ODUDUWA NEWS has gathered that Ramon Mustapha, a driver assigned to one of the sports utility vehicles in the convoy of “Seyi Makinde,” died in a horrifying car accident yesterday while they were traveling from Saki after a PDP stakeholders meeting tour.
After hitting his skull on the ill-fated vehicle, which is alleged to have somersaulted multiple times, he was reported to have passed away instantly.
The three accident victims were sent for immediate medical attention to a nearby medical institution.
It was learnt that the accident happened around noon as Makinde was coming from Saki, where he had gone for reconciliation prior to his second term bid.
The remains of the late driver, who was described as humble, respectful and very dutiful, were buried at his Amuloko, Ibadan residence on Wednesday according to Islamic rites.
The media aide to the immediate past Osun Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, Ismail Omipidan has alleged Governor Ademola Adeleke’s men of looting Government House, Osogbo.
He expressed disappointment at the false alarm raised by Adeleke’s men who, according to him, should have been ordinarily guided by the record of the inventory taken before the formal handover of the items in Governor’s lodge and Presidential quarters in Government House respectively.
Omipidan averred that it was unGodly for Adeleke’s stooges to have raised empty alarm over an illicit action taken by them, saying it is on record that the new government took over the possession of the Government House a day to the inauguration of Ademola Adeleke.
Addressing a Press Conference on Wednesday in Osogbo, Omipidan described the looting allegation as not only ridiculous but sarcastic as it was intended to soil the reputable image of his principal.
Omipidan slammed Adeleke and his men for their failure to protect all the items bequeathed to them by the administration of Oyetola, just as he queried why it took them 72 hours after they had formally taken over the property before raising obnoxious allegation of looting.
He asserted that all the items alleged to have been carted away were intact as at the time of handing over, saying “if there was any looting as being claimed by the agents of the new government, then we should look in their direction.”
Omipidan who described his principal as a man of impeccable character, asked “how on earth any right-thinking person will accuse him of stealing things as cheap as spoons, methylated spirit, cooker and emptying the First Aid Box?”
He said his principal stopped sleeping in the Government House on Saturday, November 19, 2022 and by November 26, 2022, an inventory was conducted in company of DSS officials who were attached to the Government House at the time and security operatives attached to the new Governor, particularly A. Umale and Pius Akpan.
According to Omipidan, in the DSS report dated November 26, 2022, and titled: “INVENTORY OF ITEMS IN OSUN STATE GOVERNOR’S AND PRESIDENTIAL LODGES,” it is reported that, “On 26th November, 2022, about 1400houre, a team of the Protocol Department, Osun State Governor’s Office, Abere, led by Mr. FALODE, in company of two(2) officers of the Department of State Services (DSS), namely Usman ADEDIRAN and Sunday Posu, painstakingly took the inventory of items in the above mentioned places.
“The items were thereafter handed over to A. UMALE and Pius AKPAN, DSS personnel and security details of the new Governor, ADEMOLA ADELEKE without any complaint.
“It is further noteworthy that nothing suggests that any of the items in the buildings was carted away, as all were intact as at the time of handing over. Attached herewith is a list of items in both buildings. And they went further to list the items one by one, covering 8 pages. In the inventory, among the items listed are: 6 Face Big Gas Cooker with Oven and 4 Face Kenstar Cooker with Oven among others.
“It is, therefore, ridiculous to accuse my Principal of taking away spoons, cooker and methylated spirit. From the foregoing, if there was any looting as being claimed by the agents of the new government, then we should look in their direction.
“They cannot take over, and then come to raise alarm 72 hours later that there was looting in the same place where they held their inauguration party on Sunday, November 27.
“If they think this is how to pay a man who gave his all for four years so that Osun could be back to reckoning, God our Creator, who is not a God of hypocrisy, will pay them in their own coin appropriately,” Omipidan added.
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has met with the religious and community leaders, students and traders in Osun State on Wednesday.
He made this known via his Twitter handle on Wednesday.
