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Tag: ekiti

  • Soldiers clash with police officers in Ekiti over alleged bribe

    A clash broke out between soldiers and police officers in Ekiti State on Thursday after a policeman reportedly challenged for allegedly extorting money from motorist and causing traffic in the process.

    The soldiers stabbed a policeman, Corporal Abdulkadir Yakub, with a jack-knife.

    The Punch reportds that Yakub, a Traffic Police Officer, was attacked after he challenged the soldiers for extorting money from motorists and causing gridlock.

    It was learnt that Yakub sustained deep cuts in his head and buttocks and also lost much blood.

    The young soldiers, who were 17 in number, were said to have just returned from the Governor’s Office, where they had gone to visit Governor Ayodele Fayose. But it was learnt that the governor was not around to receive them.

    The soldiers took to the streets and stopped vehicles at the Fajuyi Roundabout to extort money from motorists and motorcyclists.

    A police officer, Corporal Monday Agom, who was on duty with the victim when the incident occurred at about 2pm, said Yakub was attacked by the soldiers after he pleaded with them not to cause gridlock during their alleged extortion.

    Agom said, “One of the soldiers stopped a man in mufti, who happened to be a policeman, right in his car and demanded his car key, while Yakub was trying to pass him to allow for the next person in line, so as to free traffic, which was already building up.

    “Yakub then explained to him (the attacker) that the man he stopped was a police officer and that he should allow him to go as stopping him there would cause traffic.

    “This statement infuriated the soldier, who immediately slapped Yakub, before bringing out a jack-knife, with which he started stabbing him.

    “Then, I joined other people to rescue Yakub from the soldier, who had started shouting, ‘I will kill you, idiot,’ even as his colleagues (soldiers) had started punching Yakub, who was already soaked in blood.”

    The mobile policemen, whose station was close to the scene, were said to have mobilised to the scene and attacked the soldier in return.

    It was learnt that one of the soldiers also sustained head injuries in the fracas.

    The Officer in Charge of Army Operations in Ekiti, Captain Joshua Zoaka, who went to the scene, was not spared in the attack.

    His team was said to have been attacked with tear gas by the policemen.

    Another eyewitness confirmed that Yakub had been on duty, controlling traffic, before the soldiers came around 2pm and started stopping motorists and passersby.

  • Panic in Ekiti as soldiers, police clash over alleged extortion

    There was pandemonium in Ekiti State on Thursday as a group of soldiers from the state who had just completed their recruitment training attacked policemen.

    In the attack, the soldiers stabbed a policeman, Cpl. Abdulkadir Yakub, with a jack-knife.

    An eyewitness said Yakubu, a Traffic Police Officer, was attacked after he challenged the soldiers for extorting money from motorists and causing a traffic gridlock.

    It was learnt that Yakub sustained deep cuts in the head and buttocks.

    The young soldiers, who were 17 in number, were said to be returning from the Governor’s Office after a courtesy visit to Governor Ayodele Fayose.

    The soldiers took to the streets and stopped vehicles at Fajuyi Roundabout to extort money from motorists and motorcyclists.

    Cpl Monday Agom, who was on duty with the victim when the incident occurred at about 2.00pm, said Yakub was attacked by the soldiers after he pleaded with them not to cause a traffic gridlock during the alleged extortion.

    Agom said, “One of the soldiers stopped a man in mufti who happened to be a policeman right in his car and demanded the car key, while Yakub was trying to pass him to allow for the next person in line, so as to free traffic which was already building up.

    “Yakub then explained to him (the attacker) that the man he stopped is a police officer and that he should allow him to go as stopping him there would cause hold-up.

    “This statement infuriated the soldier who immediately slapped Yakub, before bringing out a jack-knife with which he started cutting him at several parts of the body.

    “I then joined other people to rescue Yakub from the soldier, who has started shouting ‘I will kill you, idiot; I will kill you, idiot” even as his colleagues (soldiers) had started punching Yakub who was already soaked in blood.”

    The Mobile Policemen whose station was close to the scene were said to have mobilised to the scene and attacked the soldier in return.

    It was learnt that one of the soldiers also sustained head injuries in the fracas.

    The Officer in Charge of Army Operations in Ekiti, Cpt. Joshua Zoaka, who raced to the scene was not spared in the attack.

    His team were said to have been attacked with tear-gas by the policemen.

    Another eye witness confirmed Yakub had been on duty controlling traffic before the soldiers came some few minutes after 2.00pm and started stopping everybody.

