The Osun State Police Command has arrested two persons in connection with the alleged murder of a student of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Okoli Ahize Chizoputam, who was alleged of mobile phone theft.
Okoli was beaten to death by a mob on campus after he was said to have stolen a phone.
Reacting to the development, Osun Police Public Relations Officer, Yemisi Opalola commiserated with the family of the deceased over the sad incident.
ODUDUWA NEWS gathered that those arrested were undergraduates of the school.
While one was said to be the Chairman of Awo Hall Executives, the other suspect was said to be the Social Welfare Officer of the hall of residence.
Opalola said, “The Police on receiving the information, visited the hospital and it was revealed that the deceased was alleged to have stolen a phone at Awo Hall of the institution on 10/4/2023 and beaten to coma by some of the fellow students which eventually led to his death. Meanwhile, Two (2) suspects have been arrested in connection with the case and discreet investigation is ongoing.
“The Police Command, saddened by this unwarranted action sternly warned members of the public, especially students, to desist from any act of jungle justice or taking laws into their hands and follow the rules of the law by reporting any criminal activities or behaviours to the Police or other relevant authorities
A final year Student of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Okoli Chizoputam, has been beaten to death by angry mob on campus over alleged phone theft.
In a statement released by the Students Union Government, SUG, President, Folahan Festus, the student was pronounced dead on arrival at the Emergency Department of the OAU teaching hospital on Tuesday afternoon.
The release reads; “I regret to announce the death of a Part 5 student assaulted in a mob action at Awo Hall yesterday. The student was declared dead on arrival at the Emergency Medicine Department of OAU Teaching Hospital this afternoon.
“Preliminary investigations show that the deceased was accused to have stolen a phone. While we await official report from the law enforcement agencies, I must state that this incidence is a very sad one to Great Ife Students’ Union because our Union is not a Union of barbarians but that of intellectuals.
“Arrests and investigations of individuals suspected to be connected with the assault of the deceased are being made for consequent legal actions. Our Union does not support mob actions and justice must be served in this incident. Pending investigations of this unfortunate development, the activities of Hall Executive Council of Awo Hall are suspended immediately.
“What has just happened is most inhumane. Justice must be served accordingly irrespective of who is involved. Mob actions are banned and not allowed on OAU campus!
“I reassure Great Ife students that the Union is working assiduously with the school authorities and the relevant law enforcement officers to make sure that justice is meted out appropriately!”.
The indigenous students of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH under the aegis of Federation of Ogbomosho Students’ Union FOGSU have mobilized themselves to barricade the main gate of the institution.
The students trooped out today to block main access to the institution.
Recall, Oduduwa News had earlier reported how the indigenous students of the institution had threatened to embark on protest against resumption of academic activities in LAUTECH Iseyin Campus, hinging their decision on the grounds that moving Faculty of Agriculture would hinder economic progress of the zone.
It was learnt that the school exam which supposed to start today was delayed for a while until normalcy returned.
According to our source, the Management of the institution addressed the protesting students to shun violence and any act that capable of disrupting the peace and harmony of the campus.
Meanwhile, many indigenous students and youths in Oke-Ogun have reacted to the recent action of Ogbomosho students, likened it to ignorance in public display.
The coalition of Oke-Ogun youth associations have unanimously condemned such action aimed at pitching Ogbomosho against Iseyin.
The youths further stated that Ogbomosho and Oke-Ogun have enjoyed smooth relationship and that action of few shenanigans cannot bring the relationship to an end.
A notable writer and ex-Oke-Ogun student leader, Comrade Ismael Taiwo popularly known as TCOOL in his words, said the latest action of the few disgruntled element can be likened to a dance of shame by some sponsored charlatans. He said the establishment of University has a process from legislative to executive point and that those embarking on protest are bereft of ideas of how government policies work.
The indigenous students of Ogbomosho have perfected plan to mobilize themselves to protest against the kick-off of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology LAUTECH Iseyin slated to begin academic session next month.
The Union in its released made available to ODUDUWA NEWS reproduced below:
FEDERATION OF OGBOMOSO STUDENT UNION {FOGSU} LAUTECH CHAPTER
WE SAY NO TO THE MOVEMENT OF FACULTY OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES TO ISEYIN CAMPUS
CLARION CALL FOR MOBILIZATION
Combatant greetings to all gallant comrade in the house
Following the resolution of the School management and Oyo State Government concerning the movement of 200L students of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences to Iseyin campus, FOGSU LC frowns to this sabotaging act of destabilizing our growing economy in Ogbomoso.
The decision will result to incondusive, emotional and academic instability of the student, staff and other members who may be a victim of the proposed movement and further destabilize the economy of Ogbomoso land amidst other demerits.
Therefore to show our displeasure about the decision and in which we believe our voices must be heard that we’re not satisfy with the so called plan of the management and call for a re-think and re-sit of both the Oyo State Government and University management.
