News

We previously spent N500m to prosecute cases annually – Bauchi Attorney General

Published

3 months ago

July 5, 2024

The Bauchi State Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Hassan El-Yakub, has revealed that the state government spent an average of N500 million annually to prosecute criminal cases before he came on board.

Speaking at the state ministerial briefing on Friday, the attorney general mentioned that 557 cases comprising armed robbery, culpable homicide, rape, kidnapping and other minor offences were recorded between January 2023 and June 2024.

Speaking on the cost implications of the prosecutions before he assumed office, El-Yakub revealed: “All high-profile cases were given out to external solicitors, mostly Senior Advocates of Nigeria, SAN, and an average fee of N500 million was spent yearly in settling their fees. This trend has now been reversed. We now handle all such cases in-house, thereby saving the state this huge amount.

“We have also successfully defended most of the garnishee proceedings and cases that have hitherto held the state to ransom and we have made it a policy in the ministry not to allow, under any circumstances, such cases to reoccur in the future.

“We have, from just three cases, between 2023 to date, saved the state the sum of N1,858,412,289.”

He added that the ministry, being a service-rendering ministry, was able to generate the sum of N236,618,298 from drafting agreements and other legal instruments from 2023 to date.

“Upon assumption of duty, I identified some of the challenges bedevilling the ministry, which are responsible for the low rate of productivity and the negative perception of the ministry, which mainly include the following: lack of sufficient manpower, and lack of basic working materials,” he said.

Speaking on the challenges faced by the ministry so far, the Commissioner disclosed that Governor Mohammed Bala has approved the hiring of 20 state counsels—10 in 2023 and an additional 10 in 2024—which has significantly addressed the manpower issue in the ministry.

According to him, the governor has also reconstituted the Advisory Council on Preoperative of Mercy in accordance with Section 3 (1) and (2) of the Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy (Establishment) Law, Bauchi State Law No. 10 of 2001, Cap. 114, via a letter dated December 6, 2023, with reference No. GO/GS/S/CMT/24/T.I.

El-Yakub further stated that the governor had also approved and directed the release of N308,690,880 for the settlement of judgement debts inherited from the previous administration, to be paid in instalments.

News

Edo Governorship Election: Live results from polling units trickle in

Published

8 seconds ago

September 21, 2024

ARS NEWS

Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, have started announcing results from polling units in the ongoing governorship election in Edo State.

Voting has ended in most polling units and results are being counted and announced in the presence of party agents and voters.

DAILY POST reports that the leading contenders for Saturday’s election include Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress and Labour Party’s Olumide Akpata.

Follow this thread for results from Polling Units, PUs.

