Category: News

The Oyo State Anti-Corruption Agency has stated it will not be publicizing its investigations on perceived corrupt persons in the state in order to respecting human dignity as provided by law.

The agency made this known on Thursday through its chairman, Justice Eni Esan (rtd) Wednesday at a sensitisation media chat between the media, the board and the management team of the agency at its office located at Agodi GRA in Ibadan.

Justice Esan also stated that no individual, no matter how well placed in the society, within or outside the state, can influence its activities or control how it carries out its constitutional responsibilities as a body set up by law.

She emphasised that as an agency set up by an enabling law that empowers it to stand on its own, “nobody can control us or tell us how to do our job. We have an enabling law which states ensures that we are not subject to any individual’s authority.

“We will not be publicising our investigations because we are committed to respecting human dignity as provided by law. We promise that we will be discreet and thorough while we will also ensure optimum protection of complainants and sources,” she said.

The Oyo anti-corruption czar explained that to ensure that investigations carried out by the agency are thorough, it will be engaging the services of in-house investigators who will be trained by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) academy.

The Osun Police Command has warned those planning protests to kick against hike in food prices and insecurity.

A statement by the spokesperson of the Police, Yemisi Opalola, stated: “The intelligence that availed the Command revealed that, some unscrupulous elements are planning to embark on unlawful gathering/protest, to show their grievances concerning an ill-conceived perception of insecurity and hike in food prices allegedly in the State.

“The Commissioner of Police, Olawale Olokode, therefore wishes to advise that this unlawful plan be jettisoned; and consequently warned, that the Command will not condone any act(s) that will jeopardize the existing relative peace and tranquillity presently enjoyed in the state.”

She noted the spate of insecurity is nationwide and not peculiar to Osun State, which is lucky to have her share put in check.

“Gathering of any sort is unlawful and a violation of COVID-19 laws. The CP, therefore, appeals to all parents and guardians to warn their children and, or wards to desist from any act(s), capable of causing the breach of peace in the State.

“Be warned also that, the Command will not tolerate deliberate blocking of roads to impede free-flow of human and vehicular movements, molestation of peace-loving members of the public and willful/malicious destruction of any kind whatsoever. This will be resisted vehemently.

“The CP assures good people of the state to go about their lawful businesses without fear of molestations from any person or group, as adequate security measures have been emplaced for maximum security of lives and property of the citizens,” she ended.

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ado Ekiti branch has insisted that the 36 state governors must respect the provisions of the 1999 Constitution on the contending issue of full autonomy for the judiciary.

The legal body regretted that the closure of courts across the country had not only debased the country’s democracy, but adversely affected the fortunes of the legal practitioners, urging the governors to swiftly accede to the request of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) to resolve the conundrum.

The NBA also urged the Federal Government to convene a roundtable discussion, where all stakeholders could meet, ruminate and proffer solutions to the senseless killings and kidnappings of innocent Nigerians.

Adeyemi Adewumi, chairman, NBA Ado Ekiti branch, at a news conference in Ado Ekiti to herald the 10th annual law week in honour of a legal icon, Afe Babalola (SAN) decried the shutting of courts and its effects on justice administration.

Adewumi, who gave the theme of this year’s law week as: “The 21st-century lawyer: integrating business skills with legal knowledge”, said the financial independence of the judiciary must be respected.

“To attain true separation of powers, the other arms of government; judiciary and legislature must be weaned from the breast of the executive, that is, become independent in all wise, particularly financially.

“This is the only way public perception can become re-engineered towards trust for the judiciary and the legislature.

“Section 81 (1) and 123 of the 1999 Constitution as Amended, guarantees financial autonomy to the judiciary.

“Meanwhile, following the refusal of the government to implement this autonomy, JUSUN and Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) had sued the government in two different cases at the Federal High Court, where both cases were won.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu hosted Muslim clerics across Lagos and beyond, on Sunday, in a special Ramadan programme, but the event turned to a forum to dissect the nation’s contemporary challenges and a ground to supplicate for peace.

