Author: oduduwanews

Osun Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, has disowned the 2022 Governorship campaign posters in his name, saying he is still preoccupied with the delivery of quality service to the people of the State.

He said governance is still uppermost in his mind and as such he would not want to be distracted at this critical stage of his tenure.

To this end, he called on those behind the posters to tarry a while and wait for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to blow the whistle for the contest.

Two media outfits, Osun Defender and Bioreports, had reported: ” Osun 2022: Oyetola’s second term posters spotted in Osogbo.”

But the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ismail Omipidan, said his principal had no hand in the said posters.

He however wondered at the curious coincidence of the story in two different media by the same reporter who goes by the name Solomon Odeniyi.

“Since none of the two media acknowledged the other as being the originator of the news item, I smell some kind of mischief and ulterior motive, especially as the promoter and patron of one of the media was a former Commissioner in the State.

“Whatever the motives or intentions are, they are dead on arrival.

“For now, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State is more preoccupied with mobilising the people for membership registration and re-validation exercise, while Governor Oyetola is preoccupied with governance and not politicking.

“The Governor appreciates the goodwill and the solidarity of those behind it, if truly they are genuine, but wishes to state that what is uppermost in his mind at the moment is to take Osun to greater heights.

“He, therefore, appeals to those behind it to channel their efforts towards supporting government’s effort at changing the fortune of the State, which would probably make 2022 unattractive to the opposition, ” Omipidan added.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has mourned the passing of the first Civilian Governor of the State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande.

Jakande, a renowned journalist and elder statesman, who governed Lagos State during the aborted Second Republic between 1979 and 1983, died on Thursday at the age of 91.

Governor Sanwo-Olu, in a condolence message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, on Thursday said the late Jakande will remain one of the best public office holders in the political history of Nigeria based on how he transformed Lagos State and Nigeria during his tenure as Honourable Minister of Works.

The Governor said Alhaji Jakande popularly referred to as ‘Baba Kekere’ brought a lot of development to Lagos State as governor between October 1,1979 and December 31, 1983 in line with the five cardinal programmes of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), founded by the late sage and former Premier of the Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

The Governor also described the former Minister of Works as an epitome of honesty, dedication and selflessness, who used his elevated positions for the betterment of the people he served.

Governor Sanwo-Olu said the late Alhaji Jakande is one of the few Lagosians and Nigerian leaders that demystified politics by bringing governance closer to the people.

He said Jakande left with impeccable records in Lagos State and that is why he remains till date, a reference point for governors in Lagos and other parts of the country.

He said: “On behalf of the Government and people of Lagos State, I want to express my sincere and heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and associates of the late Alhaji Lateef Jakande as well as members of the progressive community.

“No doubt, the death of Alhaji Jakande is a colossal loss to Lagos State and Nigeria. He made lots of positive impact and contribution during his lifetime to the growth of our dear State by introducing housing and educational programmes that targeted the poor, building new neighbourhood primary and secondary schools and providing free education for all.”

“Baba Jakande within his four years in office established the Lagos State University. His government constructed over 30,000 housing units,which were of great value to the masses.

“Having distinguished himself as ‘Action Governor’, Alhaji Jakande was appointed Minister of Works in 1993 where he replicated his developmental programmes, by building thousands of housing units in different parts of Nigeria as Federal Low Cost Housing Estates.

The Governor added that the late Jakande’s selling point is not only in politics but journalism, his chosen profession.

“Alhaji Jakande also made remarkable contributions to the media industry as a respected journalist and media manager. He used the power of the press to influence positive changes in the country’s social and political landscape.”

The Governor reminded Lagosians that the best way to immortalise ‘LKJ’ as late Alhaji Jakande is popularly known, is to ensure that good governance the deceased advocated spreads to every facet of the Nigerian society.

Following skirmishes reported in Shasha market in Akinyele Local Government Area of Ibadan, the Oyo State government has ordered the immediate closure of the market indefinitely.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, indicated that the governor gave the order to forestall breakdown of law and order in the area and equally imposed a curfew on Shasha and the market area.

The curfew is to run from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m.
The statement warned residents of the affected area to go about their legitimate businesses peacefully, stating that anyone caught perpetrating violence will face the wrath of the law.

The statement read: “His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde has directed the immediate closure of Shasha market indefinitely following reports of a breach of peace in the area.

“The governor has also approved the imposition of curfew on Shasha. It will run from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m.

“Residents of the affected area are enjoined to go about their legitimate businesses within the hours stipulated by the law.

“Anyone caught disrupting the peace of the community will be made to face the wrath of the law.”

As Osun Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Police Brutality, Human Rights Violations and Related Extra Judicial Killings resumed sitting on Thursday, one of the petitioners, Mr. Adeolu Paul Sunday narrated how he was allegedly duped of #36million by four business syndicates in Lagos in 2016.

