TheNewsGuru

Tag: Ekiti State

  • 71-year-old man sentenced to jail for raping 10-year-old girl

    71-year-old man sentenced to jail for raping 10-year-old girl

    A 71 years old man, Sule Adeola, has been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Ekiti State High Court for raping a 10-year-old girl.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the defendant was charged to court on a one-count charge bordering on rape.

    The charge read, “That Sule Adeola on June 2 2023 at the Federal Housing Estate in Ado Ekiti did rape a 10-year-old girl, contrary to Section 31(1) of the Child’s Right Law, Cap. C7, laws of Ekiti State, 2012.”

    According to reports, the victim was living with her grandmother when the Adeola, who was her grandmother’s neighbour, sexually assaulted her between 2021 and 2023, but she did not tell her grandmother initially because the Adeola had promised to kill her.

    The prosecutor, Julius Ajibare, called four witnesses to prove his case, after which he tendered the defendant’s statement and medical report as exhibits.

    The defendant spoke through his counsel, Adefolaju Ayobioloja, and called three witnesses.

    In the judgment on Wednesday, Justice Blessing Ajileye, said, “It is unfortunate and saddening that recorded cases of intimate person’s sexual assault, hit new high every day.

    “From the totality of evidence on record, I am more persuaded by the prosecution’s evidence that there was proof of penetration, there is no scintilla of evidence available in the contrary. In all, I found that the prosecution proved the most essential ingredient of rape i.e. penetration. The defendant penetrated the vagina of the victim and I so hold.”

    The judge pronounced, “The defendant, Sule Adeola, is found guilty of the offence of rape of a 10 years old girl as charged. He is accordingly sentenced to life imprisonment.”

  • Ekiti Assembly confirms Agbede as 7th substantive clerk

    Ekiti Assembly confirms Agbede as 7th substantive clerk

    Ekiti State House of Assembly has confirmed the appointment of Mrs Kemisola Agbede as the 7th Clerk of the State House of Assembly.

    Agbede’s appointment was confirmed by the House members during plenary on Tuesday in Ado-Ekiti.

    The new Clerk began her civil service career in Ondo State on  Oct.12, 1990 as Secretariat Assistant, Grade Level 111 and worked in different Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

    Upon the creation of Ekiti State, Agbede was redeployed to Ekiti State and equally worked in various ministries. She was posted to the Ekiti State House of Assembly in 2004.

    Until her appointment, she  served as Director of Publications of the House and was later appointed the Deputy Clerk in charge of Legislative Matters in December 2022.

    The Speaker, Mr Adeoye Aribasoye charged the new Clerk to be more dedicated to her duties, adding that  her appointment was a testament to her commitment, hard work and expertise.

    He urged the staff to be committed to their work, and to also support the new Clerk and be loyal to their leaders.

    He prayed that her period as Clerk of the House will be marked with remarkable achievements.

    The new Clerk thanked Gov. Biodun Oyebanji, Aribasoye and the members of Seventh Assembly for the appointment.

    She promised to put in her best to the service and not to renege on the confidence reposed in her.

  • Ekiti Assembly appoints Agbede as Clerk

    Ekiti Assembly appoints Agbede as Clerk

    Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Mr Adeoye Aribasoye, has approved the appointment of Mrs Titilope Agbede as the Clerk of the Assembly.

    The is contained in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media to the Speaker, Mr Babjide Agbeyo, in Ado-Ekiti on Monday.

    According to the statement, the appointment is as a result of a thorough screening process and in line with Section 9(1) of the Ekiti State House of Assembly Commission Law, 2022.

    Agbede takes over from the Assembly’s Deputy Clerk, Opeyemi Ajibola, who has been acting since May.

    The new clerk, whose appointment is subject to confirmation by the House, hails from Ikole Local Government Area of the state.

    She was the Deputy Clerk (Legislative Matters) before her new appointment.

  • Gov Oyebanji swears in new Head of Service

    Gov Oyebanji swears in new Head of Service

    Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State on Tuesday tasked the new Head of Service, Dr Folakemi Olomojobi, to sustain ongoing reforms in the state’s civil service.

    Oyebanji gave the charge during the swearing-in ceremony of Olomojobi at the Governor’s office, stressing the need for her to mobilise the workforce for effective and efficient service delivery.

