.
He noted that there was no law for conditional representation and once a lawyer appears before a court, it is presumed that he carries out his legal representative duties to the letter.
The judge took note of the fact that both the DPP and the defence counsel were appearing in the case for the first time.
Justice Taiwo said she will also give the two SANs, who represent Baba Ijesha the benefit of the doubt.
“I will grant the defendant the indulgence of an adjournment because both or either of the learned silks (SANs) have always appeared in court.
“This case is adjourned until February 17 and 18 at 1 pm for defence,” she said.
History NAN reports that the defendant was arraigned on June 24, 2021. On December 15, 2021, the prosecution closed its case against him.
Six prosecution witnesses testified against the Nollywood actor; they were actress and comedienne, Damilola Adekoya, alias Princess who is also the foster mother of the minor.
Others were the 14-year-old minor, a child expert, Mrs Olabisi Ajayi-Kayode, a medical doctor, Dr Aniekan Makanjuola, the Investigating Police Officer (IPO), ASP Wahab Kareem and a policewoman, Insp Abigail Omane. (NAN)
Mr Oyebanji polled 95 per cent of the total votes cast and won in all the 16 council areas.
Biodun Oyebanji, immediate past Secretary to Ekiti Government, has emerged winner of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primaries.
Declaring the winner, Chairperson of the Primary Election Committee, Governor Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa, said Mr Oyebanji, who resigned from his post last December to join the race, polled 101,703 out of the total number of votes cast.
Mr Badaru made the declaration at the State Collation Centre, APC party Secretariat, located at Ajilosun, Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.
“It is my pleasure to declare Biodun Oyebanji as the winner of this primary, haven scored the highest votes cast.
“Haven satisfied all necessary criteria, I hereby declare Abiodun Abayomi Oyebanji as the winner,” Mr Badaru said.
He added that Ekiti APC had 183,560 registered members, 107,877 members were accredited and the total votes cast was 104,983.
The chairman expressed surprise at the allegations by some aspirants that they were not consulted, adding that 20 names were submitted by each of the aspirants to be added to the list of the Returning Officers and they were all captured.
Mr Badaru, however, explained that the meeting that was earlier slated for Thursday morning, between the committee and the aspirants was cancelled because there was a security report that the venue was tense.
He said they had to call for the assistance of security agents to arrest the situation.
The chairman said the primaries took place across the 177 wards and that it was free and fair.
“However, there are pockets of violence, when we receive the results, we will know where we need to cancel, we will.
“As we have earlier promised, we have ensured a level playing ground for all aspirants,” the committee chairman added.
On the protest by some of the aspirants, the committee chairman added that he had not received any official petition but only heard about it in the media.
He directed that the returning officers of the wards where elections were not held should write their reports and submit to the committee.
The results presented by the 16 Local Government Area Returning Officers revealed that Mr Oyebanji won in all the council areas.
The breakdown of the results revealed other aspirants’ scores as follows: Opeyemi Bamidele, 760, Femi Bamisile, 400, Kayode Ojo, 767, Adedayo Adeyeye, 691, and Bamidele Faparusi, 376.
Others were Demola Popoola, 239, and Oluwasola Afolabi, 47, in the “Option A4,” Direct Primary adopted for the election.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that six of the eight aspirants had in the morning protested the alleged hijack of the exercise and called for its stoppage and cancellation.
The other two aspirants absent at the protest were Messrs Oyebanji and Popoola. (NAN)
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Tuesday, adjourned further proceedings in the case against the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, till Wednesday.
The adjournment followed Kanu’s complaints that the Federal Government failed to promptly serve him the fresh 15 amended charges it brought before the court.
Kanu, through his team of lawyers led by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Mike Ozekhome, further accused the FG of denying him the necessary facility to defend the charge against him.
Ozekhome told the court that the amended charges were served on them barely 24 hours to the scheduled hearing.
“My Lord, the proposed amended charges were served on us yesterday (Monday) evening. As I speak to you, my lord, the defendant, who was just brought in, has not even seen the charges which he is being told to enter his plea.
“With due respect, that is not justice. It is ambushing. I know that the Administration of Criminal Justice Act allows the Federal Government to amend, but this is the sixth amendment they are making, and each time they do it, they serve us a day to the hearing, just to frustrate the trial,” Ozekhome added.
Instagram celebrity, Ismaila Mustapha, popularly known as Mompha, has been granted bail of N200 million by the Justice Mojisola Dada-led Ikeja Special Offences Court on Tuesday.
The Court also requested two sureties, one of which must own a property valued at N100 million within its jurisdiction.
He had filed for bail through his lawyer, Gboyega Oyewole (SAN).
The PUNCH had earlier reported that Mompha was re-arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on January 10 for laundering funds obtained through unlawful activities and retention of alleged proceeds of crime.
He and his company, Ismalob Global Investment Limited, are standing trial on an amended 22-count charge bordering on cyber fraud and money laundering to the tune of N32.9bn brought against him by the EFCC.
The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has expressed the belief that he would win the 2023 presidential election.
Tinubu said with the “strong support” of the masses, he would emerge the winner of the election in 2023.
The former Lagos Governor disclosed this when he visited the residence of ex-Oyo State Governor, Rashidi Ladoja yesterday.
He said reactions from relevant stakeholders have spurred him to continue in his push for the presidency.
Tinubu, however, admitted that there would be challenges, but he would overcome them.
According to Tinubu: “Life is a challenge and you must be ready to confront challenges and overcome. I have the confidence that I will overcome any form of challenge.
“The reactions of critical stakeholders to my presidential ambition have been very positive, encouraging and overwhelming and these have spurred me on with the strong conviction that we would succeed and emerge victorious after the election.
“We are forging ahead and with the strong support of the masses of Nigerians, we are going to achieve a resounding victory.”
Tinubu had last week informed President Muhammadu Buhari of his presidential intentions.
