Author: oduduwanews

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Cybercrime: EFCC Warns Hoteliers As 56 ‘Yahoo Boys’ Arrested in Abeokuta

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has warned hotel owners across the country to be wary of allowing internet fraudsters to congregate or hibernate around their facilities. The Commission gave the warning on Tuesday September 14, 2021 on the heels of an operation by the Ibadan Zonal Command of the agency that led to the arrest of 56 suspected internet fraudsters in Abeokuta, Ogun state.

The suspects include: Garfar Olamide Taiwo, Fadimaye Habeeb, Badmus Idris, Samuel Victor, Seun Fuad, Alli Isaac, Oyeleke Mubarak, Bolu Soetan, Koleosho Eniola, Saheed Abidemi, Olaewe Tosin, Ayedun Idowu, Oniyitan Ayomide, Akinlabi Precious, Gbadebo Sultan, Adeyemi Habeeb, Balogun Hassan, Sulaimon Ayub Damilare, Akinsola Usman,

Others are; Ajibola Femi Sodiya, Ridwan Alani, Olusesi Lanre, Eniatimo Oludare, Taiwo Opeyemi, Akindele Kabiru Johnson Hammed, Idowu Gabriel, Adekanmi Adejumo, Peter Babatunde, Okeowo Sunday, Abudu Habeeb, Sabair Rasaq, Ademuyiwa Basit, Toriola Opeyemi, Babayode Abiola, Agbaje Habeeb, Sorinola Oluwatobiloba, Abiodun Elegbede, Kayode Daniel ,Lawal Alabi, Oyewole Korede, Aberuagba Gafar, Adekunle Emmanuel, Okunade Azeez, and Ojediran Sodiq.

They were apprehended at their hideouts which happened to be popular hotels in the ancient city. The operation which was based on verified intelligence backed by weeks of surveillance was nearly frustrated by the hotel owners who employed various antics, including shutting down power supply, to enable some of the suspects to escape arrest.

Despite the lack of cooperation by the hotel owners, the operatives demonstrated professionalism in ensuring that no one was hurt nor property damaged during the operations, contrary to the narrative in a section of the media.

Nevertheless, the action of the hoteliers amounts to deliberate sabotage and obstruction of law enforcement officers, an offence punishable by Section 38 (2) (b) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004.

The Commission has observed a worrying pattern of cold complicity by hospitality entrepreneurs who appear to be hands-in-gloves with suspected fraudsters by housing them over long spells and making internet facilities available to them.

While the argument is being made in certain quarters that hoteliers as business people have no means of determining who a fraudster is before allowing them to lodge in their facilities that position runs counter to the law.

Section 3 of the Advance Fee Fraud And Other Related Offences Act, 2006 provides for a prison term of between five and 15 years without option of fine for any person who permits his premises to be used for any offence under the Act.

EFCC will therefore not tolerate situations where hotel owners or managers not only permit fraudsters to use their facilities but also deliberately shield them from arrest by frustrating law enforcement on such premises.

If the hoteliers are not enablers of the alleged crimes, as some have demonstrated by offering information to the Commission, they are under obligation to cooperate with law enforcement officers carrying out their lawful duties. To act otherwise would tantamount to willingly becoming enablers to fraud.

Meanwhile, ten exotic cars, dozens of mobile phones, laptops and several incriminating documents were recovered from the suspected fraudsters arrested in Abeokuta.

They will be arraigned in court as soon as the investigation is concluded.

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I Have No Plan To Unseat Sanwo-Olu, He Deserves Second Term – Gbajabiamila

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila says he has no plan to unseat Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu as he is doing well and deserved a second term ticket.

In an interview aired on Channels TV on Tuesday, Gbajabiamila said Sanwo-Olu has been doing “good job” in governing Lagos, stressing that the Governor must not be distracted on the assignment.

The lawmaker representing Surulere 1 Federal Constituency in the green chamber of the National Assembly mulled the idea that Sanwo-Olu be allowed to renew his mandate in the next general election, pointing that the Governor’s performance in the last two years has surpassed expectations.

