Nothing But Fact
The Oyo State Police Command has paraded the suspected killers of late Gbenga Owolabi, an hotelier in Ogbomoso, who was killed by the kidnappers alongside LAUTECH student, Racheal.
The suspects were today paraded at the command headquarters, Eleyele, Ibadan.
Parading the suspects alongside others, the state Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Williams, said they were arrested based on credible information provided by one of the victims.
Details later.
The entertainment industry has been thrown into mourning as Ibadan-based comedian, Tobi Owomoyela Nifemi aka Peteru Comedy, has d!ed.
The skit maker who is known for his Yoruba take on Big Brother Naija is said to have passed away on Wednesday, December 21. The cause of his d€ath is yet to be made public.
However, his colleagues have taken to social media to mourn his untimely demise. He only buried his father in November this year. He is said to be the only son in a family of seven.
Exactly 1:31pm on Wednesday, history was recorded in Lagos State. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu formally stepped into the coach of the newly completed Lagos Blue Line and took the first trip aboard the electric-powered rail infrastructure.
The Governor led his Deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Mudashiru Obasa, members of the State cabinet, reporters and members of the public on a ride from the National Theatre Station to the iconic station in Marina.
The trip took approximately 10 minutes.
For the first time, a rail infrastructure traverses the western part of the State and the Lagos Island. The first passenger trip marked the completion of civil infrastructure work on the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) being constructed by Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA).
The completed tracks, spanning 13 kilometres in the first phase, extend from Mile 2 to Marina, covering five stations. The construction started in 2010 under the administration of Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola. It experienced some delays in the succeeding administration, before the current Government continued from 2019.
Sanwo-Olu, who could not hide his excitement about the development, declared the end of construction on the Blue Rail Line project, keeping to the December 2022 deadline. The rail infrastructure, he said, is now ready for commissioning in January by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The Governor said the milestone was a culmination of “impactful reforms” initiated in the State’s transport ecosystem, which started at the beginning of the fourth republic under the administration of his predecessor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Sanwo-Olu described the moment as “historic”, saying Lagos became the first sub-national Government in Africa to fund and deliver a rail system from the State’s balance sheet. The Governor said the construction of the second phase of the Blue Line rail project, which covers 14-kilometre from Mile 2 to Okokomaiko, will be launched immediately after the completion and inauguration of the first phase next month.
He said: “The completion of the infrastructure for the first phase of the Lagos Blue Line rail is a strong testimony of our commitment to building on the legacies of past administrations, and the pioneering vision of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This milestone in the development of the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) is the culmination of several impactful reforms in the transport ecosystem of Lagos, starting in 1999.
“The Tinubu administration developed the Strategic Transport Master Plan (STMP), which laid out the foundation for a network of robust and modern transport infrastructure befitting the 21st century city. The master plan has six rail lines and one monorail, 14 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridors, over 20 water routes and a number of major new roads. Central to the implementation of the transport master plan is LAMATA established in 2002.
“Over the last two decades, that masterplan has been faithfully implemented by successive administrations. Today, we are making history with the completion of historic rail line, which is the first phase of the Blue Line. The road to the completion of this project, no doubt, has had an interesting story of delays, which were not due to a lack of enthusiasm or commitment on the part of the State Government. Now, we have put the challenges behind us; from now on, we will focus on the benefits of this project for our people.”
After commissioning, Sanwo-Olu said passenger operations would not commence until the project undergoes necessary test-running and proper security measures are put in place along the rail corridor.
The Governor said the State had already taken the delivery of the three set of wagons that would be used for passenger operations. The completed rail infrastructure, he said, has the capacity to move 250,000 passengers daily. When the second phase is completed, he said the entire project would take 500,000 people daily.
Sanwo-Olu said his administration’s vision for an integrated transport system, as enunciated in the T.H.E.M.E.S agenda, was beginning to be a reality, stressing that the transportation plan of his Government was a multimodal approach that would bring road, rail, and waterways together for seamless mobility.
The Governor acknowledged the effort of his predecessor, ex-Governor Fashola, toward bringing the vision to life. He also thanked the leadership of the Central Bank of Nigeria allowing Lagos access its differentiated cash reserves, which was disbursed through three financial institutions – Access Bank, Sterling Bank and Fidelity Bank – that created innovative funding model for the Blue Line project.
He said: “To the good people of Lagos, this project is for you and your families. It is about your livelihood and sustenance. We promised to make your life better by this project, which will help you to commute from one part of the city to another in a safe and secure manner. We gave you this commitment and now, we have kept our promises.
