Author: oduduwanews

There was an intense confrontation this morning between two Nigerian security operatives when soldiers attempted to disarm police taskforce at ijaya, Apongbo, in Lagos State.

The policemen manage to free themselves after releasing several Tears Gas.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State police command spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, has revealed that the soldier seen fighting a policeman on Wednesday was a passenger on a bus driving against traffic.

A video of a policeman and soldier fighting on a Lagos road had gone viral on Wednesday.

Giving an update on the incident on Wednesday, Hundeyin said the soldier had been angry that the bus moving against traffic had been stopped and got into a scuffle with an armed policeman.

Hundeyin said, “The soldier, who was a passenger, directed the driver to drive against traffic. The policemen stopped the vehicle and the soldier took offence that the vehicle he boarded was stopped.

“He, therefore, decided to attack the armed policeman. The Army have been informed.”

Nollywood actress, Funke Akindele’s ex-husband and award-winning Nigerian songwriter and filmmaker, Abdulrasheed Bello popularly known as JJC Skillz, has reverted to Islam.

The rapper and producer made the declaration in a series of videos and pictures posted on his verified Instagram page on Friday, January 13, 2023.

In the video showing him at the national mosque, Abuja, the “We are Africans” crooner, said that he was lost but now, he has found his way.
He wrote: “I was lost but now I’m found 🙏🏽 O Allah, I ask You for Your pardon and well-being in this life and the next. O Allah, I ask You for well-being in my religious and worldly affairs, and my family and my wealth.

“O Allah, veil my weaknesses and set at ease my dismay, and preserve me from the front and behind and on my right and my left and from above, and I take refuge with You lest I be swallowed up by the earth🙏🏽”.

In an exclusive interview with Muslim News on Monday, January 16, the popular songwriter and filmmaker explained that though he was born a Muslim, he never practiced Islam.

JJC Skillz said returning to Islam has given him peace and he expresses joy and happiness over it.

The celebrity meanwhile, narrated his journey back to Islam, recalling he practiced Christianity because his mother was a Christian.

“It’s God’s design that I will return to Islam. I thank Allah for sparing my life. I am so happy I found Islam again because it has given me peace. It has given me direction and focus. I was truly lost but now, I am found,” he said.

Speaking further, he said, “I was born a Muslim – AbdurRasheed by name. My dad, Bello is a Muslim but my mum is a Christian. Back then I used to go Islamiyah but all I remembered about it was getting beaten. They used to scare us with hellfire so, I never practised.

“When I was 14, I moved to England and I didn’t have anyone to direct me or teach me Islam. Around that time, I got into music. I was just floating in the world. I was just living my life without recognising God.

“Because my mum is a Christian, I got acquainted with Christianity. It was during that period, Christianity was preached to me. I saw it as the religion of peace that Islam actually is.”

JJC Skillz said he made a research about Islam and found out it is the best religion for him.

“Growing up, I started making research about Islam and I discovered that Jesus, Prophet Isa (AS) was a Muslim. He bowed and prayed to Allah. Moses bowed to worship Allah. Abraham bowed and prayed to Allah and these are our forefathers in religion.

“During my research, I found out that the best for me is Islam. My big brother, who is a devout Muslim with great knowledge in Islam, taught me a little more about Islam and I realized that Allah is not scary, He is Merciful. I took the shahadah and proclaimed Islam.”

AbdurRasheed Bello was also the husband of popular Yoruba actress, Funke Akindele, who is currently a running mate for the PDP governorship candidate in Lagos State.

They dissolved their marriage which produced a set of twins, following their announcement of a divorce in June, 2022.

When asked if he chose to go back to Islam because he is no more with his wife, who is also a Christian, JJC Skillz said the decision has nothing to do with her.

“No! It has nothing to do with her. It is more like a personal journey. Allah called me at the right time. I am lucky I was called. It was only by the grace of God I found Islam. I am grateful to have the opportunity to worship Allah now. I am happy to be a true servant of Allah,” he noted.

The governor who stated this at the APC West Senatorial District (Zone II) rally held in Ijaniki, Badagry Division said the APC-led government, in the last three and half years, had accorded priority to Babagry Division in infrastructural renewal and physical development, given the proximity of the area to international trade border.

The governor said the ongoing construction work of Lagos-Badagry Expressway had progressed steadily without delay, noting that the project had moved beyond difficult terrain, especially in Okokomaiko where vehicular flyovers were being completed.

Sanwo-Olu said the design of the Lagos-Badagry road project had been reviewed to accommodate the proposed rail network along the axis.

He assured residents that work would soon begin on the construction of Badagry Deep Seaport, which, the Governor said, would further catalyse economic growth on the axis.

He said: “Today, we have returned to Awori settlement in the Lagos West Senatorial District to render account of development activities we have brought to this area and use the opportunity to seek your support for APC in the coming presidential election and State Governorship election. Our party is fulfilling its promises and we’re ready to do more for our people on this corridor. We have visible evidence to support our achievements.

“In the last three and half years, we have delivered many projects in the Badagry Division, including a Mother and Child Hospital (MCC) and inner road projects in Badagry The General Hospital we are currently building in Ojo has progressed and we will be completing the project soon. Before we came in, there was only one university in this area. Now, residents can boast of two well-funded universities, which resulted from the upgrade the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education to a full-fledged University of Education.

“We have also delivered housing schemes in Badagry, just as we have accorded priority to the completion of Lagos-Badagry Expressway. This project is at the heart of our efforts to lessen the pain of transiting along the corridor. All bridges required for seamless traffic flow are being built on the corridor. We will be flagging off the second phase of the Blue Line from Mile 2 to Okokomaiko, which will be on a dedicated alignment already marked along the highway. We are set to energise a new economic hub in Badagry, with the securing of an approval for the construction of a new Deep Seaport.”