Gbajabiamila said: “The present Governor of Lagos State (Sanwo-Olu) is doing a good job. The fact that we had a one-term Governor at one time doesn’t mean it is going to be the same forever. This Governor is doing a good job under the current circumstances. It’s been a difficult time in his last two years and he has come out well. So, why should anyone upset the apple cart? I think he (Sanwo-Olu) is doing a good job.”

The Speaker also cleared the air on his rumoured ambition to contest for the Lagos’ governorship seat in 2023, saying he had “no immediate plan” to contest. He said the task before him as Number 4 citizen in the country was enormous and tough enough for him to be distracted by the rumour.

Asked if he is nursing a governorship ambition, Gbajabiamila said: “That (question) provokes a smile. No, I don’t have any such plan and I don’t have immediate plan. I have a job I am doing right now; it’s a very tough job. Sometimes, it’s the most difficult job and I say it to people in the world. People don’t understand that, but this is not a forum I’m going to break it down.

“I don’t want distractions. I am working as a Speaker of the House of Representatives with a lot of responsibilities on my shoulder right now. Any other thing would be a distraction. As for Lagos State Governorship? I have not even thought about it. Why? Because, the present Governor is doing a good job.”

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Congresses: Sen. Adamu, Ex-Oyo Deputy Gov, Alake Appointed By APC To Resolve Party’s Crisis

The erstwhile Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Chief Moses Alake Adeyemo and Senator Abdullahi Adamu have been appointed by All Progressives Congress (APC) Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) as Chairman and Secretary of the party’s National Reconciliation Committee alongside eight others.

This was contained in a press statement released by the National Secretary of the CECPC, Sen. John James Akpanudoedehe today 14th of September, 2021.

The recent move by the party was to harmonize the aggrieved members due to the fallout of the recently conducted Ward and State Congresses of the party marred by complaints from different groups.

According to James, “A date for the inauguration and terms of reference for the Party’s National Reconciliation Committee will be communicated.”

Other members of the committee include, Sen. George Akume, H.E. Sullivan Chime, H.E. Ali Saad Birnin kudu, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, Alh. Suleiman Argungu, Dr. Mrs. Oluranti I. Adebule, and Dr. Mrs. Beta Edu.

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Strike: Resident Doctors Want Falana To Lead Legal Battle

STRIKING members of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors have called on the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to involve them in subsequent meetings with the Nigerian Medical Association.

This was as the association added that human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), would be leading the NARD legal team to the National Industrial Court on Wednesday.

The association’s Vice President, Adejo Arome, disclosed this on Monday.

It was reported that the NMA, barely 48 hours after meeting with the President, met with the leadership of NARD and called on the association to call off its ongoing strike.

The leaders of NARD were said to have remained adamant, maintaining that they would not call of the strike and were ready to meet the Federal Government in Court.

Arome told our correspondent that the President should have met the leaders of NARD alongside those of the NMA..

He said, “First of all, we would like to appeal to the President to always involve us in subsequent meetings alongside the NMA. The NMA is just a supervising body; we are the ones concerned.

“How can you say you are having a dialogue with people who are not concerned? We are the ones having the issues; you are meant to meet us.”

Insisting on continuing with the strike which started on August 2, Arome added, “Like we have said, we are not calling off the strike; we will be meeting them in court.

“Femi Falana is the Head of our legal team. We didn’t know it would get to this level but sadly, this is where we found ourselves.”

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Lagos Govt Evacuates Beggers, Destitutes From Streets

The Lagos Government through the State Ministry of Youth and Social Development has begun ridding the street of beggars and destitute persons.

In an exercise tagged “Rescue Operation” undertaken by a special team of the Rescue and Rehabilitation department of the Ministry, in collaboration with the Police, Man ‘O’ War and other volunteers, major streets and markets in Mushin, Fadeyi, Yaba, Lekki and Sabo areas of Lagos were visited to rescue beggars as well as destitute and vulnerable people from the streets, under bridges, uncompleted buildings and other places unfit for human habitation.

Recall that a few weeks ago, the Honourable Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr. Olusegun Dawodu addressed a press conference at Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, informing the public of the plan, purpose and modus operandi of the special team set up to rescue beggars, destitute and vulnerable persons.

