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Tag: Osun

  • Diplomats seek visa ban for erring public servants in Rivers, Osun, Benue

    Diplomats seek visa ban for erring public servants in Rivers, Osun, Benue

    ABUJA: A forum for global diplomats, the United World Congress of Diplomats, UN-WCD, has called on Western countries to impose visa restrictions on Nigerian judges, who give conflicting orders regarding politics and elections in the country.

    The congress particularly took exceptions to political and judicial developments in Rivers, Osun and Benue states, saying the judges and all those involved in standing the law on its head should be dealt with.

    Secretary General of the Congress, Prof. Tunji Asaolu, who addressed newsmen in Abuja, yesterday, said: “We have received reports from some states in Nigeria such as Rivers State, the undue interferences of judiciary workers especially judges on political issues where conflicting orders were issued by judges just to frustrate democracy.

    “In Osun State, there was a conflicting state High Court order and Appeal Court judgment over the dissolution of Local Government Council Chairmen and their reinstatement and a fresh election by the state electoral empire.

    “The most recent and worrisome of all is the political interference by the Benue State Chief Judge, Justice Maurice Ikpambese, when he tried to undermine justice by granting waivers to petitioners of local government election tribunal not to pay security deposit as stipulated by law.”

    “These behaviours are completely against the core objectives of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, ACDEG, which are to promote adherence, by each state party, to the universal values and principles of democracy and respect for human rights and also the principle of the rule of law premised upon the respect for, and the supremacy of the constitution and constitutional order in the political arrangements of the state parties, which is Nigeria in this case.

    “The Benue State Chief Judge, the Registrar of the court, the current Senate Minority Leader, and all those who supported the actions of the Chief Judge publicly should be sanctioned and have their existing visas canceled and visa ban issued against them just as we advocated in the case of Rivers State and Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, officials who purposely sabotaged democratic principles during elections.”

    According to him, Benue State is of particular interest to the international community having been under security threats which led to the establishment of several Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, camps across the state.

    The diplomats also implored Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State, to speedily appoint an acting Chief Judge to prevent a vacuum in the judiciary and ensure the uninterrupted delivery of justice to the citizens of the state.

    “Ensuring stability and continuity within the judicial system is crucial for safeguarding the rights and interests of the people.

    Related News
    Group drags Benue CJ before NJC, issues 48-hour ultimatum for probe
    Benue APC Elders demand reversal of Justice Ikpambese’s removal
    Benue govt, stakeholders knock Chief Judge over public outbursts

    “And finally, we call for a total reform of the Nigerian judiciary to rebuild the confidence of Nigerians in the system,” said Asaolu.

  • Osun Govt Declines Police Advice, Insist on Holding LG Election

    Osun Govt Declines Police Advice, Insist on Holding LG Election

    The Osun State Government has declined the security advice from the Nigeria Police Force, which clamoured for the temporary halt of the local government election scheduled for today (Saturday).

    Reports has it that the Nigeria Police had on Friday called for the temporary halt of the election within Osun state based on high intelligence gathering.

    In a statement delivered by the Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, the police stated that the reliable intelligence suggests a high intended violence and notable security escalation if the planned council election occurs within the state.

    On the other hand, in a signed statement late Friday by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, the state government declared that the bases for declining the advice were central to the rule of law and aversion to police partisanship.

    Referencing the security advice, the state government depicted that it had checked the advice and came to the conclusion that the proposal from the force headquarters was biased, partisan and in contradiction of democratic tenets.

    The statement reads, “The pretence of the service to be serving the public good while actually promoting the illegality of the APC reinforces our rejection of a Greek gift.

    “From the beginning of this face off, the police has breached best practices by its open support for the All Progressives Congress, a party that is pushing for illegality through a non-existing court order. The whole world knows how the police actively aided the APC to enforce a reinstatement order that was never issued by any court of law.

    “A law enforcement agency has suddenly become a partisan wing of a political party, the APC, thereby losing all toga of a fair law agency. The negative role of the police to ignite the current face off made its advice a poison chocolate.

    “Beyond the above, we also call the attention of the police to the court judgment of today. It contains three orders which affirm vacancies in Osun councils by authenticating the sacking of the APC council chieftains directed the police and other security agencies to provide security for the election and gave go ahead to fresh LG elections by Saturday 22nd.”

    The Police were also alleged by the state government of seeking partisan interests rather than obedience to court order and working in contrary to the rule of law.

