Two Lagosians slap policeman, tear his uniform

Two men, Ifeanyi Uzoma, 33; and Chukwendu Njoku, 33; charged with tearing a policeman’s uniform, were on Monday brought before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court.

Uzoma, a businessman, resident in Oshodi, and Njoku, a civil servant, who resides in Mushin, Lagos, appeared before the Magistrate, Mrs M.O. Tanimola, on a two-count charge of obstruction of duty and conspiracy.

Both men, however, pleaded not guilty and were admitted to a bail of N80,000 each with one surety each, who should be gainfully employed and show evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

The prosecutor, Inspector Aondohemba Koti, told the court that the accused committed the offences on Jan. 21, at Papa-Ajao Street, Mushin, Lagos.

He said that the accused obstructed the complainant, Inspector Tunde Ikuomola, from performing his lawful duty and also tore his uniform.

Koti said that the complainant was assaulted when he tried to question the accused, who parked a car on the road.

“The complainant and his team saw a Mercedes Benz parked on the road, in a suspicious way.

“When asked of their mission in that place at that time, they could not give a satisfactory answer.

“The accused were asked to open the vehicle for searching, but they refused.

“When the complainant insisted on searching the vehicle, the accused came down from the car; after slapping the complainant, he held his uniform and tore it.

“The accused were taken to the station,” the prosecutor said.

According to the prosecutor, the offences violate Sections 174 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).

Section 174 stipulates three years imprisonment for serious assault while Section 411 prescribes two years for conspiracy.

Tanimola adjourned the case until Feb. 13, for mention.

- PM NEWS

Falana: No court can stop prosecution before CCT

Femi Falana, human rights lawyer, says no court has the right to stop a trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

He said this in reaction to the suspension of Walter Onnoghen, former chief justice of Nigeria (CJN) by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Buhari had backed his action with a CCT order even though different courts ruled that the matter be put on hold.

Speaking during a Channels TV programme, Falana said the National Industrial Court and the appeal court could not have halted the trial

“There’s no way any court anywhere can stop the prosecution before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, because my lord the Honourable Justice Onnoghen had said in the case of Saraki and the Federal Republic of Nigeria that the code of Conduct Tribunal is the only forum exclusively empowered to deal with breaches of code of conduct of public officers,” he said.

“So you can’t go to a national industrial court or a customary court of appeal or the federal high court which has no jurisdiction on allegations of breaches of the code of conduct. No!

“No court, not even the supreme court, can order somebody occupying an office–I’m not even talking about the chief justice now–to vacate ex parte, because you have already determined his rights and obligations in his absence. You can ask for an injunction to say somebody should not assume office because somebody else is occupying the office. But you cannot on an ex parte basis remove somebody from office and then ask somebody to take his place. It’s not possible.”

The senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN) asked  government to operateunder the law,” adding that Nigerians should be “prepared to defend this “democratic republic”.

“We must learn to operate under the rule of law. You now play into the hands of a regime that was determined to embarrass the country as it were by putting the chief justice on suspension. That is what has happened,” he said

“The president talks of the alacrity with which court orders were being procured. Of course the filing of the charge within 48 hours can also be said to have been done with alacrity.

“I have warned that Nigerians have to be prepared to defend this rickety democratic republic. I have warned against our deference to fascism and I’m not talking of the APC alone.”

- THECABLE

Hudson-Odoi transfer request rejected

Chelsea have rejected Callum Hudson-Odoi's transfer request, Sky Sports News understands.

The 18-year-old has been the subject of four bids from Bayern Munich, the last at £35m, and has turned down Chelsea's latest £85,000-a-week contract offer.

He admitted he did not know if he would play for Chelsea again after scoring in the 3-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup on Sunday, having told the club he wanted to leave.

But Chelsea have maintained throughout the window they wanted to keep him.

Hudson-Odoi was urged to stay at the club to become one of the best players in the world by team-mate Willian on Monday, while Chelsea assistant manager Gianfranco Zola said they were beginning to show "trust" in him.

