Author: oduduwanews

Justice O.O. Abike-Fadipe of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, on Wednesday, May 24, 2023, threatened to issue a bench warrant against Femi Fani-Kayode, a former Minister of Aviation, over his “constant non-appearance” in court on grounds of ill health for his alleged forgery trial.

Fani-Kayode, who is also being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for an alleged N4.9billion fraud before Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, is facing a 12 count- charge before Justice Abike-Fadipe, following his alleged use of forged medical report(s), which he tendered at the Federal High Court to justify his absence in court.

He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when he was arraigned on December 17, 2021.

At the last sitting on February 20, 2023, the defence counsel, Wale Balogun, had informed the court of the absence of the defendant due to ill-health.

“We regret to announce to your lordship that the defendant is not in court due to health reasons; and secondly, due to a running battle he has with both the DSS and the Police,” he had told the court.

Consequently, the matter was adjourned till May 24 and 25, 2023 for continuation of trial.

However, at today’s sitting, the counsel who represented the defendant, Chinozo Eze, informed the court of the absence of the defendant.

“The absence of the defendant in court is due to health issues,” Eze said.

He further informed the court that a medical report and a letter seeking the leave of the court to vacate the dates earlier granted by the court had been filed before the court.

Counsel to the EFCC, Z. Atiku, confirmed the receipt of the said letter, noting that the hands of the prosecution, in the circumstance, were tied.

Justice Abike-Fadipe expressed displeasure with “the constant non-appearance of the defendant”, noting that the last time he was in court was November 4, 2022.

“Series of excuses have been tendered by the defendant for his non-appearance,” the trial judge noted.

The court, therefore, threatened to issue a bench warrant against Fani-Kayode, if he again fails to appear in court at the next adjourned date of November 7, 2023.

The Chairman of Kajola Local Government area of Oyo State, Afolabi Salimonu, popularly known as Borikansunwon, has been suspended indefinitely.

The chairman was suspended following the resolution of the Council Parliament.

The suspension letter which was obtained by Oduduwa News revealed that the decision was unanimously adopted by the councillors during a sitting at the Legislative Chamber of the council’s secretariat.

ODUDUWA NEWS had reported yesterday how the Political Head of Iseyin South Local Development Council Area, Mr. Raheem Ajibola was suspended by the Parliament of the Iseyin Local Government.

In the course of investigating the reasons behind the suspension of the Political Head, it was found out that the suspended Political Head was alleged to have stolen the community properties and sold them secretly while diverting the proceeds to his private account.

According to a document obtained by ODUDUWA NEWS, the Koso/Malete community leaders petitioned the Parliament of Iseyin Local Government attaching the evidence and receipt of payment of the Community properties he illegally sold off.

It was alleged that the Political Head, Raheem Ajibola connived with some people to illegally sell off the iron shed of the British American Tobacco BAT situated in Iseyin.

The building which was said to have been handed over to the community after the expiration of the period of years for which the property was leased for their business activities.

It was gathered that the community leaders who had prior knowledge of the intention of the Political Head to sell some iron pillars of the building went to meet him to warn him from the proposed illegal sale of the properties of the community and in the meeting he told them it was a figment of imagination and that nothing of such would ever happen.

In a twist of event, Ajibola Raheeem arranged some boys in the middle of the night to go to the BAT company and pruned down the iron shed of the building and assembled them one by one for the awaiting buyer. The guard who was securing the place, challenged them and threatened to open fire on his boys, alleging what they came to do was nothing but stealing of community properties. In the course of disagreement and having got superior order of the suspended Ajibola Raheem, the boys overpowered the guard and carted away the iron pillars.

The iron shed/warehouse said to have been illegally sold out to the tune of N1.5million as against N100m valuable cost alleged by the community. The payment of the receipt of the money was later gotten and it was found out that the money was paid directly to the suspended Political Head private account. This shoddy deal infuriated the community leaders who later embarked on protest to demand for his removal for stealing the community properties and selling them off.

Thereafter, the Parliament of Iseyin Local Government having got the petition and affirmed the veracity of the indefensible allegations leveled against the then Political Head of Iseyin South Local Development Council Area, Raheem Ajibola (FM) called for emergency legislative sitting and was suspended.

The Councilors who made the resolution of his suspension last week have also written official note of suspension to Oyo State House of Assembly for ratification.

The Parliament of Iseyin Local Government has suspended the Political Head of Iseyin South Local Development Council Area, Raheem Ajibola (FM) over allegations of gross misconduct and misappropriation.

The Councilors who made the resolution of his suspension last week have written official note to Oyo State House of Assembly for ratification.

Details later.