“We thank you for your patience and for bearing with us in the face of all the inconveniences thrown up by the implementation of the Light Rail network. This project is for you; ensure you safeguard it. Bear in mind that this rail system is powered by electricity; there must not be a trespass on it in any way. Crossing the tracks is no longer an option. Anyone who attempts vandalism on the track put his life at great risk. Pedestrian bridges have been provided to enable pedestrian crossings.”
LAMATA Managing Director, Engr. Abimbola Akinajo, described the moment as “fantastic”, saying the development marked a new chapter for Lagos.
The completion of the rail infrastructure, she said, manifested the audacious mind of the Governor, stressing that the development signified the importance the Sanwo-Olu administration accorded to the delivery of integrated transportation system for the State and traffic management.
Akinajo said the Blue Line is one of the Line six rail lines articulated in the State’s Strategic Transportation Master Plan, noting that the construction was funded from the State’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). This, she said, is unprecedented in the history of rail construction across the world.
She said: “Construction of the Blue Line has been one of the most challenging projects undertaken by Lagos Government, given many hitches that had to be overcome. To get to the point of completion, we have had disturbances and delays in the relocation of submarine cables, gas pipelines and removal of shipwrecks. This made the construction of submarine pillar extremely difficult.
“Today, the story has changed. We are taking the first ride in the train, which marks the beginning of our testing phases for the Blue Line. Passengers will use the State’s unified electronic payment system known as Cowry card currently being used for BRT and regulated ferry services. The completion of civil infrastructure work is the manifestation of the audacious mind and courage of the Governor.”
Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde said the development attested to the Governor’s passion to change the transportation narrative of the State and ensure rapid mobility in Lagos.
The rail project, the Commissioner said, will enhance rapidity in movement and unlock more economic prosperity for the State.
“Lagosians now trust you because you are a man of your word and integrity. Mr. Governor, you will be remembered for the commitment you deployed to ensure this infrastructure is completed and becomes a reality,” Oladeinde said.
Chairman of China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), Mr. Zhang Zhichen, said the project was delivered with standard and quality, noting that completion of the Blue Line would write a new chapter for mass transportation in Lagos.
Ekiti State First Lady, Dr. Olayemi Biodun-Oyebanji making a presentation of cash and food stuffs to students of Government Special School for the Physically Challenged and Mentally Retarded, Ido- Ekiti in commemoration of Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s 55th birthday.
The snapshots are for photostory.
Angry father and son on Tuesday descended heavily on a medical doctor and a nurse at the Federal Medical Centre, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta after losing their family member.
Our correspondent gathered that pandemonium broke out around 2:00 am on Tuesday at the emergency ward of the hospital shortly after a 53-year-old female patient died.
Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association, Ogun State Chapter, Dr Kunle Ashimi while briefing newsmen, condemned the attack on two of the medical workers by the husband and son of the patient who died of heart failure.
Ashimi said Dr Pelumi Somorin was the doctor assaulted while the identity of the nurse had not been ascertained.
He explained that the father and son slapped the doctor while the death of their relative was announced to them.
According to Ashimi, a 53-year-old woman who was presented to the hospital with a severe form of heart failure which in itself after all the investigations including the ones she brought from the centre that referred her showed that it will take more than a miracle for the woman to survive.
“In other words, she was at the end stage of heart failure. This was explained to the relatives when she was brought to the facility but, notwithstanding we also believe in miracles and we feel that we should do our best to see what can happen.
“It has happened before that one other person in this kind of condition got better with the appropriate care.
“But unfortunately, this particular patient gave up the ghost around 2 am and the husband and son of the deceased descended on the doctor that had been taking care of the patient when the news of her death was announced.
“The doctor received a slap from each of them and subsequently they descended on her and she was only saved by people around before he was rushed out of the scene for immediate treatment.”
“A nurse was also assaulted by these people.”
The association chairman noted that police were alerted about the incident, adding that despite their presence the son continued with the assault.
“The police were appropriately called and the DPO of Kempta Police Station led the police team to the scene. “Despite the presence of the police, the son of the deceased assaulted a nurse and all efforts to calm him proved abortive.
“The duo were eventually taken to Kemta Police Station where their statements were taken and that of the assaulted doctor, nurse and witnesses around.”
The NMA chairman, however, warned Nigerians to desist from assaulting healthcare givers, vowing that anyone found guilty would be brought to book.