    The witness said, “I saw them when they were jogging to Governor’s Office, singing, and when they were returning.

    “They came back and rather than go their own way, they stopped at this junction (Fajuyi Roundabout) and started stopping everybody, including okada riders and vehicles.

    “At a point one of them started arguing with a traffic warden and soon brought out a sharp knife to cut the warden. At that point, I ran to another place to hide myself, but I could see some people trying to hold the soldier’s hands.”

    Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti, Mr. Alberto Adeyemi, a Superintendent of Police, said the incident has been reported to the Brigade Commander of the 322 Field Artillery Regiment in Akure, Ondo State.

    Adeyemi said, “The soldiers, numbering 17, who were Ekiti State indigenes, just came back from a recruitment exercise in Zaria, Kaduna state and were in Governor’s Office for possible assistance from the governor.

    “They chose to make some money by stopping motorists at the Fajuyi roundabout, during which arguments arose with traffic wardens on duty, one of which they stabbed with a jack-knife.”

    “However the situation is under control as the Brigade Commander, Akure Division, was contacted and has come to pick up the recruits to face possible departmental questioning and sanctions.”

  • Fuel scarcity worsens in Ekiti as motorists sleep in filing stations

    Scarcity of petrol has became unbearable in Ekiti as motorists now sleep in filing stations across the state to have the opportunity to buy.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some of the motorists that NAN correspondent met at the filing station on Wednesday morning were busy washing their faces with water.

    One of motorists, Bolaji Oguntuase, ‎told NAN that he was disappointed with the fuel marketers for hoarding the product and making them to suffer under the sun all day.

    He said many of the marketers had fuel, but deliberately decided not to sell to create artificial fuel scarcity.

    ” I slept inside my car outside the compound of NNPC before I could buy fuel this morning,” he said.

    Another motorist, Bidemi Owolabi, said he did not expect the marketers to punish motorists by hoarding fuel.

    He called for understanding of the marketers, saying that inadequate fuel in circulation could distabilise all forms of businesses in the state.

    ‎Owolabi said most of them had to sleep in filing stations, while others bought from black markets to carry on with their daily business.

    He said BOVAS and NNPC were the two ‎filing stations that were consistent in selling fuel.

    The State Commissioner for Information, Youth and Sports, Mr Lanre Ogunsuyi, ‎described the situation as unfortunate.

    He expressed displeasure that Ekiti residents could go through the problem.

    Ogunsuyi said the state government had appealed to the fuel marketers not add to the sufferings of the people by inflating the price of fuel and hoarding the commodity as well.

    “I am so much disappointed at the attitude of the marketers who are hoarding this fuel, they should have sympathy on the people and sell the fuel to them.

    “We have been appealing to the fuel marketers to sell to the people, but we cannot force them with task force because it is only the Federal Government that has the power to punish or close any filing stations that refuses to sell,” he said.

    it is reported that BOVAS and NNPC in Ado-Ekiti are the two filing stations that are currently selling at the price of N143 per litre..

  • Ekiti LG election: PDP clears 17 chairmanship, 177 councillorship seats

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won all the 16 local government chairmanship and 177 Councillorship seats in the local polls conducted in Ekiti State on Saturday.

    Addressing newsmen and other stakeholders, Chairman of the Ekiiti State Independent Electoral Commission (EKSIEC), rtd. Justice Kayode Bamisile, said the elections were peaceful, free and fair.

    He said according to results turned-in by all the Returning Officers, who were senior academic staff members from tertiary institutions in Ekiti and Ondo states, PDP swept the poll.

    In Ido Osi, council, PDP’s Aladedemi Tunde was declared winner having polled a total of 24,432 votes against his closest in National Democratic Liberty Party (NDLP) candidate who polled 121.

    In Ekiti East, PDP’s Ogundana Sikiru Sunday was winner having polled 27, 918 votes against candidate of the NDLP who polled 231 votes

    Also in Irepodun Ifelodun council, PDP’s Dapo Olagunju won having polled 31,724 votes against candidate of the ADP who polled 1361 votes.

    In Moba LGA, PDP’s Ayeni James emerged winner having polled 20,444 votes to defeat candidate of the ADP who polled 237.

    In Ikere-Ekiti, PDP’s Ayeni Ezekiel, polled 22,354, to emerge winner and in Oye LGA, Sunday Alonge of PDP polled 29,380 to emerge a winner.

