The Osun State Legislative Fund Management Bill 2021 has passed through the first reading on the floor of the Osun State House of Assembly.
This is sequel to a motion moved by the Majority Leader, Mr. Maroof Olanrewaju and seconded by the Deputy Chief Whip Mr. Olugbenga Ogunkanmi.
The Speaker, Mr. Timothy Owoeye in his remark, noted that the Bill when passed into law would make funds available for the Assembly and various standing committees to carry out their legislative duties.
The Speaker, committed the Bill to the House Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, Public Petitions and Legal Matters to study the Bill critically and do the needful.
He commended members of the Judiciary Staff Union, JUSUN and Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, PASAN for their steadfastness during the strike embarked upon by it’s members across the country for financial autonomy of the Judiciary and Legislature. In another development, the Osun State House of Assembly has assured people of the state that the process of putting Administrators at the Local Government, Local Council Development Areas, LCDA and Area Councils administration would begin soon.
The Speaker, Mr. Owoeye maintained that for the people to properly feel the impact of government, a local government administration must be in place.
Two witnesses, Yetunde and Wuraola Oyedokun have said police officers collected Ten thousand naira from them for their father’s bail.
The two witnesses stated this before the Oyo State Judicial panel of inquiry on police brutality led by retired Justice Badejoko Adeniji in petition OYJPPB/007.
The girls father, who is the petitioner, Mr Olayiwola Oyedokun, in an interview with Radio Nigeria, while explaining what led to his arrest, said he was by his house at Ashi when some men suddenly emerged and ran after him, shouting ‘That is the man, that is the man’.
Mr Oyedokun said one of the men ran after him into the room, then grabbed him on the neck, while under attack he saw a cutlass at a corner of the room and hit the man on the head.
His assailant shouted, which drew the attention of neighbors, who came out. The next thing he knew was that policemen came to arrest him. Mr Oyedokun said he had dispute with his brother, Mr Folagbade Oyedokun lived abroad over the family’s chieftaincy title. He explained further that it was his brother that directed one of their brother’s from another lineage to be given the title of Mogaji by olubadan of Ibadan Oba saliu Adetuji, whereas he was the next in line. Mr Oyedokun said that he had been threatened on several occasions to surrender and back out from being the mogaji, adding that he suspected the same people were behind the attack of 23 July 2020. During cross examination, the counsel to the pettitioner Mr Abiodun Akinmoyo asked the witnesses to identify the statement of oath signed the previous day as an evidence before the panel, and they agreed.
The defense counsel Mr Matthew Ojeh asked whether the the witnesses, Mr Oyedokun’s daughters, were there when their father was being beaten and arrested. They responded that they were not present, but saw their father’s head swollen and bruised from battery when they saw him at the police station.
Mr Ojeh asked whether they truly gave ten thousand naira for their father’s bail, and one of the petitioner’s daughter, Miss wuraola Oyedokun said she gave the money contributed by herself and her sister to a police man by name Mr Timothy Obafaye at the counter at Bodija police station where their father was taken to.
The panel therefore summoned the police man who collected the Bail money to the next sitting.
Hearing on the petition was adjourned to 29th June, 2021.
A policeman, Inspector Adebayo Adesola appeared before the oyo state Judicial panel on police brutality on allegation that he shot Mr Toheeb Alamu on11th October, 2017 in a petition number OYJPPB/091.
The pettitioner, Mr Toheeb Alamu explained that on the day of the incident, he had gone to the local government to collect his voters card. While returning, at Anjorin street Adamasingba, he saw a crowd, and suddenly a stray bullet hit him.
He said he later found himself in the hospital, where he got to know the person that shot him through those who came to visit.
Mr Alamu said Inspector Adesola was a person known to him at Idikan area of Ibadan.
