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Tag: Ekiti State

  • Fayemi names committee to manage COVID-19 donations in Ekiti

    Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti, on Tuesday, named an eight-man management committee for the COVID-19 Pandemic Support Account recently set up by the state government.

    The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Yinka Oyebode, in a statement issued in Ado-Ekiti, said this was part of the efforts at curtailing the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic in the state.

    He said that the account was opened specifically to receive donations from corporate bodies, philanthropists and well-meaning members of the society, who were willing to support government’s efforts at combating COVID-19.

    According to him, the funds will be targeted at providing palliatives for the vulnerable persons in the state.

    Oyebode added that the committee was set up in line with the governor’s commitment to transparency and accountability.

    He listed members of the committee to include the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, who would serve as the Chairman, with Mrs Margaret Fagboyo, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Development Partnerships, as Secretary.

    Other members were Mr Ayoola Owolabi, the Commissioner for Finance, Mr Femi Ajayi, Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Dr Moji Yaya-Kolade, Commissioner for Health and Human Services as well as Alhaji Ayodele Jinadu, Commissioner for Special Duties.

    The committee also has Prof. Bolaji Aluko, Special Adviser/Director-General, Office of Transformation and Strategic Development and Dr Hakeem Bakare, Director, Directorate of Inter-Communication Technology as members.

    According to the governor’s spokesman, the Ekiti Covid-19 Pandemic Support Account, with UBA Current Account Number: 1022752067, has since become operational.

  • BREAKING: Nigeria records first death from COVID-19-related complications

    BREAKING: Nigeria records first death from COVID-19-related complications

    First death from COVID-19-related complications has been recorded in Nigeria, being an American Caucasian, male, 27 years old, who was visiting the country from Richmond, Virginia, USA, according to the Government of Ekiti State.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Dr. (Mrs) Mojisola Yaya-Kolade, Ekiti State Commissioner for Health and Human Services made this known in a statement on Wednesday, saying that the COVID-19 test conducted for the American male returned inconclusive.

    “The American male and his Nigerian female caregiver, arrived Nigeria on 3rd March 2020 through the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Lagos. Preliminary investigations revealed that the pair were driven by our confirmed case to Ibadan, where they stayed for two weeks, and arrived Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State on 13th March, 2020.

    “A day after their arrival, the American male fell ill and he was taken to a private hospital where he was referred to a tertiary hospital. Unfortunately, he died from complications of his illness.

    “It is important to state that this likely index case was on a short visit and had not been in Ekiti State for up to 72 hours before his death,” the statement read.

    Read full statement below:

    Official Statement On Reported COVID-19 Incidence

    1. This morning, the Honorable Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, announced a positive case of Coronavirus in a patient in Ekiti State.

    2. The Ekiti State Taskforce on COVID-19, headed by His Excellency Dr. John Kayode Fayemi, can confirm that we have recorded an incidence of a Nigerian male, 38 years old, of Ekiti origin, who has tested positive to Covid-19.

    3. The confirmed case is suspected to have been infected while driving an American Caucasian, male, 27 years old, who was visiting Nigeria from Richmond, Virginia, USA in the company of his caregiver, a Nigerian female Age 31, of Ekiti Origin.

    4. The American male and his Nigerian female caregiver, arrived Nigeria on 3rd March 2020 through the Muritala Mohammed International Airport Lagos. Preliminary investigations revealed that the pair were driven by our confirmed case to Ibadan, where they stayed for two weeks, and arrived Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State on 13th March, 2020.

    5. A day after their arrival, the American male fell ill and he was taken to a private hospital where he was referred to a tertiary hospital. Unfortunately, he died from complications of his illness.

    6. The hospital authorities alerted the State Taskforce and samples were taken from the American male as well as his two companions. The test for the male driver came back positive; the test for the female caregiver came back negative while the test for the American male was inconclusive.

    7. In line with the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) protocols, the Ekiti State Taskforce on COVID-19 has already quarantined the confirmed case on admission in the State Isolation Centre, while the caregiver who tested negative, is presently under observation in self isolation.