“I met with religious and community leaders, students and traders in Osun State. They agree about the failure of APC and share their hopes in our Recover Nigeria mission. I told them that the one party that can secure the lives of Nigerians, end hunger and reduce poverty is the only party with a track record of such lofty achievements— PDP.
The Supreme Court of Nigeria has dismissed an insinuation that the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice go Olukayode Ariwoola was subjected to interrogation by the Department of the State Service (DSS) over alleged pro-Wike political remarks.
The apex court also debunked claims that five Justices of the Court have demanded resignation from office by the CJN over the same issue.
In a statement by the Director of Information and Press of the Court, Dr Festus Akande, the apex Court warned those peddling the rumours to desist in their own interests.
The reaction of the Supreme Court is in response to a publication by an online medium, which reported that Justice Ariwoola has been grilled by DSS over his alleged political remarks in Port Harcourt at a public function.
The statement read in part, “We have read with dismay and shock a publication with the above caption by an online media outfit, “People’s Gazette,” alleging that the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, was grilled by the DSS for the remarks he made in ‘Port Harcourt at a state banquet’ and that ‘five Justices of Supreme Court are calling for his resignation.’
“Just like our earlier press statement debunking this barefaced falsehood and mischievous antics aimed at scoring very cheap and unpopular political gains in this era of aggressive and mudslinging politicking, we wish to state in very clear and unmistaken terms, that this is yet another round of the avalanche of lies that have been disingenuously packaged by individuals with an unenviable pedigree to malign the character and personality of not just the CJN but several other Judicial Officers that they considered to be too unpliable and principled to be approached for any form of underhand dealings, especially as election cases (petitions) will soon be streaming to the tribunals (courts) for adjudication.”
According to the statement, it had become very obvious that those with sinister motives have perfected plans to unleash all manner of coordinated attacks on Judicial Officers, starting from the CJN with a view to arm-twisting and blackmailing and ridiculing them to silence, ultimately for their ulterior motives.
The statement further added that the publication is laced with tissues of lies, non-existent sources of information and unsubstantiated claims and it clearly showed the unwholesome intentions of the authors.
It also clarified that no single Justice of the Supreme has asked the CJN to resign, and no Justice of the Supreme Court has or is writing any letter of protest whatsoever.
“Neither the CJN nor the Honourable Justices of the Supreme Court or other Courts for that matter, are politicians, so, none of them should be dragged into politics in any form whatsoever.
“Our advice to this set of rabble-rousers whose stock in trade is character assassination via dissemination of false information to create tension and disaffection is to have a rethink and engage in meaningful productive activities that will move the nation forward. A word is enough for the wise,” the statement said.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has commenced the auction of a total of 435 cars, which are subjects of final forfeiture orders in Lagos, in line with the EFCC (Establishment) Act 2004; Public Procurement Act 2007 and the Proceeds of Crimes (Recovery and Management) Act 2022
The exercise scheduled to take place across the Commands of the Commission, started on Tuesday, December 6, 2022 in Lagos with inspection of items by members of the public, while the auction exercise began today, Wednesday, December 7 and continues on Thursday, December 8, 2022.
The items are available in four locations: 40, Bourdillon Road, Ikoyi, Lagos; 15A Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos; 14 Cameroon Road, Ikoyi Lagos and CVU Obalende, Ikoyi, Lagos.
Speaking during the opening ceremony yesterday, Dr.George Ekpungu, Secretary to the Commission and Chairman, EFCC Asset Disposal Committee, ADC, said: “the exercise, which is the first of the planned auction of forfeited properties across EFCC Zonal Commands and EFCC Headquarters, is being carried out in accordance with the (Establishment) Act, 2004, Public Procurement Act, 2007 and Proceeds of Crimes (Recovery and Management) Act, 2022.
“It is being conducted in conjunction with the Bureau of Public Procurement to ensure compliance with all extant laws”.
While welcoming the auctioneers to the Centre, he expressed his gratitude to sister agencies, including the Nigerian Army, who were invited to provide adequate security and ensure orderliness.
