Politics
OBAT’s Son, Abayomi Akinruntan’s Rising Profile (his bright chances of becoming Ondo Speaker)

The race for the position of the next Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly is gathering momentum by the day, as many politicians, young and old from the Sunshine State are jostling for the post regarded as highly important by keen observers in the politics of the State.
One of the most mentioned candidates for the position is the first son of the Olugbo of Ugboland, Oba Frederick Eniti Akinruntan, Abayomi.
Abayomi, a businessman and oil and gas expert who is returning to the Ondo State Assembly for the third time is obviously the most experienced and qualified with records to show for his position as the most senior ranking member in the parliament.
Aside from his father’s influence, Abayomi through his ABA Foundation which he created about a decade ago has been able to prove his worth as he used the platform to cater for his people in Ondo State in the area of empowerment, job creation, grants and scholarship and health provision. No one in the State Assembly can meet up with the record which had endeared him to the young, the old, the rich and ordinary people of Ondo State.
For someone well prepared for a leadership role, he once narrated his experience where his first job was as a pump attendant at one of his father’s Obat Petroleum in Ibadan.
He confessed the 6 months working experience improved the way he sees life and influenced his relationship with the people. He was glad to have risen through the ranks and eventually became a manager in one of the fuel stations before he was appointed the Director of Operations with Obat Oil.
Yomi’s coming into politics was as a means to get closer to his people and it was a decision that stunned many of his friends who wondered how he left a good career in oil and gas to come into public service.
Born to the royal family of Oba Akinruntan in 1973, the prince had his eyes set on what to become, as he takes after his father’s philanthropic gestures, giving to the people.
The word on the streets and the lips of many presently in Ondo State is the gains of having him as the Speaker, a position of influence that attracts the best in politics and governance.
News
FG Charges Fleeing Adebutu, Zenith Bank MD, Others With Vote-buying, Money Laundering

The Federal Government has charged the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State during the 2023 election, Oladipupo Adebutu, with money laundering and vote-buying.
The government also dragged Zenith Bank, its Managing Director, Ebenezer Onyeagwu, and the head of card services at the bank, Celestina Appeal, before the Federal High Court in Abeokuta for allegedly aiding Adebutu to commit the alleged offence.
The government, in the charge sheet marked AB/10c/2023, accused Adebutu of engaging in vote-buying during the March 18 governorship election in the state.
Adebutu, who was the PDP governorship candidate, contested against incumbent Governor Dapo Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress.
The office of the Attorney General of the Federation, which filed the charges, also listed nine other PDP members as Adebutu’s co-defendants.
They are Ogunbona Hammed, Tiamiyu Waliu, Egunsola Owolabi and Sanni Adejoke.
Others are Dare Ogunleye, Dare Adeoye, Dayo Fashina, Wasiu Enololobo, and Malik Akawo.
In the charge sheet, the FG said Adebutu was at large.
Adebutu, alleging a threat to his life, had shortly after the election reportedly travelled out of the country.
The governorship candidate and Adegoke were charged with three counts of criminal conspiracy, bribery and undue influence, while the eight others were charged with vote-buying and conspiracy.
The prosecution listed eight witnesses, who include a police officer, three officials of the NDLEA and two Points of Sale operators, against Adebutu and others.
One of the charges read: “That you Oladipupo Adebuti (now at large), adult male of Kessington House, Iperu, Ogun State between February and March, 2023 at Ogun State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did provide 200,000 prepaid verve cards loaded with N10,000, which had inscribed on them ‘Dame Caroline Oladuni Adebutu Memorial Endorsement Scheme for less privileged’ for the purpose of corruptly influencing votes to vote for PDP candidates (including yourself) during the governorship and state Assembly elections in Ogun State and you thereby committed an offence.”
In another suit filed before the Federal High Court in Abeokuta, the prosecution accused Zenith Bank, its Managing Director, Onyeagwu, and the head of card services at the bank, Appeal, of aiding Adebutu to commit the alleged crime.
The government alleged: “That you (Mr Onyeagwu and Ms Appeal) between February 2023 to March 2023 in Ogun State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did fail to report dust transactions which appeared to have no economic justification or lawful objective, in the account of Oladipupo Adebutu domiciled in Zenith Bank Plc. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 7(1)(a) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and punishable under Section 7 (10) of the same Act.”
Additional report; Punch Newspaper
News
Thrils, Frills As Osun Assembly Elects 38-year-old Speaker

Osun State House of Assembly on Tuesday elected a 38-year-old member representing Odo-Otin State Constituency, Adewale Egbedun, as the Speaker of the Assembly.
He emerged as the speaker after being nominated by Ibrahim Abiola of Irewole/Isokan constituency and seconded by Areoye Samuel.
Also, Akinyode Oyewusi, representing Ife North Constituency, was elected as the Deputy Speaker of the House while Kofoworola Adewumi from Ede-North, emerged as the majority leader.
The inaugural sitting of the 8th Assembly was presided by the Clerk of the House, Simeon Amusan.
In his inaugural speech, the Speaker promised to review outdated legislation and sponsor new bills that will promote the social sector of the economy.
Earlier in his address, Governor Ademola Adeleke sought the support of the lawmakers to deliver dividends of democracy to the masses in the state.
News
Thugs Beat Guber Aspirant At Election Petition Tribunal In Ogun

‘If not for the intervention of some security operatives Segun Sowumi would have been beaten to death by now’. This is the narrative from a concerned PDP official to some party executives in Abeokuta today.
The former governorship candidate of the PDP was flogged by some thugs during the commencement of the electional tribunal sitting in Abeokuta.
The tribunal is sitting to hear the petition filed by Ladi Adebutu against Governor Dapo Abiodun in the last gubernatorial elections.
Some of the thugs believed to be loyalists of the APC descended on the PDP supporters with canes and singled out Segun Showunmi whom they beat to stupor before the intervention of some security operatives.
An eye witness present at the tribunal confirmed Sowunmi escaped by the whiskers.
Adebutu’s lead counsel, Chris Uche complained to the tribunal how PDP members were attacked at the entrance and prevented from observing the session.
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