    Ikole LGA has Abiola Olukayode of the PDP who polled 29,956 while in Efon LGA, Yemi Owoeye, emerged winner with 11,900 votes.

    In Ekiti South West, Omolase Lanre of the PDP polled 24,657, to emerge winner while Akindele Ogidi also of PDP in Gbonyin LGA scored 24,940 to emerge the winner.

    In Ise-Orun LGA, Kolawole Oluropo polled 26,420 to emerge winner and in Ekiti West LGA, Ayodeji Daniel polled 23,162 to emerge the winner.

    Also in Emure LG, PDP’s Olubayode Okeya polled 15,293 votes against ADP’s candidate who polled 201 votes, as the winner.

    In Ilejemeje LGA, PDP’s Awolola Sunday Johnson polled 7303 to emerge winner.

    In Ijero LGA, Bayo Ojo, PDP’s Dada Biodun emerged winner having polled 23,587 votes as against the candidate of the NDLP who scored 233.

    In Ado Ekiti council, PDP’s Bamisile Clement emerged winner by polling 43,262 votes against ADP’s candidate who polled 770 votes

    The EKSIEC boss expressed appreciation to all stakeholders for supporting the state’s electoral umpire to achieve a peaceful, free and fair electiion

    “We took our work seriously and put in the best, hence we have conducted a free and fair election. We had visited all LGAs, traditional rulers, security agencies, political parties and others to seek for their support and for them to mobilise their people for participation in the poll

    “They had showed readiness for election and fullfiled their promise to vote. We have protected our people’s rights in deciding cautiously their representatives

    “We particularly appreciate Gov. Ayo Fayose for strengthening democracy. It is an indisputable fact that he always follow the constitutional dictates to conduct LG elections as at when due

    “LG is closest to the people, this is why it’s election is very important. The use of caretaker committee is an aberration which we must all reject. We appreciate all stakeholders

    “In totality, PDP has won all the 16 council and councillorship seats. I appreciate Ekiti people for peaceful conduct.

    “I implore all to accept the results, no victor nor vanquished as we are all working together for good of all. Certificates of return to be given to all winners in not too-distant time”, he said

    NAN reports that the All Progressives Congress boycotted the exercise, owing to alleged lack of trust in the election managers.

    Five other parties participated, they are the Action Democratic Party, National Democratic Liberty Party, PDP, People’s Party of Nigeria, and Social Democratic Party .

  • $1b ECA: Ekiti Council Chairmen ask court to void approval for fund’s withdrawal

    Sixteen Local Government Chairmen in Ekiti State have asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to void the approval given for the Federal Government to withdraw $1billion from the Excess Crude Account of the Federation for the prosecution of its fight against Boko Haram.

    Their request is contained in a suit they filed, listing the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), the 36 state Governors and the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission as defendants.

    The Chairmen, in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1264/17, want the court to restrain the Federal Government, the 36 state Governors and their agents from giving effect to the appropriation and/ or approval of appropriation of $1b or any other sum, from the Excess Crude Account of the Federation, as contained in the decision made on December 15, 2017 unless and by means of statutory allocation by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).

    They also want the court to declare that the approval of $1b by the 36 state Governors to purportedly execute the constitutional duty of the Federal government, which has been sufficiently funded from the Federation Account, without the their consent is ultra vires, unlawful, null and void.

    They equally want an order of court declaring that in the discharge of its constitutional duty to safeguard the security and territorial integrity of Nigeria, the Federal Government of Nigeria, being the 1st defendant’s principal (AGF), must be funded in accordance with its Appropriation Act and by means of due accruals from the Federation account only.

    The plaintiffs want the court to declare that the 1st -37 defendants’ appropriation and /or approval of appropriation of the sum of $1 from the Excess Crude Account of the federation made at the National Economic Council meeting of December 12, 2017 without regard to the consent of the 38th defendant (the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission), the plaintiffs; and the due appropriation of the various states’ Houses of Assembly, is unconstitutional, unlawful and of no effect whatsoever.

    They equally want a declaration that they are entitled to full share of all revenue accrued and accruable to the Federation Account and the Federation Excess Crude Account or any other Account whatsoever operated by and for the Federation of Nigeria, including the sum of $1,000,000,000 (which was purportedly approved for the expenditure of the Federal Government by the 1st-37th defendants at the 83rd, National Economic Council meeting of December 15, 2017, in accordance with section 162 of the 1999 constitution and the provisions of Allocation of Revenue (Federation Account) Act.