The England youth international has yet to start a Premier League game for the club and Zola admitted he and head coach Maurizio Sarri are "still finding the space to play him".

- SKY SPORTS

SHOCKING !! Mother beats son to death in Ondo over N21,000

A middle age woman, Mrs Ajoke Adebayo has been arrested by the men of the Ondo State Police Command for allegedly killing her 14-year-old son, Matthew Adebayo.

It was gathered that Mrs Ajoke was arrested alongside her brother-in-law, Mr. Idowu Adebayo for his alleged involvement in the torturing to death of Matthew, a JSS 3 student who was accused of allegedly stealing the sum of N21,000 from his mother’s bank account.

The incident, which happened in Oda area of Akure, the Ondo State capital, has thrown the entire community into mourning.

Narrating the incident, an eyewitness stated that after the mother of the deceased discovered that her son had stolen money from her bank account, she called her husband, Ayodele Adebayo, a police officer to inform him about the deed of his son.

Adebayo, who is serving in another command outside the state, was alleged to have ordered his brother, Idowu to discipline the deceased.

“The woman (Ajoke) called her husband, informing him about what the son did, so the husband then called his younger brother to discipline the boy.

“As Idowu was beating the boy, Ajoke too joined in the beating, inflicting injuries on the body of the boy. After beating the boy, they also locked him inside a room and went away.

“It was the boy’s friends in the area that called the attention of the neighbours to the torturing of the boy.

“Later, when they opened the door, where he was locked in, he was already unconscious and was rushed to the hospital where he gave up the ghost,” the eyewitness said.

Another resident of the area who craved for anonymity, also disclosed that “immediately, the men of the state police command were invited to the scene and later arrested the two suspects.”

Confirming the incident, the state’s Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Femi Joseph, said that investigation had already commenced and efforts were on towards arresting the father of the deceased.

“We have arrested the two suspects and very soon, we will arrest the police father who gave the order to beat the boy.

“He is not serving in our command here but he would soon be arrested,” the PPRO stated.

- DAILY POST

TRANSFER NEWS : Chelsea react as Alvaro Morata finally joins Atletico Madrid

Chelsea have reacted to striker, Alvaro Morata’s joining of Atletico Madrid.  

Morata on Monday completed his loan transfer from Chelsea to Atletico Madrid.

The Spain international signed an 18-month loan deal with the La Liga giants.

The 26-year-old will remain at the Spanish club until the end of the 2019/20 season.

Chelsea took to their official Twitter page, @ChelseaFC, to wish Morata goodluck at his new club.

“@AlvaroMorata has today joined Atletico Madrid on loan until the end of the 2019/20 season. Good luck, Alvaro! ,”Chelsea twitted alongside a picture of Morata wearing the Blues’ jersey.

Morata is expected to make his debut against Real Betis next Sunday in the La Liga fixture.

- DAILY POST

IPOB declares sit-at-home as President Buhari visits Aba

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has ordered residents of Aba, in Abia State, to sit at home, during President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit.

Buhari is scheduled to commission the 9.5MW Independent Power Plant, at Ariaria Market in Osisioma Ngwa council area.

The President will also attend the All Progressives Congress (APC) rally at the Enyimba Stadium.

In a statement signed by the Media and Publicity Secretary of the group, Comrade Emma Powerful, IPOB urged her members in Aba and its environs, to ensure that the visiting President meets an empty Enyimba stadium because he is not welcome in the city.

“All family members of IPOB within Aba metropolis are hereby instructed to observe a mini sit at home tomorrow (today) 29th January 2019 in total boycott of the impostor, Jubril AL-Sudani who is slated to be in Aba for an Islamic evil APC rally.

“We must ensure that Jubril meets an empty stadium today because his murderous presence is not welcome in our land. Do not go out for any reason, do not engage in any zoo political discussion as their Boko Haram and Janjaweed army are on standby to kill. Stay indoors from 6am to 4pm,” it read.

- DAILY POST

Strike: We are still consulting – ASUU President

Three months after going on strike, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) says it is still consulting with its members over offers made by the Federal Government.

