Tag: Oyetola

Oyetola Calls For Investigation Into SARS Involvement In Death Of Suspected Internet Fraudster

Five Robbery Attacks Foiled, 12 People Rescued In March – Lagos Govt
File Photo of a police van

 

The Osun State Governor Adegboyega Oyetola has called on the Nigerian Police to immediately launch an extensive investigation into the circumstances and events that led to the reported death of a citizen, who was allegedly chased by officers of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad in Osogbo, the state capital.

The government said it was shocked at the tragedy and the disruption that followed the unfortunate incident.

A statement signed by the state’s Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation,  Funke Egbemode,  said the governor,  Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola,  was deeply disturbed by Tuesday evening’s sad events and had asked the State Command of the Nigerian Police to get to the bottom of the matter

“The tragic events that reportedly led to the death of one person on Tuesday evening was both sad and shocking and Governor Adegboyega Oyetola has ordered a full investigation into the circumstances that led to it all.

“To the Governor all lives matter and nobody has a right under our laws to take a life summarily. While we appreciate the great job our law enforcement agencies are doing to keep Osun safe,  the confusion and disruption to our peaceful state capital on Tuesday needs to be investigated

“We hereby call on the Osun State Command of the Nigerian Police to launch a comprehensive investigation into this tragedy”.

In the same vein, the Governor has appealed to the families of the deceased and the injured not to take matters into their hands by hurting more people or destroying properties. “We implore our citizens to trust the Government to get to the bottom of this sad occurrence.

“Let us all go about our lives peacefully while we await the results of the investigation”.

Gambari’s Appointment Is Well-Deserved, Says Oyetola

 

The Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, has congratulated Professor Ibrahim Agboola Gambari on his appointment as the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari.

The governor in a statement on Thursday by his Chief Press Secretary, Ismail Omipidan, described the appointment as deserving and well-thought-out.

Governor Oyetola hailed President Buhari for making a ‘great choice’ saying he is confident that Prof. Gambari would bring to bear, his vast knowledge, the wealth of experience, and exposure on his new assignment.

“I felicitate Prof. Ibrahim Gambari on his appointment and commend President Buhari for making a great choice. This is a deserving and well-thought-out appointment, considering the enviable pedigree and antecedents of the appointee.

“Prof. Gambari is an erudite scholar, technocrat, seasoned diplomat, and administrator. I am confident he will do well on the job as he will bring to bear, his vast knowledge, a wealth of experience and exposure on discharging his official duties as the Chief of Staff to Mr. President.

“I wish him the best as he takes on this new national assignment while also urging all Nigerians to pray for him and give him the support he needs to excel in office”, Governor Oyetola added.

Osun State Records Two Deaths From COVID-19 Complications

Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola, addressing residents of the state on the index case of COVID-19 recorded on March 25, 2020. Credit:@GboyegaOyetola

 

Osun state government has recorded two deaths from twelve confirmed positive cases of Coronavirus out of 167 tests conducted in the state.

The state governor, Gboyega Oyetola disclosed this while briefing the media at the government house, Osogbo.

READ ALSO: 33 New Cases Of COVID-19 Recorded In Lagos

The governor disclosed that out of the twelve confirmed cases, 6 are returnees from Benin republic, 1from lbadan in Oyo state, 3 are the state health officials, while 2 who arrived Osun from Lagos state with underlying ailments lost their lives to the virus.

Oyetola hinted that protocols of burial will be strictly followed according to instructions from NCDC before the dead victims are buried and also added that contract tracing will immediately begin.

I wish Governor Oyetola Well In The Governance Of Osun State – Adeleke

 

Senator Ademola Adeleke, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2018 Osun State governorship election, has congratulated Governor Gboyega Oyetola on his victory at the Supreme Court.

In a statement by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, Adeleke said he wishes the governor well.

Adeleke said, “As a democrat and law-abiding citizen, I accept the ruling no matter my misgivings.

“I wish Governor Oyetola well in the governance of Osun State.”

READ ALSO: Supreme Court Affirms Oyetola’s Victory In Osun Election

The lawmaker said he would not place his personal interests above the interest of the state.

He said the Supreme Court’s decision, regardless of his disagreement and disappointment with it remains final.

Senator Adeleke said he was thankful to God for the strength to run the political race to the very end.

Supreme Court Affirms Oyetola’s Victory In Osun Election

Osun-governor elect, Gboyega Oyetola

 

The Supreme Court by a split decision has dismissed the appeal filed by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2018 Osun Governorship Election, Senator Ademola Adeleke against the election of Adegboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The apex court in a majority judgment of five to two upheld the decision of the court of appeal which nullified the judgment of the Osun State Governorship Election petition tribunal on the grounds that the tribunal was not properly constituted in regard to numbers.