    The plaintiffs raised some questions for the court’s determination. They include:

    *Whether by the provisions of sections 153 (1) (h), 162 and paragraph 18, part 1 of the third schedule to the 1999 constitution, the 1st -37th defendants can lawfully appropriate and or approve the appropriation of funds in the excess crude account of the Federation of Nigeria, without affecting, reducing or obliterating the plaintiffs’ lawful share of proceeds from the federation accounts.

    *Whether the 2nd defendant can lawfully appropriate and /or approve the appropriation of funds in the excess crude account of the Federation of Nigeria, without the consent and /or consultation of the plaintiffs.

    *Whether in the discharge of the federal government’s constitutional duty of safeguarding the security and territorial integrity of Nigeria, (as mandated by section 217 of the 1999 constitution, the Federal government can lawfully resort to funding other than by means of its Appropriation Act.?

    The plaintiffs are: Deji Ogunsakin (Ado LGA); Bola Alonge (Ikere LGA); Lanrewaju Omolase (Ekiti South West LGA); Dapo Olagunju (Irepodun/Ifelodun LGA); Samuel Adeniyi (Ekiti East LGA); Olumide Falade (Ise/Orun LGA); Sade Akinrinmola (Gbonyin LGA); Tayo Ogundare (Oye LGA); Chief Ayodeji Arogbodo (Ido/Osi LGA) and Taiwo Oguntuase (Emure LGA).

    Others are Kolawole Omotunde (Ekiti West LGA); Bolaji Jeje (Efon LGA); Adesola Adeyanju (Ikole LGA); Ganiyu Bakare (Ilejemele LGA); Adeniyi Adebayo (Moba LGA) and Abiodun Dada (Ijero LGA).

  • Ekiti workers shun Fayose’s Xmas gifts, demand payment of salaries

    Civil servants in Ekiti State have appealed to Governor Ayodele Fayose to concentrate on paying their salary arrears rather than doling out Christmas clothes and other items to their children.

    They expressed regrets that many of them are dying of hunger while others are afflicted with debilitating ailments and lack money to access quality healthcare delivery.

    Acting under the aegis of the Enlightened Workers’ Forum (EWF), they welcomed the directive from the Presidency that governors should clear all arrears owed workers before Christmas.

    In a press statement made available to The Nation on Friday, EWF Coordinator, Mike Bamidele, criticised the decision of the governor to provide free Christmas clothes to 20,000 children in the state.

    Describing the Free Xmas Clothes for Kids project as a “misplaced priority,” Bamidele said workers’ salaries should remain the governors’ priority rather than “unnecessary grandstanding and splurge on frivolities.”

    Bamidele said hunger occasioned by the non-payment of salaries has unleashed hardship on workers some of whom, he said are dying of hunger and ailments the can’t treat.

    He said: “We are still at a loss why the governor still owes core civil servants five months arrears, workers in institutions on subventions seven months and local government workers and primary school teachers nine months.

    “Rather than making sincere and concrete efforts to pay our salaries, the governor is busy distributing Christmas clothes for 20,000 children.

    “If he pays their parents regularly, it will be easy for them to buy clothes for their children. It is not the business of government to be buying Christmas clothes for children and this has turned Ekiti to a laughing stock.

    “Offering to buy Christmas clothes for children when salaries are not paid is an attempt to play politics with the poverty of the people and turn the innocent kids to pawns on the political chessboard.

    “We reject this Christmas Clothes for Children project in its entirety; all we need are our salaries and allowances. Let the governor look for means to pay them so that we can have relief.

    “A labourer deserves his wages and the sweat of his labour must not dry on his forehead. We have worked for this money, it is our right and not privilege, the governor must pay our salaries.

    “We are also using this medium to call on the Federal Government to investigate how bailout funds, Paris Club refunds, Budget Support Funds sent to Ekiti State were spent.

    “We believe if these monies are deployed to payment of workers, all these arrears would have been offset by now.”

  • Gov. Fayose approves N200m car loan for 645 workers

    Gov. Ayo Fayose of Ekiti on Thursday approved the disbursement of over N200 million as car loan to 645 workers in the state’s service.

    The State Commissioner for Finance, Chief Toyin Ojo, said that the loans would be disbursed to beneficiaries in sums ranging from N80,000 to N1.5 million.

    According to Ojo, the amount accruing to each individual depends on their status and grade level.

    “I just want to affirm the commitment of this administration to the welfare of workers.

    “As we speak, since the inception of this administration, N896.8 million has been given out as car loans to 2,942 workers in the state not counting the just disbursed loans.

