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A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail of N200million for a former Registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Adedibu Ojerinde, who was charged with alleged diversion of about N5.2billion public funds.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu admitted Ojerinde to bail in a ruling he delivered after listening to arguments from lawyers to the defence and prosecution.

Justice Egwuatu noted that bail is at the discretion of the court, adding that there is no evidence before him why the defendant should not be admitted to bail.

He ordered the defendant to produce two sureties in like sum, whom must be residents of Abuja and show evidence of tax payment.

One of the sureties, the Judge held, must be a Professor of a university while the other must own landed property with title documents in Abuja, which must be verified by the court along with operatives of Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC).

He said, in addition, the Professor, must provide documented evidence of professorship, letter of appointment and staff identity card.

In furtherance of its proactive measures to forestall any possible breakdown of law and order in Lagos State by members of Aiye Confraternity aka Black Axe as the group intends to mark its annual 7/7 Celebration ( Boogie-Night) in many states of Nigeria and beyond, with no exception to Lagos State, the Lagos State Police Command has embarked on Show of Force to send a signal to cultists, especially Black Axe members, to steer clear of the state, and to assure the good people of Lagos State of adequate security.

Earlier on Wednesday, 7th July, 2021, the Lagos State Police Command had warned members of the Black Axe to desist from having Celebration to commemorate their annual 7/7 in any part of the state as the police and other security agencies have put measures in place to resist such Celebration today 7th July, 2021 or at any time in the state.

The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Hakeem Odumosu, has therefore re-echoed his order to officers and men of the command to intensify efforts in resisting and curtailing any act of lawlessness, oppression and intimidation from any group of individuals who might want to engage in any unlawful gathering or Celebration of whatever kind.

CP Hakeem Odumosu also charged intelligence and tactical units of the command to beam their search light on the identified areas that are vulnerable to attacks and reprisal attacks by any cult group in the state.

The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Tuesday presented 10 cars to recognise public servants who have distinguished themselves in the junior and senior categories across the State Civil Service.

The Governor also announced a N5million cash gift for a Level 16 officer in Lagos State Civil Service for winning an impromptu quiz competition personally coordinated by the State’s Chief Executive.

Speaking at the luncheon with the Year 2019/ 2020 outstanding officers, (Junior and Senior categories) in Ministries Departments and Agencies, Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas held in Ikeja, Governor Sanwo-Olu urged officers in Lagos State Civil Service to continue to be change agents and outstanding public servants.

He also encouraged civil servants to continue striving for excellence and live as an example in whatever they do.

The Governor also urged them not to give up in being the best to justify the confidence reposed in them as well as letting people have something good and original to say about them.

Governor Sanwo-Olu while presenting keys and documents to the 10 recipients of the cars, which were drawn through a raffle draw commended the Head of Service, Hakeem Muri-Okunola for his efforts, saying Lagos State Government is committed to the welfare and service it promised to deliver to the state.

The recipients of the cars who emerged through a raffle draw at the grand finale of activities lined up to commemorate the Year 2021 Public Service Day, comprised four junior and six senior officers.

Recipients in the junior category were Basirat Shogbola, Olalere Alaka, Kikelomo Ogunbiaro and Olufunmilayo Alase, while those in the senior category were Olanrewaju Jaji, Olayiwola Odukoya, Adekunle Ipaye, Waheed Alaba, Victoria Adegbite and Olanrewaju Disu.

A Level 16 officer in Public Service Staff Development Centre, Mr. Taofeek Oladiran Ajetunmobi won a N5million gift from the Governor.

Speaking earlier, the Head of Service, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola, urged the awardees not to rest on their oars but continue to exhibit the high sense of responsibility, diligence, commitment to duty and unalloyed loyalty which are the qualities and values for which they have been recognised.

He said 166 out of 180 nominees were recommended for the Outstanding Officers’ Award, noting that the awardees comprised 101 officers in the senior category and 65 officers in the junior category.

The Head of Service said this year’s Public Service Week featured various activities, which included mass work for fitness, variety show, among others, adding that the objective of the best officer awards was in a bid to recognize and reward excellence.

The former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has made known his intention to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ifhis preferred candidate in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) loses the party gubernatorial ticket.

Fayose made this known on Monday while addressing his teeming supporters at Afao Ekiti having endorsed Bisi Kolawole as his preferred candidate for the election.

He had, in May, presented the former House of Assembly Member who represented Efon Constituency to his supporters across the 177 political wards in the state in preparation for his victory in the party’s primary.

With the primary billed to come up early next year, the former state governor encouraged his followers to work closely with the various delegates to ensure victory for Kolawole and see that those that won’t listen to him do not win the election.

