Operatives of the Benin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested fourteen undergraduates of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State.
They were arrested alongside nineteen( 19) others in the early hours of Wednesday, February 14, 2024 for suspected internet crimes.
The suspects were arrested at different residential locations within Akure metropolis following intelligence on their alleged nefarious activities. Specifically, the sting operation that yielded their arrest was a response to strident calls to the EFCC by neighbours and parents around the locations, to save their children from being lured into internet-related activities by the suspects.
Items recovered at the point of arrest include ten exotic cars, phones, laptops and one motor bike.
The suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.
The immediate past State Chairman of the People Democratic Party in Ondo State, Alhaji Fatai Adams passed on in the early hours of Wednesday (Today) in Akure after a brief illness.
The late Chairman hailed from Irun Akoko, Akoko North, and Ondo State.
The National leadership of Federation of Oyo State Students’ Union under the leadership of Comr. Alarape Ibrahim has appealed to His Excellency, Engr Oluseyi Makinde on bursary award for indigene students of the State.
Read full letter below:
His Excellency Governor Seyi Makinde The Executive Governor, Oyo State Government, Ibadan, Oyo State.
Open Letter: Urgent Appeal for Fulfillment of Promises to Oyo State Students
Your Excellency,
We are writing on behalf of the Entire Indigenous Students in Oyo State to bring to your attention the promises you graciously made to our association during various occasions.
We greatly appreciate your commitment to the betterment of education in Oyo State, as expressed in your promises on Students Bursary, the establishment of FOSSU National Secretariat, and the provision of Students Union Bus. Your assurances, conveyed on the 17th of October, 2022, at the Government House; 17th of November, 2022, during the International Students Day at ICC Ibadan; and 29th of January, 2023, at the Fresh FM town hall meeting in Ibadan, have been a source of hope and optimism for our students.
While we acknowledge and commend the approval of a bursary sum of #500,000 naira for every Law Student of Oyo origin attending law school, we are compelled to express concerns about the potential divisive impact of such a gesture. We believe in fostering an inclusive society that values all fields of study equally. The current national challenge of brain drain, particularly in the health sector, calls for a balanced approach to educational support.
We humbly request that you reconsider and ensure a fair and balanced distribution of resources, promoting an egalitarian society. Allocating a reasonable bursary that reflects the economic realities of our country will undoubtedly alleviate the burdens faced by students grappling with their studies amid a critical economic downturn.
As concerned stakeholders, we implore you to expedite the fulfillment of the promises made to the Federation of Oyo State Students Union. We understand the challenges faced by your administration, but the education and well-being of the future leaders of our state are paramount. Failure to fulfill these promises may regrettably force our members to engage in a peaceful protest to express our legitimate demands in any time soon.
We trust in your commitment to the betterment of Oyo State and its citizens, particularly the student community. Your prompt attention to this matter would not only demonstrate your dedication to education but also solidify the trust and confidence reposed in your leadership.
Thank you for your understanding and consideration.
Signed.
Sen. Alarape Ibrahim National President Federation of Oyo State Student Union
The 2024 Ibadan Cultural Festival Planning Committee received a boost today during their courtesy visit to the Jagun Olubadan of Ibadanland and Chairman CEO Ilaji Hotels and Resorts, Engineer Sir Dotun Sanusi at his Ilaji Hotels and Resorts, Akanran, Ibadan. During his speech, Balogun Gaphar Babatunde Ojetola who is the Chairman, 2024 Ibadan Cultural Festival Planning Committee eulogised the Jagun Olubadan for his dedication and sincere commitment for the progress and development of Ibadanland through his involvement in peace making initiatives particularly by instituting a compound Mogaji Peace and Security Mechanism aimed at maintaining peace and security in Ibadanland. His commitment at promoting skill acquisition and capacity building of the informal groups which has taken thousands of people out of poverty is another laudable achievements of Chief Dotun Sanusi. Balogun Ojetola went further to appreciate the Jagun Olubadan for promoting sports in and beyond Nigeria. Balogun Ojetola recounts of many remarkable interventions made by Chief Dotun Sanusi in support of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes CCII programs and Ibadanland in general. In conclusion, Balogun Gaphar Babatunde Ojetola delivered the decision of Chief Ajeniyi Ajewole led CCII Executive Council to nominate Engineer Chief Dotun Sanusi as the Chairman, Grand Finale of this year Ibadan Cultural Festival celebration coming up on 20th April, 2024.
In his response, the Jagun Olubadan of Ibadanland praised Chief Ajeniyi Ajewole led Executive Council for considering him suitable to Chair this year Ibadan Cultural Festival Grand Finale, a honour so appreciated. Chief Dotun Sanusi pledge his total support towards this year Ibadan Cultural Festival activities. He praised the visiting committee members for their remarkable services to their birth City. You will recal that Chief Ajeniyi Ajewole had earlier led the members of the Ibadan Cultural Festival Planning Committee to His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Oyo State, Engineer Oluwaseyi Abiodun Makinde FNSE DSC GSSRS to secure approval for the proposed dates for this year’s Cultural Festival. It has been approved by the governor that this year’s program will commence on Sunday 14th April for a week long packed activities with the Grand Finale on Saturday 20th April, 2024. The visiting team includes the committee Vice Chairman, Dr. Mrs Ayo Alaga, the Secretary of the committee, Engr. Musa Akere, a member of the CCII Board of Trustees, Chief Mrs Idowu Olaide Lawal and a host of other Sub-committee members.
