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OYSIEC Visits Oyo Speaker, Seeks Parliament Support To Amend LG Electoral Law

The Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission, OYSIEC says it has identified key areas that are due for amendment in the law guiding the conduct of Local Government elections in the state.

To this end, the Commission is seeking the support and cooperation of the Oyo State House of Assembly for the review and amendment of the electoral law.

The OYSIEC Chairman, Aare Isiaka Abiola Olagunju SAN, disclosed this when he led other members of the Commission on a working visit to the office of the Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon Adebo Ogundoyin.

” When we think of making and amending laws, we talk of the Legislature. This is why we are here to intimate the leadership of the Oyo state House of Assembly of our plan to amend the state electoral law. The present law was passed 22years ago. To us amendment is due. Some areas need urgent review and amendment to meet modern voting trend. We need to upgrade our electoral process even at the Local Government level. I am happy that the Oyo State House of Assembly has shown its readiness to work with us towards amending the law. We are looking at the possibility of getting this done by the second quarter of this year ” Aare Olagunju said

He explained that the amendment being sought will help to reposition the commission for better performance in future elections.

” We are also looking at the possibility of using another means of identification peculiar to Oyo State alone like Oyo State Resident Identification card to complement the use of Permanent Voters Card issued by INEC”

In his response, the Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon Adebo Ogundoyin described the move to amend the State Local Government electoral law as a good development.

The Speaker noted that election conducted into the Local Governments in the state last year had given the Commission an idea of what and what to do to improve such exercise in future, and one of such is the vital need to review the election law

According to him, the House will work expeditiously on the draft copy of the proposed amendment once it gets to the members.

” On our part , we are ready to work on the amendment in order to improve on the electoral process. This will be in line with the resolve of Governor Seyi Makinde to upgrade and improve all Government departments, ministries and agencies. There are surely new practices and evolving trends in the conduct of elections and OYSIEC cannot afford to be left behind. Even, INEC is trying to advance the voting process. ” Oyo Speaker added

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BREAKING: Court Denies Jurisdiction On Aregbesola Camp’s Suit To Invalidate Osun APC Ward Congress

A Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo on Wednesday denied jurisdiction to entertain the case instituted by 2,517 aggrieved members of All Progressives Congress (APC) loyal to Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola to invalidate ward congress held on July 31st 2021.

The presiding Judge, Justice Emmanuel Ayoola while giving his ruling said, the suit brought before the court was strictly party affairs which the court lacks jurisdiction on the matter.

He said, “The claims of the plaintiffs is to draw the court to the internal affairs of the party which is not enshrined in the constitution.

“Supreme Court has said court can’t interfere with the internal issue of party, unless it falls under Section 87(9) of the Electoral Act.

“The plaintiff the are not qualified to be called an aspirants in the said congress. Aspirant is someone who participated in election. PDP v Timprale Silva. APC v Marafa. Pltf has no status under or right under S. 87(9).

“The fact remains that this matter does relate to the nomination of any candidate, acordingly, the dispute does not fall under Section 87(8) of Electoral Act and Section 251 of the CFRN. The case of the plf isn’t covered by the law an can’t be adjudicated by the court.”

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Oyo lawmaker, Shina Peller wants NSCDC scrapped, presents bill to Reps

The lawmaker representing lseyin/ltesiwaju/ Kajola/lwajowa Federal Constituency in Oyo State at the House of Representatives, Shina Peller, has proposed scrapping of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps.

Peller proposed that the Nigeria Police Force to take over the responsibilities of the NSCDC.

The lawmaker made the proposal to the House via the National Security And Civil Defence Corps (Repeal and Transition) Bill 2022, which passed first reading on Tuesday.

In the bill, Peller noted that “fragmentation of security resources across multiple competing agencies is counterproductive.”

The lawmakers also noted that the mandate of the NSCDC “has now become a duplication of the Nigeria Police Force,” adding, “this has led to avoidable conflicts.”

Peller stated, “Every single function of the NSCDC can be done or is being done by the Nigeria Police Force,” while citing “waste of scarce resources,” stressing that the annual budget of the NSCDC is almost N100bn.

The NSCDC, which was a voluntary organisation, was converted to a national security outfit by the Olusegun Obasanjo administration.

The bill came at a time when the National Assembly is considering or has passed bills to establish more security outfits such as the Peace Corps and Vigilante Group of Nigeria.

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Smoking schoolgirls asked to return to class in Ogun

After weeks of suspension, some school girls caught smoking shisha in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, have been told to return to school.

