Gbenga Daniel’s wife, others to face criminal charges

The wife of the immediate past governor of Ogun State, Olufunke Daniel, as well as a traditional ruler in the state, were on Tuesday recommended for criminal charges following a White Paper Report of the Truth Commission set up by the current administration in the state.

The panel’s final report submitted to the state government accused the former first lady of using her office to threaten the life of the former Chairman of Ijebu-East Local Government, Tunde Oladunjoye.

According to the report, Mrs. Daniel stormed the chairman’s house with police officers and ordered him beaten thoroughly alongside his personal assistant, Odunaya Rasheed.

“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 panel noted.

“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 report stated.

The panel, headed by Justice Pius Aderemi, recommended that the state Attorney-General should prosecute Mrs Daniel for criminal offence.

The panel also recommended that 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.

On the indicted royal father, Lateef Akanni Adeniran, the panel said he was engaged in acts of political violence, abuse of office and hooliganism, and also ordered the beating up of one Falana Jaiyeola for failure to pay him homage in the palace.

Others recommended for prosecution in the report include former commissioner of Youths and Sports in the state, Bukola Olopade; Akeem Odejimi; former Chairman of Abeokuta South Local Government, Moroof Odejimi; and Saburi Ayoade for their various roles in acts of either political violence, abuse of office or hooliganism.

Specifically, the Commission recommended that Mr. Odejimi should be prosecuted for the murder of one late Gbenga Apolola, whose corpse has not been found as it was allegedly removed by his assailants.

The Commission, which also recommended that the widow of the deceased should be compensated as well as the three children left behind, also indicted Mr. Odejimi for an attack on the home of the Ojelades on 14th April, 2007 and the murder of Mr. Ojelade.

On the indictment of the former sports commissioner, popularly known as Ozogula, the Commission declared that he was found to have attacked one Ajasa Olayiwola at Adatan Area of Abeokuta with thugs and hoodlums and had him beaten with sticks and metals resulting in a severe head injury.

“The evidence of the Petitioner was uncontroverted and the Commission therefore recommends that the Attorney General of Ogun State should institute and undertake criminal proceedings against Bukola Olopade.

“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,” the panel submitted.