Sanwo-Olu assured the residents of his government’s commitment to rehabilitate more arterial highways in the area.

He disclosed that contracts for the construction of Ilufo-Mosafejo Road and Osideru-Adaleko-Era Road were on the verge of being awarded, adding that work had already started on Ijagemo axis, with some of the adjoining roads being comprehensively rehabilitated.

The Press Secretary to the Governor of Ondo State, Prince Richard Olatunde has dispelled rumour that Gov Akeredolu is facing life threatening ailment capable of hindering him from State affairs.

This was contained in a statement made available to the newsmen by the Press Secretary as read in part:

“We have observed the growing anxiety about the State of Health of the Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON. The good people of the State and, by extension, other friends and well-wishers continued to express concern over the wellness of the Governor, especially since yesterday.

“We are constrained to respond to these concerns and assure our people that by the grace of God, there is no cause for alarm on the Governor’s state of health.

“Governor Akeredolu, just like every other mere mortals has had some health challenge for which he has since received treatment and recuperating speedily. Since the Governor is not a super human and the immunity his office enjoys does not extend to physical wellness or otherwise, the health issue is therefore not an unusual one.

“However, contrary to speculations and insinuations making the round, the Governor though frail, is discharging his official functions.

“Mr. Governor is not faced with any life-threatening illness that would have encouraged any alleged conspiracy in his administration. He, in fact, held Executive Council meeting with the Exco members till 4pm on Wednesday, 11th January, 2023 after the Security Council meeting where far reaching decisions were taken on the escalated clashes in Ikare-Akoko.

“On January 7, 2023 Governor Akeredolu led his brother Governors in the Southwest and other party bigwigs to receive the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akure for the State Presidential Campaign Rally. On January 8, 2023, he was at The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Jesus House Cathedral, Region 22 Headquarters, Oke-Ijebu, Akure for the Holy Service commemorating the 2023 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration”.

“For emphasis, the Governor, who participated in rigorous campaign activities on the 7th of January, couldn’t have been bedridden as widely speculated. Moreso, last Friday, Governor Akeredolu still inaugurated a new Refrigerated Van for the use of Meat Dealers in the State. He also received the Melvin Jones Award of the Lions Club International same day.

“While we appreciate the growing concerns about his wellbeing and indeed, appreciate the outpour of prayers even beyond partisan lines, we urge all persons of goodwill to ignore unfounded insinuations capable of creating any false sense of needless anxiety.

“The Governor will continue to discharge his official duties to the good people of Ondo State in line with the REDEEMED Agenda of his administration while he finds quality time to rest for renewed vigour and strength just like any man in his situation”.

A forty-seven-year-old woman, Grace Moses today appeared at the Delta State High Court 2 sitting in Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of the State urging the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu to come and collect his child from her.

Grace Moses spoke with newsmen shortly after the Court adjourned the case involving the governor and her son, Emmanuel Sanwo-Olu.

“My message to Sanwo-Olu is that he should come and collect his child. The baby is grown up. He is troubling me. If not for God, I would have been dead by now.”

Grace Moses said because of the pregnancy she couldn’t go to school due to pressure from her mother who chased her out of the house because they had waited for Sanwo-Olu to no avail.

She said, in her bid to also abort the baby, she drank “lime” saying, “E nor dey commot.”

Grace Moses said she sold pigs for people and she was paid one hundred and fifty naira which she used as upkeep for herself and the child.

“The baby is now grown and he’s threatening to kill me if I do not show him his father”.

The woman claimed she met the governor in 1995 when she was 19 years old.

She said Governor Sanwo-Olu was working with a construction firm at Ubogo Community in Udu Local Government Area at the time.

Grace Moses said they began a relationship which resulted in pregnancy pointing out that the governor took her to a hospital in Agbarho Community, Ughelli North Local Government Area where he terminated the pregnancy.

The woman who spoke in pidgin English said after a few days Governor Sanwo-Olu also had sex with her which resulted in another pregnancy.

According to the woman, since then Mr. Sanwo-Olu abandoned her and travelled out of the State on the grounds that he was transferred to work in Maiduguri, Borno State.

She said she was left to carry the pregnancy and delivery of the baby all alone without the assistance of Sanwo-Olu and any member of his family.

Grace Moses told her son, Emanuel Sanwo-Olu that his father is not a cripple. “Your papa nor be cripple. Sanwo-Olu nai be him name. He uses his left hand for anything. He nor dey carry Afro. He always dey barb low cut. Your papa na Yoruba man. He always dey put hand for pocket.”

Grace Moses noted that up till now, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has refused to grant her and the son, Emmanuel Sanwo-Olu audience to see him.

Also in a chat with newsmen, Emmanuel Sanwo-Olu who was at the Court on December 6, 2022, said Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has not reached out to him since that time. He said attempts for him to meet has been unsuccessful.

While noting that it is people that own a child, Emmanuel Sanwo-Olu said he is not after his father because he has money or he is now the governor of Lagos State. He, however, said, “I just want to know that this is my father.”

He said his mother told him how she met his father, Babajide Sanwo-Olu many years ago. “I am not seeing anybody as my father’s relatives. I am bothered about it because my friends are mocking me.”

Meanwhile, the Delta State High Court 2 Sitting in Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area have adjourned the matter in Suit Number: EHC/148/2022 to February 13, 2023, for hearing of the application before it.

Mr. John Aikpokpo-Martins, Counsel to Emmanuel Sanwo-Olu and his mother, Grace Moses disclosed this to newsmen at the Court’s premises.

He said Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu had filed for preliminary objections that he is immune in the matter as a governor