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Tag: Ekiti State

  • APC wins all chairmanship, councillorship seats in Ekiti council polls

    APC wins all chairmanship, councillorship seats in Ekiti council polls

    Candidates of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) won all the 38 chairmanship and 177 councilorship seats in Saturday’s council elections in Ekiti.

    The Ekiti State Independent Electoral Commission (EKSIEC) made the declaration at Ado-Ekiti on Sunday.

    Returning Officers in the local government areas and in the local council development areas took turns to present the results of the various council areas at the headquarters of EKSIEC.

    EKSIEC Chairman, retired Justice Cornelius Akintayo, applauded the electorate in Ekiti for the peaceful conduct of the election.

    He also commended parties that took part in the election for their sportsmanship; EKSIEC staff who worked on the field; security agents and the media for a job well done.

    Akintayo listed political parties that participated in the election as Action Alliance (AA), Action Democratic Congress (ADC), African Democratic Party (ADP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Others, he said, were Labour Party (LP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and Zenith Labour Party ZLP.

    EKSIEC commissioners and principal officers joined Akintayo at the presentation of the election results.

    Prominent opposition parties like the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) had earlier declared their disinterest in the council elections.

  • Ekiti not under security threat – CP Ogundare

    Ekiti not under security threat – CP Ogundare

    Ekiti Commissioner of Police, CP. Dare Ogundare, says Ekiti state is safe and not under any security threat.

    This is contained in a statement, made available to Journalists in Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday and signed by the state  Police Public Relation Officer, PPRO, DSP. Sunday Abutu.

    The statement called on residents of the state to disregard claims by the National Body of The Federation of Ekiti State Students Union (FESSU), which notified its members of a change of venue for their National Congress from Ekiti to Kwara State due to security breach.

    The command promised to work assiduously with other security agencies and relevant stakeholders to sustain the peaceful atmosphere currently being enjoyed in the State.

    The statement reads in part; “The Command is not moved by this false, ill-conceived, unreasonable, politically- motivated and selfish statement, as it is evident through available records that Ekiti State remains one of the safest States in the country till date.

    It would be recalled that sometime in August, 2023, the president of FESSU, Mr. Abel Ajibade, in company of some of his executives, paid a courtesy visit to the State Commissioner of Police in his office where he gave so much accolades to the CP and the entire Command for the dogged and effective policing that has kept Ekiti State peaceful and safe.

    The Union President, however, expressed anger concerning how the Ekiti State Government has not been responding to their financial and other extraneous demands to support their members.

    He further stated that their members will embark on street protest or find alternative means of getting the attention of the State Government if nothing is done concerning their spurious and unrealistic demands.

    The Commissioner advised the team not to take laws into their hands rather, they should go through the right channel if they think they have a genuine case.

    “It is therefore most ridiculous and patently mischievous for the architects of this falsehood to think this is the best way to get the attention of the government, not considering the negative implications it will have on the citizens and the entire State. The state will not in anyway succumb to cheap blackmail,” the Statement read.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the the Students Union President, Mr Ajibade, said the union never declared Ekiti unsafe; that the misunderstanding, misinterpretation and miscommunication was the complex works of some unscrupulous elements and mischief makers, troublemakers, war mongers and daylight marauders, who have since been looking for ways of bringing the government and the leadership of the students’ body in the state at loggerhead, after several failed attempts to use the students body against the government.

    In a statement, personally signed and made available to the press, the FESSU president explained that the union had many reasons to applaud the current administration for the various giant stride in the education sector, particularly the recent increment of Bursary from N10,000 to N20,000, and scholarship from N60,000 to N80,000, with disbursements scheduled for November.

    According to him, the recruitment of teachers into primary and secondary schools in the state as well as the provision of free buses for students, the compensations to outstanding teachers in the state, the constitution of vibrant governing councils for tertiary institutions, among other initiatives are not just things that goes unnoticed to sane minds in the society.

  • Ekiti Assembly hails Oyebanji on LG autonomy, workers’ welfare

    Ekiti Assembly hails Oyebanji on LG autonomy, workers’ welfare

    Speaker of Ekiti Assembly, Mr Adeoye Aribasoye, has described as remarkable the financial autonomy currently being enjoyed by local government councils in the state, thus enabling them to spend their allocated funds without any hindrance.

    Aribasoye said this on Tuesday in Ado-Ekiti while speaking at the presentation of the ‘State of the State Address’ to the legislature by the governor in commemoration of his one year in office.

    The speaker, who called on citizens to rally support for the Gov. Biodun Oyebanji-led administration, noted that the backing of the masses, would go a long way in strengthening its zeal and passion to deliver dividends of democracy.

    Aribasoye commended the governor for positively touching the lives of workers and pensioners, and for impacting every sector of the state, in accordance with his electioneering promises.