He said he was defrauded by the alleged business syndicates who were allegedly aided by the police to escape justice after being apprehended.

This is even as the panel harped on diligent prosecution, noting that it would not hesitate to strike out any case found wanting as the panel is resolute to ensure justice for all.

Recounting his ordeals at the hands of the police, Sunday, who claimed to be a businessman supplying electrical appliances and installation, said he was tricked to pay a sum of N36million into different accounts by the fraudsters.

He explained that in the quest to raise the money, he had to borrow a sum of N1.8million from his banker friend to augment the said money paid into the accounts of the syndicate members for the supply of electrical installations.

The petitioner further explained that the case was later reported at the Dugbe Police Division, Osogbo, by his friend who borrowed him N1.8million when he couldn’t refund the money on time.

“I am a practicing engineer dealing in electrical installation, inverter and solar energy installation with Certificate of incorporation RC 1256413 dated April 22 2015.

“I met one Mr. Kunle Ogunbanwo in 2016 who claimed to be a major supplier of electrical installations and we both agreed to run business together before I noticed that he had ulterior motive to defraud me.

“I started sending money into the accounts to the tune of N36million having taken me to his different warehouses in Lagos with the assurance of prompt delivery of all I applied for without knowing that he had an intension to dupe me.

“In the course of raising the money, I went into borrowing where I took a loan of N1.8million from one Mr. Abdulrahman Hasan Raji, a friend of mine who later went to report the case to Police in Osogbo when I couldn’t pay him back as agreed.

“Upon this, I was arrested on 4th December, 2016 by Sergeant Muritala Muhammed and Late Inspector Femi Awoyemi both of Dugbe Police Station, Osogbo for failing to pay back the money that I borrowed from the complainant. I was detained and tortured mercilessly for seven days without being tried.

“But later, when I narrated what I used the money for and how I was duped by the syndicate members, Sergeant Muritala Mohammed and Inspector Femi Awoyemi who were serving at Dugbe Police Station, Osogbo, at the material time, both travelled to Lagos to effect arrest of suspected criminal gang members who defrauded me having seen the evidence of different banks deposit tellers that showed that I had been defrauded.

“Though four of the suspected fraudsters were arrested through the account numbers that I sent the money to, to my surprise, the Police later released them.

“One Sergeant Muritala Mohammed; CSP Babatunde Ogundairo (the then D.C.O, Dugbe Police Station, Osogbo), now the D.P.O Oke Odo Ota-Efun Police Station, Osogbo and Inspector Femi Awoyemi (now deceased) also at Dugbe Station, were the police officers involved in the matter.

“I am pleading to the panel to look into my petition and bring the erring officers to justice because if the suspects were not released, I would have gotten my money back”, he added.

Corroborating his client’s claims, the counsel to the petitioner, Barrister K.A. Adebisi prayed the panel to order a fresh probe of the complaints of fraud by the petitioner against the main suspects (Kunle Ogunbanwo, Hon. Bello, one Mr. Ayoola) and their cohorts who were arrested but assisted to escape in a very shaddy and dubious circumstance.

“We also want an order of this revered Panel to the appropriate authority having powers to sanction the erring police found guilty by allowing the culprits to escape justice, thus violating the fundamental rights of the petitioner to access justice as enshrined in section 6(6) (b) and 36 of the CFRN, 1999 (As Ammended) to serve as deterrence to others,” he appealed.

The cases heard by the panel on Thursday were: OS/JPIPB/003/2020 Oluyide Joseph Adekola versus Osun State Commissioner of Police; OS/JPIPB/007/2020 LAbdullahi Opeyemi AbdulRaheem versus Osun State Commissioner of Police; OS/JPIPB/008/2020 Chief Adegnoyega Agbaje & IOR. versus Osun State Commissioner of Police; OS/JPIPB/006/2020 Mr. Elusanmi Kolawole versus Osun State Commissioner of Police; OS/JPIPB/14/2020 Adeola Paul Sunday versus Osun State Commissioner of Police and OS/JPIPB/19/2020 Mrs. Kafayat Ibitoye & 10R. versus Osun State Commissioner of Police.

In efforts to verify the claims of petitions received at the Oyo state’s ENDSARS panel, the committee on Thursday paid an assessment visit to Divine Success Nursery and Primary school, in Ibadan.

The assessment visit was led by Chairman of the Panel, Retired Honourable Justice Badejoko Adeniji and the Special Adviser to Governor Makinde on Political matters and Strategy, Babatunde Oduyoye, on the petition received by the co-owner of the afore-stated school, Mr Olabanji, about the destruction of the school and stationeries.

During the assessment visit, Olabanji’s wife, Taiwo, affirmed the level of destruction of the school which was her initiative conceptualized on the 5th of January, 2012, as the number of registered students was equated at 28.

