The Court of Appeal sitting in Akure, the Ondo State capital has upheld the death sentence of a popular hotel owner, Dr Ramon Adedoyin, who was found guilty in the murder case of an ex-Master’s student of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Timothy Adegoke.
According to the court’s judgment on Thursday, the appellate court noted that the judgment by the Osun State High Court which sentenced Adedoyin to death still stands.
The appeal court had reserved the judgment on October 29, 2024.
It further noted that the “Order of forfeiture of Hilton Hotel quashed and set aside. Order of education scholarship to children of Timothy Adegoke by Adedoyin and others quashed and set aside.” Recall that Adegoke was found dead in November 2021 at Adedoyin’s Hilton Honours Hotel, Ile-Ife, where the deceased had lodge.
The Nigerian Police have confirmed the rescue of abducted retired Assistant Inspector of General of Police, Mrs. Odumosu.
This was contained in a statement made available by Nigerian Police via its official Facebook account as read in part:
“In a commendable display of teamwork and swift action, police operatives attached to the Ogun State Command have successfully neutralized the kidnappers of Mrs. Odumosu, wife of Retired Assistant-Inspector General, AIG Hakeem Odumosu, and rescued her unharmed.
“On January 16, 2025, at approximately 9:45 PM, four masked gunmen forcibly abducted Mrs. Odumosu from her Lexus Jeep outside her residence in Arepo, Ogun State. The abduction sparked an immediate response from the anti-kidnapping unit of the Ogun State Police Command, who commenced a thorough investigation and targeted pursuit of the kidnappers.
“With the support of the Force Headquarters technical intelligence platforms, the Ogun State police operatives engaged in extensive surveillance of the creeks surrounding Arepo, gathering crucial information to track down the assailants. Their efforts culminated in a raid on January 23, 2025, at around 06:45 AM. The intelligence-led operation took the police to a creek in the swampy area of Ikorodu where the kidnappers were reportedly planning their next attack.
“Upon arrival, the operatives encountered the kidnappers, who opened fire. In the ensuing confrontation, two of the gunmen were neutralized, while four others fled the scene, abandoning their operational weapons. The victim, Mrs Odumosu was rescued within the swampy creeks during the operation, unharmed. She is currently undergoing medical evaluation as a precautionary measure and has since been reunited with her family. The police also recovered 4 Ak-47 rifles, 3 locally made single barrel rifles, ammunition of various calibers, and the sum of N10,000,000 ransom previously demanded by the kidnappers, further ensuring that justice is served. The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM., has commended the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Ogunlowo, and his operatives for their displayed gallantry in this successful operation.
“This operation exemplifies the dedication and resilience of our Police officers. The Nigeria Police Force remains steadfast in its mission to combat kidnapping and other violent crimes, providing safety and security to all citizens”.
The former French Minister of Transport, Mr. Djebbari Jean-Baptiste, has hinted at the desire of investors from his country to invest in the transport sector of Ogun State, especially the agro-cargo airport.
Other areas of interest for the investors, according to Mr. Jean-Baptiste, are the Dry Port, the Olokola Sea Port, and the railway system.
Fielding questions from newsmen after a closed-door meeting with the governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, in his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, Mr. Jean-Baptiste said he was impressed with the level of infrastructural facilities at the airport, hence the need to draw the attention of French investors to the state.
He said: “This is one of the several meetings I have had with the governor over the years. We discussed aviation-related items owing to the fact that the state is developing the Gateway International Airport, the Dry Port, and all the major infrastructural projects related to transport.
“We have many French operators who are involved in transportation, logistics, and aviation. There are many interested in investing in Nigeria and Ogun State because Ogun State is seen as a very dynamic and reliable partner.”
He said he had met the governor on many occasions, including last December at the occasion of the state visit of President Bola Tinubu to President Macron in France, and proposed to come and see how he could contribute to the amazing development in Ogun State in the area of transport and aviation.
According to the former transport minister, during the two-day visit, his team would tour the Gateway International Airport, assess the opportunities regarding the Dry Port, the Sea Port, and the railway system with a view to sharing experiences, adding that “because I can see your products are developing very quickly and booming, the demography and market demand are very high.”
He described Governor Abiodun as a man with a clear vision who took pains to assemble good hands to assist him in realizing his dreams for the state, noting that “it has been six years since the governor has been heading the state, and I can see that the changes are really massive and positive.”
Governor Abiodun had earlier informed his guests that his administration had developed a multimodal transport master plan meant to assist the state in designing its modes of transport to drive the state economy.
