THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2011
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NEWS
Ogun takes ex-CJ before panel over property T
HE Ogun State Government has taken a former Chief Judge, Justice Oluremi Jacobs (rtd.), before the Lands Judicial Commission of Enquiry, sitting in Abeokuta, the state capital for allegedly buying the official resi-
From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta
dence of the State’s Chief Judge illegally. The government petitioned the five-man panel, headed by Justice Abiodun Akinyemi, claiming that the Chief Judge’s Residence at 15, Oba Ademola road, Ibara Govern-
OSPOLY begins session
ment Reserved Area (GRA), Abeokuta, is the property of the Judiciary. The government alleged that the property was illegally sold to Justice Jacobs by the Federal Controller of Lands and Housing in Ogun State, Mr. M. Folayan. The petitioner urged the commis-
sion to set aside the purported sale, lease or allocation of the property to Justice Jacobs. When the petition came up for hearing yesterday, counsel to the Lands Commission, Mr. James Omotosho, objected to the case being heard by the panel on the grounds that there is a pending case
before Justice Phillip Onomade of the State High Court in respect of the property. Omotosho tendered exhibits and copies of the subsisting suit. Justice Akinyemi directed that copies of the suit be served on all parties and adjourned the case till Friday.
Lagos, Ogun meet to resolve boundary issues
THE Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, has commenced its 2011/2012 academic session. In a statement, the institution’s spokesman, Mr. Tope Abiola, said students’ registration would close on February 3. Abiola said: “Any student who refuses to resume and pay the necessary fees by February 3 may forfeit the admission, as lectures will begin on February 6.” New students are expected to report at the Academic Affairs Unit of the institution for further briefing. HND II and ND II students, who are not on the Students’ Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES), are to resume on Monday, January 30.
Lagos may shut Mile 12 market By Miriam Ndikanwu
THE Lagos State Government may shut the ever-busy Mile 12 market, if its leaders fail to stop traders from obstructing traffic flow on Ikorodu Road. The General Manager of the State Transport Management Authority (LASTMA), Mr. Babatunde Edu, and the Chairman of the State Task force on Environmental and Other Special Offences, Supol Bayo Sulaiman, visited the market yesterday and issued a warning notice to the traders. Edu said the market would be shut if the traders continue to constitute nuisance on the road. He lamented that vehicles loaded with perishable goods are always carelessly packed around the market, making movement difficult for other road users. Sulaiman decried the activities of some traders, who sell on the road. He said: “This is the last warning for those selling ois warning, we shall begin enforcement.” The General Secretary, Perishable Food Association, Abdul Muhammed, said the association will comply with the directives of the government.
•Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola presenting the Support our Schools Corporate Responsibility Award to the representative of Chief Rasaq Okoya, Abimbola Okoya (left), during the Support our Schools Corporate Social Responsibility Awards / Breakfast Meeting at the Event Centre, Central Business District (CBD) , Alausa, Ikeja, ...yesterday. With them is the Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinkan Oladujoye.