Mr Alamu explained further that after he was discharged from the hospital, whenever he came across Inspector Adebayo, he would always threaten him, which compelled him to report the case to his lawyer. He added that after the incident, Inspector Adesola’s mother sought the help of an Honourable, Bosun Adesola, to apologized on the defendant’s behalf so as to settle the matter.
During cross examination, counsel to the petitioner asked Inspector Adesola if he did not go for any special duty on the day of the incident happened. Inspector Adesola reported that he travelled on11th October 2017 on the day Toheeb Alamu was said to have been shot, pointing out that there was a daily police order to that effect When shown paragraph 6 of statement which indicated that he knew the petitioner, Inspector Adesola confirmed so. He however maintained that he was not the one that shot at the petitioner, neither did he threaten him, nor initiated any settlement step as indicated in the statement. The Justice Badejoko Adeniji-led panel therefore summoned the police daily order special duty officer, Oluwadamilare Oluwafemi and Honourable Bosun Ajuwon to appear before it as witnesses. Hearing on the petition was adjourned to 29th June 2021.
A Magistrate Court in Yaba area of Lagos State presided over by Magistrate P. Nwaka has directed that full medical attention should be accorded the popular actor, Omiyinka Olanrewaju also known as “Baba Ijesha” currently on trial for alleged child molestation.
The magistrate however refused the fresh bail application on the grounds that the Lagos State Ministry of Justice has filed charges before a High Court.
Baba Ijesha appeared in court in a blue top and clutching a motivational book titled “How to thrive in a perilous time”.
Earlier, the accused was granted bail, but was unable to perfect the conditions of the bail especially as getting a level 16 Officer in the civil service proved to be a huge task for him.
It was gathered that he was allowed to sit during the proceeding as he claimed he was not feeling fine.
He is facing trial over charges bothering on rape, sexual assault and abuse of a minor and he was brought into the premises of the magistrate court around 12 p.m. on Wednesday.
He pleaded not guilty when the charge was read out to him.
He was charged with indecent treatment of a child, defilement of a child, sexual assault by penetration, attempted sexual assault by penetration and sexual assault – which contravenes Sections 135, 137, 261, 202, 262 and 263 of the Lagos State Criminal Law 2015.
The Prosecutor, S.A Adebesin informed the court that an information had been filed before the High Court.
Responding, Baba Ijesha’s lawyer, Kayode Olabiran made a fresh application for bail which was rejected.
It would be recalled that the defendant was earlier granted bail on May 17 in a Special Court session arranged during the strike by the Judiciary Workers Union of Nigeria, JUSUN.
He was directed to produce two sureties, one being a relative of the defendant and another a level 16 officer of the Lagos State Civil Service, and a bail bond in the sum of 500,000 naira, but he was unable to meet these conditions.
The matter has been adjourned to July 13, 2021 for mention.
Following the suspension of the industrial action by members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN and the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, PASAN, judicial activities have resumed in some courts visited in Ibadan.
At the State High Court, Ring Road, courts were opened for cases while other rooms for judicial and administrative events were opened.
At Court Four, sittings were held while three sittings were held in Court Five of the State High Court, Ring Road in Ibadan.
One of the court officials, Mrs Kehinde Olalere said the court sat as expected, adding that complainants were already approaching the courts for new dates on pending cases.
Our correspondent who visited some federal courts along new Adeoyo road, in Ibadan, reports that the situation was not different as some sittings were held on some cases at National Industrial Court as confirmed by the court’s JUSUN representative, Mr Festus Ajiboro.
Mr Ajiboro expressed optimism that the union’s demands would be met as government had already set up a committee to look into them.
JUSUN members began their strike on April 6, demanding for financial autonomy, salary increment among other issues.
Court premises in Abeokuta the Ogun State capital have been opened following the resumption to duties of members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN who have been at loggerheads with the government.
The entrance gate to the Federal High Court at Oke Mosan which had been locked since the commencement of the industrial action was opened while staff were seen discussing in the early hours of the day.
The situation was not different at Isabo State High and Magistrate court.
