The Akure High Court has ruled in favor of Mr Governor, Dr. Mimiko that the election that brought in the local government chairmen into power was illegal (for lack of better word), so they have to go.
Information from Akure also confirms that a caretaker committee/interim chairmen have been sworn in to run the local governments pending a new election.
More information soon…
For Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, democracy dividend is more than just infrastructure. It has more to do with psychological and spiritual contentment. That is what he says the people are enjoying at the moment with the knowledge that their affairs are no longer being managed by a king that they did not crown. Now they have their own king. However, he says that beyond this, his government is already making remarkable progress to let the people know that they did not make the wrong choice, as his mission to redeem the state from years of the locusts gathers momentum. He spoke about this and other issues with reporters in Akure, to mark his 100 days in office.
The Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko on Thursday declared that the indebtedness he inherited from the immediate past Dr. Olusegun Agagu’s administration was much bigger than what the state incurred since its creation in 1976. Besides, he said that in two or three weeks time he would address the citizenry through the State Assembly on the financial situation of the state,
Mimiko speaking at a media parley held at Government House, Akure, the state capital lamented that there were no handing over notes or transition committee by Agagu’s administration to help the new administration to take-off.
His words: “Let me inform you that in two or three weeks time I will address the State Assembly on the financial situation of the state, so that all the speculations on the issue of state finances will be a thing of the past.
Let me also say here categorically that Agagu’s administration hurriedly packed out following the Appeal Tribunal verdict without normal handing over to the new administration as the development was caused by circumstances.”
He lamented that the sum of N14 billion spent on water by the ousted Agagu administration in the state could not be translated to drinking water to the people of the state, saying that it was just like his administration was starting from the scratch.
He stressed that the greatest challenges for the state government were on how to tackle unemployment; saying that the digital card projects his administration initiated would engage 4,000 volunteers. [Guardian]
List of the new commissioners:
Chief Julius Akinigbagbe – Agriculture
Prince Sola Amodeni – Forest Resources
Mrs. Adenike Fatogun – Education
Alhaji Sikiru Basaru – Lands and Housing
Dr. Kunle Asaolu – Physical and Urban Planning
Mr. Akin Akingbesote – Commerce and Industry
Mr. Clement Faboyede – Cooperative and Community Development
Mrs. Bukola Tenabe – Women Affairs
Mr. Wole Akinjo – Employment, Labour and Productivity
Mr. Yele Omogunwa – Works
Mr. Wale Akinterinwa – Finance
Mr. Oye Alademehin – Local government and Chieftaincy Affairs
Mr. Lebi Adepiti – Environment
Mr. Tola Wewe – Culture and Tourism
Mr.Yekini Olanipekun – Youths and Sports
Mr. Akin Adaramola – Economic Planning and Budget
Dr. Lawrence Adegbenro – Health.
I started politics out of passion to get involved in what I call upstream tackling of poverty. As a medical practitioner, I came face to face with poverty in crude form. I saw children who died because their parents at that time could not afford to buy one pint of blood. I saw children die of diarrhoea. I remember those harrowing cries of the mothers when they lost those children. I decided somewhere along the line that even if I do free medical services for everybody, I could not afford to give to everybody that wanted it. I said perhaps, to influence the majority of the people, it’s better to get involved at the policy level – what I call the upstream sector – by getting involved in politics and using the power from politics to impact on lives.
Read the full interview, from Olukorede Yishau, Nation
Information from several media house indicate the Dr Segun Agagu may have been arrest by the EFCC. Further clarification being awaited. The Punch revealed last week that “there were indications on Friday that a former governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Agagu, may be arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.”
Some reports coming in regarding the arrest:
Channels TV: http://www.channelstv.com/newsdetails.php?news_id=11072
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission [EFCC] has arrested the Former Governor of Ondo state Olusegun Agagu.
Dr. Agagu was arrested at about 8.00am this morning by officials of the Anti-Graft agency.
His arrest according to sources at the Commission is in connection with the alleged embezzling of 25 billion naira belonging to the Ondo State Oil Producing Community Fund.
Nation Online: http://www.thenationonlineng.com/dynamicpage.asp?id=78811
EFCC arrests Agagu over N25 billion oil agency fund 4/3/2009
The Economic and financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) today arrests former Ondo State Governor Olusegun Agagu over alleged mismanagement of n25 billion belonging to the State oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC).
He is being detained pending conclusion of investigations. Agagu’s arrest followed a 24 hours trail of his movement by EFCC operatives. He was trailed from his Iju odo hometown in Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State to Abuja.
His arrest aborted his planned trip to Australia via London on Thursday. The Anti-Graft Agency moved in on the former governor upon hearing that he is billed to travel to Australia tomorrow via London.
Spokesman for the Commission, Mr. Femi Babafemi has confirmed the arrest of the former governor.
Sahara Reporters, however, maintains, Dr Agagu was arrested but released almost immediately:
But just as we went to press with the story of his arrest, sources told Saharareporters that Dr. Agagu has already been ordered released, following instructions to the EFCC chairperson from the Presidency to do so immediately.
