Gov. Seyi Makinde Constitutes Committee to Probe LGs, Higher Institutions Accounts

Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde on Monday constituted a 7-man committee to look into the accounts of Local Government Areas (LGA) and Local Council Development Area (LCDA) from January, 2018 to May 2019 and submit its report within 6 weeks.

The governor explained that the action became necessary due to scarcity of funds and to define means of fund activities for government and not in any way denote going after the past administration rather, it is to improve the standard of living of the people at the grass root.

Governor Makinde admonished the committee to carry out the task efficiently and ensure they get to the root of any form of mis-management.

In the same vein, the governor also constituted a 5-man visitation panel each to Eruwa, Oke-Ogun and Saki polytechnics to look in to the ongoing management crisis with a view to provide implemental solutions and submit their reports within 3 weeks.

He explained that the state government in its bid to ensure continuous peace and academic progress in the institutions decided to intervene in the matter which has been long overdue.

The 7-man committee to look into the accounts of Local Government Areas (LGA) and Local Council Development Area (LCDA) is led by Justice Popoola (rtd). Other members of the committee include Dr. Remi Ayodele, Mr. Adeniyi Samuel Ayanwale, N.A Abiola (Esq), Mr Adewola Illiasu, ACP Sunday Oke and Mrs Olubunmi Oni.

While a 5-man visitation panel to The Oke-Ogun Polytechnic, Saki is chaired by Mr. Toyin Akanmu. With Mr Toyin Akanmu (a retired PS in the state civil service), Mr R. O Olawale (Representative of the Head of Service), Mrs E. E Akintunde (Representative of the ministry of Justice), Mr I. S Yusuf (Respresentative of the auditor general) and Mr A Oyewusi (Representative of the ministry of education) as members.

The Ibarapa Polytechnic, Eruwa visitation panel is headed by Mr. Wole Oladokun. Other members are: Mr Wole Oladokun ( retired PS in the state civil service), Mr J.T Adelowo (Representative of the head of service), Mrs. N. Shittu (Representative of the ministry of Justice), Mr A . W Mustapha (Representative of the auditor general) and Mr. A. A Adewusi(Representative of the ministry of education)

Akwa Ibom Tribunal Updates, As Witness Claims To Be Blind

The Senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District, Engr Chris Ekpenyong on Monday opened his defence at the National Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal sitting in Uyo by calling a witness who accepted he was a fake agent during the elections.

Mr Kufre Augustine from Abia Okpo Ikot Nkap in Obot Akara Local Government Area, claimed to have been the Local Government Collation Agent for Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) but under cross examination by S. I. Ameh, SAN Counsel to Senator Godswill Akpabio, the Witness agreed that his party did not have a candidate in the election.

The Witness agreed that the acronyms of all the Political parties were usually stated on the result sheets but when Mr Ameh showed him the Obot Akara Local Government result which he claimed he was an Agent, his party was not listed.

Counsel to Senator Akpabio asked the Witness “were you agent to ZLP that had no candidate or were you Agent to the candidate of another political party?” he asked. The Witness answered that he was the Agent to ZLP which had no candidate in the election.

Also led in evidence by Mr Ameh, Witness accepted to have lied on oath when he agreed that he is a teaching staff of Akwa Ibom State College of Technology contrary to his deposition on oath that he is a businessman.

Earlier there was mild drama in the Tribunal when another Witness called by Engr Ekpenyong, Mr Sylvester Inyang of Ikot Ukana in Obot Akara Local Government Area suddenly claimed he had developed eye problems and could not read the documents presented to him which were admitted as exhibits in the Tribunal.

The document which is an INEC certified true copy of the election result in Obot Akara Local Government Area showed that the total number of votes cast exceeded the number of accredited voters.

But when asked to read the figures from the exhibit document, the Witness claimed he could not see from the same document he had earlier answered questions from the PDP Lawyer. “My Lord I have eye problems, I cannot see again,” he said amidst laughter in the Tribunal.

It was the contention of Mr Ameh that since the INEC document tendered by the PDP showed that the number of votes in the Local Government Area of the PDP candidate, exceeded the number of accredited voters, the result ought to have been cancelled but the Witness claimed he could neither see the figures not what was written on the document.

The matter was adjourned to Tuesday for the Respondent to present more witnesses.