The two entrances to the court premises which were locked throughout the duration of the strike were opened.
Some residents were seen around the Isabo Court premises entering with excitement to transact business.
Efforts to speak with the union leaders at both Oke Mosan and and Isabo met brick wall as the union officials were said to be outside Abeokuta on official engagements.
A Police witness, Inspector Adeyera Ayodele has been urged to be factual while testifying before the Oyo State Judicial Panel on Police Brutality. Panel chairman, Retired Justice Badejoko Adeniji gave the charge during hearing on petition OYJPPB/065 against Waheed Olarenwaju who defiled a 13 year old Ifeoluwa Akintunde. During cross examination, the victim’s counsel, Mr Akeem Adekola had sought to confirm from Inspector Adeyera if it was true that it was victim that shouted ‘thief, thief’ when the suspect was trying to escape on the fateful day the Ode Oolo boys beat him to death, as contained by Mrs Funmilayo Ojo, the victim’s mother. In response, police inspector affirmed the content of the victim’s mother statement. The panel queried the way the victim and the suspect boarded the same bike as contained in the statement of the victim’s mother presented to the panel by Police. The late Waheed Olarenwaju was alleged to have defiled a 13 year old girl Akintunde Ifeoluwa at Galaxy Oke Are Ibadan around 6.30 in the evening on January 10, 2021. His corpse was allegedly taken to a private mortuary before it was later referred to Adeoyo hospital. The Panel therefore ordered the counsel to the Police, Mr Matthew Ojeh to produce the two police men who recorded the statement on the 10th of June 2021 around 9:30pm, and that Funmilayo Ojo the mother of the girl that was defiled should appear before the panel. The panel then adjourned the petition till 22 June 2021 for further hearing.
After two months of strike action by members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) nationwide, courts in Osun State have opened their facilities to the public
Our correspondent who visited the headquarters of the Osun State High Court situated at Oke-Fia , Osogbo, observed that lawyers, litigants and staff of the judiciary were in the court premises discussing the situation.
Cleaners were cleaning the courtrooms and gardeners were seeing tidying up the premises.
Two suspects were brought to the court but were later taken back to the police station without been arraigned because of the absence of Magistrates and judges.
The Magistrates and judges numbering about ten came into the premises of the court in their official cars around 9:15 AM but later left the court premises.
A clerk of the court who pleaded not to be named told Radio Nigeria that most judges and magistrates could not be in court due to the valedictory programme of Justice wasiu Akanbi who retired from the service of recent.
She Gabe assurance that the court would sit tomorrow, Wednesday.
Radio Nigeria observed that large numbers of people were in the Court to sign affidavit and other documents.
In an interview, a legal practitioner, Mr Henry Odunayo explained that lawyers were already prepared for resumed hearing of cases.
The family of a deceased, Waheed Olarenwaju has made an application before Oyo State Judicial Panel on Police Brutality that his corpse be released for burial.
Counsel to the family, Mr Adekola Kareem made the appeal at today’s sitting of retired Justice Badejoko Adeniji-led panel in a petition with OYJPPB/065.
The late Waheed Olarenwaju was alleged to have defiled a 13 year old girl Akintunde Ifeoluwa at Galaxy Oke Are Ibadan around 6.30 in the evening on January 10th, 2021.
Ifeoluwa was said to have been defiled by the deceased, who had sent her on an errand.
On hearing about the sexual assault, the teen’s mother who happen to be a member of Odua Peoples Congress, OPC, called her colleague who then arrested Waheed Olanrewaju.
Olanrewaju was said to have tried to escape while being taken to the police station on a bike, which led to his being beaten to death by the OPC members and IfeOluwa’s mother.
Thereafter, they allegedly carried Olanrewaju’s corpse to the police station where it was later deposited at the Adeoyo Hospital mortuary.
During a cross examination, the defense counsel to the police Mr Matthew Ojeh said investigation was still going on the matter.
