Govt to build 25 km makeshift road on Lagos-Ibadan highway

The Federal Government is to complete the building of the makeshift 25-km road on the Lagos-Ibadan highway this month, an official of the Federal Ministry of Works said yesterday.

Mr Godwin Eke, who is a Deputy Director in the ministry made the announcement in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He said the building of the makeshift road was to divert vehicles, noting that work would continue on the road’s main carriageway.

The deputy director said that the old road would be completely removed to give way for the new project, adding that milling of the road would be done sectionally.

“The entire road would be milled but it would be section by section.

“First, the contractor, Julius Berger has to plan diversion while working on the carriageway, what we are doing now is temporary diversion so that the main work would start.’’

Appeal Court reserves judgment in Ladoja’s suit

The Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, reserved judgment yesterday in the appeal filed by former Oyo State Governor Rashidi Ladoja against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Ladoja, who is on trial for alleged financial misappropriation, is seeking an order declaring that the EFCC does not have a prima facie case against him.

In the Notice of Appeal filed in March, 2010, by his counsel, Oladapo Olanipekun, Ladoja urged the court to quash the charges levelled against him by the EFCC.

In November, 2008, the EFCC arraigned Ladoja and his former aide, Waheed Akanbi, before a Federal High Court, Lagos, presided over by Justice Ramat Mohammed, for an amended 10-count charge bordering on laundering N4.7 billion.

The commission alleged that Ladoja bought an Armoured Land Cruiser Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) worth N42 million and remitted about £600 thousand to Bimpe Ladoja in London.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges and were admitted to bail.

Ladoja said the proof of evidence placed before the lower court by the EFCC had no nexus with the charges against him, adding that the commission did not have a prima facie case against him.

He urged the court to declare that the EFCC had no power, jurisdiction or authority to prefer any criminal charge against him.

EFCC’s counsel Festus Keyamo argued that the objection raised by the defence was belated, as the accused had been arraigned and his plea taken.

Solar power at the White House could become a reality, as several solar power enthusiasts and firms have approached 

President Barack Obama to install panels on the building,  according to a USA Today report.

President Jimmy Carter placed 32 solar panels on the White House back in 1979 but the system was later

removed.  Bill McKibben and a group of environmentalists plan on giving one of those same panels 

to Obama later on this month during a "Put Solar On It" roadtrip to Washington.