The girls, who are all students of Abeokuta Girls’ Grammar School, Onikolobo, Ogun State, were caught smoking shisha while filming themselves at the residence of one of them.

After the video went viral, the management of the school was said to have suspended the students indefinitely.

The Ogun Ministry of Education, Science and Technology had taken up the matter, with efforts put in place to rehabilitate the school girls.

As of Tuesday, the teenagers were said to have undergone a series of counselling before they were returned to class.

The Commissioner for Education, Prof. Abayomi Arigbagbu, during a visit to the school, said the students would be put under manual labour as a form of punishment in the school to serve as a deterrent to others.

In her words, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mrs Abosede Ogunleye, charged students in the state to shun acts that would jeopardise their future.

Ogunleye pleaded that the reinstated students should not be stigmatised, saying, “The learners have been counselled and made to undergo some punishment and I want to believe they have changed for the better. So, I want to encourage you not to abuse, stigmatize or call them names, instead advise them and be their friends.”

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BREAKING: Ede-Born Veteran Actor, Tafa Oloyede Is Dead

Tafa Oloyede is an Ede, Osun State born actor, who ventured into acting in 1974.

He had his tutelage under late Oyin Adejobi. He featured in many movies that include ‘Jaiyesimi’, ‘Ayanmo’, ‘Ekuro Oloja’, ‘Orogun’, ‘Akanji Oniposi’ that made him popular and others.

He died on Tuesday, February 1st 2022 at his residence at Arowomole, Kajola area Osogbo. He is survived by wife and children.

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Put In More Efforts To Boost IGR, Oyo Lawmaker, Mustapha Akeem Urges Gov Makinde

The honourable member representing Kajola State Constituency, Hon. Mustapha Akeem has urged the Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde to put in more efforts towards boosting and improving the state’s Internally Generated Revenue. This, he said can be achieved by creating more employment opportunities and enabling the environment for businesses to thrive.

Hon. Akeem Mustapha, who is the Chairman of the Committee on Public Account Committee (PAC) in the Oyo State House of Assembly, gave the admonition while presenting the report of a capacity building organized by Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) for the state Houses of Assemblies’ Public Account Committees (PACs) in Nigeria at the plenary on Tuesday.

The KAS workshop was held at Ibom Icon Hotel, Uyo in Akwa Ibom State between 22 and 25 September, 2021.

The lawmaker representing Kajola state constituency, said that in order to improve the operational efficiency of the Public Account Committee (PAC) of the state House of Assembly, the Auditor-General must submit the audited report of the state as stipulated in the Section 125(5) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.

Hon. Mustapha also appealed to the Oyo State Auditor-General to comply with Section 37 of the Oyo State Audit Commission Law, 2021, which mandates the Auditor-General’s reports be made available for the Committee for consideration in order to strengthen its operations.

“The House should charge its various Committees to engage in oversight functions on a regular basis so as to monitor the implementation and performance of MDAs before the budget defence takes place.

“Work towards organizing on yearly basis a retreat with the executive arm of government before the compilation of each year’s budget to address conflicting areas and harmonize them before presentation.

“Put more efforts towards training and retraining of the legislators, committee clerks on a regular basis in order to improve and broaden their knowledge on legislative practices and procedures,” the report stated.

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CCII Visits Gbagi Market, Solicits Traders Support Ahead of Ibadan Cultural Festival 2022

The Marketing, Contact and Resources Mobilization Sub-Committee of Ibadan Cultural Festival 2022 today visited Bola Ige International Market, PKA Gbagi Market as part of the Pre-event of the Cultural Week that is starting by March 3rd of next month.

On the entourage were the Iyaloja of Ibadan land, Chief Mrs Isiwat Ameringun, and other members of the committee and were received at the Market by the Babaloja General of Oyo State, Alhaji YK Abass, and other Market Chiefs.

The Chairman of the Committee, Engr. Sunday Gbenjo appreciated Babaloja General for his kind welcoming and extend his greetings to the Market executives and all marker women and men, including the buyers.

While responding to the visit, the Babaloja General of Oyo State assured the committee that the market traders will support the committee financially and ensure that Gbagi Market top the list of Markets in Ibadan that will donate towards the Celebration.

Chief Mrs Isiwat Amerinkun, the Iyaloja of Ibadan land also appreciates Alhaji YK Abass and pray for the continuous growth of the market.

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JAMB to hold UTME from May 6, registration begins on February 12

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is to hold this year’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) from May 6 to May 16, 2022, it was announced on Saturday afternoon.

