Tag Archives: GBENGA DANIEL

Ogun PDP factions expel Buruji Kashamu, Gbenga Daniel.

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The festering crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State, over the weekend, saw two factions of the party engage in counter actions that meant sacking each other’s leaders for alleged anti-party activities.

The faction led by Sikirulai Ogundele and loyal to former Governor Gbenga Daniel had on Friday announced the suspension of Buruji Kashamu, a Senator, and ?others, including Dayo Bayo, Pegba Otemolu, Semiu Shodipo, Fatai Adeyanju, Segun Seriki, Daisi Akitan, and Bowale Solaja.?

The exercise, the Daniel faction said, followed the report of a panel constituted in June to investigate allegations of financial improprieties and anti-party activities against the listed party chieftains.

“Based on the preliminary report of the panel however, submitted to the Executive committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ogun State Chapter, we found merit in the allegations and hereby adopt the report and findings of the Panel which include recommendation to suspend the above mentioned,” said a statement by Mr. Ogundele on Friday.

The statement added that the accused persons refused to honour several invitations by the panel to respond to allegations of misapplication and outright diversion of party funds.

But in a counter action, the faction loyal to Mr. Kashamu, held a press conference on Saturday to announce the sacking of Mr. Daniel and a member of the House of Representatives, Ladi Adebutu.

The chairman of the Daniel faction, Mr. Ogundele, and Tolu Bankole were also affected by the counter exercise carried out by the Kashamu faction chaired by Bayo Dayo.

“These charlatans that have now become an embarrassment and huge nuisance to the party are not acting solo, they are being promoted and sponsored by Hon. Ladi Adebutu whose inordinate and desperate desire to contest for the office of Governor in 2019 have made him go berserk and reckless in the pursuit of that asinine mission, even when the time for such is not ripe.

“Ladi Adebutu is also not acting alone as he clearly does not have the intelligence and capacity to orchestrate the degree of political subterfuge he has soaked himself in, but he is being aided and guided by the big masquerade in Sagamu, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, whose dwindling political relevance and desire to grab from the wealth of Chief Adebutu Kessignton has made him surrender leadership to the little Ladi,” said Mr. Dayo, speaking for Mr. Kashamu’s faction.

He said the affected politicians could not appeal the verdict as they had become “cancerous” to the party.
The Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission accepted candidates from Mr. Daniel’s faction for the last local government elections in the state.

The ruling APC in the state eventually won all the chairmanship seats.

Candidates loyal to Mr. Kashamu’s faction were rejected following a court order.

No record of fraud in Ogun during my administration – Gbenga Daniel

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Former Gbenga Daniel on Sunday undertook a cursory journey back into his eight years government in Ogun State and concluded that while it lasted, there was no record of “fraud.”

 

Daniel said the introduction of Treasury Single Account (TSA) was not a panacea to the nation’s economic recession, adding that bureaucracy had remained the major obstacles to its success.

 

The ex – governor made this known in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, while speaking at the Doyen Magazine Award in honour of former Head of Service of Ogun State, Mrs Iyabo Yusuf.

 

According to him, the TSA has not impacted positively to the life of the ordinary man since its introduction.

 

It should be recalled that TSA, a Federal government’s money administration system, was already introduced in Ogun State when Daniel’s successor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, came on board.

 

He rued a situation where TSA had made it almost mandatory that every expenditure must be approved first by the Governor before anything could be done, saying such process slows down governance.

 

“One of thing that shocked me was that, every single expenditure must be approved by the governor and I’ m not joking, even if the Permanent Secretary (PS) want to buy a stationary worth N1,000 he cannot approve it.

 

“He (PS) can only recommend and the Governor must approve. How then will the process of governance move?

 

“TSA is the most worst of bureaucracy. Alternative to TSA is for federal government to set limit of expenditure. In all my eight years, there was no single fraud in Ogun State, but I developed manpower,” Daniel said.

Witnesses in EFCC’s case against ex-Gov. Daniel refuse to attend court session

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Hearing in the trial of a former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Friday suffered a set back as the prosecution again failed to present witnesses.

