Author: oduduwanews

A 49-year-old widow, Dorothy Dike and her son, Osinachi Ndukwe, wept profusely as their only vehicle which they acquired at the rate of N1.8.million on hire purchase, was being auctioned for N450,000.

Recall that earlier today, the Lagos State Government through its Ministry of Justice and The state Taskforce, organised the public auction of over 134 abandoned and forfeited vehicles, at Lagos State Task Force’ headquarters, Alausa, Ikeja, where a crowd of auctioneers, agents, buyers and vehicle owners tried to outwit one another.

A private auction House took charge of the event under the supervision of Mrs Arinola Ogbara -Banjoko of Lagos State Special Crimes Coordinator (Mobile Court) and Chief Superintendent of Police, CSP Shola Jejeloye, the Chairman, State task Force.

Ms. Dorothy and her son had earlier jumped for joy when their mini bus (Korope), with number plate, ANAMBRA NEN 347 YX, was displayed for auction with an opening bid of N50,000, but the joy was short-lived.

Few minutes later, the atmosphere changed as they wept profusely, rolled on the ground, and begged for price reduction as the bid kept jerking up and hit N430, 000.

The bid was about to close when suddenly the mother and son shouted N450,000 loudly, “help us, help us, please, don’t increase the price again. We cannot afford this but we are hopeful that the vehicle will be ours so that we can work again and raise money to feed ourselves.” The Imo state-born widow said

“Help me, help me. I am happy to repurchase the bus but the problem is that we cannot afford N450,000. I am a widow with two children and I hawk herbs on the streets of Lagos for survival. Osinachi is my son and I lost his father three months after delivery and since then, I have been battling to feed my children.

When we heard that the bus will be auctioned today, we borrowed N59,000 to attend the event. Unfortunately, the price for the bus was closed at N450,000,” she lamented.

Osinachi , 31, who couldn’t hide his emotions, narrated how he became a commercial driver due to unemployment.

According to him;

“I bought the bus at N1.8 million on hired purchase in 2021 and was plying Ijegun enroute Cele Expressway. The bus was three months old and I had remitted N300,000 when I drove against traffic in Cele area and the bus was impounded.

Not only that, I was sentenced to three years imprisonment which I completed recently but before the completion, information reached me that my three years old daughter was ill due to lack of fund and before I completed the jail term, I got information that she had died.

I am here with my mother with the expectation that we will buy the bus at the rate of N50,000. Surprisingly, the price was closed at N450,000 and we have 48 hours to complete the payment.

We have sold most of our belongings to feed and are left with nothing. This is a great problem before us. My father died while I was three years old and my mother has been there for me but there is no way she can raise N450,000.

Who will I turn to at a time many Nigerians are finding it difficult to feed? I don’t know what to do again.”

Operatives of the Western Nigeria Security Network codenamed Amotekun Corps have secured the arrest of two suspects who were found with human skulls in their possession in Oyo town.

The two men, one, an indigene of Laguna family in Oyo town, Ganiyu Maruf and his accomplice, Alfa Basiru Bashit of Abu Compound, Oyo; were almost lynched by residents of Ori-awo Yidi area, Oyo town and later arrested by men of the Amotekun Corps for bearing human skulls.

Maruf, a bricklayer said one Dauda ‘Baba Ato’, a carpenter had supplied them with the skulls.

He said the man had first refused him because he had first been arrested by SARS but he asked him to pay the sum of N50,000 for the skulls.

Maruf said not long after Dauda supplied them the skulls, he was arrested again by operatives of SARS, but was later released some weeks later after confessing his crimes.

According to his confession, he had escaped to the village but returned about two months later when he heard Baba Ato had been released.

However, Baba Ato reportedly died in the night of his release.

He recounted how that they hid the skulls around the area while he kept watch over it for it not to be stolen about five days ago.

Unknowingly to him, residents of Ori-Awo area where he resides, had been watching him patrolling the spot where he buried the skulls.

The alerted residents reportedly attacked Maruf and his accomplice while they were on their way to Yidi.

Meanwhile, Bashit, his accomplice had confessed contributing N15,000 to the money to get the skulls from Baba Ato, who is related to Maruf’s family.

When asked who was going to perform the money rituals for them, Maruf said he has the knowledge of rituals from his maternal grandfather and was going to try doing it for himself first.

Tobi Amusan has been conferred with a National Honour in Abuja.

The 100m Hurdles World Champion today received Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) Honor from the Nigerian president, Muhammadu Buhari.

The president also honoured other athletes of the Team Nigeria and promised to gift them N200m.

Details later.

Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu,SAN, has received on condolence visit, Ekiti State Governor, Dr. John Kayode Fayemi and his Oyo State counterpart, Engr. Seyi Makinde.

The Governors visited Arakunrin Akeredolu at the Kopindogba house of the late Lady Evangelist Grace Bosede Akeredolu (JP) in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

Also on the condolence visit were: deputy Governor of Oyo State, Bayo Lawal; former deputy Governor of the State, Iyiola Oladokun; leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State led by the Chairman, Engr. Ade Adetimehin; vicar of the All Saints Church, Jericho, Very Rev. Kalu Ndukwe; among others.

Governor Akeredolu said his mother was very close to them since the demise of their father over forty years ago.

“Undoubtedly, Maami was someone that was close to us. We lost our father over forty years ago. At the time of his death, I was the only graduate. And we are seven in number. And this woman was able to carry all of us through. Today, we have Professor, Judge, Doctor and all of us are graduates.

“She is a woman who had paid her price. And we owe her a duty. Coincidentally, I was here on Sunday, I spent some time with her here before going to Bishop Francis Wale Oke program where we had dinner. I never knew that would be the last time.”the Governor said.

Governor Akeredolu thanked his friends and family for their encouragement through their visits, calls and messages.

While noting that the deceased was a great mother, Arakunrin Akeredolu disclosed that she was particular about comfort for her children.

“My mum, Grace Bosede, was a great woman and mother to all of us. I always say it. I have never paid rent in my life before. I lived in her house behind here till I moved to my personal house. Same for my brothers. I owe her everything in my life. She was particular about comfort for all of us. She is a woman that we loved so much. We will miss her.” He added.

Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, who spoke on behalf of the Governors, commiserated with Governor Akeredolu and his family.

Governor Makinde prayed that God will give Arakunrin Akeredolu and the entire family the strength to bear the loss.

The vicar of All Saint church, Jericho, who prayed for the Governor and his family, said the late Lady Akeredolu lived a fulfilled life and was committed to the work of God.

The mother of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu,SAN, Lady Evangelist Grace Akeredolu is dead.

She died peacefully in her sleep early this morning. Mama was 90 years.

She is survived by her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and other family members.

Further announcements will be made by the family in due course.