    8. We have commenced the process of contact tracing, working with the Federal Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO) following the team’s itinerary since they landed in Nigeria on the 3rd of March 2020.

    9. We have also contacted the Oyo State Government since it was recorded that they stayed in Ibadan for two weeks before arriving Ekiti State.

    10. The confirmed case is very stable and not showing any symptoms while NCDC will repeat the test for the caregiver who is also in self isolation.

    11. The Ekiti State Task Force on COVID-19 is following the NCDC Case Management Protocols with diligence. We want to urge Ekiti residents to stay calm and ensure they observe the prevention steps that are being publicized on all credible media.

    12. It is important to state that this likely index case was on a short visit and had not been in Ekiti State for up to 72 hours before his death.

    13. The Ekiti State Taskforce on COVID-19 advises residents to continue to take self-preventive measures by washing their hands with soap and water, covering their mouths when coughing or sneezing, observing social distancing and to alert the authorities of any suspected case by calling the 112 Emergency Number or 09062970434, 09062970435, 09062970436.

    14. The Government of Ekiti State will continue to update the public on new developments as necessary in our commitment to ensuring the safety and protection of all Ekiti residents.

    Signed

    Dr. (Mrs) Mojisola Yaya-Kolade

    Hon. Commissioner for Health and Human Services.

  • 2019: INEC transfers Ekiti REC

    2019: INEC transfers Ekiti REC

    The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Ekiti state, Prof. Abdulganiyu Raji has been moved to Ogun state.

    This is coming barely 20 days to the 2019 general elections, with the State Administrative Secretary, Dr Omoleke Muslim, taking over on acting capacity.

    The Public Affairs Officer of INEC in the state, Alhaji Taiwo Gbadegesin, told NAN that there was no external motive behind the transfer of the REC.

    “It may be as a result of his well-acknowledged outstanding election performances in the past,” he said.

    While performing his first function in Ado Ekiti at the opening of a two-day Training Session for security agencies ahead of the election, Muslim, urged them to be above board.

    He charged the security agents not to dance to the whims and caprices of any political party or individual.

    Muslim said that INEC in the state was fully ready to conduct free, fair and credible polls.

    He gave the assurance that all the 2,445 polling units in the state would be manned by security agents to curb electoral malpractices such as vote-buying, vote-selling and other inducements.

    He said that 10,426 ad-hoc staff and 365 regular staff of the commission would man the exercise on Feb. 16 and March 02, stressing that they have been given the required training for the task ahead.

    He warned politicians and their followers to desist from wooing the staff with either money, food, fuel, accommodation or gifts.

    Muslim disclosed that election materials would start arriving the state in a few days time through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    He enjoined residents to steer clear of activities capable of throwing hitches to the electoral process.

     

  • Ekiti begs military to restore checkpoints

    Ekiti begs military to restore checkpoints

    The Ekiti state Government has appealed to the military authorities to restore the highway checkpoints recently dismantled in the state.

    Deputy Governor, Chief Bisi Egbeyemi made the appeal while on a familiarisation visit to officials and members of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, (NUJ) in Ado Ekiti.

    Egbeyemi said the checkpoints are necessary with the upsurge of crimes, such as kidnapping and robbery on the highways.

    He said the government was concerned that the military withdrew its men from checkpoints on flashpoint routes, such as Ado Ekiti-Itawure Road, Ikere Ekiti- Ise Road as well as Ifaki Ekiti- Emure Road, among others, for reasons yet unknown to government.

    ” We urge the military to please return their men to those security checkpoints that have now been closed down and their men withdrawn,” Egbeyemi said.

    ” The military are the only ones that the robbers and other criminals fear most. Their withdrawal is capable of exposing our people to danger. Already some concerned residents are beginning to develop apprehension about the development and it is our duty to reassure them that there is no cause for alarm

    ” We know the importance of the soldiers and we are ready as a state to do anything that will make them comfortable. It us our belief that there is no amount spent in securing lives and property that is too much. This government do value lives and will do anything to protect lives of our people

    ” We want the good people of Ekiti state to know that the present administration will not joke with anything that can threaten their peace and that of their legitimate businesses. That is why we are ready to do anything that can guarantee their welfare and wellbeing”, he said.

