Author: oduduwanews

The Oyo State Chapter of All Progressives Congress has advised Gov. Seyi Makinde to adopt the security template of late Gov. Abiola Ajimobi towards addressing security challenges in the state.

This is contained in a statement signed by the state APC interim Publicity Secretary, Dr AbdulAzeez Olatunde on Tuesday in Ibadan.

Olatunde said that Makinde should have built on the security template inherited from his predecessor to sustain peace in the state.

“Sen. Abiola Ajimobi came out with the novel Operation Burst during his tenure as the state governor.

“The effort secured Oyo State people for the eight solid years and the good people of the state attested to it with accolades at the expiration of his tenure,” he said.

He said that Ajimobi demonstrated strong will as a leader with no tolerance for violence, brigandage and destruction.

“In fact, Ajimobi vowed to deal with anyone implicated in endemic and senseless conflicts which had in the past given the state a bad name.

“That was a serious government. From the above analysis, it is very clear that the Ajimobi-led government fashioned out an ingenious means of banishing crime and criminality in the state,” he said.

He said that the recent upsurge in kidnap and murder cases in the state was a sign of weakness by the government.

“Today, it is Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria that is threatening to shut down its retail outlets in the state because one of its members was affected, who is next?

“This is why we are calling all concerned to advise Makinde to assume his responsibilities and leave politicking for the future,” he said.

Chief Ugheiemhekhia Yahaya, head of the Imiakebu Community in the Etsako East Local Government area of Edo State on Tuesday , asked for N 50bn compensation for the alleged murder of five youths by a police officer , John Agaga .
Yahaya told the state Judicial Panel of Inquiry for victims of SARS and related abuses that the incident happened on December 28 , 2019 , claiming the lives of Sabo Abacha, Garuba Shaka , Sunday Augustine, Isaac John and Sunday Junior .

The Chief also asked for N 50 m compensation each for five others who were wrongfully detained at the state police command for two days .
Yahaya urged the panel to compel the police officer to release the bodies of the slain youths to their families for a befitting burial just as he called for the redeployment of Agaga from the Community as his presence there would instigate fear and may also lead to violence.

“ They have been in the morgue since December 2019 . It is the DPO that is keeping them . We want compensation for our community . Those persons have relations, and they deserve compensation” he added.

Edo State Governor , Godwin Obaseki, was on Tuesday cleared by the management of the University of Ibadan of alleged forgery of his degree certificate brought against him by the All Progressives Congress following the recently concluded governorship election in the state.
Court hearing in the matter continues today ( Wednesday ) at a Federal High Court in Abuja .
The degree certificate was confirmed to have been issued to Obaseki by the institution in 1979 after his official graduation from the school.

Abayomi Ajayi , the Deputy Registrar, Legal Affairs, University of Ibadan who testified on subpoena , told Justice Ahmed Mohammed that the governor graduated from the university on the said date.

Relevant pages of UI calendar for 1976 , admission brochure for degrees, award of diplomas and certificates and Obaseki’ s application for admission and another one for collection of his certificate from the university were tendered by the witness and admitted as exhibits by the court.
The witness maintained that from the records of the university , Obaseki was admitted as a student through direct entry in 1976 through direct entry and graduated in 1979 .

Under cross examination by counsel for the APC , Chief Akin Olujimi ( SAN) , the witness said , “ I will not regard the photocopy of the original certificate as forged, but incomplete photocopy , because the certificate of the University of Ibadan is larger than the paper upon which the photocopy was made. ”
Earlier in his evidence, an unofficial advisor to Obaseki, Charity Aiguobarueghian had admitted making the disputed photocopy of the original degree certificate for his principal .
All the original copies of certificates , were admitted as exhibits by Justice Mohammed.

The Police, on Tuesday, arraigned two officials of Oyo State government before an Iwo-Road Chief Magistrates’ Court, Ibadan, for allegedly stealing and selling 40 bags of sugar from the state’s COVID-19 palliatives.

The defendants are a 50-year-old driver, Adebiyi Azeez, and Sunday Akinleye, a 43-year-old Assistant Protocol Officer in charge of palliatives at the Ministry of local government and chieftaincy affairs.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the defendants were charged alongside a trader, one Kafayat Babalola, for allegedly receiving and buying the stolen items.

The defendants are facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, stealing and receiving stolen goods.

The Prosecutor, ASP Sunday Ogunremi, told the court that Adebiyi and Akinleye conspired to commit the offences.

Ogunremi said: “Adebiyi and Akinleye, stole 40 bags of Dangote Sugar, valued at N60,000, being COVID-19 palliatives and property of Oyo State government.

“The duo of Adebiyi and Akinleye used the official vehicle of the ministry of local government and chieftaincy affairs to convey the goods to the buyer.

“The third defendant, Mrs Kafayat Babalola, a trader at Agbeni Market, Ibadan, received the 40 bags of sugar, knowing full well that they were not for sale, being property of the state government,” said Ogunremi.

He said that the offence contravened Sections 516, 390 (9) and 427 of the Criminal Code of Oyo State, 2000.

Ogunremi stated that the offence was committed on Dec. 30, 2020 at the ministry of local government and chieftaincy affairs, Secretariat, Ibadan.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them.

The Chief Magistrate, Mr Taiwo Oladiran, granted the defendants bail in the sum of N20,000 each, with two sureties each in like sum.

Oladiran, thereafter, adjourned the matter till Feb. 8, for hearing.

The Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit today arraigned 65 offenders at the Special Offences (Mobile) Court over movement during the ‘COVID-19 Midnight Curfew’ on New Year’s Day in Lagos.

Chairman of the Agency, CSP Shola Jejeloye disclosed that the 65 offenders were arrested in Lekki, Surulere and Ikeja during a midnight enforcement operations in the early hours of January 1, 2021, as directed by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem Odumosu.

CSP Jejeloye disclosed further that 11 vehicles were also impounded for being on the road during the period, stressing that the State Government is determined to sanction any person or organisation caught breaching ‘Public Health Regulations and Protocols’ on the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the Chairman, “If we don’t do the needful, the spread of the disease will continue unabated. We must also be conscious of the fact that the new strain of the virus spreads faster than the old strain, as such the Lagos State Government will continue to insist and encourage Lagosians to obey all the COVID-19 stipulated protocols”.

He, therefore, urged the citizens to always wear face masks at all times, wash their hands with soap and running water or use hand sanitiser while practising physical distancing in compliance with the COVID-19 safety guidelines.

The Court fined the 65 offenders N20,000 each with additional one hour ‘Community Service’ after they had pleaded ‘Guilty’ to the one count charge of breaching the curfew order, while the owners of the 11 impounded vehicles were fined N50,000 each.