The majority decision which was delivered by Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour, agreed with the lower court that the absence of Justice Peter Obiora from the proceedings of February 6th 2019, who delivered the lead judgment was fatal to the case of the appellants and renders the entire sitting and judgment of the tribunal a nullity.

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Supporters Jubilate As Supreme Court Affirms Oyetola’s Victory

Osun Election: Senator Adeleke Files Notice Of Appeal At Supreme Court

It agreed with the appeal court that the absence of Justice Obiora when a key witness in the petition was heard has rendered the judgment of the trial tribunal a nullity. And that the failure of Mr Obiora to be present on that day meant that the tribunal lacked the authorities to have given any judgment on the matter.

Justice Bode Rhodes- Vivour who delivered the majority judgment supported by five of the seven-justice of the Apex court panel held that it is settled law that when the rightly constituted panel of a court does not seat the activities carried out by that panel is a nullity.

Justice Rhodes-Vivour agreed with the argument by counsel to Governor Oyetola, Mr Wole Olanipekun that the majority judgment of the tribunal  is a nullity, because it was written and delivered by Justice Obiora, who did not  participated in the February 6 proceedings of the tribunal where vital documents relating to the election were tendered and when a vital witnesses gave evidence.

Justice Obiora, according to the court’s record they said was absent on February 6, 2019 when the respondents witnesses  12 and 13 – Ayoola Soji and Oladejo Kazeem – testified and tendered exhibits, which the tribunal admitted in evidence.

The supreme court held that, having not attended the tribunal’s sitting on February 6, 2019, Justice Obiora did not see the two witnesses and was unable to examine their demeanour, as required, and therefore, it was unlawful for the judge to have authored a judgment in which he reviewed the evidence given by the witnesses.

“Failure to sit rendered the proceedings a nullity and the judgment suffers a fundamental error and irredeemably affected the competence of the judgment of the tribunal,” the court added.

Apart from Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour, others who supported the majority judgment are Justices Tanko Mohammad, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, Amir Sanusi and Uwani Aba-Aji.

However, in a minority judgment delivered by Justice Kummai Akaahs and supported by Justice Paul Galinje, both justices disagreed with the findings in the majority judgment on the absence of Justice Obiora on February 6, as a reason for dismissing the application.

They further said that the findings of the majority judgment was based on conjecture and well-articulated speculation by relying on a certified true copy of the tribunal’s proceedings instead of the original record.

The minority judgment also held that cancellation of election in seven polling units of four local government area of Osun by a returning officer of INEC was illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional, adding that by section 179 of the 1999 constitution, Senator Adeleke who scored highest votes in the main election and fulfilled the section ought to have been declared winner of the election.

The minority judgment further accused INEC of using inconclusiveness in the election to perpetrate fraud and to do what it wants to do even when it is illegal.

They, therefore, set aside the judgment of the court of appeal and declare Adeleke as the winner of the election of September 22, 2018 governorship election.

‘Hope Is Not Dead!’ Atiku Reacts To Supreme Court Judgement On Osun Poll

Atiku Abubakar

 

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in last general elections, Atiku Abubakar, has reacted to the Supreme Court judgement on the Osun State Election noting that, ‘hope is not dead.’

Atiku in a series of Tweet on his verified Twitter handle @Atiku said the apex court ruling is not the end of the road for Senator Ademola Adeleke or the PDP.

He noted that although the legal case is over, the love and acceptance of the PDP and its candidate is not over.

“I join with people of goodwill all over Nigeria to say to Senator Ademola Adeleke, and the people of the great state of Osun, that we stand with them in good times and in difficult days.

“The Supreme Court has ruled and because of its judicial finality, the legal case is over.

“However, the love, acceptance and endorsement that the people of Osun bestowed on both Senator Adeleke and the Peoples Democratic Party is not over and cannot be overlooked.

READ ALSO: Supreme Court Affirms Oyetola’s Victory In Osun Election

“Those who think this is the end of the road for Senator Adeleke and the PDP in Osun, are greatly mistaken. This is not the end. Not even the beginning of the end. No. Today marks the continued ascendancy of Senator Adeleke and his party in the hearts and minds of his people.

“The great people of Osun had expected that the progress and development that the Adeleke family had consistently brought to Osun will be translated to their governance. That hope is not dead. Only delayed.”

Atiku also assured the people of Osun State that the PDP remembers their love and acceptance and will never forget to stand by them no matter the situation.