His words: “As a responsible and responsive government, the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu led-administration will not fold its arms and watch the State become a haven for beggars.”

“Street begging is a social vice that we cannot afford to watch attain uncontrollable level before we act; otherwise, all the good plans and programs to transform our dear State would be adversely affected, which is same with street hawking.”

Speaking after the exercise, the Head of Rehabilitation and Rescue Department, Mrs. Olutoyin Jaiyeola disclosed that about 128 persons, including male and female as well as mentally challenged persons, destitute and beggars were rescued by the team from different areas of the State.

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Protest Rocks Adeseun Ogundoyin Polytechnic, Eruwa Over Dissolution of Management

Some youths in Eruwa town gathered early today at the entrance Adeseun Ogundoyin Polytechnic to protest the removal of the erstwhile acting Rector, Mr. Peter Adejumo and called for the appointment of substantive rector in the institution.

The youths who gathered in number also demanded the removal of the Governing Council Chairman of the institution, Prof. Samuel Ogundiran for failure to appoint substantive management.

The major entrance to the institution was locked as students and members of staff were prevented from entering the campus.

Recall that ODUDUWA NEWS had earlier reported the dissolution of management of the institution and subsequent appointment of Rector, Bursar and Head of Works in acting capacity.

The Governing Council of the institution had on Friday approved the appointment of Dr Akinteye O. Adewuyi as the Acting Rector, Oladipo S. Abimbola as the Acting Bursar and Abeegunde O. Olatunde as the Acting Head of Works, following the expiration of the six months tenure of the interim management.

According to the governing council chairman, Professor Samuel Ogundiran, he said “the appointment is in accordance with the Conditions of Service for Nigeria Polytechnics as contained in National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Chapter Ten Cap (e)” that acting appointment shall be for a period of six months in the first instance and could be reviewed for another final period of six months.

Ogundiran said that the incumbent acting Rector, Mr Peter Adejumo’s tenure ended on 10th September 2021.

Meanwhile, in reaction to the protest, the Chairman while speaking today to the correspondent of ODUDUWA NEWS via telephone conversation through his Media Aide said, those who protested were rented and ignorant of the laid down rules and regulations for the appointment of substantive Rector.

He made clarification further as quoted thus: “Governing Council doesn’t appoint Acting Rector for the third time as insinuated by the protesters, the Governing Council was inaugurated last year July and it appointed Acting Management by August. The Council does not unilaterally appoint substantive management because it does not have final decision on substantive management but to select best three names which shall be forwarded to the Governor for final appointment after proper screening.

“The process for substantive management has started already, interested candidates have applied and the application closed by July, interview and selection of credentials shall commence next week.”

“What the Council did at the last meeting was in accordance with the provision of NBTE Scheme of Servic and Chairman can’t take unilateral decision without the consent of the entire Council, the decision was taken at the meeting not the room of Council chairman.

The Chairman however appealed for calm as the decision of the Council was in the best interest of the institution and urged the protesters to allow peace to reign and not to allow themselves to be used by those who are not happy with smooth academic calendar being enjoyed at the institution.

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Investment Opportunities: Lagos To Explore, Expand Bilateral Ties With Belgium

By: Adebayo Miracle

The Lagos state government has received a major boost in economic settings as Belgium expressed their intentions and readiness to expand bilateral ties with the government of Lagos State so as to benefit from several investment opportunities that are present in the State.

Mr Sam Egube, the State Commissioner for Economic Panning and Budget, who welcomed the Belgian Ambassador in Nigeria, Mr. Daniel Bertrand, to his office in Alausa, Ikeja also applauded the State Government’s resolve to improve the economy through an effective collaboration and partnership on opportunities opened for investment.

During the course of welcoming the Belgian Ambassador, Mr. Sam made it known that the government believed in effective partnership that would form the bedrock of development and would be in line with the T.H.E.M.E.S. Agenda, saying that “ Mr. Governor believes that we must have several levels of engagement and partnership to make things work. So one of the things we strive to is to ensure that those partnerships go beyond talk and into real definitive actions and as a result of this, we welcome you with a lot of excitement”

He further informed Mr Daniel Bertland that investment must be attracted which can only be done by working very closely with the state development partners and the federal governments. He also said that the Development Partnership Department in the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget is being restructured to ensure a more active partnership with others to solve mutual problems.

