News

Alaafin: Kingmakers Appeal As Court Strikes Out Case Against Makinde

Published

1 year ago

April 19, 2024

Oyo State High Court sitting in Awe, Oyo State, has struck out a case filed by the Oyo kingmakers ( Oyo Mesi) against the state governor, Seyi Makinde, the state Attorney General and the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters on the vacant stool of Alaafin of Oyo over administrative defect.

The PUNCH reports that the stool became vacant after the death of the late Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, who died at the age of 82 and ruled for 52 years.

The claimants in the suit no HOY/14/2023 are the Bashorun of Oyo, Chief Yusuf Layinka; Lagunna of Oyo, Chief Wakeel Oyedepo; Akinniku of Oyo, Chief Amusa Yusuf; Areago Bashorun, Chief Wahab Oyetunji and the Alapo of Oyo, Chief Gbadebo Mufutau.

They were seeking court injunction restraining Makinde and his agents from overruling their choice on the selected candidate for the vacant stool.

According to them, “due diligence was followed in the selection/appointment of the candidate for filling the vacant stool of Alaafin of Oyo duly conducted by the kingmakers of Alaafin of Oyo Chieftaincy.”

While ruling on the notice of preliminary objection as filed by the defendants, on Tuesday, Justice Ladiran Akintola said there was no proof of service to notify the governor of the outcome of the selection process as carried out by the kingmakers.

The failure to serve the notice of the outcome on the governor thereby affects the substantive case, and as such, the case was struck out.

It was stated in the ruling that, “This court found merit in the Notice of Preliminary Objection filed by the defendants/applicants against the claimants/respondents in this case.

“The same succeeds, accordingly all the issues raised for determination of this court by learned counsel on both sides are thereby resolved in favour of the defendants/applicants but against the claimants/respondents.

“Consequently, the suit initiated by the claimants/respondents in this case against the defendants/applicants is thereby struck out.”

In a telephone interview with The PUNCH, on Friday, the lead counsel for the claimants, Kunle Sobaloju (SAN) said a notice of appeal and motion for injunction pending an appeal have been filed at the Court of Appeal and Oyo High Court, respectively.

Commenting on the judgment, Sobaloju said the judgment that was passed, on Tuesday, was on a preliminary objection filed by the defendant which is the Governor of Oyo State, Attorney General of the state and Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters.

He said, “By that preliminary objection after we filed our case which they challenged against on the ground that we did not comply with the condition precedence of filing an action of that nature.

“According to them, what was the condition precedence, they said the Secretary of the Local Government, Atiba Local Government did not notify the governor of the Oyo Mesi on the selection of Prince Lukman Gbadegesin as the candidate to fill the stool of Alaafin of Oyo.

“Our response to that objection is to the effect that that duty is imposed on by the law, that is Section 19 of the Chieftancy Law on the Secretary to the Local Government and not on the kingmakers and we exhibited evidence that the kingmakers forwarded their decision to the Secretary of Atiba Local Government.

“We also exhibited a letter from the Secretary of Atiba Local Government acknowledged by the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters. That is the only means to which the governor can be involved. You can not go to the governor and serve him directly.

“We also argued that even the issue is an issue of evidence that the governor can only prove whether he was served or not with proof of evidence. It is not the issue that the court can determine by way of preliminary objection.

“However, it is the failure to serve the notice of the decision of the kingmakers on the governor that affects our case, and as such, it was struck out.

“We have filed a notice of appeal and motion for injunction pending an appeal. What was considered on Tuesday was the notice for preliminary objection. The merit of the case is yet to be considered.”

News

Bill To Establish Federal Oil And Gas Hospital In Delta Scales Second Reading In Senate

Published

2 hours ago

July 8, 2025

Editor

A Bill seeking to establish the Federal Oil and Gas Hospital in Benikrukru, Delta State, has passed second reading in the Senate.

The proposed hospital is aimed at providing comprehensive medical services for workers in the oil and gas industry, as well as for communities affected by oil and gas operations.