The Ondo State Elections Petitions Tribunal, nullified the election of Governor Olusegun Agagu of Ondo State, and declared Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, governorship candidate of the Labour Party in the 14 April, 2007 election, winner of the election. Video footage by Channels TV. Feb. 23, 3009.
At inauguration: Ondo State Governor Mimiko and first lady, Kemi Mimiko
“Your struggle will be my struggle, your joy will be my joy and your aspiration will be my aspiration. I will strive at all times to make decisions that will benefit the greatest number of our people,” Dr. Mimiko told the crowd which was described as the largest in the history of the 33-year-old state.
And just as the crowd cheered, he added, “We will step on toes if we have to, but at all times, in all seasons, I will work for you.”
Step by Step account of events at Appeals Court:
* 12.50 PM– Dr Olusegun Mimiko declared the duly elected Governor of Ondo State
* 12.43 PM– Results resolved in favour of Dr Mimiko
* 12.32 PM– Judges analysing the votes and results
* 12.29 PM– 10 out of 11 issues involved resolved in favour of Mimiko, 11th in progress
* 12.09 PM– Charts detailing the irregularities submitted by LP issue resolved in favor of Mimiko
* 11.49 AM– Issue of unused voters cards, and voters register resolved in favor of Mimiko
* 11.26 AM– Olaitan Ayeni, an aide to Agagu hurriedly left the court room
* 11.23 AM– Political officers signing result forms resolved in favours of Mimiko
* 11.10 AM– Evidences admissibility resolved in favours of Mimiko
* 11.05 AM– SSS report favors of Mimiko
* 10.58 AM– Issue of ballot paper counting resolved in favor of Mimiko
* 10.20 AM– First casualty of the day, INEC’s case thrown out.
* 10:12 AM – Reading starts
* 9:56 AM – Judges arrived.
* 8:55 AM – Mimiko and the National Chairman of Labour party arrived the court premises greeting both LP and PDP party supporters.
Some details:
n an unanimous judgment which lasted three hours, read by the President of the Court, Justice Umaru Abdullahi, the Appeal Court upheld the decision of the Election Petitions Tribunal which nullified the election of Dr. Olusegun Agagu of the PDP and declared Dr. Olusegun Mimiko of the Labour Party as winner.
The Court held that although there were irregularities in certain units of the Local Government, it was not enough to nullify the elections as the Labour Party candidate still scored the highest number of votes cast in the election.
The Labour Party candidate, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko was present in Court along with top officials of the party. The PDP was represented by a few Commissioners.
In upholding the election, the Court ruled that Dr. Mimiko scored twenty five percent of the votes cast in Twelve of Eighteen Local Government Areas with a total of 195,000 votes as against Dr. Agagu’s 135,000 votes.
The Appeal of the PDP candidate therefore failed and all Twelve Grounds were resolved in Dr. Mimiko’s favour.
The Judges also criticized INEC and asked the body to maintain neutrality at all times.
Meanwhile, the street of Akure, the capital of Ondo state are agog with celebration with supporters of Dr. Segun Mimiko spilling out unto the streets with songs of praises. The celebrations started immediately news of the verdict filtered into the state.
The Court of Appeal in Benin, on Monday, concluded hearing of the protracted legal tussle between the Ondo State Governor, Chief Olusegun Agagu, and the candidate of the Labour Party in the April 2007 governorship poll in the state, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko.
The court also reserved its judgment on the case, saying that the date of the judgment would be communicated to the parties accordingly.
The President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Umaru Abdulahi, gave 30 minutes to each of the lead lawyers to the parties in the dispute to present their briefs.
The parties — Agagu, Mimiko, the Peoples Democratic Party, the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Police had argued their briefs in tense court proceedings that lasted three hours and 30 minutes.
After listening to the arguments, Abdullahi commended the lawyers for their industry.
But the appeal was heard by a panel that was slightly different from the one that heard the appeal which sacked former Governor Oserheimen Osunbor from office on November 11, 2008, as Abdullahi announced a reconstitution of the panel on the grounds that one of the justices would ‘soon be going’
The other members of the panel included Justices Amina Adamu-Augie, Ayo Salami, Kumai Akaahs, and Ndukwe Anyanwu.
Agagu was represented by Chief Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), who led Chief Adeniyi Akintola (SAN), Dr. Alex Izinyon (SAN), Mr. Damian Dodo (SAN) and I.A Adedipe (SAN), while a former President of the Nigeria Bar Association, Chief. Wole Olanikpeku (SAN), led Yussuf Ali (SAN), Mr. Femi Falana and others to represent Mimiko.
Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim (SAN), Mr. Joseph Daudu (SAN), and J. C. A Idachaba led the legal teams of the Peoples Democratic Party, the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Nigeria Police respectively in the epic legal battle.
Fagbemi, had urged the court to grant the appeal of Agagu against the judgment of the lower tribunal and faulted the way ballot papers purportedly used in the election were put to use by the Election Petitions Tribunal.
But Olanikpekun countered the submissions of Fagbemi, the PDP, the INEC and police and denied Fagbemi’s claims that the manner in which the ballot papers were sorted robbed his client much of his votes.
He argued further that the evidence in the case was even stronger than that of Oshiomhole, on the grounds that it was more compelling. – Punch.