    The chairman of the Chapel, a Deputy Editor and State Correspondent with the Nigerian Tribune, Mr Sam Nwaoko assured the deputy governor that his members, representing various media houses in the state would continue to discharge their duties of news reportage in line with the tenets and ethics of the profession, devoid of biases, sectionalism or sensationalism.

    He however asked government to also sustain its current friendly posture with journalists in the state by creating the environment that would make them carry out their duties unhindered.

    Egbeyemi used the opportunity of the interaction to also debunk rumours that the Fayemi administration was planning to sack workers in the coming year, especially teachers.

    On the contrary, he said, the government planned to strengthen the public service and provide incentives, including regular payment of salaries that could better the lives of all category of workers.

    Egbeyemi also hinted of government’s plan to reinforce the public service through fresh recruitment of qualified persons but without attaching any political or religious consideration for anyone, as done in the past.

    ” Ekiti is a worker-dependent economy. We know once we pay salaries of workers as regularly as possible, its effect will be felt by all other sectors, especially those who directly or indirectly rely on civil servants’ patronage in their businesses for survival”, he said.

     

  • EFCC seals-off 6 landed property allegedly belonging to Fayose

    No fewer than six landed property allegedly owned by immediate past governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose were on Thursday sealed-off in Ado Ekiti by operatives of the EFCC.

    The action may not be unconnected to a court order which authorised seizure of the property suspected to have been built with corrupt proceeds.

    Fayose had earlier raised an alarm of deliberate `persecution and witch hunting’ after his last encounter with the EFCC.

    The anti-graft had pressed charges against Fayose in a Federal High Court Lagos on allegations of fraud while serving as governor.

    Parts of the notice of seizure placed by the anti-graft body on the property in Ado Ekiti, read thus: “EFCC, Keep-off’’, “Property under Investigation’’ among others.

    However, Fayose had accused the EFCC of going about town sealing property belonging to innocent individuals arbitrarily under the guise that those properties belonged to him.

    The former governor said this in a statement signed by his Media Assistant, Mr Lere Olayinka, and made available to newsmen.

    Fayose said his response to the unfortunate incident was aimed at informing the public ahead of the EFCC’s usual blackmail and media trial.

    “I have just been informed that operatives of the EFCC are going about sealing houses of innocent people in the state, under the guise that the houses are linked to me

    “This is another wild goose chase and the usual media campaign against my person.

    “It is only in our country that an anti corruption agency will first go about sealing houses before determining the ownership, which can be done so easily by visiting relevant agencies.

    “I am therefore, informing the public ahead of their usual blackmail and media trial.

    “Please note that none of the property in question is owned by me and the records are there for anyone that is interested to see

    “The EFCC is advised to stop going about looking for ways to malign my person just because of their hatred as a result of my uncompromising stands on national issues.

    “Even if the commission is being pressured from ‘above’ to persecute me at all cost, it should at least, do its job diligently to save itself from persistent embarrassment’’, he said.

     