For this reason, Federation of Ogbomoso Student Union Lautech Chapter therefore call for a mass mobilization from all FOGSU LC union members to join to make a peaceful protest together against the resolution.
DATE: TUESDAY 11/04/2023
CONVERGING POINT: LAUTECH MAIN GATE
TIME: 7:00AM
The slow killing decision will result to nothing but a negative impact on our dear land.
WE SAY NO TO MOVEMENT OF FACULTY OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES TO ISEYIN CAMPUS!!!
We comradically seek our support and indulgence towards this economy threatening decision. We promise a peaceful protest. Thank you.
KI OGBOMOSO LE DARA…AJUMOSE GBOGBO WA NI 💪
Yours in Struggle Aare Olarinde Muyideen FOGSU PRESIDENT
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, has announced a new date for the commencement of the 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations, UTME.
The board disclosed this in a statement signed by its spokesman, Fabian Benjamin in Abuja on Sunday.
Mr Benjamin said the UTME which was earlier scheduled to commence on April 29, would now start on April 25, 2023.
He also said the board would hold its rescheduled mock-UTME on April 18, 2023.
“It would be recalled that JAMB had earlier conducted its 2023 Mock-UTME on Thursday, March 30 in 725 centres across the country.
“However, the exercise ran into some technical hitches in some centres, thereby denying some candidates the opportunity to sit for the examination.
“The board’s mock examination was designed for the purpose of testing its preparedness and that of its partners for the UTME as well as give prospective candidates the opportunity to have hands-on experience of the CBT test environment.
“It is, therefore, in order to give those candidates, who were unable to sit for the examination owing to no fault of theirs, the opportunity to take the examination that the mock examination had been rescheduled to hold on Tuesday, April 18,” he said.
He said that candidates who were present and screened for the examination but could not sit for it had been rescheduled to retake the mock examination on April 18.
Mr Benjamin, therefore, said the result of the candidates who successfully took the mock examination on March 30, had been released.
He also said the board had brought forward the conduct of its 2023 UTME which was earlier scheduled to hold from Saturday, April 29, to Tuesday, April 25.
He said the adjustment in the date of the UTME was to accommodate some other major and critical national assignments.
“By so doing, the board hopes that no citizen will be denied the opportunity of exercising their civic responsibilities.
“It should be noted that the board does not have the liberty of shifting forward its examination as other public examinations are billed to commence their exercises in the early part of May 2023.
“Yet another factor is the need to accommodate those institutions with stable academic calendar to resume as scheduled,” he added.
He said the board would continue to partner with relevant agencies of government to ensure that its candidates got the best.
He said the board also solicited the understanding of all as it delivered on its critical mandate.
ODUDUWA NEWS has gathered that a Family Court sitting in Iyaganku had ordered that four students of Eleyele Secondary School, Eleyele, Ibadan in Oyo State be remanded for allegedly raping a female colleague, who was mentally challenged.
NAN reports that the defendants are minors.
The police charged them with conspiracy and unlawful sexual intercourse.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs. Sumbo Adetuyibi, did not take their plea due to lack of jurisdiction.
Adetuyibi ordered that they should be remanded in Abolongo Correctional facility if the juvenile correctional facility at Ijokodo, Ibadan, does not accept them.
She adjourned the matter until May 11
Earlier, the Police Prosecutor, Insp Folake Ewe told the court that the students allegedly conspired together to commit the offence.
Ewe said the minors, between January and March 15, defiled a 16-year-old female colleague, who was mentally challenged.
She said the offence contravened the provisions of Section 516 of the Criminal Code and section 34 of the Oyo State Child Rights Law 2006.
The Oyo State gubernatorial candidate under the platform of Accord Party, Chief Bayo Adelabu has said that education sector in Oyo State is not adequately funded because the Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde has failed to prioritize public schools.
He alleged that the teachers in Oyo State have been writing exam questions on the blackboards against the usual printing of exam questions as obtainable in the past administration.
He said this while answering questions at the ongoing gubernatorial debate in Ibadan.
He also claimed that many public schools in Oyo State are in dilapidated state because they lack adequate infrastructures.
He however charged the Governor of the State to ensure that some of the identifiable problems in public schools are properly addressed in order to ensure that education sector performs excellently
The Senate has summoned the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Kayode Adebowale, over an alleged assault, conspiracy and victimisation of a senior female lecturer, Dr Adenike Ogunshe, of the Department of Microbiology.
The Senate, through its Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, issued the directive during a panel hearing in Abuja.
The Chairman of the committee, Senator Ayo Akinyelure, noted that Ogunshe had written a petition to the Senate, asking for reinstatement after her appointment was terminated by the institution about seven years ago.
Ogunshe, in the petition, pleaded with the Senate to compel the University authorities, to obey a court judgment that had directed that she should be reinstated.
