NEWS
Ekiti Governor, Osinbajo Reacts To Akeredolu’s Death
Former Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo and the Governor of Ekiti state, Biodun Oyebanji, have reacted to the death of Ondo State Rotimi Akeredolu.
Mourning the deceased in a tweet on Thursday, Osinbajo said he lost a brother and friend who firmly believed in Nigeria’s democracy.
Osinbajo wrote, “Dolly and I express our sincere condolence to Her Excellency Betty Akeredolu, children, family, friends, associates of HE Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu @rotimiaketi and the government and people of Ondo State on his passing. I have lost a brother and friend of over 40 years.
“Aketi was bold, courageous, forthright, fair minded, kind and God fearing. He firmly believed in our democracy, in Justice and the rule of law. He loved the people of Ondo State and was passionate about their security and economic advancement. We pray that the Almighty God will comfort the family and people of Ondo State on this great loss. Amen.Sun re o Aketi Baba!!”
On his part, Governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji, who said that he was deeply saddened by Akeredolu’s death, described the demise as a monumental loss to the entire Yoruba nation.
Oyebanji wrote, “I am deeply saddened by the passing of my dear brother Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN. His demise is a monumental loss not only to his immediate family and the good people of Ondo State, but to the entire Yoruba nation and, indeed our beloved country.
“My heartfelt condolences go to his family, the Olowo – in- council and the people of Ondo State. The Government and people of Ekiti State, stand in solidarity with our neighbours in the Sunshine State at this period of mourning. Akeredolu was not just a legal giant and scholar but a visionary and courageous leader who loved and defended his people.
“His commitment to good governance, democracy, and transformative leadership has left an indelible mark on Ondo State and the nation. As we reflect on his legacy, let us remember him as a dogged fighter, a man of excellence, and a true statesman. The Southwest Governors’ Forum and the Southern Governors’ Forum have lost a dedicated chairperson, a leader who tirelessly advocated for the betterment of our region.
“Akeredolu’s contributions to nation building as a former Attorney General of Ondo State, former NBA President, and as Governor of Ondo State will forever be etched in our collective memory. May God grant comfort to his wife, Mrs. Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, their children, friends, associates, and the entire Ondo State people during this difficult time. Our thoughts and prayers are with you as we remember and honour the life of Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN.”
World Wide Gist had earlier reported that Akeredolu died after a prolonged battle with Cancer and Leukaemia.
The Chairman of Abia State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on the recovery of Government Property and Funds, Justice Florence Doruoha-Igwe (Rtd) has issued a Bench Warrant on Anthony Agbazuere and Don Ubani, who served as Chief of Staff and Deputy Chief of Staff, respectively, to former Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.
This is even as Don Ubani has said that he never received any invitation from the panel.
The Bench Warrant on Agbazuere according to Justice Duruoha-Igwe was because of his alleged failure to appear before the Panel to give evidence in respect to a Toyota Hilux Land Cruiser alleged to be in his possession since he left office.
Justice Doruoha-Igwe (Rtd) who adjourned the matter to January 24, 2024, directed that Agbazuere should be arrested and produced for further cross examination.
The Panel said that the Bench warrant on the former Deputy Chief of Staff to former Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, Don Ubani, was because of his alleged failure to appear before the Panel and his inability to file a response to a notice served him on 30th of November, 2023.
Speaking before adjourning the matter to 24th of this month, the Chairman Justice Doruoha-Igwe (Rtd) directed that Ubani should be arrested and produced on January 24, 2024, to defend himself.
But reacting to the development, the former Deputy Chief of Staff to former Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, Don Ubani said he was shocked to read that a Bench Warrant had been issued on him, saying that he was never invited by the Panel.
“I am shocked to read that a Bench Warrant could be issued on me without ever being invited to a Panel either by writing or even through a telephone call,” said Ubani who also described the arrest order as ‘false propaganda and political witch-hunt’.
But the former Deputy Chief of Staff also promised to appear before the Panel of Enquiry if he received an invitation.
The National Judicial Council, NJC, has clarified that no date has yet been fixed for the swearing-in of the newly appointed eleven Justices of the Supreme Court.
The Council said that the purported news by an Abuja based media organization suggesting Monday January 16 for the inauguration of the Justices did not emanate from it.
A statement by the NJC’s Director of Information, Barrister Soji Oye clarified that neither the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, who is the NJC Chairman, nor the Council itself authored or endorsed the purported date.
While asking members of the public to disregard the news, the NJC said that the date for the swearing-in of the Justices would be made public at the appropriate time.
NJC’s statement read in part, “The attention of the National Judicial Council has been drawn to a trending story purportedly informing the public that the newly appointed 11 Supreme Court Justices would be sworn in on Monday 16 January 2023.
“The Council by this medium expressly denies the news as it did not emanate from the Council or the Office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman of the National Judicial Council, Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.
“The date for the swearing-in of the Justices will be made public at the appropriate time. Members of the public should please disregard the trending news.”
The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, Kaduna State, has demanded a probe of alleged extra-judicial killing of their members.
WORLD WIDE GIST recalls that an online report alleged that 11 decomposing corpses of Fulani natives, from Tulde Fulbe, Ladduga Grazing Reserve in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State, were on Monday discovered in a forest.
They were alleged to have been killed by the Nigerian Army.
But the Headquarters, 1 Division of the Nigerian Army, in a statement on Thursday night, by Lt. Col Musa Yahaya, Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, denied involvement of the Army in the said killing.
However, in a statement by MACBAN Kaduna chairman, Haruna Usman Tugga, he insisted that the organisation as an umbrella body of Fulbe in Nigeria received with serious concern the information.
The statement condemned what they described as “extra-judicial killing of law-abiding Fulbe youths of Tilde Fulbe community and other areas of Ladduga Grazing Reserve in Kachia Local Government Area of the state by military personnel at Kachia, headquarters of Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State.”
He said they called an emergency executive meeting of the association to get to the root of the matter and find out the remote causes, perpetrators and names of the victims.
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