The Belgium Ambassador, Mr. Daniel Bertrand also made the purpose of his visit known which is basically to familiarize himself with Lagos and the numerous opportunities which will also be presented to a delegation of Belgian business entrepreneurs that may be interested in doing business in the state, despite that Belgian business community is already active in Nigeria. Mr. Daniel said one of the priorties of his team is to strengthen their bilateral ties in Nigeria majorly in the economic and commercial fields, making reference to one of their active companies, Nigerite in Nigeria, he said they can be far more productive and that is why delegation of business entrepreneurs coming to Nigeria and who are very interested in Nigerian market  are going to be welcomed in the next few months to Abuja or Lagos.

Gracing the occasion was also Mr. Stef Commers the Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Belgium in Nigeria; Aare Adebayo Sodade, Special Adviser to the Governor on Economic Planning and Budget; Mrs. Abiola Liadi the Permanent Secretary, Minister of Economic Planning and Budget; and the special Assistant to the Governor on Budget, Mr. Lekan Balogun among other dignitaries present.  

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Purported Banner Of Makinde For President Is Fake, Media Aide, Taiwo Adisa Disclaims

The Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde has disclaimed the purported banner circulated on social media advertising his intention for president in 2023.

This was contained in a statement made available through his Press Secretary, Taiwo Adisa as read in part:

“A fake news item, purportedly promoting Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, as a presidential hopeful in the 2023 election, has come to the attention of the Media Office Of The Governor.

“The banner advert, which has the picture of Governor Makinde and the Nigerian flag, as well as a picture of the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, allegedly promoting the presidential ambition of the governor, should be treated for what it is: Fake News!

A statement by Adisa on Monday, has disclaimed the alleged promo, describing it as one of the antics of fake news promoters.

“This is clearly the antics of purveyors of social media lap dogs, who are merely seeking to distract well-meaning people of Oyo State from the joy occasioned by the well-deserved promotion, to the Premier League, of the Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC).

“We believe that this fraudulent post alluded to the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Makinde is the handiwork of opposition elements, as APC’s social media lap dogs widely posted the fake news on their social media accounts.

“It is the usual practice of naysayers and detractors to seek to mix sour grapes in the basket of fruits, at a time when well-meaning citizens are celebrating.

“Let it be stated clearly, however, that Governor Makinde has no hand in any such campaign for the Presidency, as he has always stated that tomorrow only belongs to God.

“It is unthinkable that the governor, who has cautioned supporters against mounting a second-term campaign for him, would launch a 2023 presidential campaign at this period.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Makinde will not change his belief that power belongs to Almighty God and that only God knows the direction He is taking every of his creation.

“In the same vein, the Media Office of His Excellency has not and will not race ahead of time to promote an ambition that the governor has not declared.
“Therefore, we urge members of the public to ignore the fake news and see it as the shenanigans of a distressed opposition, which continues to show its desperation to retake power at all cost.

“Finally, members of the public are reminded that one of such callous posts by opposition elements once attempted to endanger the lives of innocent people in Oyo State at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, in May, 2020, when they posted that Covid-19 restrictions had been relaxed for religious gatherings, and attributed same to the Governor’s Media Office.”

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JUST IN: Popular Nigerian Socialite, Dudu Heritage is Dead

Captain of the prestigious Ibadan Golf Club, Ola Ibironke, is dead. Popularly known as Dudu Heritage, the music promoter, according to sources, died last night.

This was after attempts to resuscitate him proved abortive. It was gathered that the deceased had slumped and was rushed to the hospital but later confirmed dead.

Married to top actress, Bimbo Oshin, Dudu Heritage had relocated to Ibadan some years ago.

Ibadan Golf Club reacts:

We are shocked by the sudden demise of our Captain, Mr. OLA IBIRONKE .The Course is hereby closed and all club activities are suspended until further notice while the Flag will be hoisted at half mast .Our prayers are with his family and members of this great Club.

Further details will be announced later.
Exco.

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