The event was attended by the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, APC leader, Chief Bisi Akande, members of Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), State cabinet members, Oba of Lagos, Alayeluwa Rilwan Akiolu, and members of the business community, led by Alhaji Aliko Dangote, among others.

Grand Chief Imam of Lagos, Sheikh Oluwatoyin Abou-Nolla, led the clerics to the event held at the State House, Marina.

Chief Missioner of Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Sheikh Abdul-Rahman Ahmad, in his lecture, said the nation was in a trying period, stressing that the magnitude of the challenges required sincere actions by leaders and citizens to salvage the country from crisis.

The cleric said the citizens were always quick to heap the blame on leadership, but said the fault was on all citizens.

To redeem the country from its tribulations, Ahmad said all Nigerians must embrace change of bad attitudes and thought process.

He said: “This is a time that we require nothing else other than divine intervention. But, Allah will not intervene unless we carry out a few action. We must must change our thought process, the way we act, they we interact and the way we do do things.

“This is a time that not only talk is required, but sincere actions that are back by deep thought about what we are experiencing today and the peace we crave. We often blame the leaders, but we get the kind of leaders we deserve. Our leaders are who we are. To save the country, it is a joint task.”

The cleric acknowledged efforts by Lagos State Government to strengthen security and consolidate infrastructure. This, he said, must be supported by residents of the State. He urged residents to obey laws of the State and cautioned commercial motorcycles against continuous breach of the State’s traffic laws.

Ahmad admonished those clamouring for secession to have a rethink, noting that the consequences violent change were greater than what may be envisaged. Young people, he said, must desist from their escapist tactics.

In his own lecture, popular Islamic preacher, Sheikh Muyideen Bello, who took part of his admonition from a biblical verse, called on all Nigerians to interact with one another with back love and respect.

He said the nation would only survive its current tribulations if political leaders and citizens collectively seek repentance for their misdeeds, injustice and failed promises.

Bello said Nigerians must take the opportunity of the holy month to wean themselves off bad attitudes that led the country into the mess.

After the lectures, the Muslims clerics prayed for the return of peace to Lagos and other parts of Nigeria experiencing insecurity.

Tinubu expressed optimism that the nation would survive its problems. He flayed the spate of kidnapping, saying the criminals were using the crime to embarrass Islam, a religion, he said, abhours killing and abduction of people against their will.

The APC National Leader praised Sanwo-Olu and the Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, for their leadership capacity to stabilise Lagos.

Tinubu said the feedback he got from Lagosians about the State Government under Sanwo-Olu was encouraging, saying: “It is Allah who chose both the Governor and his deputy for the people; God only used me to help them into the office.”

Sanwo-Olu thanked the clerics for their message of unity and for preaching peace. The Governor, who described leaders of faith organisations as the conscience of the society, urged them to continue to restrain members of their congregation from acts that may breach the peace in the State.

The Governor used the opportunity to explain some of the far-reaching actions to be taken by the State Government in the coming days to strengthen security and bring succour to commuters.

He said his Government, in the coming days, would be rolling out mini buses as alternative means of transportation to confront the nuisance of Okada riders in the State. He also intimate the Muslim leaders of the Government’s plan to procure and supply security equipment to the police and other paramilitary bodies to strengthen security in the State.

He urged the Muslim clerics to populate the message among their followers.

On the occasion of International Workers’ Day commemoration, Lagos workers, on Saturday, reaped a bumper harvest of welfare packages – thanks to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

The Governor approved 10 hectares of land in Idera, Ibeju Lekki, and Badagry for workers housing schemes .

Sanwo-Olu handed over the title documents to chairmen of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) at an elaborate event organised to commemorate Workers’ Day.