    He noted that Oyabanji had adopted policies that strengthened the engine room of good governance.

    “One notable achievement is your consistent commitment to timely salary payments, providing a renewed sense of security and well-being to our hardworking civil servants.

    “Furthermore, you have breathed new life into our pensioners, ensuring their needs are met and their contributions duly recognised,” he said.

    Aribasoye applauded the policy initiatives, commitment to completion of projects and promotion of new initiatives, among other works done by the Oyebanji-led administration, noting that his performance so far had made the state greater and stronger.

    “Infrastructure is the foundation upon which prosperity is built, and Gov. Oyebanji has placed a premium on its development.

    “Through the completion of ongoing projects and the initiation of new ones, he has created a solid framework for progress.

    “By mobilising the people of Ekiti through innovative policy initiatives and fostering a nurturing environment, he has empowered them to harness their inherent talents and actively contributed to the sustainable development of our great state,” he said.

    According to him, the opposition in the state has seen reasons to collaborate with the administration, in view of the leadership style of the governor.

    The governor had, in his address, enumerated the various activities and action points of his administration in the last one year, including agricultural development, workers’ welfare, security, education, economy, health and social welfare.

  • Police in search of missing EKSU female undergraduate

    Police in search of missing EKSU female undergraduate

    The Police Command in Ekiti has alerted the general public about the sudden disappearance of a female undergraduate of Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti.

    The alert is contained in a statement by the command’s spokesperson, DSP Sunday Abutu on Saturday in Ado-Ekiti.

    “This is to inform members of the public that one Hellen Okorie of No.15, Ayoba Quarters, Behind Sadiat Hotel Irona Area, Ado Ekiti, left home on Sept. 13, at about 08:00 hrs to an unknown destination and never returned.

    “She is 23-year-old, chocolate in complexion, speaks English and lbo languages fluently and has no tribal mark. She is a 500 level student of Ekiti State University.

    “While the command has commenced investigation to unravel her whereabouts, anyone with useful information concerning her present location should kindly contact the nearest police station or call 09064050086,” the statement said.

    It urged members of the public to ensure adequate dissemination of the information.

  • Ekiti Assembly wades into Mohbad’s death

    Ekiti Assembly wades into Mohbad’s death

    The Ekiti House of Assembly has called for a thorough investigation into the death of Oladimeji Aloba, a hip-hop musician popularly known as Mohbad.

    The assembly made the call on Wednesday while deliberating on a motion by Mr Babatunde Oke, the lawmaker representing Ikere Constituency I.

    Oke, who moved the motion under matter of urgent public importance, said it was important to unravel the circumstances behind Mohbad’s death.

    ”There is a need for a thorough investigation on this issue.  We are hearing different stories, we need to know what happened,” he said.

    Supporting the motion, Mr Babatunde Odowu, representing Ikere Constituency 2, described Mohbad’s death as not only untimely but a huge loss.

    In his speech, the Speaker, Adeoye Aribasoye, said that the assembly was hugely pained by the death of the musician.

    ”The situation calls for sober reflection, the entertainer’s death is a big blow on us. We need to ensure that justice is done,” he said.

    He prayed to God to grant the family and admirers of the late musician the fortitude to bear the loss.

  • Oyebanji suspends commissioner over ‘unauthorised departure from retreat’

    Oyebanji suspends commissioner over ‘unauthorised departure from retreat’

    The Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has suspended Olaiya Atibioke, commissioner for chieftaincy and home affairs, for two weeks.

    Yinka Oyebode, special adviser to the governor on media, said the commissioner had left the venue of a retreat without permission.

    In a statement, Oyebode said the suspension follows Atibioke’s “unauthorised departure from the venue of the three-day retreat for members of the State Executive Council and Permanent Secretaries held at Bishop Adetiloye Hall, Trade Fair Complex, Ado-Ekiti on Saturday”.

    Oyebanji had reportedly sat through all the sessions of the three-day retreat which commenced on Thursday.

    In the course of his presentation, the governor had reiterated his administration’s zero tolerance for indiscipline and poor performance.

    TheCable understands that at about 5pm when the event was coming to a close, each commissioner and permanent secretary was called to sign the performance charter.

    Atibioke was nowhere to be found when his name was called.

    At this point, Oyebanji reportedly grabbed the microphone and bellowed: “Where is the commissioner for chieftaincy? Does he have any permission to be absent? This is not acceptable. This is not how we are going to run this government”.

    On Tuesday, Oyebanji inaugurated 19 additional commissioners and 14 special advisers, while charging them to “hit the ground running”.