The EFCC Counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), explained that the witnesses could not appear in court because they said they needed the approval of the State Government.

Jacobs said the situation was a clear departure from the initial agreement with the witnesses and the others who had appeared before then.

He therefore requested for adjournment to be able to present the witnesses.

The defence counsel, Titilola Akinlawon (SAN), who remarked that prosecution cannot be an open ended game, but must have an end, argued that since the trial had been on since October 2011, it was wrong for the prosecuting counsel to still be chasing around witnesses.

Akinlawo , therefore, sought for the closure of the case of the prosecution, having given enough time and adjournment.

Justice Olanrewaju Mabekoje in his ruling said he was constrained in the interest of justice to grant adjournment to the EFCC to bring additional witnesses.

Mabekoje, however, warned that he would not grant any further adjournment.

He warned sternly against such occurrence.

He then adjourned the case to December 16 and 20, 2016.

Witnesses in EFCC’s Case Against ex-Gov. Gbenga Daniel Refuse to Attend Court Session

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Hearing in the trial of a former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Friday suffered a set back as the prosecution again failed to present witnesses.

The EFCC Counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), explained that the witnesses could not appear in court because they said they needed the approval of the State Government.

Jacobs said the situation was a clear departure from the initial agreement with the witnesses and the others who had appeared before then.

He therefore requested for adjournment to be able to present the witnesses.

The defence counsel, Titilola Akinlawon (SAN), who remarked that prosecution cannot be an open ended game, but must have an end, argued that since the trial had been on since October 2011, it was wrong for the prosecuting counsel to still be chasing around witnesses.

Akinlawo , therefore, sought for the closure of the case of the prosecution, having given enough time and adjournment.

Justice Olanrewaju Mabekoje in his ruling said he was constrained in the interest of justice to grant adjournment to the EFCC to bring additional witnesses.

Mabekoje, however, warned that he would not grant any further adjournment.

He warned sternly against such occurrence.

He then adjourned the case to December 16 and 20, 2016.

Saraki, Akpabio, Daniel, Odili, Ladoja Included In AGF’s List For Fresh Probe, Trial

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Senate President Bukola Saraki, factional Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ali Modu Sheriff; and Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, are among 31 former governors whose alleged corruption cases investigated by the anti-graft agencies are likely to be reopened soon.

The PUNCH had exclusively reported on Tuesday that the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, had written to the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission, directing the reopening of the cases of the ex-governors.

It was learnt on Wednesday that the AGF had called for the case files of the former state governors.

 

The PUNCH obtained the list of the former governors, who were named in the AGF’s letter, on Wednesday.

The list contains the names of Saraki, a former Governor of Kwara State; Akpabio (a former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, and Sheriff (an ex-Governor of Borno State).

Other former governors include Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia); Chimaroke Nnamani (Enugu); Saminu Turaki (Jigawa); Sule Lamido (Jigawa); Joshua Dariye (Plateau); Ahmed Yerima (Zamfara); Gabriel Suswam (Benue); Martin Elechi (Ebonyi); Danjuma Goje (Gombe) and Murtala Nyako (Adamawa).

 

They also include Ikedi Ohakim (Imo); Obong Victor Attah (Akwa Ibom); Achike Udenwa (Imo); Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa); Gbenga Daniel (Ogun); Jolly Nyame (Taraba); Boni Haruna (Adamawa); George Akume (Benue); Rashidi Ladoja (Oyo); Attahiru Bafarawa (Sokoto) and Adebayo Alao-Akala.

Others are Usman Dakingari (Kebbi); Adamu Mu’azu (Bauchi); Peter Odili (Rivers), and Lucky Igbindedion (Edo).

Part of the AGF’s letter to the ICPC, sighted by our correspondent on Monday, indicated that the cases against some of the former governors were investigated some years ago, but charges were never filed against them.

 

The letter partly read, “It is clear that some of these governors and other politically-exposed persons have not been charged to court despite the fact that the ICPC has concluded their investigations, concerning allegations levelled against them, for one reason or the other.

