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Opinion: Admiring Arakunrin’s Thoughtfulness of Dr. Tunji Abayomi’s Appointment As Pro-Chancellor Of AAUA

Published

7 years ago

March 13, 2018

Eric

By Dr. Kayode Ajulo

I have had the privilege and honour of marching on the streets in a protest against tyrannical rule of the military as an undergraduate of UNIJOS in the 90s and also working with and benefitting from the wealth of knowledge of Dr. Tunji Abayomi- a selfless, dedicated and gadfly advocate for human rights.

While finding my feet in my profession as a lawyer between 2003 and 2005, I served as Head of Chambers of the Tunji Abayomi Law firm, and in that capacity forged with my then principal a beneficiary relationship that has endured through the years.

Dr. Tunji Abayomi is a man of many sides, a lawyer and a man deeply and stubbornly sworn to his ideals for a better and even society.

His many critical statements and actions against the dictatorial military junta saw him behind the bars on more than a few occasions where he only further deepened his commitment to human rights and equality at pains to bones and limbs.

His publications on executive and legislative functions are go-to authorities, just as much if not more are his opinions expressed vociferously on the responsibility of a good government to its electorates.

It therefore comes with little surprise yet wholesomely welcomed to see the appointment of Dr. Tunji Abayomi as pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Ondo State Premier University, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Okoko by Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu , SAN of Ondo State.

It is an appointment well advised and made, and it surely reflects on the government of Arakunrin as one cognitive of merit, skill and ability over mediocrity.

The appointment of Dr. Tunji Abayomi in said capacity is one that going forward signals the dawn of a beautiful and eventful era for the university. His tenacity and passion for service are sure-fire indicators of a new level of leadership delivery much needed to reposition the school for greatness and improve its lot among other tertiary institutions in the country.

For Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, new vistas of possibilities and renewal is its new lot. For its staff and students, Dr. Tunji Abayomi ‘s accessibility and modesty presents an opportunity to explore areas of needs necessary to grow the university on a personal level.

Very articulate and effusive, yet studiously egregious critic, and due to his political experience, knows when to close his mouth and open his ears with genuineness of his selflessness unmistakable. Dr. Tunji Abayomi is a leader who sits within the same radius as those he leads, his fastidious attention to details means very little ever escapes his knowledge.

I say with all conviction that the staff and students of Adekunle Ajasin University whom I am privilege to work with as Adjunct Lecturer have a right to expect an immediate geometric progression in the fortunes of the school. His antecedents offers an anticipatory picture of a prosperous future for the system. He is not only directional in his thoughts and actions, his scope of creativity is almost limitless.

The considerable circumference of his experience as a successful lawyer, activist and no a politician of note, assures of new heights and new levels for the great university. Indeed, a new dawn is afoot in Ondo State.

Let me reiterate my genuine admiration of the thoughtfulness of Dr. Tunji Abayomi ‘s appointment by Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN of Ondo State. In a time and system where mediocrity beats merit in government circles, Governor Akeredolu has made an emphatic statement of his willingness to appreciate talents, skills and capacity over cronyism. It is an administrative policy that we hope to see repeated in his time in office.

Finally, may I extend my warmest regards to Dr. Tunji Abayomi, members of the constituted Governing Council and the staff and students of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko. I enjoin all within the school system to work together with and tap into the wealth of knowledge and experience of the university’s newly appointed pro-Chancellor. There is now before the school a new and solid opportunity to improve its standing amongst other tertiary institutions in the state and country as a whole.

News

Ex-Polaris Bank Chief Remanded in Prison Custody for Alleged Fraud

Published

2 days ago

November 19, 2024

Eric

The Special Offences Court sitting in the Ikeja area of Lagos State, on Monday, remanded a former branch manager of Polaris Bank, Abiodun Sanni, at the Ikoyi Custodial Centre for alleged multi-million naira fraud.

Sanni was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 16-count charge bordering on obtaining credit by false pretences, forgery, use of false documents, and stealing.

The EFCC counsel, Orhieoghene Adewunmi, told the court that Sanni committed the offences at the Iju branch of the bank in Lagos on February 24, 2020.

The lawyer stated that the defendant, as the branch manager of Polaris Bank, obtained from the bank a credit sum of N17 million in form of a loan.

He said Sanni collected the loan on the pretext that the loan had collateral in the form of a fixed deposit worth N111.1 million, which belonged to one Yinkus Multi-biz Ventures.