Presiding over the session, the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin (APC, Kano North), referred the bill to the Senate Committee on Health for further legislative work. The committee is expected to report back within four weeks.

The bill, titled A Bill for an Act to Establish the Federal Oil and Gas Hospital, Benikrukru, Delta State (SB. 847), was sponsored by Senator Onwakpo Thomas Joel (APC, Delta South). It was first read on June 24, 2025.

Leading the debate, Senator Joel explained that the bill aims to provide specialized medical services to oil and gas workers and their host communities, who are frequently exposed to occupational hazards resulting in illnesses and injuries.

“The bill seeks to establish a hospital that will ensure access to quality healthcare for workers in the oil and gas sector, as well as residents of communities affected by exploration activities,” he said.

He noted that the hospital would offer emergency care, occupational health services, and treatment for oil and gas-related conditions, helping to reduce downtime and increase productivity in the industry.

“The siting of this hospital is strategic. It will help address long-standing agitations and restiveness in the Niger Delta by offering tangible health benefits to affected communities,” Joel added.

He highlighted that Delta South Senatorial District has the highest offshore crude oil production in Delta State and ranks second nationally. The proposed location for the hospital lies at the heart of offshore oil exploration, serving communities and companies such as Chevron, Shell, ExxonMobil, Total, and Nigerian Agip Oil Company.

Senator Joel also emphasized that the hospital’s funding structure has been designed to avoid additional financial burden on the federal treasury.

“The hospital will be funded by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), which derives revenue from 1% of every contract awarded within the oil and gas sector,” he explained.

“Since the NCDMB is not directly funded by the federal government, the hospital’s funding will come from this independent revenue source.”

The bill’s passage is seen as a significant step toward improving healthcare access in oil-producing communities and addressing environmental and occupational health concerns in the Niger Delta.

News

FG Launches Passport Front Office For Senior Public Officials

Published

2 hours ago

July 8, 2025

Editor

The Federal Government on Tuesday in Abuja launched a new passport front office specifically for senior public officials

Speaking at the ceremony, the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo said that the office has a specialised facility designated to facilitate a timely and seamless passport process.

He stated that the facility was established in response to the persistent challenges faced by senior government officials in accessing passports.

“Before now, many top-level public servants had to abandon their official duties and endure long queues at standard passport offices.

“It will became clear that for us to serve the nation more effectively, we must also serve those tasked with its leadership more efficiently,” he said.

He further said that the initiative was part of a broader reform effort championed by the ministry.

“When we came in, it was shocking that the Ministry of Interior and the Nigerian Immigration Service had no dedicated passport facility for public officials.

“Today marks a turning point as we begin to bridge that gap and set a new course for service delivery in our nation,” he added.

Tunji-Ojo also commended the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) for its professionalism and implementation expertise.

“This facility sets a new benchmark for excellence and will significantly improve access, reduce waiting time and thereby elevate the overall passport service delivery standard,” the minister stated.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the inauguration was attended by the Minister of Water Resources, Prof. Joseph Utsev, heads of all Services under the ministry alongside stakeholders.

News

JAMB Sets Cut-off Mark For University Admissions

Published

6 hours ago

July 8, 2025

Editor

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has fixed 150 as the minimum cut-off mark for admission into Nigerian universities for the 2025/2026 academic session.

The decision was reached on Tuesday during the 2025 Policy Meeting on Admissions, held at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja, with stakeholders from various tertiary institutions in attendance.

According to JAMB, 140 was approved as the minimum score for colleges of nursing sciences, while polytechnics, colleges of education, and colleges of agriculture will admit candidates with a minimum score of 100.

“The minimum admissible scores for admissions for the next academic session have been fixed at 150 for universities, 100 for polytechnics, 100 for colleges of education, and 140 for colleges of nursing sciences by the stakeholders (Heads of Tertiary Institutions),” JAMB announced via its official X account.