“It is the position of the present administration that all ex-governors, who the ICPC had long concluded investigations into the various allegations levelled against them, should be immediately prosecuted.”

The letter also gave the Chairman of the ICPC a 14-day ultimatum to “remit the duplicate case files concerning the politically-exposed persons investigated by the ICPC over the years” to the office of the AGF.

Our correspondent confirmed on Wednesday that the AGF had sent a similar request to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission with the same list of former governors annexed to his letter.

 

The PUNCH had reported that some of the ex-governors, according to one of the sources, include some, who had been convicted on charges preferred against them by the EFCC.

Some of them also had their cases terminated before full-blown trial could begin.

Others are currently undergoing trial on charges initiated against them by the EFCC at either the various divisions of the Federal High Court or the High Courts of their home states.

 

There are about five of the former governors, who are now said to be serving senators.

The affected personalities, it was learnt, served as governors for either one or two terms between 1999 and 2015, and are from all the six geopolitical zones of the country.

It was also confirmed that the majority of those on the list belonged to the two dominant political parties, the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party.

Another source also confirmed that a former Governor of Delta State, James Ibori, who was convicted in the United Kingdom for fraud-related charges and still serving his prison terms, was on the list.

Apart from Ibori, two former governors from the South-South, are said to be on the list.

Five of the former governors are from the South-East, and three from the South-West.

 

The PUNCH was informed that the ex-governors, whose cases would be reopened, included six from the North-West; six from the North-East, and eight from the North-Central.

The AGF letter defines high-profile cases as cases “involving alleged misconduct amounting to economic sabotage; involving complex financial transactions or property movement; involving any of the suspects, who is a politician, a public officer or judicial officer; and where the subject matter involves government or corruption of its official or involves the abuse of office.”

Such judiciary officers, it was learnt, would include judges allegedly involved in economic sabotage, including financial transactions.

 

The AGF’s letter to both the ICPC and EFCC indicated that AGF’s request for the case files was in the exercise of his powers vested in the AGF by Section 174(1) of the Constitution as well as sections 105 (3) and 106 (a) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.

Our correspondent’s findings showed on Wednesday that ICPC and EFCC had yet to respond to the AGF’s request.

Chairmanship: PDP Group Endorses Gbenga Daniel

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) New Era has backed a former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel (OGD), to become the party’s next National Chairman.

Members of the group, who addressed newsmen in Abuja Wednesday, said despite the fact that the party’s zoning committee had zoned the position to the south, the South-west should be given the opportunity to occupy the post for the first time in the history of the party.

The group’s Secretary, Obute Benji, who spoke on behalf of other members, said they had met the former governor who promised to consult widely over the call on him to contest the position.

Benji, who stressed the need to fix the leadership crisis in the PDP so that the party could be set on the path of regeneration and greatness again, said the former governor has the experience to reposition the party.

“Against this backdrop, we, members of PDP New Era had embarked on broad based consultations among party stakeholders, men and women, old and young, leaders and followers on the right person to lead our party to greatness again.

“It was a consensus that since the position of the National Chairman is expected to be filled by the South West for the first time at the coming National Convention, Otunba Gbenga Daniel is the right personality for the position of the National Chairman,” he also said.

“Going by his antecedents, OGD parades all the leadership qualities required to fix our party at this critical time. The leadership our party needs should be of uncompromising integrity, dynamic and sagacious, far sighted and focused with towering capacity of a team builder and player, open and courageous. All these OGD amply and naturally possesses.

Credit: DailyTrust

 

Land Allocated to Gbenga Daniel was a Jungle- EFCC Witness

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The drama in the ongoing suit against the former governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) continued at the resumed hearing of the matter before the Federal High Court, Isabo, Abeokuta.

In continuation of the cross examination of the witnesses, a prosecuting witness, Mr Christopher Olusanya Oyebanji,  the Assist Surveyor General of Ogun State civil service stated that the land allocated to Mr. Daniel,  was just ‘a bush and a jungle…’  As at the time it was allotted.