“We have decided that this will be the last and we will not stop at pleadings. We have decided to take the case to the court and we shall be in court tomorrow.
“Every legal proceeding has been commenced and we shall take this case to the court.
“We want to make an appeal and as well as a warning to all those who use hospital services in Ogun state that the Nigerian Medical Association, as well as its affiliates and each individual doctor, will not henceforth accept the term we are ‘sorry’ from anybody who assaults any of our members.
“We will go to any length to prosecute such persons and we will not accept the pleading of anybody no matter how highly placed the person is.
“So, we implore anybody who has the mind to perhaps think they can beg us later to please beg the populace. It is not our fault.”
Ashimi stressed that assault against medical personnel had become a global issue which is yet to be resolved despite several campaigns to curb the menace.
He said “globally, this is an issue that has been ongoing and several campaigns have been mounted all over the world against violence and assault that are melted out to health workers.
“Particularly at the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, Ogun State and other hospitals around Ogun State which are under our own jurisdiction as the Nigerian Medical Association.
“We have mounted several campaigns against this event in the past and after a lot of pleading, we have had to plead with our doctors to accept the apologies of those that assaulted them.
“Things like this are not abating. In fact, this occurs very often in emergency cases.”
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP, Abimbola Oyeyemi could not be reached as of the time of filing this report.
Despite the sentencing of the Director-General of his campaign, Dr. Doyin Okupe, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi, said he remained focused in becoming Nigeria’s next president.
The LP standard bearer reacted to the conviction of Dr. Okupe during a visit to the local council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Akwa Ibom State.
He spoke on the heels of a promise by the LP Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) to take a position that will be guided by the value of law
Obi told reporters in Uyo: “I am hearing about it(the conviction) just like you. I am still studying what is coming out of the courts and everything. I believe in the rule of law. It is not going to demoralize me.
“Today, when I arrived in Akwa Ibom, somebody asked me why I haven’t been using my aircraft because it has been grounded and all that and I said to him that nothing demoralises me.
“In my life, I have never stayed where they dropped me. Otherwise, I would have been where they dropped me before. This election, if they like let them do anything about people who are around me. I will get there”.
The Head of Media, Peter Obi PCC Diran Onifade, said the council’s position to the sentencing of its director-general will be guided by the rule of law.
Onifade told The Nation in a chat: “Whatever the court says will be done. We are law-abiding and we believe in the rule of law. We believe in the Nigerian judicial system. We believe in the rule of law as a foundation to the kind of change we are hoping to bring to Nigeria. Whatever the court requires will be done, the steps that we will take will be guided by the law.
“The campaign will be coming up with its own position and whatever position the campaign takes will be guided by the law because we are a law abiding organisation. We believe in the rule of law as a foundation we want to make in Nigeria.”
Femi Falana, human rights lawyer, has warned that the 2023 elections might be sabotaged by “anti-democratic forces” if security agencies fail to put an end to the continuous attacks on the facilities of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Mr Falana, who spoke in a statement titled ‘Halt official sabotage of 2023 general elections’, said that the violent attacks being carried out by suspected arsonists posed serious security threats to next year’s election.
He said in the statement obtained by the newsmen that “Unless the security forces are prepared to deal with the anti-democratic forces that are currently disrupting the democratic process the 2023 general elections may be sabotaged to the detriment of democracy and political stability in the country,”.
Positing further, Mr Falana condemned the continuous attacks on INEC offices in the country, noting that it’s becoming a dangerous trend.
However, He expressed worry about how the attackers perpetrating the crime on the INEC facilities operate without any challenge from the security forces.
The director general of Peter Obi’s presidential campaign council, Doýin Okupe, has quickly paid N13m fine in order not to serve his two and half years jail term.
An Abuja federal high court presided over by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu had on Monday sentenced Okupe to two years and 6 months over money laundering to the tone of N702m.
Justice Ojukwu considering the pleadings for leniency from Doyin Okupe’s wife, Mrs Omolola Okupe and his son, Adesunkanmi Okupe and therefore gave an option of N500,000 fine on each of the 26 counts for which he was found guilty.
Consequently, Okupe paid N13m fine and therefore will no longer be serving a jail term. However, he remains an ex-convict until his conviction is upturned by an appeal court.
Residents of Asa, Agbon, Ibeku and Oja-Odan communities in the Yewa-North Local Government Area of Ogun State are living in fear after receiving a threat letter from unknown persons they claimed to be killer herdsmen.
