[img]http://edostate.com/PF.Base/file/attachment/2016/09/6ab07a2aa9d4222f3f6cb8bc16122a01_view.jpg[/img] Godwin Obaseki, the All Progressives Congress (APC) party candidate in the gubernatorial election in Edo State, has won the election against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidtate, and he won most of the votes. Pastor Ize-Iyamu of the PDP came second in the votes collated and announced by INEC. The Independent National Electoral Commission, announcing collated results across the state, said APC won 13 of the state’s 18 local government areas.

[img]http://edostate.com/PF.Base/file/attachment/2016/12/690ca68e56af02b1cbff11c9ee8978a4_view.jpg[/img] Godwin Obaseki, Governor of Edo State Barely one month after he was sworn in as the governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki has announced his intention to execute three death row prisoners at Oko Prisons in Benin City. The convicts had been sentenced to death by military tribunals under the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Decree 1971 as amended, in which there is no right of appeal. The prisoners are to be executed today (Friday), according to the Legal Defence and Assistance Project, a non-governmental organisation working to protect and promote human rights and the rule of law in Nigeria. Chino Obiagwu, LEDAP’s director, in a petition to Mr. Obaseki, urged the governor to halt the planned execution. “These earmarked prisoners were sentenced by military tribunals under the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Decree 1971 as amended, in which there was no right of appeal. We have filed an appeal pending at the Court of Lagos seeking order that these prisoners have right of appeal under the 1999 Constitution,” Mr. Obiagwu, a lawyer, stated in the petition dated December 23rd. The group urged the governor not to start his regime with execution of prisoners “who have insisted on their innocence and have not exhausted appeal processes”. Mr. Obaseki was sworn-in as the governor of Edo State last month, replacing Adams Oshiomhole who had governed for eight years. Mr. Obaseki and his predecessor signed the execution of the inmates. [img]http://edostate.com/PF.Base/file/attachment/2016/12/e05eba6304143e1972648d0879b09c14_view.jpg[/img] When contacted, John Mayaki, the interim Chief Press Secretary to Mr. Obaseki, said he was not aware of the petition. “I need to see the petition before I can respond,” Mr. Mayaki added. In 2013, four prisoners on death row were hanged by officers of the Nigeria Prison Service in Edo State, with Mr. Oshiomhole signing the death warrant for two of them, according to Henry Idahagbon, then Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in the state. It was the first known execution in Nigeria since 2006, according to Amnesty International. The prisoners – Chima Ejiofor, Daniel Nsofor, Osarenmwinda Aigbonkhan, and Richard Igagu – were convicted of murder, armed robbery, and rape. They had instituted a suit before a federal court contending that executing them after 16 years of trauma and imminent death was inhuman and degrading and asked that their death sentences be commuted to terms of imprisonment. [img]http://edostate.com/PF.Base/file/attachment/2016/12/27a59d3b28deb8e2c751ae0c6b4b09fb_view.jpg[/img] “These people were convicted 15 years ago,” Mr. Idahagbon had said following a widespread condemnation that greeted the hanging of the inmates. “I was only informed of this (last night) by the prison authorities that they had been hanged. One of them was convicted in Kaduna, while their matters had gone up to the Supreme Court and came back to the Federal High Court, Benin. “It really has nothing to do with us a government. The governor only signed the death sentence of two, while previous governors signed that of two others.” By: Ben Ezeamalu

[img]http://edostate.com/PF.Base/file/attachment/2017/03/b3a76c34015e29ea55c0e030cc33682b_view.jpg[/img] The Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo has arrived Benin, the Edo State capital. Osinbajo’s visit to Edo State is part of the Federal Government’s effort to engage leaders of oil producing states on ways to resolve the lingering crisis in the Niger Delta region. His arrival was announced by the Presidency on its verified twitter handle @ProfOsinbajo kicks off his visit to Edo State at the Palace of the Oba of Benin.” Earlier, an aide to the state governor, Godwin Obaseki, Gloria Adagbon had disclosed the acting President’s scheduled visit to the state. Adagbon in a terse statement had said, Osinbajo’s visit was “in continuation of his engagement and consultation with the Niger Delta”. Disclosing the acting President’s itinerary, she said, “Governor Obaseki will receive His Excellency, Ag. President Osinbajo at the Airport and thereafter they will proceed to the Oba Palace to see the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II. “Furthermore, Ag. President shall hold stakeholders meeting to engage the oil producing communities in Edo State.” The acting President has so far visited Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta, Imo, and Akwa Ibom States respectively. [img]http://edostate.com/PF.Base/file/attachment/2017/03/d4efd37521c3cce758d87b533c5130fc_view.jpg[/img] By: Seun Opejobi