While speaking with newsmen on the assessment visit, Chairman of the Oyo state’s ENDSARS panel, Retired Honourable Justice Badejoko Adeniji, noted that it is important to verify the claims of petitioners before the Panel and make necessary recommendations to the state’s Government.

So far, over 70 petitions have been received by the Oyo ENDSARS Panel constituted by the state’s Government to investigate the victimization of Indigenes and residents by officials of the States Anti-Robbery Squad, on the 10th of November, 2020.

The Oyo State Police Command has arrested some members of criminal gangs involved in killings, kidnappings, and other atrocities in the Ibarapa area of the state.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mrs. Ngozi Onadeko, led other top police officers to parade the suspects and others arrested by men of the command in Ibadan on Wednesday.

The CP said, “On January 2, 2021, at about 1955hrs, some members of a notorious kidnapping syndicate who have been terrorising members of the public in the Ibarapa axis of Oyo State invaded Subawah Filling Station located along Idere Road, Igboora, with sophisticated firearms such as AK-49 rifles, cutlasses, and other dangerous weapons. In the course of the attack, the kidnapper shot indiscriminately in different directions, and in the process, two young girls who were later identified as Bababtunde Omowumi and Toriola Kudirat were hit by stray bullets and died on the spot.

“The suspects whisked her (owner of the filling station) into the bush where they brutally murdered her after shooting at her several times in the stomach.
“The three deceased victims were later deposited at the morgue by policemen from Igboora Division and upon the conclusion of their preliminary investigation, the case was transferred to the Monitoring Unit for more diligent investigation. No sooner was the case received than a team of crack police detectives swung into action and arrested nine suspects from their hideouts.
” On January 5, 2021, further investigation revealed that one of the prime suspects Jare Mohammed (Male) inserted his sim card Number 07086824526 on the Nokia Phone belonging to the deceased, Alhaja Adisa Sherifat, which was carted away from her during the armed robbery operation that claimed her life.”

Apart from the suspects, the CP said the police also arrested the hoodlums, who abducted the Chairman of Iganna Local Council Development Area of the state, Mr. Jacob Adeleke.The council boss was kidnapped with his driver on the Okeho-Ado Awaye road and ransom was collected before he was released.
The CP said the council boss was invited and he identified his abductors.
Onadeko said, “Based on credible intelligence, the command through operatives of the CP Monitoring team intercepted and arrested some members of a dreaded kidnapping syndicate armed with AK-47 rifles.

” The suspects confessed to kidnapping the Chairman of Iganna LCDA, Adeleke Jacob Olayiwola, along the Iganna/Ado Awaye road, subsequently dispossessed him of all his personal effects and a random of N5.5million was paid. The victim vividly identified the suspects who had confessed to the crime.”

She gave the names of the arrested suspects in connection with the kidnapping as Babuga Mohammadu; Rabiu Mohammadu; Usman Mohammed and Aliyu Mohammed.

Residents of Oyo State have been urged to elect leaders that would serve and protect their interest in the forth coming local government council elections.

His Imperial Majesty, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi (111), made the call, while receiving members of the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission, who were on a courtesy call to his palace .

The monarch, who affirmed the importance of having democratically elected leaders at the local level, harped on the availability of appropriate data particularly voter’s register on election day to attain credible polls.

The royal father thereafter called for adequate security during the polls to ensure massive participation by eligible voters.

His imperial majesty maintained that traditional rulers remain major mobilizers for inclusive poll.

He therefore promised to mobilise and sentisize the people in his domain on behalf of the commission for the progress of the state.

“Caretaker committee has no business in the management of local government affairs , but democratically elected leaders.

“The issue of data and security have to been put into consideration for successful polls.

“Traditional rulers are mobilizers and moderators in this regards, we will mobilize for the commission and people will respond vividly, but government should endeavour to put in place adequate security for the exercise ”

The Alaafin opined that members of the commission would put necessary measures in place to prevent multiple voting and other vices, urging them to leave good legacy for the state and respective families while in office.

Speaking earlier, the Chairman , Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission, OYSIEC , Aare Isiaka Abiola Olagunju, SAN, represented by one of the commissioners, Comrade Afees Adeniyi, re- affirmed the readiness of the commission to remain truthful to the people of the state .

imperative for the commission to seek effective collaboration of
the traditional rulers being key stakeholder to ensure all inclusive polls.

In his welcome address, Arch Bishop , Ayo Ladigbolu , advised members of the commission to make equity and transparency thier watch words.

An impostor was on Wednesday, apprehended at the College of Education, Ilesa CBT center when the the Osun state teachers recruitment exercise was ongoing across the state.

The man was caught when he was trying to write the examination for his wife.