The Panel therefore ordered the counsel to the Police to produce the mother of the girl defiled by Olanrewaju, Mrs Funmilayo Ojo along with Mr Oore-Ofe Temitope, the okada rider that carried the deceased on the day he was beaten to death.
The panel then adjourned the petition till 15th June 2021 for further hearing.
Oyo State Judicial Panel on Police Brutality has adjourned the petition brought by Mr Afolabi Ayodamope against the Nigeria Police Force till 15th June, 2021 due to unavailability of witnesses.
It would be recalled that Twenty three year old man, Ayodamope Afolabi alleged that officers of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, falsely accused him of carrying a sachet of weed in his bag on 16th September, 2020.
The accused Mr Ayodamope presented his case before the Oyo State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Police brutality led by Retired Justice Badejoko Adeniji in a petition with number OYJPPB/043.
The 23 years old Afolabi said he was returning from his office at Seyi Makinde Court Center where he works on 16th September, 2020 when some SARS officers stopped the bike he boarded at Total Garden Area in Ibadan.
The petitioner explained that the SARS officers collected his bag, checked it and found nothing, but they later planted weed in his bag to implicate him.
He said the officers thereafter set on him and started beating him and told him he was under arrest for being in possession of weed.
Mr Ayodamope added that he remanded till the second day before he was allowed to put a call to his mother, who was made to pay fifty thousand naira for his bail.
During the panel sitting the petitioner appeared before the panel without any legal representation while counsel for the respondent, the Nigeria Police Force, Mr Matthew Ojeh, said he was not done with his investigation on the petition.
The Magistrates Association of Nigeria has sought the amendment of Section 318 of the 1999 Constitution to include their members as judicial officers to better their condition of service.
This call followed a difficult working condition of magistrates in the country despite their heavy work load in handling 80% of cases in courts.
This is contained in the association’s submission at the ongoing House of Representatives Public Hearing on Constitution Review taking place in Akure, the Ondo State capital.
The magistrates’ position was signed by the National President of the association, Saidu Safiyanu Umar and the National General Secretary, Chukwuemeka Nweke and it was delivered before the federal lawmakers by Chief Magistrate Tope Aladejana of Ondo State Judiciary.
They expressed deep sadness that many of them used to engage commercial motorcyclists popularly known as Okada riders to get to work courts while working conditions in their courts nationwide were not conducive.
The magistrates pointed out that if such an amendment was made, their condition of service and remuneration would improve tremendously across the country.
Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi has advocated the review of salaries and allowances of judicial officers in the country. He urged the National Judicial Council (NJC) to renew negotiation for upward review of judicial officers’ salary as part of the agitation for judicial autonomy. Dr Fayemi stated this in Ado Ekiti during the swearing in of Justice John Adeyeye as Acting Chief Judge of EKiti State. He observed that judicial officers in the country had been on same salary structure for over a decade, even while other categories of public servants have had theirs reviewed . “I am aware that between 1999 till date, the Federal Government reviewed the salaries and allowances of Public Servants specifically in 2000, 2005, 2007 and 2011. However the salaries of judicial officers were only reviewed twice during the same period. “As a result judicial officers have been on the same salary structure for more than 10 years. It may now be necessary for the NJC to provide leadership on possible renewed negotiation on this issue as part of a holistic discussion on judicial autonomy. “The frequency of closure of our courts constitutes threat to the security of this state. It is for this reason that I respectfully urged your lordship to enable practical solutions to ensure that the wheels of justice in our state continues to turn even during lockdowns of strike actions.” He said. He also expressed concern on the shortage of female judges on the bench, adding that a gender diversified judiciary would positively shape the development of law in the State. The Governor called on the Judiciary to support and strengthen the capacity of the Nigeria Police and the Ministry of Justice in the State to deal with all forms of sexual violence by reviewing rules and court procedures to ensure speedy prosecution of sexual violence matters. Dr Fayemi who stressed that his administration was conscious of the benefit of an effective judicial system to the socio-political growth and development of the State, charged the new acting chief judge to key into his mission to a provide fair and equal access to justice system irrespective of gender, ethnic origin, economic status and other social indices. Justice Adeyeye in his acceptance speech, pledged to uphold the oath of office which he swore to and promised to work with all stakeholders in the justice sector of the state to enhance speedy dispensation of justice that defines the 21st century judiciary. He pledge to bring about a paradigm shift from the conventional mode of dispensing justice through the application of technology in the recording of court proceedings to enhance administration of justice in the State. Justice Adeyeye who replaced the immediate past Chief Judge, Justice Ayodeji Daramola, solicited the supports of judicial officers with a promised to prioritize their welfare. The acting chief Judge was born 1960 in Araromi Ugbesi in Ekiti East Local Government of Ekiti State and was called to bar in 1986 He started his career as a State counsel in the Civil service of the old Ondo State before joining the Ekiti State Judiciary Service Commission shortly after the creation of the State in 1996. He was elevated to the position of a judge in the Ekiti State High Court in 2002 and has served at different time in the Election Petition Tribunals.