    Olomojobi, who until her appointment was the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, is the second female Head of Service in the history of the state.

    Her inauguration was withneseed by the Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye; wife of Governor, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji and six former Heads of Service.

    Oyebanji,  who commended the new HOS for her years of proficiency, patriotism, and professional service to the state, said that she earned the appointment on the strength of her track record of competence and impactful service to the state.

    “There is no doubt that Dr Olomojobi is one of the highly trained, globally exposed, intellectually sophisticated public servants.

    “She comes with a lot of skills that will definitely bring remarkable improvement to the civil and public service of Ekiti state.

    “The positive response that greeted her appointment across the ranks and files of the service is eloquent testimony to her suitability for the position,”he said.

    The governor said his administration had demonstrated its unwavering commitment to the welfare of workers in the payment of salary arrears, leave bonus arrears, payment of minimum wage adjustment across all cadres, and wage award to cushion the  hardship on the people.

    He called on workers to reciprocate the good gesture of government through their hard work and commitment to the realization of the agenda of government while the government will continue to provide a conducive working atmosphere and tools for workers to thrive.

    In her response, Olomojobi praised the governor for his leadership style and reforms which according to her have made Ekiti State the envy of other states.

    She promised to do her best by ensuring that public servants work within the ambit of the six pillars of the administration’s vision to achieve the shared prosperity agenda of the government.

    The new head of service said that the preoccupation of civil servants in the state was to ensure that all government policies promulgated to deliver the public good derivable from the six pillars are implemented efficiently and effectively.

  • Oyebanji appoints Prof. Olaleye Special Adviser

    Oyebanji appoints Prof. Olaleye Special Adviser

    Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, has approved the appointment of Prof. James Olaleye as Special Adviser on Land, eGIS and Survey.

    A statement by the Special Adviser on Media to the Governor, Mr Yinka Oyebode, on Wednesday,  Olaleye’s appointment takes effect from July 1, 2024.

    Olaleye, a professor of Surveying Engineering, bagged a first class Bachelor’s degree in Surveying from University of Lagos, Akoka in 1981.

    He bagged a Master’s degree in Surveying from the same University in 1984, and his PhD in Surveying Engineering from University of Brunswick, Canada in 1992.

    Olaleye started his academic career as a Graduate Assistant at the University of Lagos in 1982 and rose to the position of a professor in 2015.

    He held different positions including Sub Dean, Faculty of Engineering; Head, Department of Surveying and Geoinformatics.

    He retired from the University in December 2023.

    Olaleye, a specialist in Digital Mapping, Hydrography and Geomatics has extensive work experience in resource mapping, GPS and modern survey methods, especially coastal environment.

    He was awarded the price for  the best paper publication in 1994 by the American Society for Photogrammetry.

    While congratulating the new appointee, Gov. Oyebanji urged him to deploy his wealth of experience as a renowned scholar in the field of Surveying Engineering in his new assignment.

    He urged him to boost the administration’s strategic efforts in areas of land administration, urban renewal project and safer environment.

  • 34-year-old Ekiti woman declared missing

    34-year-old Ekiti woman declared missing

    The Police Command in Ekiti has declared a 34-year-old woman, Mrs Tolulope Orimogunje of Salaqua Street, Adin Quarter, Ilawe-Ekiti, missing.

    This is contained in a statement on Thursday in Ado-Ekiti, by DSP Sunday Abutu, the command’s Public Relations Officer.

    “The woman left home to an unknown destination on April 30, at about 17:30 hours and has not returned,” Abutu stated.

    He said the woman is light in complexion, 5.4 fit tall, speaks Yoruba language fluently and has no tribal mark.

    He said that though the command had commenced investigation to unravel her whereabouts, anyone with useful information concerning her present location should contact the nearest police station or call 09064050089.

  • 6 political parties reject IPAC election in Ekiti

    6 political parties reject IPAC election in Ekiti

    Six political parties in Ekiti have dissociated themselves from the recently conducted election and inauguration by Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC).

    The election was held on April 23 at the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Ado-Ekiti.

    However, the six political parties, in their protest letter, dated April 24 and addressed to the National Chairman of IPAC, Alhaji Yusuf Dantalle, rejected the election, describing it as null and void, saying it cannot stand.