[img]http://edostate.com/PF.Base/file/attachment/2016/08/e47a0c9752c416ab3c74b93f709eee22_view.jpg[/img] LAGOS, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Nigeria's naira was quoted at an all-time low of 409 to the dollar on the black market on Thursday, compared with 402 the previous day, after the suspension of some banks from forex trading made dollars even harder to obtain. [img]http://edostate.com/PF.Base/file/attachment/2016/08/f335c5ef553174a889b3307807151a8f_view.jpg[/img] The central bank suspended nine commercial banks from forex transactions on Tuesday for failing to pay money owed to the government - although one was readmitted after making a payment. Shares in some of the banks hit dropped by up to 7.8 percent. Traders said the local currency fell due to the impact of the suspensions, compounding the dollar shortages Nigeria has been suffering due to the slump in the price of its oil exports. [img]http://edostate.com/PF.Base/file/attachment/2016/08/c6e3a04222732c125a6989caee611f28_view.jpg[/img] "The suspension of some banks from transaction in the forex market has really increased pressure on the market," said Aminu Gwadabe, president of the bureaux de change association. Bank executives have been meeting central bank officials to resolve the forex issue as investors continued to dump their shares second day. Skye Bank fell the most of those suspended from foreign exchange transactions, shedding 7.81 percent, followed by Fidelity Bank down 3.0 percent. FBN Holdings shed 1.9 percent while Diamond Bank and FCMB were down 0.8 percent. The falls pulled the main index down 1.8 percent. On the interbank market, the currency gained 0.2 percent to close at 305 naira to the greenback with traders attributing the rise to central bank dollar sale to prop up the unit. The bank has been selling dollars almost daily to boost liquidity. [img]http://edostate.com/PF.Base/file/attachment/2016/08/fe6ee0360148c3160f34fbd085039a11_view.jpg[/img] However, currency forwards put the naira at 344.50 to the dollar in one months' time. On Thursday, the central bank settled $152.48 million of naira futures contracts it sold in June at an exchange rate of 279 naira per dollar, further draining its reserves, which is at its lowest in more than 11-years. [img]http://edostate.com/PF.Base/file/attachment/2016/08/1487df770b604009abbef58fd2dc77e0_view.jpg[/img] In June, the central bank abandoned its currency peg to the dollar, allowing the naira to weaken by 40 percent in a bid to attract more foreign investment. But so far trading in the official foreign exchange market has been limited as those with dollars prefer to sell them for a higher rate on the black market. (Reporting by Oludare Mayowa; Additional reporting by Chijioke Ohuocha; Editing by Alison Williams) [img]http://edostate.com/PF.Base/file/attachment/2016/08/9a95a38b3c26d1b139ce69993faaa089_view.jpg[/img]

[img]http://edostate.com/PF.Base/file/attachment/2016/10/7b45427144f35a988a8aac22f2681ff8_view.png[/img] Osagie Ize-Iyamu the PDP Governorship candidate in the Edo State election, The PDP has scored a major point in the ongoing case against the conduct of the recent Edo election after being granted right to inspect election materials PDP’s plea contained in a nine-paragraph affidavit was granted by Hon. Justice A. Badamasi-led Edo State Election Petition Tribunal Edo State Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Benin, on Tuesday granted an exparte motion to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the September 28 governorship election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, to inspect all materials used in the conduct of the election. Presenting the nine-paragraph affidavit before the Hon. Justice A. Badamasi-led Tribunal, Counsel to the Petitioners, Barr. Kingsley Obamogie, said it was in compliance with Section 151 of the Electoral Act 2010, as amended. “In compliance with the Section 151 of the Electoral Act of 2010 as amended, we have approached and pray the Court to grant us the permission to inspect all the electoral materials used by INEC in the just concluded Edo State Governorship Election,” he said. Following a careful study of the 9-paragraph affidavit submitted by the Petitioners, the Presiding Judge, Hon. Justice Badamasi, granted the exparte motion for the petitioners to inspect the election materials. Other members of the Tribunal are Hon. Justice E. A. Ade Sodun and Hon. Justice Khadi Adamu Usmaan. It would be recalled that he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), had on September 29, 2016, declared candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Godwin Obaseki, winner of the election with over 300,000 votes to defeat his PDP opponent who polled a total of over 250,000 votes. It's recalls that PDP candidate Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, who was defeated in the Edo governorship election, led a massive protest against the result of the exercise which favoured Godwin Obaseki of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Since the final result of the election was announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (EFCC) on September 29, supporters of Pastor Ize-Iyamu have led various protests in Benin, the state capital while Governor Adams Oshiomhole and his APC supporters have continued to celebrate. By: Akinyemi Akinrujomu