Location: PU11, Ward 06, Oredo LGA

Results

PDP: 41

APC: 19

LP: 32

Ward 3, Unit 21, Etsako West

Results

APC: 28

PDP: 30

LP: 11

NNPP: 1

PU05, Ward02 GRA/Etete, Oredo LGA
Results
APC: 15
PDP: 58
LP: 12
The following results are from OREDO WARD 1.
UNIT18
APC—25
LB—-23
PDP—-104
VOID VOTE —2
UNIT19
APC—8
LB—10
PDP—-46
VOID VOTE 0
Unit 20
APC—-38
LB—-10
PDP—105
VOID VOTE —4
UNIT21
APC—-19
LB—-4
PDP—41
VOID VOTE—6
PU62, Ward 01, Ogbe, Oredo LGA, Edo state.
APC: 13
PDP: 19
LP: 02
Location: Ward 11 Unit 14 Etsako West LGA
Result
APC: 157
PDP: 35
ADP: 2
LP: 7
Location: PU1, Okada primary school, Ovia north/east
PDP=51
APC=51
LP=4
Location: PU2, Okada primary school, Ovia north/east
PDP=57
APC=36
LP=2
Location: PU3, Okada primary school, Ovia north/east
PDP=45
APC=25
LP=1
Location: PU21, Amufi primary school, ward 3
PDP=136
APC=38
LP=8
PU001, Uwessan 1, Esan Central LGA
APC: 102
PDP: 1
LP: 1
PU2, Afegbua primary school, Etsako East LGA
PDP: 121
APC: 128
NNPP: 1
Ward 11 PU13 Etsako West LGA
APC: 136
PDP: 34
LP: 4
Location: PU21, Amufi primary school, ward 3
PDP=136
APC=38
LP=8
Location: PU1, Okada primary school, Ovia north/east
PDP=51
APC=51
LP=4
Location: PU2, Okada primary school, Ovia north/east
PDP=57
APC=36
LP=2
Location: PU3, Okada primary school, Ovia north/east
PDP=45
APC=25
LP=1
PU3, Ward 1, Ewohimi, Esan south-east, Edo state
APC 45
PDP 200
Oshiomhole’s polling unit
Ward 10 PU 1 Etsako West
APC: 403
PDP: 1
ADC: 1
PU14, Community Hall Idumodin, Orhionmwon LGA, Igbanke West ward 12
PDP: 95
APC: 84
LP: 5
PU1, Orhionmwon LGA, Igbanke west ward 12, Idumodin Primary School, Idumodin III (Community Hall)
APC: 67
PDP: 35
LP: 2
PU4, Egor LGA, Egor ward 4, Egor secondary school, Egor I
APC: 21
PDP: 32
LP: 5
PU10, Orhionawon LGA, Ugboko ward 5, Ugbugo, Ugbugo Town Hall II
APC: 26
PDP: 11
LP: 0
PU7, Agbor/Ogbokpa primary school, Ewatto ward 3, Esan south LGA
APC: 131
PDP: 78
LP: 0
PU6, ward 14, Oluku, Ovia north east LGA
PDP: 84
LP: 21
APC: 11
PU20, Oredo LGA, Unueru/Ogboka ward 10, Ogboka/Unueru III, Urubi Primary School II
APC: 54
PDP: 46
LP: 4
Edo guber election result
PU14, Urora-Akengbuda Primary school VIII, Ikpoba/Okha LGA, Aduwawa/Evbo Modu ward 4
PDP: 90
APC: 23
LP: 3
PU15, Ujoelen-Ugha Square, Emuhi/ Ukpenu/Ujoelenu/Igor ward 7, Esan West LGA
PDP: 96
APC: 100
LP: 4
PU13, Uromi-Amedokhian primary school IV, Amedokhian ward 7, Esan north-east LGA
APC: 130
PDP: 119
LP: 1

CREDIT: DAILY POST

News

Nigerian Govt shuts Eko Bridge, ramps for 8-week repairs

Published

13 hours ago

September 21, 2024

ARS NEWS

The Federal Government has announced the closure of the Eko Bridge and Ramps for eight weeks to carry out essential asphalt resurfacing work.

Mrs. Olukorede Kesha, the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, shared this information in a statement on Saturday. She noted that the resurfacing project is set to begin on Friday, September 20, at 7:00 a.m., and will continue until November 20.

Due to the closure, drivers will need to follow detours and alternative routes. Kesha advised that motorists traveling to the Island from Funsho Williams Avenue should utilize the service lane at Alaka to connect to Costain and access the Eko Bridge.

She explained that some sections of the bridge will be fully closed while others will have partial access.

“This important project aims to enhance road safety and improve the driving experience for motorists,” she stated. The work will involve milling the existing asphalt and laying down new asphalt on both the bridge and ramps to address wear and tear and create a smoother, safer roadway.

News

Gov Adeleke appoints new Governing Council Chairman for Osun College of Education

Published

13 hours ago

September 21, 2024

ARS NEWS

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has appointed Akinwale Sarafadeen Adeyemi as the new Chairman of the Governing Council for Osun State College of Education in Ila-Orangun.

The announcement was made in a statement on Friday by Governor Adeleke’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed. The statement described Adeyemi as an experienced educationist and noted that he will succeed Peter Babalola, the former chairman, who was dismissed by the state government earlier this month.

Babalola, who was also a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, faced suspension from his local ward in Irewole due to public criticism over alleged financial misconduct before his removal.

The statement highlighted, “Governor Ademola Adeleke has approved the appointment of Mr. Akinwale Sarafa Adeyemi, a seasoned educationist, as the new Chairman of the Governing Council of Osun State College of Education, Ila-Orangun. Mr. Adeyemi replaces Dr. Peter Babalola, who resigned following a controversial term at the college.”

Adeyemi holds both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in Education from the University of Ibadan and is a retired principal of the Federal Girls College in Ipetumodu. His swearing-in ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Monday at the EXCO lounge.