“We took advantage of the rail infrastructure that the federal government has invested in; that is what informed our Gateway International Airport, and that is also what has informed the construction of our Dry Port and our upcoming seaport.
“We believe that cargo destined for Ogun State or other states around can be put on the train and transported to Kajola and cleared there. It will make for a more efficient Tin Can and Apapa Ports and, of course, ease the troubles that manufacturers here have experienced in the past.
“Our airport, in terms of physical construction, has been completed; the runway is 100% completed, and the control tower is 100% completed with all the equipment installed. The terminal building is maybe 90% completed; it is completed physically, and they are doing the fit-out in terms of fittings. We have a temporary terminal building,” he said.
The governor said commercial operations would have started in the last quarter but for the non-installation of navigational equipment like the runway lights, emphasizing that the aim of his administration is to make it the best-equipped airport in Nigeria.
“The airport, as I told you, is an ecosystem. It is situated in what we call our aerotropolis, so we have a Special Agro-Processing Zone there, and we also have the Nigeria Customs and Excise Village because we envision the airport to have a system where Customs and Excise can process things very fast,” he added.
In a heartbreaking and anger-filled response to the tragic loss of his wife and son, an Imam from Ondo has placed a curse on those responsible for the senseless violence.
The Imam’s family members were innocent victims of the recent cult clash in Owo, which has left many dead and injured.
Overcome with grief and a sense of justice, the Imam has called upon divine retribution, declaring that every child born in the families of the perpetrators will face dire cons£quences.
This poignant and powerful curse reflects the Imam’s deep p∆in and frustration, as well as his desire for accountability and justice.
The people of Ondo and beyond are in mourning, and many are calling for an end to the senseless violence that has plagued the community.
Just eight days after being granted a pardon by Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, former inmate Sunday Omisakin has been remanded in the Ilesa Correctional Facility for allegedly breaking into a home and stealing a television.
Omisakin, who was pardoned for a minor offence on December 26, 2024, as part of the governor’s prerogative of mercy list, was arrested on January 3, 2025, for allegedly burglarising a house in Osogbo and stealing a plasma television worth N600,000.
He was brought before the Osun State Magistrate Court in Osogbo, where Magistrate Adekanmi Adeyeba presided over charges of burglary and theft.
According to police prosecutor Inspector Kayode Adeoye, “On January 3, 2025, at about 12:00 p.m. at Al-Medinat Area, Iludun, Osogbo, Omisakin broke into the house of one Shittu Damilare and stole a plasma TV worth N600,000.
The offence committed is contrary to and punishable under section 411 (1) (2) 363, 390(9) of criminal code cap 34 vol.II laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002.”
Meanwhile, he pleaded not guilty to the offence and Magistrate Adeyeba ordered that he should be remanded in Ilesa Correctional Facility and adjourned to January 10th 2025 when he was denied bail.
He subsequently adjourned to February 2025 for hearing.
The Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin has advocated the establishment of more General Hospitals in underserved Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the State.
The call was contained in a motion, sponsored by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, and co-sponsored by Hon. P.G. Ojedokun of Ibarapa North/Central.
The motion was tagged “Need for the Executive arm of Government to establish General Hospitals in underserved LGAS, increased Healthcare personnel and expanded training opportunities for intern students across the State.”
According to the motion, six LGAs – Atiba, Ibadan South East, Ido, Ogo Oluwa, Ona Ara, and Oyo West – currently lack General Hospitals, leaving residents without access to essential healthcare services.
The motion noted that the absence of infrastructure has resulted in residents often having to travel long distances to access emergency, diagnostic, and other crucial healthcare services.
The motion also highlighted the challenges posed by inadequate healthcare personnel in existing facilities.
“Despite the recent recruitment drive of the Oyo State Government, a significant gap remains in delivering efficient, timely, and comprehensive healthcare across the state. Expanding this staffing initiative would help alleviate the workload on current staff, reduce burnout, and ensure a higher standard of care for all residents.”
Furthermore, the motion emphasized the importance of intern students in the health sector, including nurses, pharmacists, medical laboratory scientists, and physiotherapists.
“The current provision for intern students is insufficient, with only 24 pharmacists, 20 nurses, 23 laboratory scientists, and 25 physiotherapists accommodated annually.”
The motion urged the Executive Arm of Government to expand these internship provisions to support the immediate workforce needs and ensure a smooth transition into the professional workforce.
The motion applauded Governor Seyi Makinde for his efforts towards providing quality healthcare for the people.