He also urged the nation’s judiciary to take a pulse of the nation and reflect it.

“In their hands, God has placed a great responsibility. The duty to ensure that justice is done, irrespective of the pressure to do otherwise, by the powers that be,” Atiku added.

The Supreme Court had earlier on Friday affirmed Oyetola’s victory at the Osun Election held in September 2018.

The court also dismissed the appeal filed by the PDP and its governorship candidate, Adeleke challenging the election of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of the APC.

 

PHOTOS: Supporters Jubilate As Supreme Court Affirms Oyetola’s Victory

Oyetola’s supporters celebrate at Supreme Court Premises on Friday, July 5, 2019. PHOTO: Channels TV/Sodiq Adelakun

 

There was wild jubilation at Supreme Court on Friday following the judgement which affirmed the victory of Osun Governor-elect Gboyega Oyetola at the September 2018 election held in the state.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) party faithful and supporters could not hide their excitement as they burst into jubilation.

They also displayed a big portrait of the governor-elect as they chanted solidarity songs.

The Supreme Court, on Friday, affirmed Oyetola’s victory by a majority judgment of five to two members of the Supreme Court panel.

READ ALSO: Supreme Court Affirms Oyetola’s Victory In Osun Election

The apex court therefore dismissed the appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate, Ademola Adeleke, challenging the election of Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

 

See photos of the jubilation below…

Appeal Court Judgment: ‘I Believe In The Integrity Of The Judiciary’ – Oyetola

Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola

 

The Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola, has reacted to the Appeal Court Judgment that reinstated him as the winner of the September 22, 2018 governorship election.

Speaking to Channels Television in Osogbo, the state capital on Thursday, Oyetola was happy with the decision of the court.

“I believe in the judiciary of the people, the judiciary is the hope of the people,” he stated.

While hailing the outcome of the judgment, the governor maintained that he won the election.

“I thank the judiciary, I thank the people of the state for the solidarity, you can see people coming out to celebrate without being prompted.

“It shows I won the election squarely, it shows that APC is the most popular party in our state and the people believe that we are going to run a good government,” he said.

Promising to justify the people’s mandate, the governor stated: “I rededicate myself to the service of the people.”

While reacting to the PDP’s statement saying it will go to the Supreme Court, he said, ” We are ready for them, facts are sacred.

“Facts are the same, whether, at the Appeal Court or Supreme Court, we are ready for them, let them go there we will meet them all”

Governor Oyetola who ran under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC),  polled 255,505 votes against his closest opponent, Senator Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with 255,023 votes in last year’s poll.

The APC candidate had trailed the Senator by 353 votes before going into a supplementary election which held in seven polling units in the state on September 27.

READ ALSO: Osun Election: Adeleke Challenges Oyetola’s Victory, Asks Tribunal To Declare Him Governor

Following the results of the election, Senator Adeleke, however, challenged the Governor Oyetola’s victory at the Election Petition Tribunal in Osogbo, thereby asking the tribunal to declare him as the winner of the poll because he polled the highest number of lawful votes cast and met other requirements of the law.

The Election Tribunal on March 22, 2019,  declared the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ademola Adeleke, as the winner of the poll which led to Governor Oyetola also challenging the verdict by the tribunal at the Appeal Court.

Osun Election: Oyetola Asks Appeal Court To Reverse Tribunal’s Decision

 

 

The Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, has asked the Court of Appeal in Abuja to reverse the majority judgment delivered on March 22nd 2019 by the Osun State election tribunal.

The tribunal had, by a majority judgment given by two of its three members, voided the election of Oyetola, pronounced Senator Ademola Adeleke of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) winner and asked the Independent National Electoral Commission to issue him a certificate of return.

In a 39-ground notice of appeal filed by his team of lawyers, led by Wole Olanipekun, Governor Oyetola faulted the majority judgment, given by Justices Peter Obiora and Anyinla Gbolagunte, on the grounds that it was perverse, replete with contradictions and not supported by evidence led by the petitioners.
Governor Oyetola wants the Court of Appeal to uphold his appeal, set aside the majority judgment and dismiss the October 16, 2018 petition by PDP and senatir Adeleke.

The governor said his complaint, in the appeal, was against the entire majority judgment, except where the tribunal held that it lacked jurisdiction to set aside INEC Guidelines; that the allegation of over voting was not proved; that the petitioners did not prove voided votes and other parts of the judgment where the tribunal agreed with their arguments.

READ ALSO: We Believe Oyetola Will Not Drag His Integrity To The Mud – Osun PDP

The governor is contending, in his first ground of appeal, that the entire of the majority judgment is a nullity, because it was written and delivered by Justice Obiora “who did not participate in all the proceedings of the tribunal and who was not present when all the witnesses gave evidence.”