Ekpungu also appealed to the members of the public present at the auction to listen carefully to the auctioneers and comply with all stipulated guidelines.
The nine auctioneers who were allocated to the Lagos Zonal Command of the EFCC to dispose of the 435 cars at designated Centre on 14 Cameron Road , Ikoyi , Lagos are Rihanna Auction Limited; Kamyus Consult Limited; Areogun Resources Limited; BIS N JEG;Integrated Services Nig.Ltd;Mau & Sons Ltd.; Langar Aghaji & Co.; Fagobe Company Ltd and Musa Kira and Co.
The cars, which pictures were conspicuously displayed with allocated lot numbers for public inspection, were allocated to auctioneers based on assessed values and open ballot system.
The display was to provide an opportunity for interested bidders to view and indicate interest in any car of their choice.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission has arrested Singer Oladapo Oyebanji alias D’banj, PremiumTimes is reporting.
He was arrested and detained Tuesday after ICPC operatives closed in on him, forcing him to surrender himself at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
It was gathered that D’banj had dodged summons for weeks, claiming to be overseas for scheduled concerts each time he was invited to appear for interrogation over fra¥d allegation.
He is accused of fraudulently diverting hundreds of millions naira earmarked by the Nigerian government for N-Power project, an empowerment programme set up by the Nigerian government in 2016 to address youth unemployment and increase social development.
Investigators allege that D’banj colluded with some compromised government officials to introduce ghost beneficiaries into the payroll of the scheme. The stipend paid to those beneficiaries are then paid to accounts that have now allegedly been linked to the pop star.
After the musician failed to show up for interrogation despite multiple invitations, the ICPC moved to arrest him anywhere in Nigeria and abroad, forcing him to show up at the commission’s office on Tuesday. On arrival, D’banj was subjected to a prolonged interrogation session after which he was detained. His plea for administrative bail was rejected by officials who said the musician could not be trusted to attend his trial if released on bail.
The Kwara State government has withdrawn charges against Sobi FM’s Senior editor, Dare Akogun and his brother, Abdulrasheed Akogun, publisher of Fresh Insight online TV.
During the proceedings, the government prosecutor, Busari Olorundare, applied for the withdrawal of the case dated 14th October, 2022 stating no reason for his action.
Magistrate Bio Salihu who presided over the matter asceeded to the request, and thereafter terminated all the charges against the defendants and discharged them accordingly.
Sobi FM’s Judiciary Correspondent Kayode Adeoti had earlier reported that the duo were charged to court by the police through a petition letter written by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mallam Rafiu Ajakaye, accusing them of criminal defamation and inciting public against the Government.
The ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo state has stated that Governor Seyi Makinde has consistently injected not less than 11 billion naira every month into the state economy via prompt payment of state and local government workers salaries Alone.
The ruling PDP also said that aside from regular payment of pension and gratuities of retirees and pensioners, Governor Makinde’s administration has injected at least 462 billion naira into the state economy within the last 42 month.
The APC in Oyo state had challenged Governor Seyi Makinde to provide detailed account of what he has done with the sum of over N706billion the opposition maliciously alleged to have accrued to the state government coffers, the 33 local government councils as monthly allocations from the federal government and the state internally generated revenue in the last 42 months.
The Oyo State Publicity Secretary of ruling PDP, Akeem Olatunji, who lambasted the opposition party in a press statement today December 7th, described the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state as suffering from acute level of retrograde and anterograde amnesia maintaining that the opposition is like a dead chicken hoping to still eat a grain of maize.
While commending Governor Makinde of being an exceptionally prudent manager of human and material resources having successfully jerked up the state internally generated revenue without placing additional burden on the masses amidst economic turbulence foisted on poor Nigerians by the APC led federal government, Olatunji advised the opposition party to quit playing to the gallery and get its facts before going to further expose itself before the now wiser people of the state.