    “Also, 2,165 workers have received N490,730,000 as housing loans during the same period.

    “It must be noted that government’s gesture is in spite of the paucity of funds in the state occasioned by the general economic downturn and dwindling allocation from the federation account,’’ the commissioner said in a statement.

    He advised the loan beneficiaries to make the most use of it, and cautioned them against spending the loan on items that would not add value to their lives.

    Ojo solicited the continued support of workers for government’s efforts to improve their lot and develop the state.

    The commissioner said that the state’s workforce was the engine-room of government.

    He stressed that it would be difficult for the government to achieve its set goals without the workers’ support and dedication to duties.

  • Gunmen kidnap former Ekiti senator, driver, demand N80m ransom

    A former Senator representing Ekiti North Senatorial District, Senator Ayo Arise, has been abducted by unknown gunmen.

    He was kidnapped on Sunday along the Okene-Lokoja road while on his way to Abuja.

    A source who spoke on condition of anonymity on Monday said that the senator’s abductors have contacted the family and demanded N80 million ransom.

    He was reportedly kidnapped alongside his driver and taken to an unknown location.

    Arise attended a ceremony in Ikere-Ekiti where chieftaincy titles were conferred on a former Assistant Inspector General of Police, Tunde Ogunsakin and his wife, Chinyere by the Ogoga, Oba Adejimi Adu.

    He later played golf at the Ado-Ekiti Golf Course along Poly Road before retiring to his country home to hold political meetings with his supporters.

    Speaking on condition of anonymity, an aide to Arise said: “Yes, he visited Ekiti State on Saturday before returning to Abuja.

    “When we wanted to establish contact with him, we could not. The last time I called him was around 6:00 p.m. So the kidnap must have taken place around 7:00 p.m.

    “They have contacted us and demanded a sum of N80m ransom. We are worried because we don’t know his situation.

    “The family is working hard to secure his release and we have contacted all the relevant agencies including the police to come to our aid.”

    The politician is also a governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for next year’s governorship poll in Ekiti.

    He dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for APC shortly before the 2015 general elections.

     

     

  • In photos: Fayose presents Xmas gift to kids in Ekiti

    At least 10,000 indigent children in Ekiti State were provided Christmas dress made from ankara and other materials during the yuletide season.

    Speaking at the official flag off of the distribution of the Yuletide clothes to the beneficiaries at the Government House, Fayose also urged the kids to urge their parents to support his anointed candidate for the 2018 governorship poll, Deputy Governor Kolapo Olusola.

    Fayose said: “As a government, we must be seen to be caring, not by mere saying it but by practice. Part of our duty is to give our kids a sense of belonging.

    “We are bound to provide some happiness for them at a yuletide such as this. We are providing Christmas clothing for over 20,000 of our kids. We will raise it to 100,000 by next year as I am very sure the next governor will come from my party PDP.”

  • Stay away from Ekiti – Fayose warns cultists, kidnappers

    Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has warned cultists and kidnappers to stay away from the state or risk being arrested and prosecuted.

    To make good his threat, the governor has given security agencies in the state a marching order to fish out those involved in the killing of two students of the Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti.

    He promised to eject cultists from tertiary institutions in the state just the same way he ended herdsmen menace in Ekiti

    Fayose, in a statement on Tuesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, said security agents had been placed on the alert to secure some points in the state that some people wanted to turn to kidnapping spots.

    The governor, who expressed disgust at last week’s Monday killing of Ojo Segun and Monday’s killing of Ayodele Temilade, both of EKSU, vowed that the culprits would not go unpunished, adding that the Ekiti State House of Assembly would enact a law soon to prohibit cultism in the state.

    “We won’t allow anybody to tarnish the image of EKSU and the state. We have been experiencing peace in the state and the recent killings are condemnable. The police will surely fish out the perpetrators. I won’t allow anybody to turn the institution into a place of bloodshed.

    “I have told the management of the institution to stamp out cult activities. People sent to go and study should face their studies squarely. Also, security agents are monitoring the activities of some bad eggs who want to turn Ogotun-Igbaraoke-Ikere axis and Oye-Imojo-Ayede axis to kidnappers’ areas of operation. We are on top of the situation and there is no hiding place for criminal elements in the state,” he said.

    While urging the public not to aid or abet criminals and their activities, he added that some dedicated telephone lines: 09030002151, 09030002161 and 08062336577, had been made available for them to contact the police.