It also called for sufficient funding and resources to train and develop intern students, ensuring they receive quality mentorship and hands-on training while equally recommending an integrated approach, combining the establishment of new General Hospitals with expanded healthcare personnel and increased intern opportunities.
The motion further instructef the Oyo State House of Assembly Committee on Health to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of all the State Government healthcare facilities.
This assessment is aimed at identifying facilities requiring upgrades as well as determine their viability.
Students of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Iseyin campus, took to the streets on Monday to protest issues affecting their education and well-being.
The Iseyin campus, home to LAUTECH’s College of Agriculture, was established by Governor Seyi Makinde to expand the university’s reach.
However, students have expressed frustration over persistent challenges, including the absence of lecturers and soaring living expenses.
The students who stormed the major streets in Iseyin to register their displeasure carried placards with various inscriptions.
A notorious cultist identified as Nasir Isiaka in Owo, headquarters of the Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State.
He was killed a few days after four persons were killed in the ancient community during a cult-related clash, after which a curfew was imposed on the town.
The state police command said Mr. Isiaka was killed by two masked men in the Gbanasa axis of the community.
He had been on the wanted list of the police over his alleged involvement in violent crimes in the state.
Spokesperson of the command ,Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, confirmed the killing of the suspect.
She stated that the deceased had, during the End SARS protest, along with his group, attacked Uso Police Division in the local government and stole one AK-47 rifle and bulletproof vest belonging to the police.
Ogun State Governor and Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has described the tanker fire explosion that claimed 77 lives and injured 25 others along Dikko-Maje road in Suleja, Niger State, as a devastating tragedy.
In a statement issued in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, on Sunday, Abiodun, who said that the governments and the people of the southern states were deeply troubled by the tragedy, commiserated with Governor Mohammed Umar Bago and his cabinet, as well as the people of Niger State, urging them not to allow their spirits to be dampened by the extremely tragic event.
He prayed for the repose of the souls of the victims of the fire while expressing hope that the injured will have speedy recovery and be back on their feet in the shortest possible time.
He said: “To say that we in the Southern Governors’ Forum are terribly shocked by this devastating tragedy in which as many as 77 people lost their lives and no less than 25 others were grievously injured would be an understatement.
“This is a soul-crushing event that has befallen Niger State, and we pray that Almighty Allah will comfort the families that lost their loved ones in the incident.
“We also hope that the security agencies will up their ante and enforce the directives given by His Excellency, Governor Mohammed Umar Bago, to ensure strict enforcement of traffic rules in the state, especially given that this was an entirely avoidable tragedy.
“It is also important to warn Nigerians to desist from the practice of scooping fuel from fallen tankers, as most of the victims of this tragedy were people who ran to the scene of the accident to scoop fuel.”
While calling on state and federal agencies to redouble their efforts in managing the fallouts of the tragedy, Abiodun urged the Federal Government to liaise with the Niger State Government and render any assistance that the state may require at this time.
Tragedy struck on Sunday when gunmen suspected to be hired assassins shot and killed the Shepherd-in-charge of a Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) in Idiroko Border town of Ipokia local government area of Ogun State.
The deceased, identified as Yomi Adetula was shot dead right inside his church during the Sunday service around 11a.m. while preaching.
An eyewitness at the scene told ODUDUWA NEWS that Adetula’s assailants, wielding AK-47 rifles and numbering about six, all clad in Celestial Church’s garments, stormed the Hebrew Celestial Church located at the Odo Eran area of the Old Garrage Road in Idiroko where they rained bullets on the deceased pastor, waiting to certify him dead and dismembering his body inside the church before leaving the scene.
ODUDUWA NEWS further gathered that the deceased was the Idiroko Unit Commander of the Ogun State Community, Social Orientation and Safety Corps, popularly known as So-SAFE Corps; one of the community security outfits established and funded by the Ogun State government.
While the reasons behind the murder could not be immediately ascertained, our correspondent however, gathered that late Adetula had for the past few months been having running battles with certain smuggling cartel in Idiroko Border town, which necessitated his transfer to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in December 2024.
Sources within his church in Idiroko also confided in this newspaper that the development led to the forceful closure of his church in December by some suspected smugglers.
The State Commander of So-SAFE Corps, Soji Ganzalo, who confirmed the incident said that he received the news of Adetula’s assassination with a rude shock.
Ganzalo however, assured that the Corp would not relent until the matter is properly investigated, while also promising to assist appropriate security agencies with necessary information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects.