The EFCC lawyer also alleged that the former bank manager dishonestly converted a Polaris Bank fixed deposit account worth N15.1 million, belonging to one Joshua Atolagbe, to his personal use.

According to Adewunmi, the alleged offences contravene Sections 36(1), 278(1), 313(1)(a), 361 (1) and 364 (1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

Sanni, however, pleaded not guilty to all the counts preferred against him.

Adewunmi urged the court to remand the defendant.

“My lord the prosecution intends to call 10 witnesses in this case. We urge the court to remand the defendant in custody in view of his not-guilty plea,” the EFCC lawyer said.

The defence counsel, Osho Oludoshu, told the court that he had filed a bail application.

The presiding judge, Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe, thereafter, remanded Sanni at the custodial centre.

Justice Abike-Fadipe adjourned the case to March 6, 2025, for the commencement of trial.

News

INEC Declares APC’s Aiyedatiwa Winner of Ondo Guber Election

Published

4 days ago

November 17, 2024

Eric

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, as the winner of the just concluded Ondo State governorship election, held on Saturday, November 16, 2024.

The Returning Officer for the election Olayemi Akinwumi, who is also the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Lokoja, Kogi State declared Aiyedatiwa winner of the election on Sunday, extending the governor’s stay at the Government House in Alagbaka, Akure.

Governor Aiyedatiwa polled 366,781 votes to defeat his closest rival and a former deputy governor of the state Ajayi Agboola who flew the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flag. He scored 117,845 votes, more than twice lower than the APC candidate.

“That Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa of the APC having satisfied the requirement of the law is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected,” the returning officer said at exactly 2:30 pm at the INEC collation centre in Akure.

The declaration came hours after the collation of results for the election began in the early hours of Sunday. Although the collation centre went on breaks, the APC took a commanding lead with over 200,000 votes ahead of the PDP.

The final results showed that the APC won the election in a landslide, clearing all 18 local government areas.

News

PDP Chieftain Sues IGP Egbetokun over Police Invasion of Home

Published

5 days ago

November 16, 2024

Eric

A former National Deputy Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Diran Odeyemi has filed a fundamental rights suit against the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.

Also joined in the suit is the Osun State Commissioner of Police.

The suit dated November 7, 2024, was filed before a Federal High Court in Osogbo, Osun State capital.

In an affidavit in support of originating summons, Odeyemi accused armed agents of the defendants of invading his residence at Ibadan on October 26, without prior notice.

The plaintiff said the invasion of his residence and attempt to unlawfully arrest him was part of plans by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to silence leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party in Osun State.

Odeyemi alleged that the National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress, Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje on 20th of October, 2024, declared in Akure, Ondo State capital that the party had a secret strategy to recapture Osun State for APC, adding that what played out at his residence was part of the broader plans of the APC.

The plaintiff asked the court to determine where the attempt and threat by the defendants and their agents to arrest him on wilful investigation of some stalwarts of the APC do not constitute an infringement of his fundamental rights to personal liberty, freedom of movement, expression and association.

The ground of the originating summons includes, “The plaintiff by virtue of sections 35, 39, 40, 41 and 46 under Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and under the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights is entitled to enjoy his rights to personal liberty, freedom of movement, freedom of expression and freedom of association.

‘The Plaintiff, being a citizen of Nigeria, has the right to move freely without any inhibition, express his thoughts, associate freely, and enjoy his dignity without being harassed, intimidated,d, or hindered in any way or manner.

“The Defendants and their officers are rigorously attempting to violate the plaintiff’s fundamental rights to personal liberty, freedom of movement freedom of expression, and freedom of association by threatening and planning to intimidate, harass, molest, and unlawfully arrest and detain him on wilful instigation of some politicians within the All Progressives Congress who are hellbent on framing the Plaintiff in order to silence him, as part of the All Progressives Congress secret strategy to recapture Osun State and wrestle power from the Peoples Democratic Party in the State., come 2026.

“The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress boastfully stated in Akure on the 20th October 2024 that the APC had a secret strategy to recapture Osun State from the Peoples Democratic Party but that he would not reveal the secret and his threatening statement was widely reported in the media.

“In what appears like the commencement of the secret political machinations, the agents of the Defendants, at the instance of some APC politicians and without having ever invited the Plaintiff, invaded the Plaintiff’s home on the 26th day of October 2024 in an attempt to unlawfully arrest, detain, harass and intimidate the Plaintiff but they failed because the Plaintiff was not in the country”