The Oyo State governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde had indicated that the law that established the State Anti-Corruption Agency (OYACA) was in consistency with the federal laws that gave birth to the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offenses, ICPC, and other federal agencies established to fight graft.
The governor stated this on Tuesday while declaring open the ‘Organizational Integrity Management Training Programme for the OYACA board members, management and staff at the Premier Hotel, Ibadan.
The training was as a result of collaboration between Oyo State Anti-Corruption Agency (OYACA) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offenses, ICPC.
Governor Makinde, who was represented at the event by the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Professor Oyelowo Oyewo, said no provision in the OYACA laws would go against the dictates of the federal laws, as the case between the Ondo State and the Attorney-General of the Federation was the watershed for the creation of the State anti-corruption laws.
He hinted that OYACA became imperative because many cases were brought in the open when the present administration came on board and personnel of the state were required to make court appearances at Abuja and other parts of the country, which he said was expensive and the fight had to be domesticated because corruption has become endemic in the society.
Governor Makinde therefore called for the passage of the whistle-blower laws by the House of Assembly, which he said would make investigation and prosecution of cases of corruption speedy and seamless.
“The constitutional competence of the state to fight corruption rested squarely in the provision of the law and there exists no provision in OYACA laws that tie the hands of any federal anti-corruption agency.
“OYACA law is consistent with the fundamental objectives of the federal laws, which are instruments created to fight graft and block loopholes where public resources are stolen or mismanaged.
“We appreciate the ICPC for this collaboration to stem the tide of graft in our society and cause a lot of loss to the government and the people of the State, there is also the urgent need to pass the whistle-blower bill into law to aid the speed and smoothness of investigation and prosecution.”
The Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offenses (ICPC), Professor Bolaji Owasanoye said the judgment of the Supreme Court on Ondo State and the Attorney-General of the Federation has affirmed the power of ICPC to investigate and prosecute acts of corruption and state governments in Nigeria were not excluded from doing same, if the provisions in their anti-corruption laws do not negate that of the federal laws.
He charged the OYACA to be resolute in advancing the course of fighting graft and mismanagement of public resources, saying the work is tough and there would be many enemies against the agency.
“Corruption is so systemic and endemic that I am persuaded that it is pertinent that States can also work in fighting this scourge, the need for fight to end corruption cannot be over-emphasized because corruption is debilitating to the progress and advancement of the State and Nigeria as a whole.”
“This work is a tough nut to crack, you are not going to have many friends, but what do you care, if your interest is to serve the State and the people?’’ he asked.
The Chairman, OYACA, Honourable Justice Eni Esan in her welcome address, appreciated the extension of hands of support from the Anti-corruption Academy of Nigeria (ACAN), a sub-agency under the ICPC, located at Keffi, Nasarawa State.