A statement issued by the Information Officer at the Ministry of Education, Roseline Olawuni stated that the husband was apprehended with the help of operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civic Defense Corps.

“He was caught after his passport photograph was said not to have a match with the photo records of applicants stored on the database of the Ministry of Education,” it stated.

Reacting to the incident, the State Commissioner for Education, Hon. Folorunsho Oladoyin condemned the act of impersonation, stressing that it is shameful and embarrassing that a prospective teacher could be found committing such heinous crimes.

“It is shameful that somebody who wants to teach students academically and morally could be involved in fraudulent malpractice, what example is such a person going to set for the students, the commissioner queried. This is rather unfortunate”

“I am using this opportunity to warn our young people to desist from cutting corners, they should know that integrity pays and it’s the only way to success,” he said.

The suspect has been handed over to the law enforcement agents for further investigation and prosecution.

The Governor of Osun, Adegboyega Oyetola, on Wednesday swore in the newly-confirmed President of the State Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Wasiu Oladejo Akanbi.

The appointment and confirmation of Justice Akanbi are sequel to the retirement of his predecessor Justice Eunice Awolalu from service after the attainment of statutory retirement age.

The Governor tasked Akanbi to uphold judicial sanctity and discharge his duties with the fear of God, topmost sincerity and ensure fairness and equity in the dispensation of justice in the State.

He also reiterated his Administration’s commitment to continue to ensure the independence of the judiciary and champion the welfare of the judicial officers.

Governor Oyetola spoke while addressing the people at the swearing in ceremony held at the Multi-purpose Hall of the Local Government Service Commission, Abere, Osogbo.

Oyetola who described judiciary as the last hope of the common man, urged Akanbi to use judicial instrumentality to sustain the peace reigning in the State and adjudicate justice to sustain the status of Osun as the most peaceful State in Nigeria.

He also charged the new President of the Customary Court of Appeal to join his contemporaries across the judiciary family to uphold the integrity of the judiciary to demonstrate leadership with the highest level of integrity, equity, discipline and justice.

According to the Governor, the Customary Court of Appeal remains one of the custodians of the people’s customs and tradition and a formidable medium for protecting them, hence the need for it to always dispense justice to those who have suffered injustice at the lower court and to promptly dispense same in the interest of peace.

He challenged him to erect more bricks to build a stronger justice system that would deliver a better and more dignified Osun.

“The Customary Court of Appeal therefore has a duty to ensure that the customs and tradition which pertain to marriages, property ownership, inheritance and other spheres which are critical to their lives and are usually unwritten and are therefore often subject to abuse, are protected and sustained.

“As the court which has appellate and supervisory roles on these critical and sensitive matters, the Customary Court of Appeal has a huge task not only to ensure that the sanctity of the people’s customs and tradition is maintained and sustained but also to dispense justice to those who have suffered injustice at the lower court and to promptly dispense same in the interest of peace.

“The President of the Customary Court of Appeal must see a link between his job and societal peace, orderliness and development and consequently drive his court to perform its role with the highest level of responsibility and fairness to ensure justice and peace for the people.

“He must carry his subordinates along to draw strength from the Omoluabi ethos, which is the springboard of all that Osun stands for. To achieve these goals, the President of the Court of Appeal must regularly build the capacity of his staff and mobilise them to sustain the expectations of the people who see them as their last hope.

“This time calls for a courageous and forthright leadership that will provide guidance and direction to further sustain the peaceful status of the State and the integrity of the judiciary as the last hope of the common man,” Oyetola added.

While extolling the virtues and pedigree of Justice Akanbi as an incorruptible, fearless and courageous Judge, Oyetola said, “I am confident that the Judiciary will sustain its complementary role as the purveyor of justice in the state under his leadership.”

The Governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to continually champion the welfare and well-being of workers, particularly judicial officers in the State.

Speaking after taking the oath of allegiance and oath of office, the newly- sworn-in President, Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Wasiu Akanbi expressed profound gratitude to Governor Oyetola for finding him worthy for the appointment.

He pledged to deliver his duties with high sense of diligence, integrity and competence saying, “I promise before God and the people not to disappoint the State as I equally pledge to undertake the job professionally and put in my best to serve humanity.”

Those in attendance were Osun First Lady, Mrs. Kafayat Oyetola; Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu; Osun Chief Judge, Justice Adepele Ojo; Secretary to the Osun Government, Prince Wole Oyebamiji; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Dr. Charles ‘Diji Akinola; Osun Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Barrister Femi Akande; other members of the State Executive Council; members of the State Judicial Service Commission; top government functionaries, among others.

The EFCC said on Wednesday that the suspects were arrested by its Ibadan zonal office on Tuesday, adding that 10 were nabbed in Osun while 29 were arrested in Ogun. Details later.