  • Gov to appointees: What will determine your stay in office

    Gov to appointees: What will determine your stay in office

    Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, on Thursday told his commissioners and special advisers to justify their presence in the government through excellent discharge of  duties in their respective Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

    Oyebanji stated this at the opening session of a three-day retreat for commissioners, special advisers, permanent secretaries, general managers and executive secretaries held at the Adetiloye Hall, Trade Fair Complex in Ado-Ekiti.

    He said their continued stay in office would be guaranteed by demonstrated creative ability,  ingenuity, innovative capability and impressive performance.

    The governor charged them to see their appointment as a call to service and not an avenue for self-aggrandizement.

    He stressed the need for political appointees and accounting officers to work together to realise aspiration of taking Ekiti to the next level of prosperity.

    Oyebanji charged them to be proactive, innovative and creative in the business of government in order to achieve the desired results of ensuring growth and development of the state.

    The governor said the retreat, with the theme, “Shared prosperity: From Promise to Reality” , was very timely and apt at the moment when government was working towards actualising the state’s developmental plan.

    He called on all heads of MDAs to buy into the development agenda of the administration through the realisation of its six pillars.

    Oyebanji said that the new commissioners  would also be expected to commit themselves to performance bond as a way of ensuring their continued membership of the executive council.

    He charged them to hit the ground running as soon as the retreat was over and not engage in frivolous celebration or seeking media bliss.

    Instead, he urged them to demonstrate sense of decency, moderation and high sense of responsibility.

    The governor expressed his appreciation to the first set of executive council members for the solid foundation they had laid in the last nine months.

    He said that their perseverance, support and understanding had helped to stabilise the government and established a pathway for the new ones to ensure continuity of good governance.

    “Let me add that after this retreat, you will be requested as you settle down to submit your work plan and to commit yourselves to a performance bond.

    “Your ability on the job, creative ingenuity, innovative capability and impressive result will be the major determinant of your continued membership of the state executive council.

    ”You will always be called upon to submit yourself from time to time for performance evaluation.

    “I therefore urge you to hit the ground running, unleash your creative energy and approach every task with every sense of urgency.

    “As you all know, we campaigned on a six-point agenda which has now crystallised to the six pillars of our administration, for us to have clear ideas of our development objectives, strategies, performance and performance evaluation.

    “Let me throw this challenge to you as we go ahead in this journey, what can you do to make this administration outstanding? What gaps can you fill to make a difference and what fresh ideas can you bring to the table for the realization of our collective goals?

    ”This will make us have collective ideas on our vision and objectives, create ideas and strategies and generate the necessary capabilities to realize them.”

    In his opening remarks, the Lead Facilitator, Dr Otive Igbuzo, highlighted the objectives and expectations to include effective implementation of government policies and programmes, while all MDAs would be expected to develop a work plan towards achieving the six pillars of the administration.

    Also present at the retreat were the Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye; Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye; Secretary to the State Government, Dr Habibat Adubiaro; Head of Service, Barr. Bamidele Agbede and other top government officials.

  • Trial of ex-Governor Fayose to resume July 14

    Trial of ex-Governor Fayose to resume July 14

    The money laundering trial of a former governor of Ekiti, Ayodele Fayose, before a Federal High Court in Lagos is to continue on July 14.

    The trial which was earlier fixed for continuation on July 13 and July 14 could not proceed, following the absence of the prosecutor, Mr Rotimi Jacobs.

    In the absence of the prosecutor, the trial would consequently, continue on Friday.

    Fayose is standing trial on allegations of money laundering and he is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    On June 6, the 12th prosecution witness, a former Minister of State for Defence, Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro, presented his evidence before the court.

    Obanikoro, who began his evidence on Jan. 31, concluded same after cross- examination by the defence.

    Among other testimonies, the witness had told the court that he had no documentary evidence to show that he gave money to Fayose.

    Fayose was first arraigned on Oct. 22, 2018 before Justice Mojisola Olatotegun.

    He was charged alongside his company, Spotless Investments Ltd. on 11-count charge, bordering on money laundering offences.

    Fayose had, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail on Oct. 24, 2018 in the sum of N50 million with sureties in like sum.

    The defendant, was however, re-arraigned before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke on July 2, 2019 after the case was withdrawn from Justice Olatoregun, following EFCC’s petition.

    He had also pleaded not guilty to the charges and was allowed to continue on the earlier bail granted, while the case was adjourned for trial.

    The commission has since opened its case before Justice Aneke and was still leading witnesses in evidence.

    In December 2021, the EFCC had called its 11th witness, one Mrs Joanne Tolulope, who had narrated how Abiodun Agbele, an associate of Fayose, bought properties worth several millions.

    During the trial before Justice Olatoregun, the prosecution also called witnesses from several commercial banks as well as Obanikoro.

    According to the charge, on June 17, 2014, Fayose and one Abiodun Agbele, were said to have taken possession of the sum of N1.2 billion, for purposes of funding his gubernatorial election campaign in Ekiti.