    The letter was signed by Dr Dele Ekunola of Social Democratic Party (SDP), Chief Samuel Odeoba (Accord) and Mr A.O. Okunade (Labour Party).

    Others were: Mr Ifedayo lyaniwura (National Rescue Movement), Chief Moses Awogbemi (Action Peoples Party) and Pastor Omolayo llesanmi (Boot Party).

    They said that the election had been shifted several times, with the actual date not communicated to them.

    “We, the hereunder political parties, under the umbrella of Inter-Party Advisory Council, Ekiti State chapter, humbly dissociate ourselves from the election, held on April 23, 2024 at INEC Office, New Iyin Road, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti-State.

    “Apart from the shift in the date of the election, there was no communication to other aspirants until few minutes to the election.

    “This was systematically pre-planned just for their incumbent candidates to remain at the corridors of IPAC, even at the expense of what the council stands for.

    “Pathetically, the acclaimed electoral committee, headed by one Dr Omidiji, the State Chairman of ADC in Osun State, negates the principle and guidelines of IPAC which forbids any state chairman from heading electoral committee in other states.

    “IPAC is a conglomeration of all registered political parties in Nigeria, with its branches across states, and where seven political parties gathered to conduct an election without the involvement of others, the whole process is not only abhorrent, but grossly absurd,” they said in the letter.

    The aggrieved political parties further stated that concerned stakeholders had, on April 22, sent correspondences to the National Chairman of IPAC, informing him of the plan by some members to disorganise the council in the state.

    “The national chairman promised not only to oversee IPAC election in Ekiti State, but to conduct a free and fair election that all stakeholders will be happy with.

    “Until that is seen not only to be done, but with free, fair and credible openness, we humbly disassociate our parties from this recklessness and illegality.

    “This is an election that ought to have involved all the 18 registered political parties that have presence in Ekiti State,” they said.

    The aggrieved members also claimed that Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that was expected to be at the election was not informed about the exercise.

    They called for urgent intervention of the national executives of IPAC in the controversial election.

    Meanwhile, the newly-elected IPAC Chairman, Mr Daramola Owoola, denied the allegations, saying that no political party boycotted the election whose notice, he said, was duly served to all stakeholders.

    “Nobody boycotted the election. NRM Chairman was suspended over alleged misappropriation, while SDP had completed their two terms as chairman and the party is yet to notify the council of a new representative.

    “Labour party, however, obtained form and duly registered for the election and the other political parties’ chairmen were present at the election,” Owoola said.

    Buttressing Owoola, the state Chairman of Boot Party, Mrs Abiodun Falana, said that the party was part of the election, which was also attended by its National Organising Secretary.

    Falana denied the identity of the signatory of the letter from the party, saying he was not known to the party, as he was not a financial member and should, therefore, not be reckoned with.

  • Three armed robbers sentenced to death by hanging in Ekiti

    Three armed robbers sentenced to death by hanging in Ekiti

    An Ekiti High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti has sentenced three convicts to death by hanging for armed robbery.

    The defendants, Bidemi Babalola, 28, Oluwaseun Akinwale 26, Sola Oyebanji a.k.a Solademmy, 31, Azeez Jimoh a.k.a. Asela, 31, and Babatunde Ogunlade, 28, were arraigned before Justice Lekan Ogunmoye.

    The five men, whose addresses were not provided were arraigned on Jan. 30, 2020, on five counts of conspiracy, armed robbery, possesion of firearms, receiving stolen properties and membership of a secret cult.

    Delivering his judgment, the trial judge said that said, “in all, the sole issue for determination is resolved in part in favour of the prosecution, I accordingly order as follows;

    “The first defendant Babalola Bidemi, though a first offender, was the one that encouraged the offence of armed robbery, in that he knew that the items received by him were products of armed robbery, his sentence should serve as deterrence.

    “He is accordingly sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.

    “The second defendant, Akinwale Oluwaseun, is discharged and acquitted of all the charges while the 3rd, 4th and 5th defendants, Oyebanji Sola, Jimoh Azeez and Ogunlade Babatunde are found guilty as charged.

    “They are hereby sentenced to death.”

