Tag: otedola

  • 2019: Otedola drums support for Ambode, predicts Lagos will become Africa’s third largest economy

    Billionaire businessman Femi Otedola on Sunday predicted that Lagos will become the third largest economy in Africa by the end of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s tenure.

    He said given the governor’s stellar performance, the state would move up from its current fifth position.

    Otedola canvassed support for Ambode’s second term so as to continue with the good work, which he said is a continuation of “the foundation laid by his good predecessors.”

    Otedola, who hails from Epe, is the son of the aborted Third Republic Governor of the state, the late Chief Michael Otedola, who was in charge between 1992 and 1993.

    In a statement yesterday, entitled ‘Ambode has done overwhelmingly well’ Otedola, said:

    As a Lagosian and OMO Ibile, I wish to expressly commend and appreciate The great good work our amiable Governor Ambode is doing in our dear Lagos – Nigeria’s no one State. I have watched and followed keenly, in the last three years of the brilliant transformation projects across the State. No doubt, Ambode is building on the foundations laid by his good predecessors. He is building roads and bridges, schools and hospitals, water treatment plants, sewage and storm water drainages, solid wastes management plants and mass transportation infrastructure.

    He has recently gotten approved the electricity power infrastructure for Lagos, which when fully executed, will make Lagos State almost energy independent in Nigeria. You are all aware of the newly-acquired mass transit buses that are going to be natural gas-powered in order for us in Lagos to be the first to comply with the global climate agenda of DE Carbonisations. Clean and Smart Lagos will take us into the modern global village and make us the number four economy in Africa.

    Our visionary governor is also spearheading the modernisation of the Lagos State bureaucracy in order to get all the processes re-engineered for higher and best performances. A good government is a reflection of an efficient and responsive bureaucracy. It is the catalytic driver for private sector growth. A bad and weak bureaucracy will produce nothing for the people. We are lucky to have an able governor like Ambode at the helm of our affairs.

    He is a knowledge-driven leader, hard working, with passion for our great state.

    My endorsement and recommendations for him to have a second term is performance based and not just the usual conventional charade of second term endorsement in Nigeria. I am sure that all my respected compatriots, friends and followers will agree with me that Governor Ambode should please continue with his good job till 2023.

    Ambode, please Carry Go, the 2019 election and continue with your passionate work for Lagos State transformation.

    Thank you for being a true servant leader and with your eyes on the ball, surely Lagos State will become number three economy in Africa.”

     

  • Court adjourns Lawan, Otedola alleged bribery case till June 21

    Court adjourns Lawan, Otedola alleged bribery case till June 21

    An FCT High Court, Lugbe, on Wednesday adjourned until June 21 and June 22, an alleged bribery case involving Hon. Faroq Lawan and Femi Otedola.

    Justice Angela Otaluku of the FCT High Court granted the request of counsel to the defendant, Mr Mike Ozekhome in view of the application brought before it.

    “In view of this application, this case is further adjourned until June 21st and 22nd, 2017 for further hearing, ” she said.

    Ozekhome said the request for adjournment was to enable him prepared and drill the witness in the next appearance, adding that there was need to diligently cross examine the witness in view of the case.

    Meanwhile, Ozekhome had earlier made an application to recall Prosecuting Witness Two (PW2) on the basis of his non availability in the court the day he appeared in court because it was handled by a junior lawyer.

    “I was attending a case involving me and the EFCC, so I couldn’t make myself available.”

    However, the request was turned down because the witness could not be recalled to testify again.

    In a swift reaction, Ozekhome promised to take the case up to the Supreme Court to determine if a witness who had earlier testified in a case could be recalled.

    He said this was to strengthen the judicial system and allow justice to run its course.

    Mr Adegboyega Awomolo, the Prosecuting Counsel led Hon. Jagaban Jagaban, a member of the House of Representatives and a former Chairman, House Committee on Drug, Narcotics and Financial Crime in evidence against the defendant.

    He said that his relationship with Lawan was the same that exists among House of Representatives members, adding that he never had any other relationship with him.

    He said that his job as the committee Chairman on Drugs, Narcotic and Financial Crime was to supervise the activities of EFCC and NDLEA, adding that he also made budgets for them.

    “We are empowered by the constitution to investigate matters relating to our committee when reported and referred to the Federal Government for further investigation.

    He said that he did not collect any money from the defendant as claimed in his statement to the Police.

    Further cross examination in the case has been adjourned until June 21 and June 22.

  • Lawan, Otedola alleged bribery saga: DSS presents video evidence in court

    Lawan, Otedola alleged bribery saga: DSS presents video evidence in court

    The Department of State Security (DSS) on Tuesday presented a video evidence at the FCT High Court, Lugbe, where Mr Femi Otedola was seen giving out a parcel to Hon. Farouq Lawan.

    Justice Angela Otaruku granted the request of the prosecuting counsel, Mr Mr Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), to play the video as evidence of Lawan collecting the said bribe from Otedola.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the request was made with the Awomolo led the DSS Prosecutor, Mr David Ojataha, Principal Officer in-charge of Technical Operations, DSS in evidence.

    The video, revealing an exchange of parcel, lasted for almost three minutes.

    “The video I just played are those of Mr Femi Otedola and Hon. Farouq Lawan where there was an exchange of parcel at Otedola’s house in Aso drive, Abuja,” said Awomolo.

    The DSS prosecutor, however, told the court that he was saddled with the responsibility of recording the video by the DSS because of his background as an Electronic and Telecommunication Engineer.

    He told the court that he did his work diligently during the course of investigation as an expert.

    He said that though he did not participate in the arrest and detention of the defendant as that was not part of his duty, he only recorded the said video.

    Ojataha added that he did not also take any statement from the defendant during the course of investigation.

    He said that he was only instructed to cover the meeting between both parties based on complaints from Otedola.

    Mr Mike Ozekhome, the defendant’s counsel, while cross examining the DSS prosecutor, said that the device used in playing the CD had no imprint of time and event in the video.

    Ozekhome said that there was nothing to show that the defendant was there to receive bribe.

    He added that there was also nothing in the video to suggest that bribery was discussed because such words like “bribe” was not heard in the video.

    NAN reports that Lawan was the former Committee Chairman of Petroleum Matters in the House of Representatives at the 7th National Assembly.

    He chaired the committee investigating the subsidy fraud in 2012.

    The committee, however, found some oil companies culpable of defrauding the Federal Government via spurious subsidy claim and Zenon Petroleum and Gas Company, belonging to Otedola was found culpable.

    The trial judge, Otaruku, while discharging the DSS prosecutor from the witness box, ordered the prosecution counsel to bring his other witnesses to court on May 10, being the adjourned date of the trial.