  • Save us from quacks, NMA appeals to agencies

    The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) has appealed to the police and other security agencies in the country to assist its efforts to curb quackery in the medical practice.
    Dr Tunji Omotayo, Chairman, NMA, Ekiti chapter, made the appeal at a news conference on Sunday in Ado Ekiti, to mark the 2018 Physicians Week.
    According to him, the menace has reached an alarming stage and requires the full support of all security agencies as it has caused untimely deaths of many Nigerians.
    “The activities of quacks are crippling the medical profession and reducing the quality of practice in the country; quackery is the bane of development of any society or profession, including medical practice.
    “It is a danger to the society; patients always commit their lives in the hands of doctors and once they are not saved, then we are all endangered.
    “The police must help us in this regard because we have identified some people parading themselves as qualified medical practitioners but were later found to be quacks.
    “We reported their cases to the police but surprisingly they were let off the hook.
    “We plead that the police should do more; they must partner with us in this regard because it affects everybody.
    “We appeal for cooperation and support of the police and other security agencies in arresting the culprits”, he said.
    According to the NMA chairman, the main theme of this year’s event is: “Medical Quackery and Litigation, Closing the Gap in Polio Eradication and Universal Health Coverage.’’
    Omotayo said that child and maternal mortality in Nigeria was increasing and reducing life expectancy of the people, because disparity in accessing quality healthcare delivery in the country was poor.
    He also called for full implementation of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) across the states to achieve universal health coverage.
    The NMA boss also appealed to the Ekiti Government to implement the State Insurance Health
    Scheme (SHIS) without further delay, to ameliorate the sufferings of the masses who patronised quacks as thire last resort.
    “The SHIS bill was signed into law under ex-Governor Ayodele Fayose, but we have to go beyond this and move to the level of implementation.
    “We also frown at the lingering crisis rocking the NHIS and we urge the Federal Government to intervene appropriately to restore peace and stability to the agency for it to deliver on its mandate,” he said.
    He congratulated Ekiti new governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, on his election success, assuring him that NMA would partner with his administration to reposition the health sector in the state.
     

  • Fayose’s four years a waste – Anglican Bishop

    Barely a week after the Bishop of Ekiti Catholic Diocese, Rt. Rev. Felix Ajakaye criticised the administration of former governor Ayodele Fayose, another Bishop again on Sunday described the ex-governor’s four-year second term as a waste.
    Bishop of the Diocese of Ekiti, the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, the Rt. Rev. Christopher Omotunde gave the verdict at a thanksgiving for the new deputy governor, Chief Bisi Egbeyemi in Ado Ekiti.
    Bishop Omotunde said Ekiti’s progress was stunted in the last four years of the former governor.
    He described the tenure as “four wasted years in which life became unbearable for the people and in which hunger ravaged the land without any concrete effort to alleviate people’s poverty.”
    “The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) had a golden chance to make a difference in the lives of Ekiti residents but abused the opportunity to the extent that the people became slaves under them,” he said.
    He, therefore, warned the new All Progressives Congress (APC) administration to learn from the mistakes of the immediate past government and never disappoint the teeming masses looking up to it for meaningful governance.
    Omotunde who delivered his sermon at the Emmanuel Anglican Cathedral, Okesa, Ado-Ekiti, said Fayose should be particularly blamed for all that went wrong during his tenure
    The bishop said Fayose’s daily criticisms and opposition to President Muhammadu Buhari, for instance, denied Ekiti of many benefits.
    He said while Fayose was busy abusing the president, other wiser PDP governors were busy attracting projects to their states and financial support from the Federal Government because of their good relationship with the President.
    The bishop, who described himself as “a father of all politicians”, said all members of his church belong to all political parties, and that he was duty bound to speak the truth when the need arises.
    Omotunde said God had given Governor Kayode Fayemi another chance to make the difference in the lives of Ekiti people and must therefore not fail to do that because the expectations are very high.
    He advised Fayemi to choose people who will be faithful in translating his dreams for the development of the state into reality and not those who would be advancing their personal and selfish interests.
    The bishop said now that Fayemi’s party, APC, is in power at the federal level unlike what obtained during his first tenure, the Federal Government must grant all the requests of the governor to repair Ekiti and assist the state financially for its people to be relieved.
    According to the Bishop: “This our God is a God of another chance. He gave PDP another chance also but unfortunately they abused the chance to the extent that people became slaves under them, they rendered everybody hopeless under them”.
    “They bewitched everybody that our eyes were closed. They bewitched us that we called evil good and the few that their power of bewitchment had no effect upon prayed and God looked down from heaven and visited this state again opening another door for Fayemi’s government
    “Your party (APC) is in power now, let them know that I said, it’s a government of another chance and God will try you again and see whether you will be faithful or not. It is left for you to prove yourself.
    “Tell me of one youth that the immediate past government empowered? Even though they called it a government of Okada riders; how many Okadas did he buy for the youths?
    “I was watching the television recently and Ebonyi State governor was listing his achievements in agriculture. He gave the Federal Government credit for his success and my (former) governor was also a PDP governor.
    “In many states, Buhari had many achievements and successes to show but the only achievement here was the repair of Ado-Itawure Road. But our (former) governor would not give him room to work.
    “The whole four years (under Fayose) was wasted; we were retrogressing, going backward. Many states were given opportunities in agriculture, nothing was given to Ekiti and all we needed was for the governor to give them land and banks were ready to finance the projects.
    “With hunger ravaging the land, the former governor was collecting N1,000 from each pupil. What did he use the money to do? We did not see what they did with the money.
    “Our people are hungry and they are suffering financial difficulties. They have been thrown into poverty so that they will become slaves to the ‘rock’ but God brought somebody who knows how to break the rock
    into pieces”, he said.
    Addressing the congregation, Egbeyemi called for the prayers and support of Ekiti people for the new government saying: “the welfare of the people remains the focal point of this administration.”
    The service was attended by the wife of the governor, Bisi Fayemi; wife of the deputy governor, Margaret; Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Mr. Adeniran Alagbada and his wife Kike.
    Others are former deputy governor, Prof. Dupe Adelabu; Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji; Chief of Staff, Mr. Biodun Omoleye; Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe and other traditional rulers.
     