He noted that Justice Obiora was absent on February 6 this year when the respondents witnesses 12 and 13 testified and tendered exhibits, which the tribunal admitted in evidence.

The appellant argued that, having not attended the tribunal’s siting on February 6, 2019, Justice Obiora could not seen the two witnesses and was unable to examine their demeanour, as required, and therefore, unlawful for the judge to have authored a judgment in which he reviewed the evidence given by the witnesses.

He also argued that the tribunal, in its majority judgment, erred in law and acted without jurisdiction when it accepted the petitioners’ complained of non compliance with the provisions of Electoral Act in relation to the September 22, 2018 governorship election in Osun State and on that basis proceeded to nullify his election.

It was equally the appellant’s contention that the tribunal acted without jurisdiction by basing its decision to uphold the petition and set aside the return of the appellants on the basis of allegation of non-compliance with the Electoral Act, in relation to the September 22 governorship election.

The appellant noted that, no where in the entire petition, did Adeleke and the PDP complained about non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act in relation to the September 22, 2018 election.

He added that the only ground, in the petition, alleging non-compliance with the provision of the Electoral Act was in relation to the rerun election held on September 27, 2018.

The appellant further argued that the tribunal erred in law when it cancelled elections in 17 polling units on the mere allegation of improper ballot accounting and accreditation details.

He argued that since all the witnesses called by Senator Adeleke and the PDP admitted that the voting process was regular; that votes scored by each party were publicly announced after counting and that the announced scores of parties were truly reflected on Forms EC8A tendered by petitioners, the tribunal was wrong to have proceeded to cancel results.

Governor Oyetola also faulted the tribunal’s decision to void the rerun election when the petitioners did prove that there were elections in the seven polling units where the rerun election took place and that the results were wrongly cancelled.

He noted that the petitioners did not plead nor adduce evidence that the presiding officers of the affected seven polling units had ab initio approved of the elections at the polling units. He added that the petitioners did not tender the results from the seven polling units.

The appellant also noted that the petitioners did not calling their agents from the affected polling units as witnesses; did not tender documentary evidence to show that it was the returning officer that unilaterally cancelled the elections.

Osun: ‘Davido’s Uncle Has Danced His Way To Victory’ – Nigerians React

 

Earlier on Friday, March 22, the Osun State Governorship Election Tribunal declared the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ademola Adeleke, as the winner of the state’s poll.

The tribunal’s verdict stirred various reactions across the nation, as many Nigerian took to social media to air their views on the court’s declaration.

Below are some of the things Nigerians on Twitter are saying about the tribunal’s verdict regarding the governorship election in Osun state.

READ ALSO: Rivers Poll: INEC Reveals Why Collation Of Results Was Stopped

Governor Oyetola Heads To Appeal Court Following Defeat At Osun Tribunal

 

Governor Adegboyega Oyetola has said he is heading to the Appeal Court following the verdict by a tribunal in Osun, upturning his victory at the state’s governorship election. 

This is according to a statement by Mr. Wole Oyebamiji, secretary to the State Government of Osun.

In its statement, the Osun State Government informed the people that the judgment of the election tribunal has been put on appeal.

The Government assured the people of Osun that justice will prevail at last, and that the law enforcement agencies have been instructed to maintain law and order across the State.

READ ALSO: Osun: ‘Davido’s Uncle Has Danced His Way To Victory’ – Nigerians React

The Osun Government in its communique appreciated the support of the majority of the people “in all things essential for mutual progress”.

It further assured all the residents of the state of adequate security of lives and properties, noting that the Government of the State is still the only legitimate government having the authority to govern Osun.

Residents of the state were urged to go about their lawful duties without any hindrance.

Osun Governor Oyetola Describes Polls As Credible

 

The Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola, has described the voting process as credible and security excellent has he cast his vote at Ward 1 polling unit 2 at his home Iragbiji, Boripe Local Government Area, Osun central.

The governor alongside with his wife, Kafayat Oyetola performed their civic responsibility at exactly 10:32am.

The former governor, Rauf Aregbesola, also cast his vote at his home town Ilesa in Osun east with his wife at 11:46 am

READ ALSO: Atiku, Wife Cast Their Votes In Adamawa

He expressed his satisfaction in the conduct of the process, calling on the candidates across the country to respectively conceived the outcome of the results in good faith irrespective of its nature.

Meanwhile, the aged people turnout enmass to perform their duties as an electorate and are all happy about the process.