She exuded joy at the collaboration, geared towards training board members and staffers of the agency and urged the trainees to make good use of the content of the workshop in order to enhance capacity of the personnel.
Justice Esan appreciated Governor Seyi Makinde for reposing huge confidence in the agency and board members to win the fight against corruption in Oyo State.
Apart from the ICPC Chairman, Professor Boloaji Owasanoye who spoke on the topic ‘Leading with Integrity to Achieve a Corrupt-Free Agency’, other facilitators include Professor Sola Akinrinade, who spoke on ‘Building Stakeholder Support for Anti-Corruption and Partnering with other ACAs’.
Other facilitators include Professor Olatunde Babawale, Dr. Bala Mohammed, Barrister Akeem Lawal fsi, Mr Richard Bello, as well as Mrs. Olubunmi Akinriande.
Also present at the workshop were top management members of Oyo State Ministry of Justice and OYACA, led by the Secretary of the board, Alhaji Ibrahim Oyemonla Tijani.
Oyo State Anti-corruption Agency (OYACA) board was inaugurated on the 24th of December, 2020 by Governor Seyi Makinde with the mandate for members to work towards putting a stop to acts of misuse of public resources through investigation of cases of corruption and eventual prosecution.
Signed:
Wasiu Olatubosun (P.hd),
Hon. Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism,
The Federal Government says the implementation of financial autonomy for the state legislature and judiciary will commence next week.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige stated this during conciliatory meeting to resolve the strike embarked upon by Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN and Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN).
The Minister noted that the Federal Government took into consideration the Executive Order 10, where proposals from all sides and distilled them with the resolve to implement.
He said that implementation would commence with the distribution of the April allocation from the Federation Account Allocation Committee, FAAC, noting that striking legislative and judiciary workers would call off their prolonged strike as soon as implementation begins.
The Special Assistant to the President on Niger-Delta Affairs, Senator Ita Enang commended the Minister of Labour and Employment Dr Ngige for the matured handling of the labour crisis in Kaduna and the resolution of the complex issues involved in the autonomy for the legislature and Judiciary.
He said the Federal Government took into consideration the Executive Order 10, the proposals from all sides and distilled them with the resolve to implement it.
Senator Enang blamed the past administrations for turning blind eye to the autonomy of the legislature and the judiciary for 21 years, adding that the Governors had studied the document and were in agreement with it.
He clarified that the implementation would commence with the distribution of the April allocation from the Federation Account Allocation Committee, FAAC.
Ogun State Government has launched the State Civil Justice Transformation Lab Draft Strategy as part of efforts to improve effective dispute resolution and justice administration in the state.
Speaking at the ceremony held at Obas complex Oke-Mosan Abeokuta, Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun explained that the Strategy, when implemented would give the government opportunity to identify justice needs of the people and provide innovative strategies to resolve them.
Governor Abiodun pointed out that a people centered approach to justice administration would facilitate equal access to justice for all the residents of the state.
In a remark, the Chief Judge of Ogun state, Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu pointed out that the Judiciary was committed to ensuring quick dispensation of justice.
Justice Dipeolu also implored the Executive arm of government to find solution to the agitations of the members of the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, which led to the ongoing nationwide strike.
The twelve weeks old strike embarked upon by the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, PASAN, is yet to see an end.
This is because the leaders of the association said they would not relent until the implementation of Financial Autonomy for the State Houses of Assembly.
The Chairman Of Osun Assembly Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, Comrade Adekunle Adesina in an interview with Radio Nigeria in Osogbo, said the strike would continue until the Critical Stakeholders endorsed the harmonised proposal of PASAN and JUSUN.
Mr. Adesina enjoined the Federal Government, National Assembly and Governor’s Forum to speedily do the needful for the implementation of Financial Autonomy of the Parliament.
It would be recalled that, the Association had embarked on indefinite strike to demand for the implementation of the Executive Order 10 on Financial Autonomy for the legislative arm of government.