  • Update: Court remands Fayose in prison custody, bars ex-Gov. from traveling

    Justice Mojisola Olatoregun of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos has said former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose should be remanded in prison custody pending the fulfillment of his bail condition.
    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports Fayose, who was asked to deposit his international passport with the court, was granted bail, in sum of N50 million in bond, after hearing of his bail application at his second appearance before the Lagos Federal High Court.
    He was also asked to provide a surety who must have landed property in Lagos, and who must also have three-year tax clearance in Lagos.
    Fayose, arraigned on Monday, in his first appearance before Justice Olatoregun, prosecution counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Rotimi Oyedepo, had pleaded the court that Fayose be remanded in prison custody pending a trial date.
    Fayose, alongside his company, Spotless Limited, was arraigned on an 11-count charge bordering on fraud and money laundering to the tune of N2.2bn.
    The former governor is facing trial in connection with N1.299 billion and $5.3 million allegedly allocated to him out of the N4.65 billion slush fund shared by the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, through a former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, according to an EFCC statement.
    “Fayose acquired properties in some parts of Lagos and Abuja from the money, which was released for his 2014 governorship campaign,” EFCC alleges.
    “That you, Mr. Ayodele Fayose and Mr. Abiodun Agbele (now facing another charge) on or about 17th June, 2014 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, took possession of the sum of N1, 219, 000, 000.00 (One Billion, Two Hundred and Nineteen Million Naira) to fund your 2014 gubernatorial campaign in Ekiti State, which sum you reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act to wit: criminal breach of trust/stealing and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15 (3) and (4) of the same Act.”
    “That you, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, on or about 17th June, 2014 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, without going through the financial institution received cash payment in the sum of $5, 000, 000 (Five Million Dollars) from Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, the then Minister of State for Defence, which sum exceeded the amount authorised by law and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Sections 1 and 16 (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 16 (2) (b) of the same Act,” EFCC counts read against Fayose in court on Monday.
    However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him. It was in view of his plea the prosecution counsel had asked the court for a trial date and prayed that the defendant be remanded in prison custody.
    However, counsel to the defendant, Kanu Agabi, SAN, told the court that he had served a bail application on behalf of this client on the prosecution, and pleaded with the court to remand his client in the EFCC custody.
    Consequently, Justice Olatoregun adjourned the case to October 24, 2018 for hearing of the bail application and ordered the defendant to be remanded in EFCC custody pending hearing of the bail application.
    Following Fayose’s bail application hearing, Justice Olatoregun has said he should be remanded in prison custody pending the fulfillment of his bail condition.
     