Owners of landed properties in the Kelebe-Omu area compromise of Olorunda, Boripe, Obokun and Osogbo local governments of Osun state have staged a peaceful protest calling Governor Ademola Adeleke, President Bola Tinubu and Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Taoreed Lagbaja to intervene on the flagrant disobedience go court judgment by the men of the Nigerian Army.
The protest is coming after landowners observed that the Nigerian Army had started the erection of demarcation pillars on the disputed land after court judgment declaring Kelebe Omu landowners as authentic landlord.
Joe Ajaero, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress has said that organised labour may demand up to N1 million as the new minimum wage for Nigerian workers if the rising inflation remains unchecked.
Ajaero said the demand for organised labour would be determined by the cost of living which has skyrocketed since President Bola Tinubu came to power following the removal of fuel subsidy and other policies.
The NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) on Thursday issued a 14-day strike notice to the Nigerian government. The unions, in a statement, said they were furious over the government’s failure to implement a 16-point agreement signed in October 2023, which aimed to address the “massive s¥ffering” caused by the hike in petrol prices and naira devaluation, policies blamed for the worsening hardship and inflation.
The NLC and TUC issued a stern ultimatum to the government to honour its part of the understanding within 14 days starting from Friday, February 9, 2024. In an interview with Arise News on Sunday evening, Ajaero said, “This N1 million may be relevant if the value of the Nigerian (naira) continues to depreciate; if the inflation continues unchecked because the demand of labour is equally dependent on what is happening in the society.
You will remember that by the time we were contemplating N200,000 (as minimum wage), the exchange rate was about N800/N900 (to a dollar). As we talk today, the exchange rate is about N1,400 or even more. Those are the issues that determine the demand and it is equally affecting the cost of living. And we have always said that our demand will be based on the cost of living index. [Swipe]
Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested a suspected one-chance robbery leader, Ndubisi George, aged 49.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed this in a statement on his X handle on Monday.
‘One chance’ is commonly used in Nigeria to refer to a robbery that takes place when criminals disguising as commercial drivers pick up unsuspecting passengers with the aim of robbing them.
According to Hundeyin, George leads a robbery syndicate operating within Itire, Aguda, Cele and Surulere areas of the state.
The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, has urged the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, to tell President Bola Tinubu about the high level of hunger and starvation in the country.
“Although we have several means of communicating to the government on our needs and requests, but your way and means is the surest way to tell the President the actual happenings in the country,” the emir told Tinubu’s wife, who was in Kano to open the faculty of law at a private university.
The emir, who spoke through an interpreter, added, “The hunger and starvation didn’t start with this government but the situation has become more alarming and needs urgent attention.”
He also urged her to tell Tinubu to address insecurity, saying, “The issue of insecurity is another serious problem we are facing. I know your government inherited it, but something more serious should be done to take care of the threats.”
Bayero also spoke on the relocation of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, and some departments of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to Lagos.
“We are receiving series of messages from our people. One of such messages is the much talked about relocation of CBN and FAAN to Lagos. I think the government should come out clean on this matter and talk to Nigerians in the language they would understand.
“Do more enlightenment on this matter. I for one cannot tell the actual intentions of the government. We should be made to actually understand the reasons behind the relocation of the CBN and FAAN offices to Lagos.”
In the same vein, he urged the President’s wife to actualize her Renewed Hope Initiative Pet Program, noting that the scheme, if fully actualized, will free the less privileged from their shackles.
The Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, is set to launch ‘Lagos Market Trader Money,’ a N750 million financial intervention aimed at supporting 15,000 beneficiaries.
Abisola Olusanya, Lagos State’s Commissioner for Agriculture, made this announcement during a hygiene sensitization event attended by 500 market traders from Ikeja and Oshodi Local Government Areas. The event took place on Saturday at the Lagos Fresh Food Hub in Idi-Oro, Mushin.
According to Olusanya, the commencement ceremony offered the governor a platform to express his care for the market community on Valentine’s Day. As part of the initiative, 15,000 traders spanning all local government areas within the state, with 200 from each LGA, were granted N50,000 each to enhance their businesses.
The governor announced the scheme during the unveiling of the Mid-level agro-product hub at Idi-Oro in the Mushin area of the state. He said the Commissioner for Agriculture and the local government chairmen in the state would meet to map out the modalities for the disbursement of the fund.
Lagosians have joined the number of states where there have been protests against High cost of living in the country.
In Lagos, market women and youths protested in the Ibeju-Lekki area of Lagos State on Saturday.
They carried placards with the inscriptions such as “Baba Tinubu, Nigerians are hungry”, and ‘Tinubu, come and rescue us”, among others.
The protest is the latest in the series of protests which had been held in Kogi, Osun, Niger and Kano States over the rising cost of living in the country.
Since the removal of the petrol subsidy in May 2023, prices of commodities in the country have been going up.
