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Adeleke Unveils Cooperative Movement Reform Plan, Allocates N1bn As Revolving Loan Scheme

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Governor Ademola Adeleke today received encomiums from cooperative society movement in Osun state for hosting the first statewide summit and approving One Billion Naira as a revolving loan scheme for the Cooperative movement.

In an event members of the cooperative movement described as the first of its kind since the creation of Osun state, Executive Secretary of the Federation of Osun Cooperative Union, Wasiu Bello said the previous administration diverted cooperative savings, leaving the societies in crisis and financial challenges.

Expressing deep appreciation that Governor Adeleke is repaying the diverted savings, the leader of the cooperators applauded the creation of the Ministry of Cooperatives and Empowerment, calling it the first of its kind in Nigeria.

Declaring the State Cooperative Summit opened, the Governor who was conferred with an award, announced far-reaching reforms, including the allocation of One Billion Naira revolving loan scheme through the cooperative and micro-credit agency .

The Governor narrated his reform agenda further: “As we plan to inject huge funds, we must work on the following areas to inspire confidence and sustain continuous government financial contributions.

“The Cooperative law is due for review: After enactment dating back to first or second republic, an amendment of the act is necessary to take into account modern trends and practices;

“Upgrading the operational standard of the cooperative movement: We all must admit that the operational standard among the cooperative platforms is very low and substandard. The old laws are hardly complied with, and the practices across the societies are quite below any confidence inspiring rating;

“The need to review compliance with democratic governance: The cooperative society mostly lacks democratic governance. In other words, there is no regular election of leaders. This blocks innovation and frustrates the potentials of the grassroots financial platform;

“Crisis of Accountability and transparency: The greatest challenge is the low level of transparency and accountability in cooperative operations. The rot is deep, we must all admit. The external and internal auditors are mostly compromised, and managers are mostly ill-equipped. We must reform to achieve the potential of the movement”, the Governor noted.

Directing the Commissioner for Cooperative and Empowerment to submit a reform plan for execution, the Governor announced that his administration has resolved to invest a billion naira in the state cooperative movement to create a pool of revolving loans at single digit interest rate through the cooperatives and micro credit agency.

He informed the gathering that he has approved the complete rehabilitation of the Cooperative College, Odeomu, directing the Commissioner to take necessary action to implement the approval.

“Because of the importance of cooperative movement to the local economy, we may also consider the possibility of cooperative studies becoming a programme of study at polytechnics and universities in the state.

“The executive arm will also consider sponsoring an executive bill for the review of the cooperative law. Let us make the operating law conform with realities of the 21st century”, he noted while declaring the summit open.

The Cooperative summit which conferred the award of Grand Matron of the Cooperative Movement in Osun on Yeyeluwa Mrs Dupe Adeleke Sanni, was attended by top government officials including the Deputy Governor, Prince Kola Adewusi; Secretary to the State Government, Hon Teslim Igbalaye; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Hon Kazeem Akinleye; the host Commissioner, Bayo Ogungbangbe among others.

Signed:
Mallam Olawale Rasheed,
Spokesperson to the State Governor

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S’Court Dismisses Fubara’s Appeal Against Amaewhule-led Rivers Assembly

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An appeal filed by Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, challenging the leadership of the Rivers State House of Assembly has been dismissed by the Supreme Court in Abuja.

Fubara was also ordered to pay N2m to the Assembly and the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, by a five-member panel led by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji on Monday.

The case was dismissed after Fubara’s lawyer, Yusuf Ali, withdrew the suit.

Recall that on October 10, 2024, the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, admonished Fubara for failing to follow the rule of law in his actions.

The court further held that Fubara’s actions violated Section 96 of the 1999 Constitution, which requires at least one-third of the Assembly members to form a quorum.

The court noted that “four out of 31 members cannot, by any stretch of the imagination, constitute the required quorum for legislative business.”

Meanwhile, Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court also ruled against Fubara’s presentation of the 2024 budget before the four-member Assembly led by Edison Ehie.

The budget presentation was a result of the leadership crisis within the Rivers State House of Assembly. Fubara had argued that the Amaewhule-led faction lost its legitimacy after defecting from the People’s Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress.

However, the lower courts ruled that he failed to provide evidence of their defection and, therefore, could not legally present the budget to a four-member House.

