This is Big news. It is also a Good news. Senator Gbenga Daniel and Senator Ibikunle Amosun have become friends again. They are no longer at war. And this is authoritative.
We can tell you that both politicians, who started off their political careers, as friends, have reconciled after about 11 years of bitter fight.
We can tell you authoritatively that OGD & SIA ended their fight last year, during the build up towards the elections. It was before the elections, that OGD as part of his decision to make up with all those who have offended him, decided to make up with SIA and a few other very important politicians who had battled him years back.
Many people were surprised a few days ago, when the videos of OGD and Amosun laughing together at a party hit social media. In the said videos both were seen in warm embrace greeting each other when they met at Alhaja Tinubu’s 80th birthday party at Eko Hotel.
And since then the videos and photos taken have been trending online. It was a pleasant surprise to see the 2 gentlemen sitting together in one of the videos, exchanging banters.
In the said video, Amosun was so excited about his chat with OGD and both burst out laughing. And Amosun laughed heartily as he tapped OGD on the shoulder.
That sent shocking signals across the country, and many kept asking themselves the question: have they really made up? Is this a recent video? Or an old one? The signal this sent was that both of them may have ended their bitter rift.
City People dug deep and we can authoritatively confirm that OGD and Amosun have truly ended their rift.
This goes to confirm what OGD said when he decamped from PDP to APC last year. According to him, part of the reason he left the PDP for the APC was because a lot of his followers have come to associate with the APC in the South-West and he was tired of being in the opposition and engaging in too many needles fights that will lead no where.
OGD had revealed then that not only is he going into APC, he planned to reconcile with all the aggrieved parties. “I will reconcile with everyone. Its not worth it engaging in all sorts of fights, for my peace of mind”, he explained. That is exactly what he has done. He has reconciled with all and sundry. Unknown to many both OGD and Amosun had ended their rift months back. All OGD wants is peace of mind, he told everyone who cared to listen.
Recall that both Amosun & OGD have been fighting each other since Amosun became Governor of Ogun State. According to insiders, the way Amosun went about it then was like a war of attrition, to destroy OGD and all he represents, in the state.
Once Amosun became Governor, he launched an attack on OGD and he began to probe his 8 year tenure. The fight began 20 years ago, before Amosun won the governorship and became Ogun Governor. Immediately he came into power, he launched a big and devastating attack on OGD, destroyed and seized his properties across the state and dragged OGD to the EFCC alleging all sorts. It was a total war of attrition as Amosun severely battled his predecessor. All efforts by Elders to resolve their fight failed.
Amosun made sure he fought OGD to a stand still. All that is over now as the Court of Appeal has ruled in favour of OGD, and said Prosecution lacked evidence in the 80 page judgement of the court.
In a ground breaking decision, the Court of Appeal in Ibadan acquitted Otunba Daniel of all the charges in the corruption case that went on for so many years. The appeal, which was filed after the Defendant was asked to enter a defence for 17 remaining counts, resulted in a unanimous ruling by a 3 man panel.
The court emphasised the lack of evidence, manifest contradictions and absence of offences created by the law. The judgement has shed light on critical issues such as jurisdiction, land administration fraudulent conversion, false declarations and corrupt enrichment.
Lets quickly remind you that the trial of OGD began in 2011 with a 16 count charge that was subsequently amended multiple times.
The final charge comprised 32 counts, leading to a lengthy legal battle. The EFFC presented approximately 35 witnesses and over 1,000 documents as exhibits.
Despite all these, the Defence team argued that the Prosecution failed to establish a case against the Defendant, pointing out contradictions and the absence of evidence to prove essential elements of the alleged offences.
The trial court partially granted the Defence team’s No Case Submission dismissing 15 counts and ordering the defendant to enter a defence for the remaining 17 counts.
Dissatisfied with this ruling, OGD, now a Senator took the case to the Court of Appeal in Ibadan.
The 3 man panel led by Yargata Nimpar (JAC) unanimously upheld the appeal on the No Case Submission, resulting in the dismissal of all 17 remaining courts.
The Court of Appeal held that the evidence presented by the prosecution was insufficient to warrant an explanation from the accused person. It emphasized the importance of preventing abuse of the legal process and ensuring that genuine issues and controversies are settled.
The judgement has been widely hailed as a landmark victory for OGD who was acquitted of all charges.
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