Court bars Iyaloja, others from levying Computer Village traders | AgegePulse Magazine

 

A Lagos State High Court has barred Folasade Tinubu-Ojo, the daughter of All Progressives Congress leader, Bola Tinubu, from imposing levies on traders at the Computer Village, Lagos.

A Lagos State High Court has barred Folasade Tinubu-Ojo, the daughter of All Progressives Congress leader, Bola Tinubu, from imposing levies on traders at the Computer Village, Lagos.

The development comes over a year after Tinubu-Ojo, who is also the Iyaloja-General of Lagos State reportedly imposed leaders on the traders who then introduced new levies, a development which sparked a series of protests at the Computer Village.

Others who were similarly barred from imposing levies include: Mrs. Bisola Azeez, Mr. Adeniyi Olasoji, Nofiu Akinsanya, Tony Ikani and the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State.

Iyaloja-General, Folashade Tinubu, Ojo

The order is sequel to a fundamental human rights suit marked ID/9039MFHR/19 instituted against the five respondents by the five major stakeholders that represent the traders at the Computer Village.

The stakeholders representing the traders include: The Registered Trustees of Computer and Allied Products Dealers Association of Nigeria; Registered Trustees of Phone and Allied Product Dealers Association of Nigeria; and Registered Trustees of Phone Parts and Accessories Dealers Association of Nigeria.

Other applicants include: the Registered Trustees of Association of Caterers, Food and Drinks Vendors of Ogunbiyi Computer Village, Ikeja, Lagos; Registered Trustees of Ikeja Books, Stationeries and Computer Association and Azeez Olunrin.

The judgment, which was delivered by Justice Yetunde Pinheiro read in part, “I find that the 2nd and 3rd respondents’ imposition of levies on the applicants is illegal, null and void and therefore amounts to a violation of their fundamental rights.

“Accordingly, it is hereby ordered as thus: The first to fifth respondents by themselves, agents, levy collectors howsoever called are restrained from imposing levies and/or fines on the members of the 1st to 5th applicants at the Ikeja Computer Village in the Ikeja Local Government Area of Lagos State.”

In a letter titled, ‘Dear members, Our Court Victory against Iyaloja and Babaloja and Others in Computer Village, Ikeja’, the leadership of the Computer Village rejoiced over the judgment.

In the letter signed by its Chairman and Secretary-General, Timi Famoroti and Jerry Mba respectively, members were asked not to pay tax to Tinubu’s daughter or her representatives.

It read in part, “The implications of this landmark judgement is that the Iyaloja General, Chief Mrs. Folasade Tinubu-Ojo, Mrs. Bisola Azeez, And Mr. Olasoji Adeniyi or their representatives or agents cannot collect any form of dues, levies or fines from the members of Ikeja Computer Village Market. Any collection in this regard is illegal.

“We therefore urge you not to submit yourself to any form of payment, intimidation and extortion. It is your right to defend yourself and report to your leaders in case there is a violation of your fundamental human rights.

“Please ensure you document with concrete evidence and report any breach of your right to your leaders. This will help our legal action/s against any violators when necessary. We therefore urge every member to continue to pay your agreed dues to your various associations accordingly.”

Traders were also advised to pay their personal and company income, taxes, levies and others to the appropriate government agencies at the national, state and local governments when due.

PUNCH

Lagos Panorama

Employment: 5,000 undergraduates begin training in three Lagos centers

At least 5,000 final year students from eight tertiary institutions in Lagos have commenced training in three different centres for the third edition of the Ready.Set.Work, an Entrepreneurship and Employability Training programme of the State’s Ministry of Education.

The training programme commenced at the weekend at the three designated centres including LASU, Ojo Campus; LASPOTECH, Ikorodu Campus and UNILAG, Akoka, with scores of professionals from different sectors of the economy, who have signed up as volunteers in the Ready.Set.Work Faculty which will run for 13 weeks.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Mr. Obafela Bank-Olemoh in a statement on Monday, said the peculiarity of the ongoing edition of Ready.Set.Work initiative was a testament to the unwavering commitment of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to human capital development, especially for Students in Lagos State.

He said, “This administration has committed resources to the Ready.Set.Work project since its inception. In his resolve to empower youths in the State and stem the tide of unemployment, the Governor has mandated that the programme must be expanded to cater for every student in any Tertiary Institution in Lagos State.”

“You we recall that the programme started in 2016 with 500 final year students from three institutions namely; Lagos State University, LASU; Lagos State Polytechnic, LASPOTECH and Lagos State College of Health Technology, LASCOHET. I am glad to announce that this year; we have 25,000 students from eight institutions participating in the programme. About 5,000 of these students, who are in their final year, have resumed the 13-week campus classes as of Saturday, while 20,000 others in their penultimate year will participate in the programme through the RSW Online Academy.”

Vice Chancellor of LASU, Professor Olanrewaju Fagbohun (SAN) as well as the Provost of Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED) Dr. (Mrs.) Oladele Aina were on ground for the kick off at the LASU Centre hosting over 2,400 Ready.Set.Work students.

Addressing the students, Dr. Aina stressed the importance of the programme, expressing optimism that it would help the beneficiaries see the real world of work and give them a seamless transition into it.

Professor Fagbohun, on his part, emphasized how privileged the final year students were to be in the programme this year.
“About 10,000 final year students wanted to be a part of this programme, but only you were chosen. What that tells you is this: You are the best of the best. You must recognize your strength and give it your best,” he said.

In Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu, where over 2,000 students are enrolled in the programme, the Rector of the Institution, leading the entire management team was on ground throughout the day to inspire the students and ensure a smooth kick off.

Some of the students could not hold back their excitement as they took to their various social media platforms to give kudos to the State Government and Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for the laudable project.

Tejumade Akintunde said, “This is an amazing programme, I can’t wait to receive more interesting lectures. The content of the programme is rich and impactful”.

Another participating student, Olumide said, “Lagos State is really investing a lot in the Ready.Set.Work programme. It is totally worth the time.”

This year, as in previous years, the programme boasts a team of Volunteer Faculty and project support staff, all professional and talented individuals who have chosen to give up theirSaturday to train, mentor and positively impact the lives of these students.

For the next 13 weeks, they will be bringing to bear their knowledge and wealth of experience to shape and inspire the next generation of workers and business owners.

The Ready.Set.Work 2018 cohort includes students from Lagos State University (LASU), Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), Lagos State College of Health Technology (LASCOHET), Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED), Michael Otedola College of Primary Education (MOCPED), University of Lagos (UNILAG), Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), a private institution, CALEB University.