The union’s National President, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, revealed on Monday in Lagos that they would meet with officials of the government within the week.

According to him, government had made some offers in the course of meetings with ASUU which are still being deliberated by members.

“We are still consulting with our chapters across the country.

“There are promises that government made and we are trying to consult with the various university chapters on the options before the union.

“By the time we are fully aware on what is left of our demands from what the government is offering, then we will know what steps to take, even as negotiations with the government continues.

“For instance, we are in touch with about 20 universities that are affected, to be sure of the level of implementation.

“By the time we finish our assessment, we will now send our response back to government, concerning the level of implementation

“And depending on the outcome of our further engagements with government, we will now get back to our members,” he said.

Ogunyemi said ASUU is expected to be involved in another round of meeting with the government within the week, adding that he expects a positive outcome.

The university teachers have been on strike since Nov. 4, 2018 over alleged non-implementation of agreements it entered into with the federal government in 2009 and 2017.

Their demands are on better welfare package and improved teaching and learning environment, among other issues.

- PM NEWS

GLORIFIED VILLAGE !! Impeachment move: What Lagos lawmakers said about Ambode

Hon. Rotimi Olowo

Rewriting of the Budget is an impeachable offence. The Government has been shut down and our roads are in a sorry state. There must be continuity of projects in the budget and this is not followed. Borrowing without informing the House is impeachable. IPP is being owed. If the Governor is tired, he should resign.

Hon. Moshood Oshun

When you apply for a job, and you are given, if you are tired, you can leave. If the Governor is tired, he should go. The budget is a law, when we pass a budget, they rewrite their own. What they say is that they are above the law. If you go to Alausa today, all the MDAs are shut down. All their files are with the Governor and he did not work on them.

Hon. Richard Kasunmu

This is a non-compliance with the rule of law. The state is about to be totally shut down, so we should checkmate the situation. If the Governor is tired, he should throw in the towel. We cannot keep on standstill because some people are tired.

Hon. Rasheed Makinde

Three years down the lane, the executive cannot tell the people of Lagos that they don’t know what they are doing. It is obvious that the Governor is tired, so they should all go. They even made a mistake in the letter they wrote to the House. Lagos State used to present its budget before others even before the Federal Government. They ought to work based on the budget or they come for reordering. All government agencies have been rendered useless, civil servants are sleeping in their offices. The State House of Assembly must approve the budget. We must pass a vote of no confidence on the Attorney General, Commissioners for Budget, Finance, the Governor and the Deputy Governor.

Hon. Yinka Ogundimu

The Governor has always been disobeying our motions. They refused to follow our motions on the environment, which is why everywhere is dirty. If you look at the various projects not provided for in the budget that are being done, then it is breach of the constitution. The people concerned should resign before we invoke the aspect of the constitution that gives us power to remove them from office. We should make it clear that there have been warnings from us.

Hon. Sola Giwa

This is a matter of constitutionality and it is about the law. We all swore to uphold the law. If you breach the law, there is a consequence and the best is for the House to begin an impeachment process.

Hon. Victor Akande

There is no need for virement according to the constitution. I don’t think there is any budget before the House. The constitution states that the budget must be laid and it is a gross misconduct. So, we should do the needful.

Hon. Fatai Mojeed

We received the money from Paris Fund and other funds, the executive did not take permission before they spent the money.

Hon. Jude Idimogu

The government is not moving forward. Our party is the APC and we are doing well. The government is not putting us in the light and we have the oppositions that are watching us. No budget has been laid before the House. The key members such as Attorney General, Commissioners For Finance and Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning. The needful is impeachment.

Hon. Noheem Raheem

I support the fact that they should resign if they are tired.

Hon. Fatai Oluwa

This is a deliberate attempt by the Governor not to bring the budget before the House. He is surrounded by erudite lawyers that ought to have advised him. Public Works, LAWMA, IPP are not working. If it would be necessary to sign and send him out of office it would be okay.

Hon. Oladele Adekanye

It is clear that there are infractions and impeachable offence committed. The defences of the commissioners are not tenable.