[img]http://edostate.com/PF.Base/file/attachment/2016/12/eb44ca6d4f4c174b60e69c392ddbde46_view.jpg[/img] Amnesty International stated it is a disappointed for the actions of the Edo state government over the executions of prisoners carried out on December 23. The organisation urged the federal government and even state governments to stop the use of executions. Edo state governor Godwin Obaseki has been slammed by Amnesty International over execution of prisoners [img]http://edostate.com/PF.Base/file/attachment/2016/12/fad34fabb5239f67e5b22533482d8ef6_view.jpg[/img] Godwin Obaseki International human rights organisation Amnesty International (AI) has slammed Edo state government for executing three prisoners who were on death row on Friday, December 23. The Punch reports that AI urged the Nigerian authorities, including state governments to return to putting a temporary stop to executions in the hopes of eventually abolishing the use of capital punishments. In a statement on Thursday, December 29, AI’s Acting Country Director Makmid Kamara said Edo state’s action is a “backward step in the global trend towards abolition of the death penalty.” The statement read: “Amnesty International strongly condemns the executions on December 23 2016 of three death row prisoners in Benin City prison by the Edo State government and calls on authorities in Nigeria not to carry out any further executions of death row prisoners. ”We urge the Nigerian government, including all states in the federation, to return to a moratorium on executions, with a view of abolishing the death penalty. “The latest executions in Edo state is a backward step in the global trend towards abolition of the death penalty and is inconsistent with Nigeria’s international human rights commitments. “Stopping executions and doing away with the death penalty does not mean that criminals go unpunished. It is essential that human rights standards, including allowing for full appeals to complete, are respected in all stages of the criminal justice process. All punishments must be compatible with human rights.”

[img]http://edostate.com/PF.Base/file/attachment/2017/03/cdca0aa074d5a8545ed7dd082744e03b_view.jpg[/img] Several properties destroyed as fire razes building in Edo Several property worth millions of Naira were destroyed on Tuesday, March 7, as fired razed a storey buildings in Oredo local government area, Edo state. According to a report on The Punch, the destroyed building which is located along no 83, Forestry road‎ in Benin City, Edo state capital, had rented apartments at the top floor while different business centers and a generator store were accommodated below. It was gathered that the fire started at about 6pm‎, when most of the shop owners had closed for the day. On noticing the fire, the tenants were said to have quickly rushed out of the building as nobody sustained any injury. However, a large crowd of sympathisers were seen on the street while some of the tenants struggled to salvage some of their belongings. [img]http://edostate.com/PF.Base/file/attachment/2017/03/90de341821467b8f472d2ea05a0fd3b2_view.jpg[/img] According to an eyewitness, Chinedu Victor, the fire may have been caused by an electric surge, as power supply was interrupted when it broke out. Victor said: “It was an electric surge‎. There was power supply then but it has been interrupted now. The fire service people came after 15 minutes. “There were many rooms there. But everybody was rescued. Nobody was injured.” Another tenants, Sarah Etiben, who wept uncontrollably said that she had sighted the flame from the location of her workplace but did not know that it came from her house. Etiben said: ‎”Somebody just called me that our house was burning. My workplace is not too far from here. I saw the flame and thought it was from another place. “I cannot really explain what happened. My mother and siblings lived in the building but I cannot find them now.” As at the time of this report, operatives of the state fire service were also seen making efforts to put off the fire which completely destroyed the building. By: Nomso Obiajuru

[img]http://edostate.com/PF.Base/file/attachment/2016/08/c3748a088f6ce2fe26f11a58cae0f343_view.jpg[/img] Reactions have continued to trail the proposed probe of the two billion naira appropriated for constituency project in the 2014/2015 budget by the federal government. For more info see the youtube - ITV news video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Jq5IvJFB3o

