…inaugurates transition implementation c’ttee
Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed has said his government was leaving the state better than he met it despite the challenges in the national economy which affected his eight years of administration.
The Governor made this known on Tuesday while speaking during the inauguration of a 24-member transition implementation committee on hand-over of power to a new government in the state.
Governor Ahmed of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who will end his eight years administration on May 29, 2019, will handover to Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who won the guber election in Kwara State on March 9.
According to him, “as you are aware, most of the eight years of our administration were marked by challenges in the national economy. Nevertheless, we leveraged our resourcefulness to modestly fulfill our pledge to uplift our people and our state while laying a solid foundation for its current and future sustenance.
“Indeed, I make bold to state that we are leaving Kwara State better than we met it as we are bequeathing to it a legacy of service, peace and good governance.”
The governor, who said the exercise was to aid the incoming government to settle down to governance quickly, implored residents of the state to extend similar cooperation and support given to his administration to the incoming government, “so that Kwara State can continue to tow the path of continuous development and progress.”
He listed Terms of Reference, ToR, of the Transition Implementation Committee to include “putting in place all necessary machinery for the smooth take-off of the in-coming Administration;
“Ensure full liaison with all officially assigned representatives of the incoming administration for the appropriate briefing on the activities of government towards providing a solid footing for the new government;
“Any other matter the committee may find worthy for the effective discharge of its mandate.”
He charged members of the committee to bring to bear qualities that recommended their appointment in the discharge of their responsibilities.
NYSC Certificate: Shittu to know fate, today
A Federal High Court in Ibadan has reserved judgement in the case between Adebayo Shittu, minister of communication, and the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The APC had disqualified Shittu from the Oyo State governorship primary over his failure to partake in the one-year mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.
Shittu had failed to present himself for the scheme despite graduating from the then University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU) at age 25.
Following this, the minister sued the party, seeking redress for being screened out of the governorship primary election which held last year.
Also joined in the suit is the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The minister had argued that the 1979 constitution, under which he first contested for a political post, did not make it mandatory for anyone seeking an elective position to present an NYSC certificate.
At the court yesterday, Abdulhakeem Mustafa, counsel to the plaintiff, had among other things, urged the court to determine whether the ground for disqualifying his client was lawful or a contravention of the constitution.
Mustafa argued that the constitution of Nigeria required anyone seeking to be a state governor to possess a maximum of Senior Secondary School Certificate and not necessarily an NYSC certificate.
He tendered a 38-paragraph affidavit and 13 exhibits before the court to support his claims.
But opposing the plaintiff’s prayer, Adebayo Ojo, the defence counsel, said the matter was already a dead issue.
“My lord, the plaintiff is merely flogging a dead horse because the matter is of no benefit to him or the party, APC,” he said.
“It has become academic; the sister case he filed in Federal High Court, Abuja, has also been struck out.”
After filing of written addresses by the plaintiff and the defendants, P.I. Ajoku, the judge, fixed Thursday afternoon for judgment on the relieves sought by the minister.
Togolese cook arraigned for allegedly killing boss
An Igbosere High Court in Lagos yesterday remanded a Togolese cook, Sunday Anani, in prison custody over the alleged murder of his boss, Opeyemi Bademosi, the Chief Executive Officer of Credit Switch Ltd.
Justice Mobolanle Okikiolu-Ighile gave the order following Mr Anani’s arraignment by the Lagos State Government on a two-count charge of murder and armed robbery.
Before the charge was read, his counsel, the Director of the Office of the Public Defender (OPD), Adenrera Adeyemi, informed the court that Anani did not understand English language.
Adeyemi, however, applied for a French-English language interpreter.
Okikiolu-Ighile upheld her application and directed that one be provided.
The charge, prepared by the Prosecutor, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Titilayo Shitta-Bey, was then read and interpreted to Mr Anani.
The prosecutor alleged that Mr Anani, 22, committed the offences on Oct. 31, 2018, at the residence of the victim in Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos.
He said the defendant stabbed Bademosi, 67, to death with a knife and stole his valuables, including his phone.
Shitta-Bey said the offences contravened sections 223 and 297 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
Anani, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The judge remanded defendant in prison and adjourned the case until May 21 for trial.