He reiterated that he will rather pitch his tent with the incumbent governor, Governor Kayode Fayemi of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and go all out to work against PDP if his candidate does not get the party’s ticket.

His words: “My people, do not be afraid of the primary election ahead, you will all recall I bought the forms for the majority of the party’s executives from the ward level to the state level. I know some of them already betrayed me but I have no fear about that. Don’t forget I am Peter the rock, my anointed candidate Bisi Kolawole will do all his best to win and if the worst happens, I will pack my load and work with Governor Fayemi.

“I will better destroy the party than allow those who won’t listen to me to win the main election. I will advise you all to go home and work with delegates, don’t allow them hijack this my greatest asset which is the Ekiti PDP,” he said

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, on Tuesday to claims that the leadership of the National Assembly altered the report on the Electoral Act (amendment) Bill 2020, still awaiting consideration by the Legislature.

The speaker dismissed the thought, saying that it existed only in the “realm of speculation.”

Gbajabiamila clarified that nothing had happened to the authentic report on the bill, adding that the House would pass it in the next few days.

Some media reports had lately conveyed the impression that the leadership of the National Assembly had altered the report, especially the provision on electronic voting, where it allegedly reversed the committee recommendation that election results should be transmitted electronically.

However, addressing a point of privilege raised on the floor on Tuesday on the allegation, the speaker said it was mere speculation and urged Nigerians to discountenance it.

Gbajabiamila expressed surprise that anyone would accuse the leadership of altering the report of a bill still in the custody of the Committee on Electoral Matters.

He stated, “I really don’t want to speak on a report that has yet to be presented to the floor….Ordinarily, I will not comment on a matter that is not before us yet.

“I don’t believe there is any alteration to the committee’s report.

“Only the authentic report of the committee will be submitted for consideration. So, all that is being said remains in the realm of speculation.

“I have asked the chairman of the committee and she told me that there has been nothing like that (alteration).”

Recall that both the Senate and the House had announced last week that the bill would be passed before July 14.

The former Registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) was accused of diverting over N5.2billion.

Professor Adedibu Ojerinde has been ordered to be remanded in prison custody.

The order was given by a Federal High Court in Abuja.

This comes after the former Registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) was accused of diverting over N5.2billion.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu, in a ruling on Tuesday, ordered that Ojerinde be kept in a correctional facility pending the hearing of his bail application, scheduled for July

Justice Egwuatu gave the ruling after Ojerinde, dressed in white native attire, was arraigned on an 18-count charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/97/2021, in which he was accused, among others, of complicity in the diversion of public funds estimated at over N5.2billion.

The prosecuting agency – the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission(ICPC) – said Ojerinde committed the alleged offences, contained in the charge, from 2003 when he served as the Registrar of the National Examination Council (NECO) till 2021.

Ojerinde pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him.

His lawyer, Peter Olorunnishola (SAN), subsequently informed the court about a bail application he filed and served on the prosecution.

Olorunnishola however sought time to react to the counter-affidavit filed by lawyer to the prosecution, Ebenezer Shogunle, which the defence lawyer said was served on him late.

Shogunle, who did not object to Olorunnishola’s request for time, opposed the defence lawyer’s application that his client be allowed to remain on the administrative bail, earlier granted him by the ICPC, pending the hearing of his bail application.

Details shortly…

The Lagos House of Assembly on Monday passed an amended version of the Criminal Justice Law of the state barring the police from henceforth parading suspects before the media.

The bill was passed at a sitting presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Wasiu Eshilokun-Sanni, on behalf of the Speaker, Rt. Hon. (Dr) Mudashiru Obasa.

Section 9(A) of the newly passed bill states: “As from the commencement of this law, the police shall refrain from parading any suspect before the media.”

The bill further stipulates conditions under which a policeman can arrest without warrant one of which is that a person must be reasonably suspected to unlawfully be in possession of firearms or other such dangerous instruments.

A subsection of the bill also barred the police or any other agency from arresting a person “in lieu of any other person in a criminal matter.”

The bill adds that a person who is arrested “shall be given reasonable facilities for obtaining legal advice, bail or making arrangements for defence or release.

The bill stipulates that a suspect should be “accorded humane treatment, with the right to dignity of person; not be subjected to any form of torture, cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment; be brought before the court as prescribed by this law or any other written law; or be released conditionally or unconditionally.”

After a voice vote, the Deputy Speaker directed the acting Clerk of the House, Mr. Olalekan Onafeko, to transmit the bill to the governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for assent.