Politics

We are ready to follow Supreme Court Ruling – Oyo Govt.

By Web News 665

The Oyo State government has stated that it was on the same page with the Justices of the Supreme Court in its May 7, 2021 ruling, which ordered the payment of salaries and allowances of the dissolved chairmen and councilors of local government councils in the state.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Taiwo Adisa, says Oyo State government as a believer in the rule of law will comply with the ruling of the apex court.

The government declared that it had showcased its commitment to paying off the dissolved chairmen and councilors as far back as February 2020, when its negotiation team, pursuant to the out-of-court order of the Oyo State High Court, offered the council chairmen and councilors the same condition which the Supreme Court just affirmed.

According to the statement, the government of Oyo State would comply with the order of the apex court once the details of the ruling are made available.

The statement read: “We are on the same page with the Supreme Court of the land on the ruling which ordered the payment of salaries and allowances of the dissolved local governments.

“The apex court in its decision rejected the dissolution, affirmed that the tenure of the council chairmen had lapsed, while also asking that the state pay salaries and allowances due to them till the end of their tenure.”

“The Court also awarded a cost of 20 million naira and asked the Attorney General of Oyo State to file an affidavit of compliance latest August 7, 2021. 

“A similar decision was given against the Government of Katsina State, with the same cost of 20 million naira awarded against it.

“As far as we are concerned, the Supreme Court, by that judgment, made a policy decision, being a policy court. It was apparently sending a message to states in its attempt to protect elected local governments councils.”

“Recall that the state government had long before the ruling of the Supreme Court offered to pay the salaries and allowances of the dissolved local government chairmen. The said council chairmen scuttled the bid at the time because they came up with absolute terms, insisting that they must return to the councils with all their aides.”

Iyabo Adebisi

Politics

Oyo ALGON: Sunday Dare Lauds Supreme Court’s Judgement

By Web News 673

The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare says today’s judgment by the Supreme Court declaring the sack of elected local governments executives in Oyo State by the state Governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde as “null and void” is a landmark achievement in the present government’s deliberate hard work to deepen democracy at the grassroots.

Mr. Dare in his immediate response to the judgment noted that with the “ unsparing , unequivocal and unambiguous’’ judgment by the highest court in the land, it has now become crystal clear that no state government has the power to sack any elected council chairman or councilor, as correctly envisioned by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Mr. Dare commended the gallantry of the local government chairmen under the leadership of Prince Abass Ayodeji Alesinloye stressing that their steadfastness and doggedness eventually paid off not only for themselves but for democracy as an institution at the grassroots.

The Minister also praised their legal team led by Chief Niyi Akintola for a thorough and painstaking legal battle fought almost gratis for the sake of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the cause of democracy.

Mr. Dare did not forget the immediate past Governor of the state, late Senator Abiola Ajimobi who he commended for his role in ensuring that due diligence was appropriately done in the conduct of the local government election and the profound leadership given to the local government executives in the institution and pursuit of the case until his death.

The Minister said that he was particularly elated that ‘’ our party, the All Progressives Congress under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, the National Caretaker Chairman, Governor Mai Mala Buni and the Oyo State Caretaker Chairman, Chief Akin Oke was able to  finally lay this issue bothering mainly on tyranny of power by state governors to rest.

While congratulating the gallant chairmen and councilors, Mr. Sunday Dare urged them to remain totally committed and loyal to the party in order to collectively win back Oyo State for APC. 

 Recap: This is a major achievement for democracy at the grassroots.

Oluwakayode Banjo

Judiciary

Supreme Court Upholds Joshua Dariye’s Conviction

By Web News 889

The Supreme Court has affirmed the conviction of a former governor of Plateau state, Joshua Dariye, in the charges of criminal breach of trust brought against him by the federal government.

Senator Dariye’s jail term of ten years imposed on him by the Court of Appeal was also upheld along with the conviction.

Delivering judgment on the appeal, Justice Helen Ogunwumiju held that the Court of Appeal and a high court of the Federal Capital Territory were right in thier findings in the criminal breach of trust filed against the ex governor under section 315 of the Penal Code.

Justice Ogunwumiju, in the unanimous judgment prepared by Justice Ejembi Eko which she read, however, disagreed with the two lower courts in their findings on the misappropriation of funds and subsequently quashed it.

The misappropriation of funds brought against Dariye under section 309 of the Penal Code carries a maximum of two years imprisonment.

Justice Adebukola Banjoko of the high court of the FCT had in 2018, sentenced Senator Dariye to 14 years in the criminal breach of trust, but it was reduced to ten years by the Court of Appeal.

Ifeoma Nwovu

 

Politics

Makinde Vs. ALGON: Supreme Court Delivers Judgment May 7th

By Web News 702

The Supreme Court Wednesday morning heard the case brought before it by the Association of Local Government of Nigeria, ALGON against the judgement of the Appeal Court which favoured the state government.

Judgement in the case will be delivered 7th May, 2021.

Ibadan North West local government chairman, Bashorun Moshood Ajuwon and others, had instituted the case, with suit number SC556/2020, against Governor Seyi Makinde and others,  after sacking them on May 29, 2019 inauguration.

The sacked chairmen, it would be recalled, were elected on May 12, 2018 in an exercise that PDP boycotted on the ground that there was a court injunction against the conduct of the poll that was not vacated before the exercise.

The Court of Appeal had on Wednesday, July 15, 2020, okayed the sack of elected chairmen

But ALGON chairman, Prince Abass Aleshinloye has assured that he and his colleagues would challenge the judgement at the apex court.

OyoInsight

Judiciary

Ikire Obaship Tussle: Supreme Court Declares Oba Falabi’s Selection Illegal

By Web News 2863

Osun State High Court sitting in Ikire says Akire of Ikire, Oba Olatunde Falabi can no longer occupy the seat of Akire of Ikire.

Oba Falabi had earlier approached High Court sitting in Ikire to challenge Osun state government from dethroning him, as Akire of ikireland.

The Akire of Ikire, Oba Olatunde Falabi who was enthroned as Akire of Ikire in 1993, has been facing the legal battle for the past twenty-seven years.

Oba Falabi however in May 2014, challenged the state government over its plan to depose him following the judgment of Supreme Court.

In 2014, Supreme Court ruled that Akintula was entitled to the throne as a ruling house and the 1958 Ikire Chieftaincy declaration gazette Akintula ruling house as next to the throne after the late monarch who joined his ancestors in 1987.

The presiding Judge, Justice Razaq Abudulkareem ruled that 1958 Ikire Chieftaincy declaration still subsist as the chieftaincy declaration recognized Akintula, as next succession to the throne of Akire.

Justice Abudulkareem affirmed that the nomination and selection of Oba Falabi was illegal.

Speaking, the counsel to Oba Falabi, Mr Habib Giwa, said going by the interpretation of the judgment, the monarch still remained the Akire of Ikireland.

The Defense counsel, Mr Wale Olutayo said the court has ruled that the nomination and selection of Oba Falabi was not in conformity with Ikire Chieftaincy declaration.

Wasiu Ajadosu