Author: oduduwanews

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Yam thief: People protest ‘death sentence judgement’ in Ekiti

An Ekiti State high court, Ado Ekiti division, has sentenced a 26-year-old man, Dele Ojo, to death by hanging for murder.

The judge, Abiodun Adesodun, while delivering the judgment on Monday, said the accused was guilty of the offence.

“The circumstances of this case doesn’t allow for recommendation of clemency to the governor on behalf of the accused,” he said.

“Therefore, the defendant is hereby sentenced to death by hanging.

“May the Lord have mercy upon his soul.”

The offence was committed on September 13, 2018, at Iroko Ekiti in Ijero LGA of Ekiti State.

Mr Ojo was accused of murdering one Ajayi Adewole, contrary to Section 319 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap.C16, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.

During the trial, a witness, who was with the deceased when he was killed said the accused had been stealing the yams of the deceased for a long time in the farm.

He said on the fateful day, they laid wait at the farm to arrest the thief.

he alleged thief, however, turned to the yams in the farm and started uprooting them, the witness added.

“Mr Adewole, who was the farm owner, identified him and shouted his name, but he reacted by shooting him at a close range,” the witness said.

Mr Adewole was later rushed to Ijero Ekiti Specialist Hospital where he was confirmed dead.

The prosecutor, Wale Fapohunda, who is also the state attorney general, while proving the case, called four witnesses, including the Investigating Police Officer and a medical doctor.

Other exhibits tendered include a dane gun, photographs of the deceased, five tubers of yam, accused confessional statements among other documents.

Meanwhile, social media has been awashed with series of condemnation as some Nigerians have been showing concerns by condemning the death sentence judgement.

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Lagos commences removal of structures on right of way

The Lagos State Government has commenced the removal of structures encumbering the Right of Way (ROW) on the Lekki Regional Road.

The development was disclosed by the Honourable Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Idris Salako, at a stakeholder meeting in Alausa, on Monday, where he noted that the removal became necessary to pave way for the smooth execution of the project.

He recalled that the Ministry had taken its time to go through the due process of stakeholder-engagements and the service of statutory notices to owners of affected structures as expressed in the newspaper publication of June 16, 2020.

Urging owners and occupiers of identified structures to cooperate by moving out of the approved Right of Way of the Regional Road, Salako revealed that the commenced process of establishing the Right of Way of the road is a strong indication of the government’s determination to execute the project in earnest.

He reiterated that the Lekki Regional Road is a major road being embarked upon by the Lagos State Government to facilitate the transportation and socio-economic development in line with the T.H.E.M.E.S agenda.

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Leaking Subjects: WAEC warns students to be wary of scammers

The West African Examinations WAEC has released a statement to warn students to be wary of scammers who are all out to defraud them of their parents’ hard earned money under the disguise of helping them to secure the purported leaked subjects of WAEC.

The statement was made known by the Spokesman of WAEC yesterday to the PRESS men. The statement further reads: “our attention has been brought to some fake leaked subjects of the ongoing senior school certificates examination being circulated on social media. It must be said without mincing words that the said leaked subjects are fake and do not emanate from WAEC.

Students are hereby warned to be wary of scammers as no shortcut in passing WAEC other than studying hard.

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Lagos alerts residents to prepare for more rains in September

The Lagos State Government, over the weekend, alerted residents on impending heavy rainfall from the end of August, saying it is intensifying measures to minimise the effects on Lagosians.

Addressing the press at Alausa, the Honourable Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tunji Bello said work is ongoing on more than 200 secondary channels with over 80 percent at various stages of completion, just as 46 primary channels are presently receiving attention.

He disclosed that the ongoing projects are in addition to the continuous work of the Emergency Flood Abatement Gang (EFAG) deployed round the State to undertake quick fix to free manholes or clogged drains manually.

The Commissioner averred that one of the new measures put in place to combat flash flooding is the provision of pumping stations, with a pilot model being planned for Ilubirin in Lagos Island, explaining that the stations will promptly pump out of the water from flooded neighbourhoods to reduce the risk of damages to property.