    During the trial, the Prosecution counsel, Dolapo Oyewole, informed the court that the convicts committed the offences on Oct. 3, 2018 at Oke Oniyo Street, Ado-Ekiti.

    Oyewole called five witnesses and tendered the defendants’ statements to the police, phones, wraps of Indian hemp, a motorcycle with its ignition key among others as exhibits.

    The  prosecution counsel said that convicts  conspired to commit armed robbery and on the fateful date did rob Tijani Omowumi and Ogunrinde Olumide of their phones, Plasma Television, wrist watch, necklace, shirts, trousers, shuttle bag, cash sum of N5000 among others.

    According to the counsel, as at the time of the robbery, they were armed with big stick, club, stone, cutlasses and gun.

    The offences, Oyewole said were contrary to Sections 6 (b), 1(2) (a) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap. RII, Vol. 14, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and Section 4 (1) of the Secret Cults (Abolition and Prohibition) (First Amendment) Law, No. 6 of 2017.

    However, the defendants gave evidence in their own defence and called two witnesses.

    Adeyinka Opaleke, counsel to Akinwale Oluwaseun, argued and proved the innocence of his client of the alleged offence leading to the latters discharge and acquittal.

  • Ekiti state set to partner with America on cashew producion

    Ekiti state set to partner with America on cashew producion

    As part of efforts to increase productivity and access to markets, the Ekiti State Government is set to commence the distribution of subsidised polyclonal cashew seedlings to farmers in the country.

    Ekiti state Commissioner for Agriculture,  Ebenezer Boluwade,  made this known in Ado Ekiti on Sunday, explaining  that the scheme, which the United States Department of Agriculture, USDA, is supporting, is aimed at boosting the trade of cashew by improving harvest and post-harvest techniques and supporting supply chain linkages between farmers and programme companies under the five-year PRO-Cashew USDA-funded development programme.

    He said that  the PRO-Cashew project started in 2020. It will, over five years, support cashew farmers in Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Nigeria to improve productivity and access to markets, adding that Ekiti State became the first sub-national in Nigeria to establish a polyclonal cashew and scion garden at Erifun in Ado Ekiti in June 2023.

    Boluwade stressed the commitment of Oyebanji’s administration to make the state sustainable in polyclonal cashew seedling production after the exit of the USDA intervention, emphasising that the aim is to leverage research and development towards making the state one of the highest cashew-producing states within the next few years.

    He added that polyclonal seedlings mature faster and have more resilience than seedlings propagated using seeds, Boluwade assured that the state government would subsidise the cost of the seedlings by 50 per cent to encourage and empower farmers in the state.

    He advised interested farmers to contact the Tree Crops Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to benefit from the scheme, adding that beneficiaries’ farms must be within Ekiti State and owners must be able to provide reliable details about their farms for after-sales services to achieve the desired goals.

  • Police arrest church phone theft specialist

    Police arrest church phone theft specialist

    The Police Command in Ekiti has arrested a man who allegedly specialised in stealing phones from worship centres in Ayegbaju-Ekiti and Oye- Ekiti towns.

    Commissioner of Police, Ekiti command, Akinwale Adeniran, said that the suspect was arrested on Saturday after allegedly carting away seven phones, belonging to different people, from Christ Apostolic Church, Ayegbaju-Ekiti.

    Adeniran, in a statement issued by the command’s Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Sunday Abutu, said that the suspect, who went to the church pretending to be one of their members, studied the worshippers and in the euphoria of praises, made away with seven phones.

    “The suspect, during interrogation, confessed to have been operating around Oye-Ekiti and Ayegbaju-Ekiti, with churches as his target.

    “He further confessed to have stolen a lot of phones from the Redeemed Christian Church of God and New Reality Christian Centre, all in Oye-Ekiti,” he said.

    The police commissioner said that investigation revealed that the suspect, after meeting his target, normally sent the stolen phones through motor parks to Lagos where his friend would assist him to sell them and send the proceeds back to him through online transfer.

    He, however, said that the seven phones he stole during his last operation at CAC, Ayegbaju-Ekiti, had been recovered from him.

    Adeniran further stated that some of the victims of the suspect’s atrocities had showed up at the police station and had identified him and their stolen phones.

    He said that the suspect would be arraigned in court immediately after the conclusion of investigation.