The unknown assailants were said to have written to residents of the communities, threatening to invade some strategic places in a reprisal attack.
According to the notice pasted on walls across the villages on Saturday, December 17, 2022, the assailants informed the residents of their plan to attack the communities soon.
In the letter written in English and Hausa languages, the said herdsmen notified leaders of the communities to expect them between December and January, 2023.
“Attention! Attention!! Attention!! To all following communities; Asa, Agbon, lbeku, Oja-odan and its environs,” the letter read.
“You think you can send away our people from the land they bought in Nigeria, our fathers land, you kill our people, you kill their cows, you take over all their properties. You think you can go scot-free. It’s high time we came for revenge.
“All the above-mentioned communities’ leaders should prepare for the war between December and January. We are coming to take back our father’s property,” the notice read.
Spokesperson of the State Police Command, Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirmed that he had seen the letter.
The PPRO however, assured the communities of the command’s commitment to unravel those behind the notice of attack.
“Well, I saw the letter purportedly written by a baseless group. We believe it is a baseless group that wrote the letter. No information is too small to take note of. We are not neglecting it. We are working on it to unravel those behind it,” he said.
Doyin Okupe, former senior special assistant on public affairs to Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, and chieftain of the Labour party is to spend two years in prison following his conviction today, December 19, 2022 by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court Abuja.
In a well-considered judgment, the trial court held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, successfully established its case against Okupe, that evidence before it established that the defendant had in the discharge of his official duties, accepted cash payments that were above the statutory threshold, without recourse to a financial institution.
It was alleged that Okupe received funds from the office of the National Security Adviser, NSA, which he could not account for. He was convicted and sentenced to two years imprisonment on counts 34 to 59. The charges are centred on accusations of receiving various sums ranging from N10million in different occasions from 2012 to 2015 from ONSA when he was senior special assistant on public affairs to former President Goodluck Jonathan. The court however gave the defendant an option of N500, 000 fine on each of the counts.
He was however discharged on counts one to 33 which bordered on money laundering and criminal breach of trust
He was mandated to pay the fine before 4.30 pm or be committed to prison.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC had arraigned Okupe alongside his two companies: Value Trust Investments and Abrahams Telecoms on a 59-count charge bordering on money laundering and criminal diversion of funds to the tune of N702,000,000 (Seven Hundred and Two Million Naira only) .
One of the charges Okupe is facing is: “That you, Dr. Doyin Okupe, being the Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan from July 2012 to May 2015, and being the managing director, chief executive officer, and a signatory to the bank account of Abrahams Telecoms Ltd, on or about the 3rd October, 2014 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, directly took possession or control of the sum of N35 million, transferred to the account of Abrahams Telecoms Ltd from the account of the Office of the National Security Adviser with the Central Bank of Nigeria, purporting to be for special services when you reasonably ought to have known that the said fund formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity”.
He had pleaded not guilty to the charges upon arraignment, setting the stage for his full trail. In the course of the trial, the EFCC called several witnesses and tendered documents which were admitted in evidence.
After the prosecution closed its case, Okupe refused to open his defence. Instead, he made a no case submission, that the prosecution had not satisfied the requirement of proving its case beyond reasonable doubt and failed to prove that he acquired the money illegally as charged. This was subsequently dismissed by the court, which ordered him to open his defence.
The convict called a number of witnesses in the course of his defence. One of the witnesses who testified as the fourth defence witness was Honourable Bamidele Salami, a member of the House of Representatives, who served as head of media in the office of the then senior special assistant on public affairs to President Jonathan. He had told the court on February 8, 2021 that “there were approximately 30 staff in different units of the office and the office was funded by the Presidency through the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA under Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd)”.
He disclosed that funding in the sum of N10 million Naira was provided on a monthly basis in cash to Doyin Okupe through an officer in ONSA.
Bamidele further revealed that N3million was paid for a programme, ‘Insight’ on NTA, to correct the negative perception of the former President.
He said it was untrue that the programme was aired “free of charge” as corporate social responsibility by the NTA.
However, the defence witness’ evidence on the sponsorship of Insight on NTA contradicted the testimony of the first prosecution witness (PW1), Osas Azonabor, an operative of the EFCC, who had told the court “that no receipt was issued for the payment to NTA. However a letter was written to NTA and investigations further revealed that the programme was aired free of charge as directed by the then Director General of NTA who said the programme was to be seen as the Corporate Social Responsibility of the NTA.”
You cannot copy content of this page