Lawmaker, party chieftain dump Ondo LP
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HE member representing Akure North/South Constituency at the House of Representatives, Mr. Ifedayo Abegunde, yesterday dumped the Labour Party (LP) in Ondo State for the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). This is coming barely a month after another federal lawmaker, Senator Ajayi Boroffice representing Ondo North District, quit the LP. The LP Vice-Chairman in Akure South Local Government, Chief Bankole Ajayi, also dumped the party yesterday. Abegunde’s resignation letter to the LP chairman of Ward Nine, Akure South Local Government, reads: “I wish to resign my membership of the LP with effect from Tuesday, January 24, 2012. “Although the decision is painful, however, events in the past few months, which led to a series of intra-party crisis at the state and local
•Hausa community joins ACN ‘Defection can’t stop Mimiko’s re-election’ From Leke Akeredolu, Akure
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NDO State Labour Party (LP) Chairman Mr. Olumide Ogidan yesterday said the defection of some members will not stop Governor Olusegun Mimiko’s re-election next year. He said those who left the party are not strong enough to decide the future of the state. Ogidan spoke at the party’s state secretariat in Akure, the state capital, while receiving leaders of the governor’s re-election campaign group, Iroko 2013. He said LP is still popular in the state. Ogidan said: “We are not surprised that some people who stole our platform to win election are now leaving. People like Senator Ajayi Boroffice only won on the popularity of the party and the governor. If he had contested on another platform, he would have lost his wards.” Ogidan alleged that the factional chairman of the party, Mr. Kunle Odidi, is no more a member of the LP. He alleged that Odidi is a card-carrying member of an opposition party. Chairman of Iroko 2013 Chief Ayo Oyinsan said the group would continue to sensitise the people on the need to re-elect Mimiko. From Damisi Ojo, Akure
government levels that invariably led to court litiga-
tion, called for this action. “The crisis is highly regretted. As an elected representative of the people, I can-
not continue to support one faction against the other. Also, I cannot effectively discharge my constitutional responsibilities because of the development.” The Chairman, House Committee on Emergency Disaster and Preparedness, thanked LP for giving him the platform to serve his people. He also thanked his loyalists for their support. Ajayi said the LP is no longer conducive for him. The former Deputy Coordinator for Iroko 2013 in Akure South said he has paid his dues but have nothing to show for it. Also yesterday, members of the Hausa Community joined the ACN. Among them are its Chairman, Lawali Garba; Vice-Chairman Tukur Amadu; Secretary Zayanu Abdulahi; Coordinator Aminu Koli; and Woman Leader Mama Usama.
More vehicles, personnel for Oyo security team
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• Ajimobi
YO State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has said more vehicles and logistics will be provided for the Joint Security Task Force, tagged: “Operation Burst”. Ajimobi spoke on Monday at the parade ground of the Governor’s Office, Ibadan, while addressing officers and men of the task force. He said: “Operation Burst is a very good scheme and
From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan
we are planning to increase the number of officers and men, as well as vehicles and other facilities you require for effective performance. You are very important in the maintenance of peace and security.” Ajimobi praised members of the task force for ensuring peace during the Yuletide and maintaining order during
the protests against petrol subsidy removal. He said: “We thank you for the good job you did during the subsidy removal demonstrations; you effectively controlled the violence. “Our administration rewards productivity. You made a lot of sacrifices to make the state peaceful and conducive. Even though we are not averse to anyone protesting, as it is their legitimate and
constitutional right to do so peacefully, miscreants, brigands and thugs hijacked the protests and introduced violence. If not for you, we would have been telling another story now.” On the allegation that members of the task force harassed indecently-dressed persons, the governor said the squad is not a moral force, but a security team. He urged it to focus on protecting the life and property of the people.
REPRESENTATIVES of Lagos and Ogun states yesterday met to settle matters relating to boundary demarcation and tax remittance of residents living around their shared boundaries. At the meeting held at Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos State Deputy Governor Adejoke OrelopeAdefulire said it is necessary for the two states to formulate a common policy on boundary and tax issues. Stressing the need for peaceful co-existence between them, Mrs. Orelope-Adefulire said: “Lagos State is ready to go by the law and ensure peace between both states. We will ensure that what belongs to Ogun State is given to it and we will expect it to do same to Lagos State.” Ogun State Deputy Governor Segun Adesegun said there is need for the states’ Surveyor-Generals and that of the Federal Government to reinstall pillars at the borders for clear demarcation. Adesegun said: “All the beacons should be properly lined, while the missing pillars should be installed to properly demarcate boundaries, especially in disputed areas.”
Ondo pensioners get N1.4b gratuity ONDO State Governor Olusegun Mimiko has approved N1.4 billion for the payment of last year’s gratuity of retired local government workers. Mimiko spoke yesterday in Akure, the state capital, while presenting the last batch of gratuity cheques to retirees of the State Local Government Staff Pension’s Board. About 180 retirees received cheques for their gratuities. Mimiko, represented by Deputy Governor Ali Olanusi, said: “This is a pragmatic departure from how things used to be before this administration came on board in 2009. It was so terrible then that hundreds of retirees did not receive gratuities for over five years.” The governor advised the pensioners to invest their gratuities wisely. Chairman of the Local Government Service Commission Alhaji Sadiq Obanoyen said the board would continue to ensure that retirees get their gratuities on time.