The EFCC witness who was brought in to testify on the propriety or otherwise of land acquisition under the former governor in a long trial which has taken over three years, and which many have now come to see as persecutory of the former Governor.

Surveyor Oyebanji further affirmed that he did his job professionally and was never influenced in any way by the former Governor. According to him, the existing layout and beacons marking the said plots did not indicate that the land in question on which the former Governor built his residence was ever previously allocated to anyone.

Hearing on the matter which is before Justice Olanrewaju Mabekoje has however been adjourned till 16th Jan 2015.

Gbenga Daniel Donates LP Secretariat To PDP

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Otunba Gbenga Daniel, the immediate past governor of Ogun State, has donated the Ogun State secretariat of Labour to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to be used as campaign office of whoever emerges as the party’s governorship candidate in the state.

He made the donation after collapsing the Labour Party in the state into the structure of the PDP, just as a chieftain of the All Progressive Congress in the State and ally of Chief Olusegun Osoba, Remi Bakare defected to the PDP.

Otunba Daniel spoke at the PDP unification rally held on Tuesday in Abeokuta.

Read more at http://dailypost.ng/2014/10/22/gbenga-daniel-donates-ogun-labour-party-secretariat-pdp/

Gen.Yakubu Gowon, Part Of Nigeria’s History – Otunba Daniel

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Nigeria’s former leader, His Excellency, Gen. (Dr.) Yakubu Gowon (rtd), has being described as an integral part of Nigeria’s political history whose towering sense of  patriotism and nationalism is simply outstanding.

Former governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, in his goodwill message on the occasion of the 80th birthday of the reputable elder statesman  said Dr. Gowon’s place in the nation’s  history is not in contest as  it is replete with awesome records of achievements both in and outside power. “From his early life which reflected an all-round school boy who excelled both in academics and sports, Dr. Gowon’s fine military career capped by his ascent to the exalted position as the Head of State at a very ‘tender’ age of 31 was a story of a rare personality on who leadership was trusted upon at a crucial period in a nation’s history”.

“Navigating the country through the dark days of civil war, his philosophy of ‘No victor, no vanquished’ and the subsequent rehabilitation, reconciliation and reconstruction project revealed a personality with unflinching commitment to the unity of the country”.
“It is on record that the unprecedented developmental projects executed during his regime marked the golden era of our national life. Dr. Gowon is indeed a phenomenon”.

According to Otunba Daniel,  “rising form the ashes of the civil war, Dr. Gowon was able to put the nation together and rallied political leaders to achieve the much wanted unity in the country”

His deep humanism, Otunba Daniel said, reflects in his involvement in the Guinea Worm Eradication Programme as well as the HIV Programme. It was also in fulfilment of his unflinching commitment to a peaceful and united Nigeria, free of disease and poverty, where every citizen has an opportunity for self expression and the realization of their full potentials that he founded the Yakubu Gowon Centre to work on issues in Nigeria such as good governance as well as infectious disease control including HIV/AIDS, guinea worm, and malaria.
His ‘elder statesman’ role in African politics also underscores his phenomenal posture in and beyond the continent” making him one of the greatest and most celebrated Nigerians of all times.

Ayo Giwa
Chief Press Secretary to OGD

2015: Baba Please Forgive Us, We Have Sinned – PDP Begs Obasanjo

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The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has begged its erstwhile BOT chairman and former president, Olusegun Obasanjo for forgiveness.

The party, said the ex-president should overlook the past and lead it to victory in 2015.

National chairman of the party, Adamu Mu’azu, made these pleas on behalf of the party in Abuja on Wednesday while welcoming defectors from the Labour Party, led by Gbenga Daniel, to the ruling party.

Mu’azu said, “All of us must beg Obasanjo to forgive us. We need to beg him. He is very prayerful and we need to ask him to forgive us so that we can be forgiven. We are your children.”

“We have made mistakes and baba, please forgive us. Come and lead us. We are your followers and we assure you that we are all good boys and girls. We have sinned. Baba please forgive us”.