Bello said major flood-prone areas in the State that are natural buffers to the lagoon, like Isheri and its environs, Owode, Agboyi-Ketu, will also benefit from the initiative.

In his words: “For a coastal city like Lagos, once it rains consistently for a minimum of eight hours, we are bound to have flashflood caused by the increasing inability of effective discharge into the lagoon which is brought about by a rise in the ocean level”.

“This will automatically lock up all our drainages and until the water level goes down, the drainages would be unable to discharge. This is what happens in most coastal cities around the world, including those who have adopted the best of technological advancements to curtail flooding”, he added.

Relying on data from the Nigerian Hydrological Services, Bello said the months of July, August, September and October, also known as ‘JASO’ months, signify heavy rainfall, flooding and flood disasters in most parts of the country.

He reiterated that while States like Ogun and Ekiti suffer from urban and river flooding, Lagos is at the receiving end of three types of flooding – coastal, urban and river flooding because of the peculiarity of its location.

Disclosing that the management of the Ogun-Osun River Basin Authority has also commenced the staggered release of water from the Oyan Dam, with eight to 10 Million cubic metres being released in August, Bello said the volume will increase to 18 million in September and 23 million cubic metres in October which is the peak.

While appealing to residents of low-lying areas that are contiguous to the Ogun River to be alert to the possibility of their homes being flooded as water is released from the dam, the Commissioner urged residents to adopt an attitudinal change of not dumping refuse in drainage channels and erecting structures on drainage alignments, vowing to prosecute offenders.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Drainage and Water Resources, Engr. Joe Igbokwe, maintained that the effort to contain flood is the responsibility of everyone and should not be left to the government alone.

He enjoined Lagosians to collaborate with the State Government by cleaning the drainages in their frontages and desisting from indiscriminate dumping of refuse in unauthorised places.

“I would like to appeal to Lagosians to always play their part in the cleaning of the environment. This must be a collective effort, so residents should ensure they take responsibility for what is going on around them”, Igbokwe said.

He sounded a note of warning to those engaging in these unwholesome acts to desist, saying that the Ministry has empowered its environmental enforcement agents to arrest and prosecute sanitation offenders in Lagos.

Igbokwe, however, enjoined residents to report all cases of drainage blockages, dumping of waste into canals and other unauthorised places to the appropriate authority, noting that “by so doing you are complementing the State Government efforts on the environment”.

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COVID-19 Rules: Court Fines Naira Marley N200,000, To Tender Public Apology To FG

Yesterday, the Lagos Police Command arrested a popular Musician, Azeez Fashola popularly known as Naira Marley and was immediately charged to Court for violating COVID-19 rules in Lagos.

Meanwhile, Court Slams N200,000 fine on him today for breaching coronavirus guidelines.

A four-count charge was brought against the artiste by the prosecuting team, which he denied.

The presiding magistrate, Idayat Akanni, who handed down the sentence, ordered Naira Marley to pay N50,000 on each of the four counts brought against him.

He was also mandated to publish a public apology to the Federal Government of Nigeria in a national newspaper.

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Dele Adesina SAN petitions BoT, calls recently held NBA election a sham

In the extract of a petition letter sent to the BoT by one of the candidates that contested in the recently held NBA election, Mr. Dele Adesina SAN calling for the cancellation of the election.

Mr. Adesina said “My fraternal greetings and profound respect to the Chairman and other members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Board of Trustees.

I send this Petition to you with all sense of responsibility and in appreciation of the motto of the NBA which is – “Promoting the Rule of Law” – with a clarion call that you rise up and save our beloved Association. In writing this Petition, please I beseech you to have attention to the following fundamental observations as regards my person:

I am writing this Petition because of my heartfelt desire to redeem the image and integrity of our Association that is consistently being beaten and battered every two years by electoral fraud.

b) The NBA as a generational Association is supposed to be and is presumably composed by men and women of honour, honesty and integrity. These ethical values have to be exhibited by the Association at all times. Please recognise that these ethical values are not just in words only, they are in consistency of actions.