The lecturer claimed that the termination of her appointment had deprived her of the opportunity of becoming the first female professor of microbiology in Nigeria.
She, therefore, urged the Senate to invite the Vice Chancellor and the Registrar of the University for questioning.
The committee chairman at the last panel sitting read part of her petition where it noted that Ogunshe alleged that there was a grand conspiracy against her.
Akinyelure said, “This woman alleged that there was a grand conspiracy by the University against her person; her career; her existence and human rights due to the controversial appointment of one Dr Onilude as Acting Head of the Department between 2005 and 2006.
“She requested that the Senate should look into the matter and among other things, urge the University to stop further victimization, dehumanisation, and physical assault, against her.
“She also urged us to investigate the controversial appointment of Dr Onilude as Professor at the University of Ibadan, which remains contestable. Dr Adenike A.O. Ogunshe and the authorities of the University of Ibadan were invited to appear before the Committee on December 7, 2021.
“Dr. Ogunshe appeared and made a presentation while a representative of UI, Barr. Adegoke Adekunle told the Committee that he came to request another date to enable the University to make a presentation.”
Akinyelure lamented that several invitations extended to the authorities of the University to appear before his panel had yielded no positive results.
He said the Senate might take appropriate sanctions against the Vice Chancellor if he fails to appear in person before the panel at the next panel.
The Senator added, “We are warning the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan to respect the Nigerian Senate as a critical democratic institution. This woman would have been the first professor of Microbiology in the whole of Nigeria but she was denied.
“If the authorities of the University of Ibadan fail to appear before the Senate this week and explain why this woman should not be reinstated, we would recommend sanctions against the institution.
“The woman went to court to challenge her termination of appointment and the Court voided the action of the University.
“The authorities did not appeal against the verdict or apply for a stay of execution five months after the verdict was delivered.
“The VC should respect the laws of the land by obeying the judgment of the court and reinstating the woman. Failure to do so would amount to contravening the Nigerian constitution.”
Akinyelure further explained that the sanction on the institution would include withholding of funds to the premier university.
He said, “The Senate might not hesitate to direct the Federal Ministry of Finance to stop releasing money to the authorities of the University of Ibadan to fund its 2023 budget if they fail to obey the laws of the land.
“On this note therefore, the Senate is inviting the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan to come and throw light on the actions being taken to reinstate the woman that would be the first professor of microbiology in Nigeria.”
“They used politics against her and unceremoniously, threw her out of office.
“She has been sacked now for the past seven years,” Akinyelure added.
Olona Babajide Joseph, a 300-level student of the department of Industrial Design was found hanging lifeless in his room on the 21st of January, 2023, UCJ FUTA has learnt.
Until his death, Joseph was the Financial Secretary of his department. He also had a clothing brand called ‘Tart Angles.’
Speaking with Omoniyi Enoch, his close friend and neighbour. He shared with UCJ FUTA what led to the suicide.
“When school resumed for the 2021/2022 session, the Treasurer of the department wasn’t around to receive payment for due. Joseph decided to receive the payments from students.
“The President requested that Joseph should send one hundred thousand naira (₦100,000) to him for a departmental project. Joseph sent it using his digital bank — Carbon. He was debited but the President didn’t receive the payment.
“Several mails were sent to the bank but the issue wasn’t resolved. Due to that, he was so pressured about it and everyone secluded him. He hasn’t attended lectures since we got back from the Christmas break because of the pressure.” Enoch explained.
“Yesterday morning, I went to get my phone from Joseph because his phone is faulty and we both shared my phone. He informed me that his HOD called his daddy and said he engaged in fraud. He was very disturbed about it. He requested to follow me to my office at the Students’ Union Building (SUB) because he didn’t want to stay alone. I left him at the office to attend the homecoming event that held at T.I Francis auditorium and also watched the Awopegba match.
“When I got back to the office, he had already locked the office door. He came back to give me the keys and left. When I got home, I forced him to eat. At 7:40pm, I knocked his door but he didn’t open. I left thinking he was still angry with me for leaving him at the office. At 8:30pm, I knocked again but there was no response. At 10:01pm, I tried again but there was no response and I went to sleep.
“This morning, I went to knock around 8am but there was no response. I had to go and check through his window and I saw him hanging from the ceiling.” He concluded.
ODUDUWA NEWS has obtained a video where some primary school pupils in Oyo State were seen chanting political songs at the assembly ground
Meanwhile, people have begun reacting to the viral video circulating online where some teachers of one of the primary schools in Ibadan, Oyo State had turned assembly ground to a PDP campaign rally.
One of the leading teachers who wore a face cap with inscription of ‘Governor Seyi Makinde for second term’ (GSM 4+4) was seen telling the pupils to be chanting PDP solidarity songs and to deliver such message to their respective parents and guardians.
Meanwhile, as at the time of reporting, Oyo State Government has not released a statement on it.