  • EFCC clampdown on 33-years old internet fraudster

    EFCC clampdown on 33-years old internet fraudster

    The Ibadan Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested one Oke Omoniyi Benjamin, 33-years old from Efon-Alaaye, Ekiti State, for internet fraud.
    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports Benjamin was arrested sequel to an intelligent report received by the EFCC on 27th August, 2018, alleging that he is into internet fraud and has also defrauded a number of foreigners of their money through fraudulent schemes.
    The report stated that Benjamin used the proceeds of his fraud to buy two cars, and also own a unisex salon known as Signatures Unisex Salon located at No. 238, Ilawe Road, opposite Baptist School, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
    At the point of arrest, operatives of the Commission recovered an Acura TL, 2010 with Registration Number BDG 969FH and a Lexus ES 300, 2002 with Registration Number EPE 829FJ, two Laptops, two Phones, forged documents and several counterfeit cheques of various foreign Banks.
    Benjamin, however, admitted to the allegations against him and will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.
     

  • Vote buying: INEC seeks stakeholders’ support

    Vote buying: INEC seeks stakeholders’ support

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Monday urged stakeholders to give it the necessary support to curb vote-buying and other electoral offences.

    The Chairperson, Legal Services of the INEC, Mrs May Agbamuche-Mbu, made the appeal in Lagos at two-day training for legal officers of the commission and police officers on the prosecution of electoral offences.

    The training was organised by INEC in conjunction with the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES).

    Agbamuche-Mbu said vote-buying and other electoral malpractices undermined the credibility of elections and by extension democracy.

    She said that though INEC had limitations in terms of resources, technology and personnel, it would continue do its best to address the issue.

    The INEC official urged law-enforcement agents, politicians, civil societies and others to complement the commission’s efforts and do their best to deal with vote-buying and other malpractices.

    “Now more than ever, there is the need to prevent, curtail and manage various electoral offences.

    “Recent happenings in Ekiti State during the just concluded governorship election have thrown up the need for a closer look at our prosecutorial efforts in the area of electoral offences.

    “Vote-buying has become an issue as witnessed in the Ekiti State governorship election and INEC cannot stand aloof and allow its efforts in planning successful elections be thrown into disrepute.

    “We must protect the sanctity and secrecy of the votes. We will do our best to ensure this,’’ she said.

    Agbamuche-Mbu said the duty of prosecution of electoral offences had placed a great burden on the commission.

    She said it was because of this that the commission had over the years advocated the creation of an Electoral Offences Commission to effectively handle electoral offences.

    The chairperson said the duty of prosecution of electoral offences had placed a great burden on the commission.

    She explained that it was because of this that the commission had over the years advocated the creation of an Electoral Offences Commission to effectively handle electoral offences.

    Agbamuche-Mbu said it was in view of this that INEC was conducting the training for its legal officers and police officers to enhance their capacities.

    She thanked ECES for supporting the training programme, urging it to continue to support INEC to effectively discharge its responsibilities.

    In his speech, Dr Adekunle Ogunmola, INEC National Commissioner in charge of South West, said the commission was committed to the conduct of free and fair elections in the country.

    Ogunmola said that the commission would require the support of all Nigerians to achieve the goal.

    Earlier, the Project Co-ordinator of ECES, Mr Rudolf Elbling, said the perpetration of election offences had an impact on the integrity of the electoral process.

    “Election offences constitute a violation of the laws and regulations guiding the conduct of elections, leading to the destruction of electoral materials and disruption of elections,’’ he said.

    Elbing said there was therefore the need to put in place effective mechanisms to punish electoral offenders to protect the electoral process.

    He said it was important to enhance the capacities of those involved in the prosecution of electoral offences to deal with the problem of electoral malpractices.

    Ebling said ECES partnered with INEC to conduct the training of its legal officers and police officers to enable them do more to deter electoral malpractices.

    “The training, which is first in the series to be organised across the six geo-political zones, is also to boost professional synergies among some of the most important stakeholders in the electoral process.

    “The objective of the training is to improve the skills of INEC legal officers and police in the prosecution of electoral offences,’’ he said.

    He said the ECES would continue to support INEC to develop its competencies to conduct free and fair elections in the country.

    Elbling said that the centre planned to conduct training for Judges of Appeal Courts and Electoral Offences Tribunals, with a view to strengthening their capacities to attend to issues of electoral offences.