In fact, the registration for the UTME and that of Direct Entry will hold simultaneously from February 12 to March 19, 2022 at various centres across the country.

These were disclosed by officials of JAMB during an interactive session with newsmen on Saturday.

According to the examination body, mock registration will hold from February 12 to 26 while mock examination will also hold on April 16, 2022.

Details later…

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Olubadan Stool: Court Dismisses Case, Says Selection Process Should Continue

The Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Munta Abimbola, on Tuesday, declared that there is no court proceeding delaying the selection and installation of the Olubadan of Ibadan again, adding that parties can proceed in the process leading to the selection of a new king.

According to the Nigerian Tribune, Justice Abimbola made this known after dismissing a suit filed by Senator Lekan Balogun and seven other Ibadan High Chiefs, contesting the validity of a consent judgment given by a state high court on November 19, 2019 in suit M/317/2017.

The Chief Judge in his brief judgment on the suit declared that the Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration of 1957 stands unmoved like the rock of Gibraltar and is unaffected by any step taken so far.

He added that he was dismissing the suit and not striking it out as requested because issues have been joined and argued in the matter which he said was a result of the order of the appellate court pursuant to Section 16 of the Court of Appeal Act 2004.

According to him, “The Appellate court held that the judgment of the lower court delivered on 19 January 2018 is set aside, and the case is submitted back to the Honourable Chief Judge of Oyo state for retrial before another judge. Parties are to file pleadings; the case was referred to another judge but instead of filing pleadings, consent judgment was entered into and this case arose from that.

“However, the claimants brought this application to discontinue the suit and predicated it on the interest of peace and there was no objection to their application. In my own view, since the court of appeal has set aside the judgment appealed against and in this case, there was a specific order of re-hearing; the judgment of the Court of Appeal stands and remains in perpetuity until reversed by a superior court.

“Now, the suit had been applied to be withdrawn, I will not hesitate to grant the withdrawal application and leave is hereby granted for the case to be withdrawn.
“But since judgment of the trial court had been set aside, the status quo before the commencement of all proceedings stands, therefore, it means there was no change in the provisions of the Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration of 1957 since there is a ruling that composition of the Commission of Inquiry was not determined appropriately and therefore it is vide and irregular.

“The case is hereby dismissed but there is no order to cost,” Justice Abimbola held, explaining that nothing is stopping the Olubadan selection process again when parties raised the issue of getting a copy of the judgment immediately.

At the resumed hearing of the matter, Kehinde Eleja (SAN), counsel to Senator Lekan Balogun, had informed the court that he has an application dated January 31, 2022 and filed on February 1, 2022 for the discontinuance of the suit, adding that he had served the process on all parties and was ready to move it before the court.

The application was supported by a four paragraph affidavit deposed to by a counsel identified as Grace Asaolu and a written address. He said he was ready to move the application and prayed for an order granting leave to discontinue the suit.

Eleja added that there was no counter affidavit filed against the petition and urged the court to grant his prayer in the interest of peace and justice of Ibadanland, praying to the court to strike out the case.

In his submissions, Sanya Akinyele, counsel to the state government and its agencies, informed the court that he is not opposing the application and appreciated the applicant for the line of action he had taken to withdraw the suit. He however asked that the court dismiss the suit and did not ask for any cost.

On his part, Kehinde Owoade, the counsel to former governor Rashidi Ladoja confirmed that he had been served the process and he had no objection to the application for discontinuance. He however urged the court to direct the applicants to pay the sum of N500, 000 to each of the respondents.

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JUST IN: Oyo NURTW Thugs Arrested In Ekiti Arraigned

The Ekiti State Police Command on Monday arraigned 98 suspected political thugs before an Ekiti State Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting at Ado Ekiti, the state capital.

The fully armed to the teeth suspected political thugs numbering about 100 were nabbed by men of the Nigerian Military at Ita Awure, Efon Junction around 3am last Wednesday in Ekiti State.

The suspected hoodlums were on their way to distrupt the PDP Governorship primaries held in Ekiti State last Wednesday.

Deadly weapons ranging from cutlasses, knives, dane guns, bullets and charms were found in their seized vehicles with identity cards showing their membership of Oyo State Park Management System.

They were charged with four counts bordering on threatening violence, unlawful procession and unlawful possession of firearms.

. “The offences contravene sections 516, 80, 88 and Section 4 and are punishable under Section 27(b of the Firearms Act Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.”

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