    Fayose was alleged to have received a cash payment of the sum of five million dollars, (about N1.8 billion) from the then Minister of State for Defence, Sen. Obanikoro, without going through any financial institution.

    He was also alleged to have retained the sum of N300 million in his account and also took control of the aggregate sums of about N622 million, which sum he reasonably ought to have known formed part of crime proceeds.

    Fayose was alleged to have procured De Privateer Ltd. and Still Earth Ltd, to retain the aggregate sums of N851 million which they reasonably ought to have known formed part of crime proceeds.

    Besides, the defendant was alleged to have used the aggregate sums of about N1.6 billion to acquire properties in Lagos and Abuja, which sums he reasonably ought to have known formed part of crime proceeds.

    He was also alleged to have used the sum of N200 million, to acquire a property in Abuja, in the name of his elder sister, Moji Oladeji, which sum he ought to know also forms crime proceeds.

    The offences contravene the provisions of Sections 15(1), 15 (2), 15 (3), 16(2)(b), 16 (d), and 18 (c) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011.

  • Try Kiss-a-thon and rest in jail for 3yrs-Ekiti govt warns promoters

    Try Kiss-a-thon and rest in jail for 3yrs-Ekiti govt warns promoters

    Ekiti State Government has cautioned perpetrators and propagators of kiss-a-thon, a planned kissing marathon targeted at setting a Guinness World Record, billed to start in the state on Friday risked three years imprisonment.

    The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Dayo Apata, said the same fate awaited proprietors or owners of any facility used for the hosting of such an event in the state apart from closing it down.

    A group, Sugartee, in leaflets circulated in the state, had planned the three-day (72-hour) kissing event billed to be held in Ekiti between July 7 and July 10, saying the three-day kissing marathon was “an attempt to break the GWR for the longest kissing marathon.”

    Apata, who spoke in a prohibition notice of the kiss-a-thon, which he signed, said, “Pursuant to the provisions of the law and any other relevant laws applicable in Ekiti State, the proposed programme tagged kiss-a-thon is hereby prohibited throughout the length and breadth of Ekiti State.

    “The planned kiss-a-thon programme is contrary to sections 148 and 150 of the Criminal Law (2021) which prohibits indecent acts and practices in the state, and anyone who violates the law is guilty of felony and is liable to imprisonment for three years.

    “Any person or corporate body that allows himself/herself and facilities to be used in executing the proposed programme in the state would be prosecuted before an appropriate court.”

    He said the state government considered the proposed programme as an indecent act, absurd, unhealthy and capable of denigrating the image of Ekiti State and same is contrary to the law of Ekiti State.

    “The state government has considered the proposed event as an indecent act, absurd, unhealthy and capable of denigrating the image of Ekiti State and same is contrary to the law of Ekiti State, particularly sections 148 and 150 Criminal Law no 21 of 2021 which prohibits indecent acts and practices in Ekiti State.”

    “Consequently, no individual or corporate body is allowed to embark upon and/or execute the proposed kiss-a-thon in Ekiti State.

    Any person and/or corporate body that allows himself or herself and /or facilities to be used in executing/ propagating the proposed programme in Ekiti State will be prosecuted before the appropriate court and dealt with according to the law,” Apata added.

  • Ekiti government bans 3-day kissing marathon scheduled for July 7

    Ekiti government bans 3-day kissing marathon scheduled for July 7

    The government of Ekiti State has banned a three-day kissing marathon tagged: “Kiss-A-Thon,” being put together by a youth group under known as  Sugar Tee.

    The  kissing marathon event was scheduled to start tomorrow, July 7, 2023, at one of the hospitality outlets in the state.

    However, a letter from the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Tourism, which was signed by the Permanent Secretary, Dele Ogunsemoyin, and addressed to the Hoteliers Association, described the event as absurd, unhealthy, immoral

    “The attention of the state government has been drawn to a planned hosting of ‘Kiss-A-Thon’ in Ekiti State. According to information at the disposal of the ministry, Kiss-A-Thon, a three-day kissing marathon event, has been scheduled to hold on July 7, 2023, at one of the hospitality outlets in the state.

    “This event is said to be planned towards setting a Guinness World Record. “Kiss-A-Thon,” as an event, is not only absurd, unhealthy, immoral and capable of denigrating the image of the state, it is a programme that runs counter to the values of the people of the state and therefore capable of plunging youths morally backward.

    “In view of the foregoing, the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Tourism hereby prohibits the hosting of such event or any other events like it in any facility that wishes to continue to operate lawfully in Ekiti State.

    “To the above, you are hereby requested to convey the content of this notice to members of Ekiti State Hoteliers’ Association to effectively monitor their outlets against being used negatively to cause embarrassment to the government and people of Ekiti State.”