[img]http://edostate.com/PF.Base/file/attachment/2016/10/a5e3cff95cee9de75a8732a04b2aa0ef_view.png[/img] Protesters on Monday blocked the Uselu/Ugbowo section of the Benin-Lagos highway over plans by Egor Local Government Area of Edo to relocate traders. The protesters, under the aegis of Uselu Market Women Association, were resisting the directive to move to lock-up stores built by the council. The women, displaying placards, blocked both sides of the highway, preventing motorists from continuing with their trips. Some of the women said the N1.2 million charged for the stores was too expensive for them, especially given the type of businesses most of them has. The women said their problem was compounded by the action of the local council, which commenced the removal of their make shift shops on Monday. Mrs Celena Okon, one of the market women, described the council’s action ”as an act of wickedness”, in view of the current economic situation in the country. “What am I selling that you will force me to pay over a Million Naira for a single store? I believe they should consider the worth of our businesses individually. “Where do you expect a woman who sells only crayfish or tomatoes to get such a ridiculous amount of money to pay, when in actual fact most are in dire need of additional funds to grow their businesses,” Okon said. Another market woman, Mrs Imade Osifo, who described the situation as pathetic, said their decision to barricade the highway was for the world to know what they were going through. She said, “They want to force us to go into the stores and we have told them that we cannot afford the stores; that is why they are destroying our businesses.” Mrs Osifo also alleged that the council was ”insensitive to them”, especially against the backdrop of the different fees levied to allow them do business in the market. “When the plan to construct these lock-up stores came up, they (Council) told us that the prices will be pocket friendly, especially to some of us involved in petty trading. “But what do we have now, N1.2 million for a store is a price that most of us cannot afford; there is no way many of us can afford that now. “Even if the country’s economy was okay, how do you expect a woman who sells only salt and Maggi to generate such,” Osifo asked. All efforts to get authorities of Egor local council to comment on the situation proved abortive, as the Council’s Head of Service was said to be unavailable. When contacted on telephone, the Council’s spokesman, Mrs Prisca Ebvadiaro, said she was not in the position to comment on the matter. “I cannot speak on this; there is a committee that has been set up and as such, I cannot speak on it,” Ebvadiaro said. As at the time of filing the report, several motorists were stranded on the highway while other commuters have resorted to trekking to get to their destination. The women resisted attempts by the police to get them off the road. By: Ezekiel Enejeta

[img]http://edostate.com/PF.Base/file/attachment/2016/12/03280d095d62107f20adcbe2c2ed9ba6_view.png[/img] Edo State Youth leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Osakpanwa Eriyo and another chieftain of the party, Sunday Osagbona, were yesterday arraigned before the Oredo Magistrate Court Benin City for alleged conspiracy and attempted murder against the state Secretary of the party and Obazulu of Benin Kingdom, Chief Osaro Idah. Eriyo who is also the state chairman of the Road Transport Employers Association (RTEAN), has been in police detention in the past three days following a petition by Chief Idah that Eriyo and others threatened to kill him and the Chief Security Officer to Governor Godwin Obaseki, Mr Haruna. Osakpanwa was alleged to have told Chief Idah that “you will die the way your father was killed,” but he denied ever saying such. It will be recalled that Chief Idah’s father was assassinated in a very brutal manner in 1992 when he was chairman of Oredo Local Government Area. But it was a difficult one for the police command in the state following the invasion of the command by over twenty thousand loyalists of Osakpanwa who demanded the release of their leader. Osakpanwa was said to have attempted suicide at the Police Command when he used a broken bottle to cut his body. Blood flowed freely before the police held him while he cursed Governor Godwin Obaseki of being behind his travail. The Edo state Police Commissioner, Haliru Gwandu, in his reaction said “we are not looking at the political angle of the incident but the crime which he allegedly committed. And that is why we have taken the matter to court”. However, the police were able to whisk the APC leaders away to the magistrate court under heavy security and on getting to the court, they locked up the entire premises so as to stop the supporters from invading the court room. When Eriyo was brought to court, he yelled at the police demanding why he was on handcuff when he was not a criminal. He yelled, “why are you charging me for attempted murder, did I kill anybody, I am not a criminal, the governor is only trying to oppress me, I have not done anything”. However, the pleas by their Counsel, Usunobun Evbayiro, that they should be granted custody in the police cell due to their ill health were rejected by the Magistrate. He said his clients were hypertensive, asthmatic, have high blood sugar and need constant medical attention. “The first accused person collapsed in police station. It was the police doctors who revived him. I urge you to use your discretion to allow him to be kept in police hospital so that police doctors can attend to him. It is for him not to die in custody.” But the presiding Magistrate, M.C Ojobo said she lacked such powers and that prison custody is the proper place to remand them since there are health facilities at the prisons. She said she lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter and ordered the case file to be sent to the Department of Public Prosecution for legal advice. The matter was adjourned to January 13, 2017 for mention. However the war is about the soul of the APC in Oredo LGA which is the Council of Governor Obaseki. The leaders of the party in the council led by Chief Idah had a list of the party executive while Osakpanwa who doggedly supported Obaseki before and after the APC primaries had his own different list. And just before Christmas, the leaders attended a meeting at Government House at the instance of Governor Obaseki, but those loyal to Osakpanwa were locked outside the meeting. His supporters then stormed Government in protest. It will be recalled that the former chief of staff to the governor, Patrick Obahiagbon convened the Oredo leadership meeting led by Chief Idah where the entire leaders of the party apart from Osakpanwa endorsed the list of Executive which was submitted by Chief Idah. The situation is creating tension in the state as APC leaders in Oredo fled their homes as they were afraid they may be attacked by Osakpanwa’s loyalists who are more than 30,000 youths whom he has empowered. He is a god father to most of the youths in Benin and his incarceration in prison custody is capable of causing serious crisis in the governor’s own Local Government as he plans to settle down for governance next year. By: Simon Ebegbulem