It is against the foregoing background that I am compelled to present this Petition to the Trustees with a view to letting you know that the conduct of the NBA Election of July 29-30, 2020 is not only a violation of all the known values of our Profession but is also capable of bringing disgrace and dishonour to the Association and the Legal Profession in general and I will be urging your Body to take a stand with respect, promptly.”

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Makinde Appoints Hospital Mgt, Primary Health Care Boards’ Chairmen, Two Others

Oyo State governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, has appointed a former Commissioner for Health in the state, Dr. Gbola Adetunji and a former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abiodun Dada Awoleye as chairmen of the Hospital Management Board and Primary Health Care Board respectively.

The governor equally appointed a former member of the House of Assembly, Honourable Babatunde Amidu Eesuola as chairman of the Community and Social Development Agency, while Mr. Ademola Aderinto has been appointed Special Assistant on Environment.

A statement by the Special Assistant (Print Media) to Governor Makinde, Moses Alao, made the appointments public on Thursday.
The appointments, according to letters signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Olubamiwo Adeosun, are with immediate effect.

The governor charged the new appointees to see their appointments as a call to serve the state.

Dr. Adetunji, a two-time Commissioner for Health in Oyo State, who served between 1995 and 1997 and 1999 to 2003, is a Consultant Orthopedic Surgeon of 37 years standing, graduated with M.B.B.S. from the University of Ibadan Medical School in 1973.

He underwent postgraduate trainings at the University of Lagos Teaching Hospital, UCH Ibadan, Nuffield Orthopedic Centre, Oxford United Kingdom and graduated as Fellow of Medical College of Surgeons (Nigeria) in 1983.

He has held various positions as Surgical Registrar, Senior Registrar Surgery spanning these training institutions. Also worked as Consultant Orthopedic Surgeon at Ring Road Specialist Hospital 1983 to 1986, and as Associated Lecturer/Consultant Orthopedic Surgery at UCH, Ibadan from 1990 to 1994.

He has equally served as a member of the Board of LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Osogbo as well as chairman of the Board of the National Orthopedic Hospital, Igbobi (2013 to 2015).

The newly-appointed chairman of the Primary Health Care Board, Hon. Awoleye was elected as a member of the Oyo State House of Assembly in 2007 and went on to serve two terms as a member of the House of Representatives, representing Ibadan North Federal Constituency between 2011 and 2019.

He holds a Higher National Diploma (HND) certificate in Electrical/Electronics Engineering and underwent training as a Biomedical Engineering Technician with Banji Abayomi Akinsola Technical Services (BAATS), Ibadan, before establishing Lincoln Labo-Clinical Services in 1999, which later transformed to Seal Electro-Medical System Limited in 2003, a company which he chairs till date.

Hon. Awoleye was at different times a member of the House of Representatives Committees on Telecommunication, Health, Army, and HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Control.

He is a Fellow of the National Association of Technologists in Engineering as well as a Fellow of Chartered Institute of Project Managers of Nigeria and is presently pursuing a Master’s degree in Engineering Management, Project Management option, at the Industrial Engineering Department at the Premier University of Ibadan.

Hon. Eesuola, who was appointed as the chairman of CSDA, hails from Atiba Local Government of Oyo.

He studied Political Science/Education at the University of Ibadan and also holds a Master’s degree in Social Welfare and Adult Education, while also pursuing a Ph.D. in Community Development also at the University of Ibadan.

He served as a member of the Oyo State House of Assembly between 2003 and 2007; Special Adviser on Legislative Affairs (2009 to 2011) and member, University of Ilorin Governing Council (2009 to 2013).

He is a member of the International Community Development Association, Nigeria Community Development Association, Transparency International and Amnesty International.

The new Special Assistant on Environment, Aderinto attended Loyola College, Ibadan in the late 90s before proceeding to The Polytechnic, Ibadan where he obtained a certificate in Civil Engineering.