Following the Court of Appeal judgment, Fubara approached the Supreme Court to set aside the lower court’s ruling and allow him to present the budget to the Ehie-led faction.

However, when the case was called on Monday, Fubara’s counsel, Yusuf Ali, informed the Supreme Court that the governor had decided to withdraw the appeal.

Ali stated that a notice dated February 6 had already been filed, explaining that the appeal had been overtaken by events.

All 17 respondents in the case, represented by various lawyers, did not oppose the withdrawal. However, J.B. Daudu (SAN), representing the 3rd to 12th respondents (National Assembly and its leadership), and Wole Olanipekun (SAN), representing the 1st and 2nd respondents (Rivers State House of Assembly and Amaewhule), requested a cost of N2 million.

Daudu further urged the court to dismiss the appeal rather than strike it out, as issues had already been joined.

The five-member Supreme Court panel dismissed the appeal after confirming that the withdrawal was not opposed.

In a brief ruling, Justice Abba-Aji declared the appeal dismissed and awarded a cost of N2 million in favour of the 1st to 12th respondents.

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Ex-Minister Turaki in Court over Adultery, False Marriage Allegations

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A former Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Kabiru Turaki (SAN), has been arraigned before a Magistrate Court at Zone 2 in Abuja on allegations bordering on false marriage, adultery, among others.

Turaki pleaded not guilty when the First Information Report (FIR) was read to him in the dock on Thursday before the presiding Magistrate of Court 9, Abubakar Jega.

He insisted that the alleged offences are not true.

According to the FIR, the former minister is accused of “deceitfully inducing belief of lawful marriage, adultery by a man and criminal intimidation, contrary to sections 383, 387 and 389 of the Penal Code.”

The prosecution stated that the investigation of the case followed a petition dated August 9, 2024, received by the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Force FCID, Abuja.

It further stated that the investigation revealed that “you Barrister Kabiru Taminu Turaki (SAN), between December 2014 and August 2016, deceitfully cohabited Ms. Hadiza Musa Bafta at a hotel called Han’s Place.

“You also co-habited her at Ideal Home Holiday, Asokoro between August 2016 and November 2021.

“You hired a place for her at No. 12 Clement Akpagbo Close, Gauzape from November 2021 and made her believe you were married to her and continuously had sexual intercourse with her, which resulted to a baby girl.

“You abandoned Hadiza Musa Baffa with her only child and denied the paternity. You threatened to use your influence and position to terminate the lives of mother and child.

“You are thereby suspected to have committed the above offences.”

Shortly after Turaki:s arraignment, the prosecuting lawyer , Chijioke Okorie urged the court to set a date for the commencement of trial.

Turaki’s lawyer, A. I. Mohammed, who did not object to the prosecution’s request for a date for trial, applied for bail for the defendant on the grounds that he would be available whenever he is required to attend court.

Magistrate Jega granted bail to Turaki at N1million with two sureties in like sum.

He said the sureties must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and must provide evidence of the residences.

The magistrate then adjourned to March 11 for the commencement of trial.

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Decomposing Body of Kidnapped Anambra Lawmaker Found on 2nd Niger Bridge

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The decomposing body of a member of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Justice Azuka, has been discovered on the 2nd Niger Bridge.

Azuka’s body was discovered by a combined team of security agencies.

The lawmaker representing Onitsha North Constituency 1 was kidnapped on December 24, 2024, along Ugwunabankpa Road, Inland Town, Onitsha.

After weeks of investigation, security operatives from Abuja apprehended the suspects late Wednesday. The arrested individuals later led authorities to the location where they had dumped the lawmaker’s remains.

Police authorities in Anambra State said details of the incident are sketchy.

However, the spokesman of the command, Tochukwu Ikenga, said police operatives have been deployed to the scene.

According to him, further details would be made known to the public in due time.

The incident marks the second kidnapping and murder of a sitting Anambra lawmaker in recent years.

In 2022, Okey Okoye, popularly known as “Okey Di Ok” from Aguata, was abducted and beheaded.

His body was later found around the Nnobi axis of the South-East state. The region has experienced a slew of violence in recent years. Gunmen have at various times attacked public facilities and killed scores of persons despite repeated assurances from government and security agencies.

The calls for secession have also reached new highs in the region in recent years. But no group has claimed responsibility for the wave of violence in the South-East.

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