The event, with the theme: “COVID-19 Pandemic, Social and Economic Crises: Challenges for Jobs, Social Protection and Peoples’ Welfare”, was held at Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan in the heart of Lagos.

The two housing schemes will be built by the labour unions with funds from Federal Mortgage Bank. The Ministry of Housing will supervise the project.

Also, the labour unions will now have a befitting secretariat to aid their operations, the Governor said. The secretariat, Sanwo-Olu promised, will be ready before next year’s May Day.

There was applause as Sanwo-Olu announced the package. He was hailed as “the best worker friendly Governor”.

Sanwo-Olu said a productive workforce remained the backbone of a prosperous society, pointing out that Lagos workers are important stakeholders in the growth of the State’s economy and they deserve more than just an increment in the minimum wage.

Sanwo-Olu was the first Governor to fully implement new salary structure that raised minimum wage from N18,000 to N30,000. The Governor approved N35,000 minimum wage, which is above the national benchmark.

Sanwo-Olu said his administration, in the last 12 months, had initiated welfare programmes specifically targeted at improving workers’ welfare and helping them to stabilise their livelihoods, following the economic disruption occasioned by spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the State.

He said: “Today, I am handing over 10 hectares of land to organised labour unions in Lagos State to het mortgage scheme and build a housing estate for workers. The title documents to lands have been approved and I am happy to hand them over to the leaders of the labour unions at this occasion. This intervention is part of our interventions to reduce burden on our workers whose means of livelihood have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“In the past year, we took a major step in promoting workers’ welfare by revising the 2020 Budget to accommodate the social and economic impact of COVID-19, and to prioritise spending and investment that fulfilled the two primary goals of keeping our people alive and helping them sustain their livelihoods.

“At the beginning of the pandemic, we asked most of our civil servants to stay at home and work from there. I am proud to say that we did not lay off workers, despite the economic recession that accompanied the pandemic and the downward review of the State’s 2020 Budget. We strengthened our social safety net to prevent a widespread loss of jobs, which would have led to a reversal of the progress we have made in the reduction of poverty.”

The Governor specially recognised the sacrifice and selflessness of frontline workers in the COVID-19 response, extending his appreciation to medical personnel and sweepers disposing medical waste.

Henceforth, Sanwo-Olu said the labour unions shall have a representative on the Board of the Pension Commission, pledging that the State Government would extend the courtesy to other labour-centric statutory bodies. He asked the organised labour to immediately forward the name of their representative for the pension board.

He said the State Government had demonstrated sincerity in implementing most of the demands of workers, pointing out that Lagos paid the statutory uniform allowances for medical workers. He pledged commitment to fulfilling demands of the unions that were yet to be redeemed.

Sanwo-Olu disclosed that his administration had cleared the backlog of pensioners’ benefits and did not owe any retiree their monthly allowance.

He said: “We are in the process of increasing the fleet of our buses and we are going to consider supporting labour unions in Lagos with buses for Labour City Transport to assist in movement of workers. We have reviewed the composition of appointees in the Pension Commission; we will make amendment to ensure the labour representative in included.

“We have increased allowance we pay to pensioners and we have consistently ensured that pensioners get their pension the same time State workers get their monthly salaries. There is no pensioner we are owing today; we will continue to ensure that retirees who have served the State are not left behind in our welfare programmes.”

The Governor also donated official vehicles to the NLC and TUC chairmen to assist them in running the unions.

State chairman of NLC, Comrade Funmi Sessi, extolled the Governor’s leadership qualities demonstrated in combating COVID-19, praising Sanwo-Olu for the payment of full salaries of workers who could not go to work during the first and second waves of COVID-19.

The labour leader stressed that Lagos Government had demonstrated exemplary leadership in granting judiciary full autonomy, adding that Sanwo-Olu had created labour-friendly environment for workers in the State, which resulted from the appointment of Special Adviser on Labour Matters.

Lagos TUC chairman, Comrade Gbenga Ekundayo, said the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic had led to an upsurge in the violation of the rights of workers in the private sector.