Hon. Sabur Olayiwola

There have been abuse of the constitution and disobedient to the constitution. Spending without making a recourse to the assembly is an impeachable offence. The best thing is to show him that we are representing our people and that we are not here for fun. The best thing is to let them know that we mean business. The Permanent Secretary/Accountant General that is talking about 25% spending should be brought to book.

Hon. Akeem Shokunle

The financial misconduct of the Governor is obvious and we should begin an impeachment process.

Hon. Mosunmola Sangodara

The situation is an unfortunate one. Section 121 of the Constitution states the the appropriation bill should be laid before the House and this has not been done. It is an abuse of office and an undue influence by the Governor. We can start an impeachment process and pass a vote of no confidence on some of the members of the executive.

Hon. Funmilayo Tejuosho

We are the voice of the people of Lagos State and we perform oversight functions to ensure that the government do the best for the people. Accountability is not being done here. Section 121 made it clear that the appropriation bill should be laid before the House. Section 122 states that if that has been done, you can now spend 25% of the budget estimate for a period of six months. We need to forward the infractions to the Governor. The tax payers should know what their money is being spent on.

Hon. Setonji David

The infractions are too grave, there is a problem and we need to do what is right. The government must be held responsible for their actions.

Hon. Akeem Bello

The Governor and his Deputy should tender their resignation letter.

Hon. Dayo Saka-Fafunmi

I am sad over the revelations by what the Deputy Speaker read and during our interactions with the executive. The business of governance is not based on sentiments, it is based on law. Section 120 of the Constitution that talks about the public fund is very important. Public fund does not belong to any of us, it belongs to the people of Lagos State. Section 120 subsection 2 States that no money should be withdrawn from the accounts of the states unless it is approved by the House. All the violations amount to gross misconduct. Section 188, defines gross misconduct. We strongly believe that essential services that ought to be met are missing in the state. I am in line with the statement and decisions of the members that if the executive members are not ready for governance, they should resign or should be impeached.

Hon. Mojisola Miranda

The constitution is clear that there is punishment for any offence.

Hon. Dayo Famakinwa

I want to support my colleagues that the offences are impeachable and we should activate the process immediately.

Hon. Saka Solaja

A budget is financial instrument that analyses and interprets the financial expenditure. Since 1999, Lagos State has always been presenting its budget as at when due, but that has not been done. The financial regulations and the constitution have been breached. We should start a process of impeachment immediately.

Hon. Folajinmi Mohammed

There is a vagrant abuse of the constitution, which is an impeachable offence.

Hon. Lanre Ogunyemi

It is an issue of flagrant disobedient to the constitution. A review of a previous year’s budget is a precursor to the approval of the new budget. A review of the 2018 budget shows poor performance. MDAs complained of inability to access their funds. All these infractions should be communicated to the Governor for his reaction and if he fails to do so, the House can begin a process of impeachment.

Hon. Omotayo Oduntan

Today is a sad day. The executive just moved money from one ministry to another without recourse to the Assembly. When all these happen, it shows a total disregard to the budget being passed by the House. We should get across to the Governor to explain himself or else we should begin an impeachment process.

Hon. Sanai Agunbiade

There are three arms of government of which the executive is one. Our government is still running and not shut down. What we want to do is to ensure that the infractions from one arm of government does not affect another. It is clear that the budget has not been presented before the House. My colleagues have addressed all the issues. We should let the public know that we do not have the budget before the House.

The next is for the Governor to resign or we should begin an impeachment process against the Governor. We can communicate to him to reign or failure to do that is for us to start collecting signatures of lawmakers so that we can be seen to have done our job.

Hon. Rotimi Abiru

I want to adopt what has been done without wasting much time. There have been some infractions on the part of the Governor and the position of the law is clear.

Hon. Wahab Jimoh

I saw this coming like an ocean surge. The Attorney General wrote the House to withdraw the private member bills before the House. One has been noticing that there would be crisis. The report I saw with the Deputy Speaker shows that the 2019 budget is being implemented.

 - PM NEWS