Ogun State Judicial Panel of Investigation on Police Brutality, Human Rights Violations and Extra Judicial Killings has ended its sitting after treating fifty-eight petitions out of the submitted one hundred and six.
The chairman of the panel, Justice Solomon Olugbemi made this known at the Magistrate Court 1, Isabo, Abeokuta while speaking with newsmen.
He stated that during the six months exercise, the panel received one hundred and six petitions out of which fifty-eight were treated while forty-eight were withdrawn, rejected or abandoned.
Justice Olugbemi said some petitions were wholly abandoned, some abandoned half-way by the petitioners while some were rejected because the petitions were not in line with the terms of reference of the panel.
He assured that the panel’s report was ready for submission to the government.
The panel was inaugurated on nineteenth of October last year by Governor Dapo Abiodun and was given a six month period to receive and investigate petitions from members of the public whose human rights have been violated and abused by security personnel within the state and also to make appropriate recommendations to government.
The family of the late Gbolahan Adedoyin has pleaded for 20million naira compensation from the state government for the loss of their son, who was reportedly killed by a stray bullet from Operation Burst operatives in the early hours of 25th October, 2020.
They made this plea before the Oyo State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Police brutality led by Retired Justice Badejoko Adeniji in a petition with number OYJPPB/076.
The late Gbolahan Adedoyin was said to be returning from a night club outing in Mokola area, Ibadan on the fateful day in the company of five friends before he met his doom in Inalende area of the state capital.
During cross-examination of two witnesses, the deceased’s friend, Mr Olutayo Oladele and his uncle, Mr Adebiyi Ishola, the counsel to the respondent, Mr Kayode Babalola, argued that the deceased was probably poisoned and killed by his late night keeping friends as against the claim that he was killed by stray bullet from Operation Burst operatives.
After thorough consideration, the judicial panel adjourned the case indefinitely for proper response from the government
The judicial panel of inquiry on Police brutality and other related matters in Ondo State has recommended seven hundred and fifty-five million naira compensation for victims following the aftermath of the Endsars protest.
This is after treating 14 criminal and 63 petitions bordering on human rights violation.
The chairman, Retired Justice Adesola Sidiq made this known while submitting the panel’s report to governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu in Akure.
Justice Sidiq said the panel also recommended the publication of apologies in national newspapers, particularly where the reputation of victims had been tarnished
The justice said Akure South, Ondo West, Odigbo and Okitipupa were the four most affected local government areas.
The governor said the Endsars protest was legitimate until it was hijacked by criminals, and recommended training for police in conformity with societal norms.
The governor condemned the destruction that followed the protest and encouraged communities to always guard property in their domains
Governor Akeredolu commended the panel and promised to look into the report for appropriate action.
Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has launched Ogun Public Interest Law Partnership, OPILP, as part of efforts to enhance access to justice and address legal needs of the poor, indigent, and marginalized residents across the three Senatorial Districts of the state.
While launching the programme at Oke Mosan Abeokuta, Governor Abiodun said that OPILP would be properly monitored towards ensuring that the partnership was not abused by the people with sufficient means to afford the services of lawyers.
While pointing out that courts were the last hope for the common man, Governor Abiodun said that launching of OPILP was to ensure that residents of the state were given opportunity to express their grievances properly before a court of law.
The Governor explained that the initiative would enable citizens seeking free legal services to submit applications to the OPILP, towards providing free legal services to such applicant.
Earlier, Ogun State Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Akingbolahan Adeniran had said that the state would soon launch
introduction of Forensics into criminal investigation and prosecution, which would help to improve the experiences of residents in terms of justice dispensation.
Members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) and Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), today, blocked the convoy of Osun State Deputy Governor, Mr Benedict Alabi during a protest.