He urged the Governor to strengthen social security support and initiate actions that would adequately protect workers in the informal sector and private firms.

He said: “Employers of labour and their human resources advisers have deployed different orthodox and unorthodox measures to mitigate their financial exposures in this period of COVID-19, some of which are not known to Nigerian Labour and Employment Laws.

“Workers in the informal sector who are not organised are more vulnerable and their situation made worse due to the non-existing social security system. Government must urgently look for a way to strengthen social security support so that workers can be adequately protected at all times.”

As today marks the celebration of Workers Day across Nigeria, the NLC in Oyo state have urged the federal government to find last solution to insecurity in the country.

The NLC chairman in Oyo State, Mr Kayode Martins, called on the Federal Government to find a lasting solution to kidnappings, banditry, insurgence, and terrorism rocking the entire country.

His response was supported by the National President of the Labour Union.

The president, Ayuba Wabba and the TUC counterpart, Quadri Olaleye vowed to resist attempt to remove the minimum wage from the Exclusive list to the Concurrent list.

The lamented that quality wages have been an issue in the face of the rising cost of living.

Wabba said though negotiation has been concluded some states two years ago, they are yet to conclude negotiations on the consequential increase in salaries.
He noted that the national minimum wages serve as social protection by providing a minimum income floor to safeguard low earners.

He lamented that there are attempts by a section of Nigeria’s ruling class to kill the National Minimum Wage by removing it as an item from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC has arrested 33 suspected internet fraudsters in Abeokuta.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted the spokesman as saying that the suspects were arrested by the operatives of EFCC on Tuesday at Adigbe, Oloke, Ibara Housing Estate Extension, and Idi Ori areas of Abeokuta.

He said that the arrest, followed actionable intelligence earlier received on their alleged criminal activities of the suspects.

Uwujaren said that items recovered from the suspects include: 18 cars, mobile phones, laptops, and several other incriminating documents.

He said that the suspects would be arraigned in court as soon as investigations are concluded.

Hakeem Odumosu, the Lagos state commissioner of police (CP), says the offence of Baba Ijesha, the Yoruba actor who admitted to assaulting a 14-year-old girl, remains bailable, unlike rape cases.

A video had earlier surfaced in which the suspect confessed to molesting the minor both when she was seven and 14.

Iyabo Ojo, Nollywood actress, and Comedian Princess, the victim’s foster mother, had protested an alleged plan to release Baba Ijesha as many other prominent figures took to social media to air condemnatory remarks on his action.

Odumosu spoke of the case on Thursday while parading suspects at the police headquarters in Lagos.

The commissioner said Baba Ijesha would remain in custody pending legal advice from the ministry of justice.

Odumosu added that all parties, including the victim and the accused, had been interviewed at the police command on Wednesday.

“You don’t do trial on pages of the newspaper. There are two cases involved in the Baba Ijebu case: he was alleged seven years ago to have defiled a girl and the girl is now 14 years,” the commissioner said.

“At that time, no complaint was made, but last week, a video went viral where he was arrested for sexual assault.

“When a man touches a woman where he is not supposed to, without authority and consent, that is what is called sexual assault. That is exactly what is there. He admitted that he actually assaulted.”

Although Odumosu noted that Baba Ijesha’s offence remains bailable, he was quoted as saying that concerns about possible defilement have been subjected to “thorough investigation”.

“The case of defilement added to it is still under thorough investigation. Sexual assault is a bailable offence, it is not like rape. For three hours yesterday (Wednesday), they were all with me,” the commissioner said.

“I interviewed all of them, including the girl that was allegedly assaulted, the mother of the girl, and Baba Ijesha.

“We have compiled the case and sent it to the DPP, office of the attorney general, and commissioner for justice, Lagos, for legal advice. Based on legal advice, action will be taken. For now, Baba Ijesha is still in our custody.”