Mrs. Olufunke Daniel, wife of the former governor of Ogun State, Gbenga Daniel has been recommended for prosecution alongside six others that include traditional rulers.
Mrs. Olufunke Daniel, wife of the former governor of Ogun State, Gbenga Daniel has been recommended for prosecution alongside six others that include traditional rulers.
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Submitting its final report to the governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun today, the chairman of the Ogun State Truth Commission, Hon. Justice Pius O. Aderemi Jsc (Rtd) said it was shown conclusively by the petitions considered by his panel that the seven persons engaged in acts of either political violence, abuse of office or hooliganism.
In a recommendation that is likely to have reverberations beyond the boundaries of Ogun State, the panel said, “The proven excesses of Mrs. Olufunke Daniel arose from the widespread abuse of spouses of Governors and Presidents when there is no legal basis for the office of First Lady in Nigeria. The State and Federal Governments should evolve an administrative mechanism that ensures that wives of Governors and Presidents carry out what they perceive to be their duties unobtrusively.”
It said that Mrs. Daniel led a group of policemen, government officials and political thugs to the house of one Ambassador Tunde Oladunjoye, the former Chairman of Ijebu East Local Government Council, where she slapped the petitioner and ordered the policemen to beat up Odunaya Rasheed, his Personal Assistant.
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“It is the view of the Commission that the victim established a prima facie case of criminal offence against Mrs. Olufunke Daniel,” Justice Aderemi said. “Mrs. Olufunke Daniel undoubtedly held herself out as a Public Officer by moving to the Petitioner’s house with armed police escorts and ordering the policemen to beat Mr. Odunaya.”
Among others, the panel also recommended:
• That Akeem Odejimi Ologbowon be prosecuted for the murder of late Gbenga Apolola, whose corpse could not be found as it was allegedly removed by his assailants, and that the Government of Ogun State should compensate Mrs. Apolola to enable her take care of the three children left by the deceased;
• “With all the force at [its] command,” criminal proceedings against Mr. Saburi Kehinde Ayoade, Baale of Oke-Egan for the murder on January 31, 2011, of one Moshood Bankole in his house at Iloro Street, Ire-Akari, Iroko;
• The prosecution of Oba Lateef Akanni Adeniran, the Olofin of Ado-Ado, for ordering the kicking, beating and stripping naked of Falana Jaiyeola by anti-riot policemen in his palace, for alleged failure of the victim to pay him (Oba) homage since his installation as an Oba, an order given by the Oba that was carried out in his presence by the policemen; and
• Criminal proceedings against Mr. Bukola Olopade, aka Ozogula, who was found to have attacked one Ajasa Olayiwola at Car Wash Adatan Area of Abeokuta with thugs and hoodlums and had him beaten with sticks and metals, resulting in bleeding from his head.
Justice Aderemi appealed to the government of Senator Amosun to study the report and ensure, in the overall interest of the people of Ogun State, the implementation of its recommendations therein contained, as that would help to stem the tide of political violence, arsons, dispute arising from Chieftaincy Matters, unwarranted murders, abuse of public office etc.
“Good and god-fearing governance is a SINE QUA NON to development, stability and growth of any society,” he noted. “We pray that today, Tuesday 7th August 2012 will mark a positive turning point in the life of the citizenry of Ogun State.”
In a chilling testimony to the panel on February 22, Mr. Wale Adedayo, a former Chief Press Secretary to then governor Daniel, spoke about intricacies in the use of violence by top government officials and the nation’s security agencies, pointing out that the government often handed out contract killing jobs in the public interest.
He said, “A person could be chalked down under the table if those at the highest level of government feel his/her continued life could constitute a greater danger to general public good. We had a situation like that during the first term of Daniel. It was a very difficult decision, but it was taken and carried out nevertheless as it also involved a move to pacify the police.”
With specific reference to the task before the Truth Commission, which was to uncover the identities of persons or groups behind the series of orchestrated violence that took place in Ogun State between 2003 and 29, May 2011 and recommend appropriate sanctions, Mr. Adedayo assured the panel it would fail.
“Personally, but with due respect, I do not believe you can achieve this,” he stated.
Below is the full text of the address by Hon. Justice Pius O. Aderemi Jsc (Rtd) Con, Chairman, Ogun State Truth Commission, At The Submission Of Final Report Of The Commission To Senator Ibikunle Amosun Fca, The Executive Governor Of Ogun State, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta
Your Excellency;
I on behalf of the Members of Ogun State Truth Commission and my humble self thank you for the privilege you gave us to serve the “GATEWAY STATE” through this Commission, which you graciously set up on 14th September 2011.
No sooner than you inaugurated the Commission, with my humble self as the Chairman and other eminent and reputable persons as Members, we fashioned out our independent Rules and Methodology to guide the Commission in its operation. We had our inaugural Public Hearing on the 30th of November 2011 after calling for and receiving Memoranda/Complaints/Petitions from members of the general public.