The members of the two Unions, who were demanding the full implementation of financial autonomy to the Judiciary, had converged at the premises of the High Court of Justice, Oke-Fia Osogbo where they marched to the Customary Court of Appeal through to Federal High Court opposite Osun State House of Assembly at Gbongan/Osogbo road, before terminating it at the Government Secretariat, Abere.
Convoy of the Deputy Governor ran into the protesters who refused to give way to him as the convoy moved with the train peacefully until they later managed to escape from the protesters at the petrol station close to the State Government Secretariat, Abere when the vehicles entered through the first entrance of the filling station and exited through the second gate to boycott the protesters.
Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has appealed to the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, to call off their strike and give state Governors opportunity to perfect implementation plan on their demand for financial autonomy.
Governor Abiodun made the plea while playing host to the leaders of the State branches of Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, led by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr Afolabi Fashanu in his Abeokuta, Oke Mosan office.
Governor Abiodun who said that his administration supported the need for separation of powers, especially in the presidential system of government, pointed out that Nigeria Governors’ Forum was taking steps to resolve all the grey areas.
Responding, the leader of the NBA team, Mr Fashanu said his team would deploy moral persuasion and dialogue with JUSUN on the need to end the strike in the interest of justice and democracy.
It would be recalled that members of JUSUN embarked on an indefinite strike across country on April 6, 2021 to enforce financial autonomy for the judiciary arm of government as granted by the Nigerian Constitution.
Lawyers in Ondo State have protested the continued strike action embarked upon by Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) over the demand for financial autonomy for judicial arm of government.
The lawyers from five branches in the state converged on Akure High Court complex from where they moved round the state capital and ended in the governor’s office in Alagbaka where a letter of protest was presented to the government.
Armed with different placards including, “Please, save the judiciary from sinking”,”the time for emancipation is now“, “NBA says no Executive control of judiciary“, “Aketi Obey section 121(3) of the Constitution“, “NBA believes in judicial autonomy” and “Save judiciary from drowning“, the lawyers said the governors should allow judicial autonomy in the state.
Led by the Akure branch of the NBA, Mr Rotimi Olorunfemi, Thompson Akinyemi and Chief Orimisan Okorisa of Ondo and Okitipupa branches of NBA, the lawyers said a situation where the judiciary goes to governors for fund each time is not acceptable to lawyers in the state.
In the letter submitted to the governor’s office, the lawyers said the judiciary which is an independent arm of government under the Constitution and saddle with the important role of administration of justice should not be strangulated by the executive arm of government.
Oyo State governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde had described the death of the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, Prince Wasiu Adetunji Gbadegesin , as a painful blow to the state, the Ministry of Justice and especially the judiciary in the state. Governor Makinde, who described the late permanent secretary as a hardworking and efficient civil servant, who gave his best to the state, adding that his wealth of experience and expertise will be greatly missed.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, indicates that the governor equally commiserated with the family of the late Gbadegesin, staffers of the Ministry of Justice and the judiciary family in the state.
Governor Makinde prayed God to grant prince Gbadegesin Aljanah Firdaus and give his immediate family, the royal family of Oyo, civil servants in the state and members of the judiciary family in the state the fortitude to bear this loss.
All judiciary offices and court premises in Ogun state were under lock and keys as the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria members in the state complied with the directives of it national body to resume suspended industrial action till further notice.
The offices and court premises at Isabo and Sagamu road in Abeokuta when visited where diserted with only the security men at the entrances.
It was observed that a letter notifying the public on the strike titled twenty one day ultimatum were however pasted on the gates entrances of the judiciary complex and Isabo courts.
The letter quoted a communique of the union signed by the national secretary of the union Comrade Adetola that the twenty one day ultimatum issued to the Federal government to implement financial autonomy for the judiciary had expired following which members of the union are to resume an earlier suspended industrial action.
The memo dated first of April this year directed members to shut down courts and departments in all the states until further notice. Businesses around the court at Isabo was affected as clients were sent back due to non sitting at the court and non present of Judiciary staff.