Olatunji who lambasted the opposition party of lacking basic economic management strategy with its futile attempts at discrediting prompt payments of salaries, pension, and gratuities by Governor Seyi Makinde, maintained that the best way for any informed person who is aspiring to manage public resources is to know how to successfully trap down local investments, reduce capital flight, allow free flow of cash within the system to bolster the velocity of revolving funds.
The ruling party maintained that there is no amount of peddling of sheer falsehood, malicious media campaign, or deliberate misinformation that can rescue the state chapter of the APC from the inevitable final burial that awaits it come 2023 adding that the people of Oyo state have become wiser and politically conscious of state affairs to know the clear difference between a party that thrived on false propaganda and practically performing one.
“As far as we are concerned in the PDP, we will not give too much attention to our noisy neighbors who do not even know the very basics of the job of an opposition party. They thought playing opposition party in a 21st century is all about sustaining unabated false propaganda and deliberate misinformation of the public to discredit every single policy or program of government.
“It is sadly evident from the press release by APC that they are just playing to the gallery by bounding up figures around in a desperate and failed attempts to discredit the Seyi Makinde led performing PDP government.
“There’s no other way to boost local economy of any State than injecting money into it just the way Engr Seyi Makinde is consistently pumping an average of N11 billion through payment of salaries of civil servants and local government workers as well as executing various developmental projects which in turn allow free flow of money in circulation.
“In case the leadership of APC and their gubernatorial candidate, Senator Oloye Teslim Kolawole Folarin, have forgotten that Governor Seyi Makinde led PDP administration offset arrears of gratuities of Pensioners from 2010 up to 2014 of which the then APC government failed to pay, we need to remind them to rescue them from their self inflicted delusions.
“Governor Seyi Makinde has injected N462 billion in the last 42 months apart from pension and gratuities to our senior citizens or retirees while several roads projects both completed and ongoing amounting to 500 Km and other developmental projects like light Oyo, construction/ rehabilitation/ renovations of schools, independent power project, 351 primary health centers, remodeling of Adamasingba Stadium, upgrading of State owned Hospitals, ongoing construction of 110 Km Rasheed Ladoja Circular Road free education for our children, infrastructural developments in schools, upgrading of Emmanuel Alayande College of Education to University, sole ownership of LAUTECH and offsetting of salary arrears of her staff and lecturers owed by Ajimobi led APC government which runs to over a billion Naira and paying off of Osun State equity on the school and many others have gulped several billions of Naira with prudency and value for money as the PDP government’s watchword.” The ruling PDP stated.
While berating the opposition APC of conducting itself in such a shameful manner depicting of a lazy, reckless, and spoilt brat who notoriously specializes in squandering hard earned family resources and bringing reproach to the family name, Oyo state PDP added that APC media team are just too lazy relying on sustained misinformation to keep drawing money from party coffers.
The ruling PDP urged the APC to check latest state by state debt profile from the Office of Debt Management and Federal Ministry of Finance on what Oyo state currently incurres in debt stressing that the federal government agencies have data on debt portfolio of each state and how much accrue to Oyo state so far.
“As at the last count, Oyo state debt was N177 billion of which N127 billion was inherited from the last administration of APC in local debt and $138 Million in foreign debt. Despite the unprecedented infrastructural development already recorded in the state in less than 4years, the present government has offset about $40 Million out of the $138 Million owed by the late Ajimobi led APC government.”
“If APC must say anything in the public domain with the slightest atom of dignity if any, it should be grateful first, to Governor Seyi Makinde for not playing the APC style of vindictive politics otherwise many of them would have been languishing away in jail by now. Secondly, Oyo APC must bury its head in shame and come to term with the fact that PDP in Oyo state is the mother that is busy scrubbing their filth and restoring the state on the path of prosperity.
“According to the opposition party, it shamelessly queried the Oyo State House of Assembly in which it has six members in the minority, over what it alleged as ‘non-committal’ to the consideration and passage of the Local Government Autonomy Bill into law and accusing Governor Makinde who did not only corrected the rascality and reckless conduct of illegal local government election towards the twilight of the last administration after almost eight years but also conducted valid elections into the 33 LGAs in the state within just two years.