    “Instead of the police to obey court order, the service is regrettably pursuing its partisan line by actively working against rule of law as espoused by today’s court ruling.

    “If the police chose to disobey court orders, the Osun State government will not go against rule of law, hence the decision of the state government to support the state electoral commission to conduct a credible free and fair elections tomorrow.

    “We thank the police for their advice. We respectfully turned down the request while we urged Osun voters to peacefully exercise their voting rights on Saturday.”

  • Osun: Adeleke Imposes Curfew on Ifon and Ilobu Over Renewed Land Dispute

    Osun: Adeleke Imposes Curfew on Ifon and Ilobu Over Renewed Land Dispute

    Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew on the Ifon and Ilobu communities in Orolu and Irepodun Local Government Areas following renewed clashes over a land dispute.

    The two communities have reportedly conflicted since 2023, with tensions escalating in recent days.

    In a statement issued on Thursday, Kolapo Alimi, the state’s commissioner for information and public enlightenment, announced the curfew, which is in effect from 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. daily.

    “Sequel to an outbreak of yet another communal misunderstanding between Ifon and Ilobu communities, the State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has ordered that a curfew be imposed on the two warring communities with immediate effect,” the statement read.

    “To forestall further escalation of the crisis, the governor has approved that a 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. curfew be imposed.”

    The state government has also deployed security operatives to maintain order and prevent further violence in the affected areas.

    Alimi disclosed that the state government will establish a committee of stakeholders to address the dispute and seek a permanent resolution.

    The committee will include representatives from both communities, heads of security agencies, the council of Obas, and other relevant bodies.

    “The state government is committed to resolving this issue permanently and calls on the indigenes of Ifon and Ilobu to cooperate fully in the process,” Alimi said.

    The commissioner also issued a stern warning to those inciting violence.

    “Anyone caught instigating further violence, knowingly or unknowingly, would be made to face the full wrath of the law,” he added.

  • Osun APC suspends Aregbesola over alleged anti-party activities

    Osun APC suspends Aregbesola over alleged anti-party activities

    The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has announced the suspension of former governor and ex-Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, over allegations of anti-party activities.

    The suspension, which takes immediate effect, is pending the outcome of disciplinary proceedings initiated by the state’s party leadership.

    The decision followed a request from the Ilesa East Local Government APC Executive Committee, which petitioned the state party chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, to take action against Aregbesola, citing his alleged involvement in actions that undermined the APC.

    The committee, in a letter, accused Aregbesola of promoting factionalism and colluding with opposition parties, among other allegations.

    Responding to the request, the Osun State APC Executive Committee notified the party’s national leadership, represented by APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, of its decision to suspend Aregbesola and to establish a disciplinary panel to investigate the charges.

    The resolution, dated October 22, titled “Resolution Suspending Rauf Aregbesola for Anti-Party Activities and Constituting a Disciplinary Committee,” was signed by Osun APC Chairman Lawal and Secretary Kamar Olabisi.

    The document, obtained on Tuesday in Osogbo, outlined the allegations and Aregbesola’s suspension based on Article 21 of the APC Constitution.

    “Following complaints of anti-party activities leveled against Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola by the Ilesa East Local Government Executive Committee, the State Executive Committee (SEC), after reviewing the allegations and in accordance with the powers vested in it by Article 21(3)(vi)(c) of the party’s Constitution, hereby suspends Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola from the party pending the outcome of an investigation,” the statement partly read.

    The charges against Aregbesola include, factionalizing the APC by forming the Omoluabi Caucus splinter group; allegedly collaborating with opposition parties to destabilize the APC in Osun State; publicly criticizing party leaders, including President Bola Tinubu, Chief Bisi Akande, and former Osun governor Gboyega Oyetola; refusing to participate in or support APC activities within the state; and refusing to vote for the party since the 2019 general elections.

    The committee will deliver its findings and recommendations to the state executive within 14 days.

    It also issued a formal notice to Aregbesola, inviting him to appear and defend himself against the allegations.

    Reaffirming its commitment to party discipline, the Osun APC urged members to avoid actions that could harm the party’s unity and electoral prospects.

    “The party will not hesitate to enforce disciplinary measures on any member found violating the party’s constitution or engaging in anti-party conduct,” the committee said.

    In a follow-up letter dated October 24 and signed by Osun APC Disciplinary Committee Secretary, Waheed Adediran, the former governor was given 48 hours to respond to the allegations in writing.

    His response, the committee noted, would be essential for its investigation into the six charges levelled against him.