I want to publicly acknowledge, with gratitude, the commitment, co-operation, hard work and sacrifices made by the Members, the Secretary and other supporting Staff of the Commission in the course of discharging this onerous duty. It is appropriate now, at this juncture, to aver that we did work under very challenging conditions. Notwithstanding this, I make bold to say that the entire team remained dedicated to our Oath of Allegiance.
We implore your Government to study this Report and ensure, in the overall interest of the people of Ogun State, the implementation of the recommendations therein contained. This four-volume Report hereby presented to you contains, inter alia, our recommendations on how to stem the tide of political violence, arsons, dispute arising from Chieftaincy Matters, unwarranted murders, abuse of public office etc.
In strict adherence to our Terms of Reference as contained in Clause 5 of the instrument establishing the Commission, dated 12th September 2011, the Commission specifically recommends that the following persons, who were shown conclusively by the Petitions considered by us to have engaged in acts of either political violence, abuse of office or hooliganism should, be prosecuted by the Attorney General of Ogun State:
1. Akeem Odejimi Ologbowon
2. Mrs. Olufunke Daniel
3. Moruf Odejinmi Ologbowon
4. Jamiu Olododo
5. Bukola Olopade alias Ozogbula
6. Oba Lateef Akanni Adeniran, Olofin of Ado-Odo
7. Mr. Saburi Kehinde Ayoade, Baale of Oke-Egan
The Commission recommends that Akeem Odejimi Ologbowon should be prosecuted for the murder of Late Gbenga Apolola, whose corpse could not be found as it was allegedly removed by his assailants. The Commission holds the view that the fact that the body was not found is irrelevant. Absence of a body is no longer an obstacle to conviction in a charge of murder. The Government of Ogun State, we further recommend, should compensate the widow of the deceased so that she can take care of the three children left by the deceased. Mr. Akeem Odejinmi Ologbonwon is also recommended to be prosecuted for an attack on the home of the Ojelades on 14th April 2007 and the murder of Chief Ojelade.
In the case of the wife of the former Governor of Ogun State (Mrs. Olufunke Daniel), we found that she led a group of policemen, some government official and political thugs to the house of one Ambassador Tunde Oladunjoye, the former Chairman of Ijebu East Local Government Council, where she slapped the petitioner and ordered the Policemen to beat up Odunaya Rasheed, the Personal Assistant to Oladunjoye.
It is the view of the Commission that the victim established a prima facie case of criminal offence against Mrs. Olufunke Daniel. Mrs. Olufunke Daniel undoubtedly held herself out as a Public Officer by moving to the Petitioner’s house with armed Police escorts and ordering the Policemen to beat Mr. Odunaya. The proven excesses of Mrs. Olufunke Daniel arose from the widespread abuse of spouses of Governors and Presidents when there is no legal basis for the office of First Lady in Nigeria. The State and Federal Governments should evolve an administrative mechanism that ensures that wives of Governors and Presidents carry out what they perceive to be their duties unobtrusively. The Government of Ogun State should compensate the Petitioner for the expenses he incurred for treating himself.
Mr. Bukola Olopade aka Ozogula was found to have attacked one Ajasa Olayiwola at Car Wash Adatan Area of Abeokuta with thugs and hoodlums and had him beaten with sticks and metals resulting in bleeding from his head. The evidence of the Petitioner was uncontroverted. The Commission therefore recommends that the Attorney General of Ogun State should institute and undertake criminal proceedings against BUKOLA OLOPADE.
It is also recommended that Ogun State Government should compensate the Petitioner for the injury sustained.
Furthermore, there is the crucial element of complaint that one Moshood Bankole was murdered by Mr. Saburi Kehinde Ayoade, Baale of Oke-Egan. Indeed, a witness said in his testimony that he was present when Saburi Kehinde Ayoade shot Moshood Bankole in his house at Iloro Street, Ire-Akari, Iroko on 31st January 2011. The incident was, by his evidence, reported to the Police but the latter is yet to come up with outcome of its investigation, as such, nobody has been charged to court based on that murder. A prima facie criminal offence case was made out against Mr. Saburi Kehinde Ayoade from several pieces of evidence presented before the Commission. We therefore, with all the force at our command, recommend that the Attorney General of Ogun State should institute and undertake criminal proceedings against SABURI KEHINDE AYOADE.
We recommend the prosecution of Oba Lateef Akanni Adeniran, the Olofin of Ado-Ado for ordering the kicking, beating and stripping naked of Falana Jaiyeola by Anti-Riot Policemen in his Palace, for alleged failure of the victim to pay him (Oba) homage since his installation as an Oba. The said order given by the Oba was carried out in his presence by the Policemen.
Good and god-fearing governance is a SINE QUA NON to development, stability and growth of any society. We pray that today, Tuesday 7th August 2012 will mark a positive turning point in the life of the citizenry of Ogun State.
Thank you.
Yours faithfully,
HON. JUSTICE P. O. ADEREMI JSC (RTD), CON
CHAIRMAN,
OGUN STATE TRUTH COMMISSION
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