The ruling PDP also noted with rude shock the new manner of deceitfulness, hypocrisy, self serving and satanic agenda the Oyo APC is championing its cruel and evil media attacks against a God sent man who’s public acceptance and street credibility based on performance and delivery daily soar and continue to threaten the opposition party to its very core saying, “how could Oyo APC not even have the smallest atom of shame to ignore Lagos, Ekiti both under APC governments and have directly voted against the same autonomy for local government while casting aspersions on a yet to vote Oyo state assembly?” the ruling oyo PDP added.
The Director, Strategic Communications of the National Election Management Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Dele Momodu, Tuesday, chided the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, over what he called his less than impressive engagement with his audience at the Chatham House, United Kingdom, on Monday.
Momodu said chieftains of the APC were ‘window-dressing’ Tinubu on a global stage.
Tinubu’s performance has continued to draw mixed reactions, particularly from the opposition parties who were left unimpressed by the candidate’s decision to throw some of the questions he was asked to the APC chieftains including the Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, and immediate past governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi.
In a piece titled, “Weep not for Tinubu but Nigeria,’ Momodu slammed the handlers of the former Lagos state governor for causing the nation a huge embarrassment on a global stage.
“Call it what you will, what happened at Chatham House, London, yesterday (Monday), was a complete charade. The Tinubu handlers fumbled, and bungled it big time. They showcased him like a packaged invalid. It would have been better to present him as a brilliant politician and administrator, warts and all, who is capable of independent thoughts. No man is perfect. His gaffes would have been more pardonable and acceptable. He was expected to sell his own vision and mission.
“But what we saw yesterday was a theatre of the absurd. It brought back memories of our great former President Umaru Yar’ Adua and how he mysteriously disappeared from radar and some of his aides governed by proxy. I was one of those who led the ‘Enough is Enough’ protest against the Yar’ Adua cabal in Abuja in 2010. What was unacceptable then is even more unacceptable now with benefits of hindsight. Our country should be placed above friendship.
“Truth is, the problem of Nigeria is often aggravated by the voluptuous ambitions of some acolytes who wish to remain eternally relevant in the corridors of power at the expense of the long-suffering nation,” he said, adding that “all those around Tinubu yesterday (Monday) knew the bitter truth but chose to fool Nigerians.”
He continued, “One of them was heard in a viral video telling Tinubu to dance to the popular song ‘Buga’ by Kizz Daniel because “that’s what the youths want to see,” and lo and behold, Tinubu instantly transfigured into an accomplished choreographer.
“It is very sad, and unfortunate, that whenever we think Nigeria can never sink deeper into the abyss, something occurs that jolts us out of such assumptions and complacency.”
The PDP campaign spokesman recalled that seven years ago, incumbent Commander-in-Chief did a good job when he appeared at the same venue to engage with the global audience.
“I was with the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), the day he visited Chatham House seven years ago. He was solid and charismatic. He needed no one to prompt him. He answered questions eloquently and intelligently to the best of his abilities.
“That is what Tinubu was expected to accomplish yesterday (Monday). What he did instead was like inviting helpers to sit the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board examination. It is horrifying to watch some respected intellectuals like El-Rufai and Fayemi as they struggled to window dress Tinubu on a much hallowed global stage,” he lamented.
The Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde has been reassured of unflinching support by Oke Ogun zone.
The foremost raditional ruler, Okere of Saki, Oba Khalid Oyedepo made this disclosure today while playing host to Gov Makinde at the stakeholders consultative meeting held at Oyo State Agric Development Agency Hall, Saki OYSADEP.
Oba Khalid said Makinde has facilitated alot of projects to Saki and Oke-Ogun at large and that there would be a pay back time for all what he has done for the entire citizens of Oke-Ogun.
Makinde while speaking, appreciated the people of Oke-Ogun for their support towards his administration.
He reassured the people of Oke-Ogun of more developmental projects if he is reelected in 2023.
He therefore charged members of his party to ensure that they work together towards his re-election.