He also holds a second degree in Construction Project Management at the University of Ibadan and has featured in several construction projects in several parts of the country.

Aderinto has several certifications and trainings on environmental concerns, humanitarian and facilities management, occupational safety, community planning, performance management, Health, Safety and Environment, Project Management among several other interests, and has strengths and proficiencies he has drawn from several institutions within and outside Nigeria.

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Abuja Concert: Naira Marley Arrested in Lagos, Charged to Court

The popular singer, Afeez Fashola has been arrested by the Lagos State Police Headquarters.

he controversial artiste left Lagos for the Federal Capital Territory for a concert on Saturday, July 13.

The concert, which held at the Jabi Lake Mall, drew public outrage.

The government thereafter shut down and mall and stopped the operation of the airline whose plane he chartered.

The Inspector-General of Police was said to have ordered Naira Marley’s arrest.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Bala Elkana, said Naira Marley presented himself at the command headquarters on Thursday.

“We are in court as we speak. He will be arraigned for violating the interstate travel order. That is the aspect that concerns Lagos State,” he added.

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Osun Governor Flags Off Post COVID-19 Intervention Programme

In a statement released today, the Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola was quoted below:

“As part of efforts to mitigate the negative impact of COVID-19 on the economy and means of livelihood of our people, I, this afternoon, flagged off the Osun Post Covid-19 Intervention Programme, with about 2,000 people set to be empowered under the pilot phase.

Under this Intervention programme, 15,000 jobs will be generated annually both directly and indirectly. We’ve also provided the sum of N100m to be disbursed as seed loans to beneficiaries under this programme through the Bank of Industry (BOI).

Additionally, we have partnered the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) to conduct entrepreneurial development training for all the beneficiaries to ensure that the desired objective of the programme is achieved.

The launching of the Post Covid-19 Intervention Programme is a testament to the resolve and capacity of our Administration to respond to virulent challenges in the way of our electoral promises and governance. Our commitment to the welfare of our people remains resolute even in this tough period.

I appeal to beneficiaries of this Programme to make judicious use of the opportunities it offers for their individual and collective benefits. As they do so, the nets of empowerment are widened, and the State and its partners are encouraged to offer more opportunities, & poverty & hunger are progressively banished from our State.”

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Oyo Teaching Applicants To Write CBT On Tuesday – TESCOM Chairman

…Warns Private School Owners on Illegal Fees

Oyo State government has announced the readiness of the State’s Teaching Service Commission (Oyo TESCOM) to conduct computer-based test (CBT) for all candidates applying for teaching appointment, starting from Tuesday 11th August, 2020.

The Chairman, Oyo TESCOM, Pastor Akinade Alamu stated this on a radio programme in Ibadan on Thursday while answering questions pertaining to developments on the State’s teaching appointment.

Alamu had recently informed the general public that all applicants for the teaching appointment would have to upload their credentials to the State’s website to allow for equal participation and open process.

He said the examination would run through the week from 7am till 6pm except on Sunday, reiterating the fact that whoever that could not upload his or her credentials to TESCOM’s portal before Tuesday should not bother to write the test.

“The examination will be starting on Tuesday, 11th August, 2020 and will run through the week till Saturday, they will be starting daily from 7am till 6pm and the results will be communicated to the applicants through the email they put in their registration and through SMS.

“No applicant’s complaints will be attended to at the CBT centers, if anybody has complaints, let them come to the TESCOM office, we wish them the best in the examination.”

Alamu hailed the State administration’s resolve to conduct computer-based examination for all candidates applying for teaching appointment in the State, as according to him, the move has portrayed the government as being open in all its governance processes.

Reacting to the issue of private school owners demanding a quarter of school fees for periods students were at home due to Covid-19 pandemic from their students, the TESCOM Chairman said the private schools ought to have consulted with parents and other stakeholders before deciding on such.

He asked the private school owners concerned to see the effects of covid-19 as that which affected them and parents as well, urging them to desist from charging the students without appreciating the consequence of the current situation on the financial strength of individual home.

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