Category: Featured

The father of the WAEC candidate shot in Ibadan on Wednesday, Mr Odunayo Alade, has revealed the reasons for not stopping when the police tried to block his way.

In a press interview today, he made it known that his son, Kehinde Alade, had an exam by 8:30am and if he had stopped, the police officers would have delayed his son.

He stated that he wasn’t aware that they were trying to stop him till they hit his vehicle.

“You know how Nigerian government works, once you fall into their traps. Moreover, the elder brother of the deceased was having 8:30 paper yesterday and if I should stop, they would have delayed the bóy, that’s why I had to maneuver my way”

He made it known that he wasn’t aware his són had been shot till his twin brother raised the alert.

“After I left them, I just heard a gún shot, I didn’t stop. Then the boy in question was shouting Daddy, I even shouted at him that we had left the police already till his twin brother told me that he had been shot. I parked, brought him out and the place was soaked with blood.

“I didn’t know they were still coming after me and immediately I saw them, I hijacked one of them.”

Further speaking on the aspiration of his son, he said he wanted to become a lawyer.

“He was telling me last week that he would like to be a lawyer when he grows up.”

The escape occurred in the early hours of Tuesday following a heavy overnight rainfall, which caused the collapse of a section of the facility’s perimeter wall.

Seven inmates escaped from the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Ilesa, Osun State, after a section of the facility’s old perimeter wall collapsed during heavy rainfall around 2:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 20, 2025.

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has however launched a manhunt to recapture the fugitives. Controller General Sylvester Nwakuche has ordered a full investigation and is working with security agencies and community leaders.

This incident adds to a worrying trend, similar prison breaks happened in Maiduguri and Suleja following extreme weather, raising concerns over the fragile state of Nigeria’s correctional infrastructure.

The Nigerian Correctional Service has released the identities of inmates who escaped from Osun prison. Photos below.

Oyo State has just gotten new federal tertiary institution as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR today signed into law the bill for the establishment of Federal University of Agriculture and Technology, Okeho.

President Tinubu gave an assent today at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The age-long dream of the people of Oke-Ogun on the creation of federal university has today come to a reality.

Details later.

JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, has rejected calls for his resignation over challenges during the 2025 UTME, saying critics lack the credibility to question his leadership. “Truck pushers cannot direct pilots,” he said at a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja.

The South-East Caucus of the House of Representatives had demanded his resignation, but Oloyede stood firm, announcing a mop-up exam for about 5.6% of candidates who missed the UTME. “We are creating a new mop-up. Even those who missed the earlier exam due to absence will be given another opportunity. It’s not extraordinary. In any academic setting, makeup exams are normal.”

He dismissed allegations of ethnic bias: “People say, ‘Where is he from?’ That never mattered to me. I’ve worked with people based on their competence, not their ethnicity. The idea that this is a conspiracy is baseless.”

Oloyede stressed that UTME is a placement test, not a measure of intelligence. “UTME ranks candidates for available spaces in tertiary institutions. It is not the final measure of a student’s intelligence or future.”

He spoke emotionally about the s+icid£ of 19-year-old Opesusi Timilehin over a low score. “That tr+gedy broke all of us. Unfortunately, there were also false reports—some parents called me pretending their children had d+ed, only to ask for money later.”

He admitted he considered stepping down: “When this happened, my first reaction was to resign. But people advised me that the students will never forgive you—it would appear as though you abandoned them in their moment of need.”

While he didn’t comment on when the rescheduled results would be released, JAMB has assured they will be out soon. Oloyede ended with a call for unity: “Let us not descend to the level of opportunists exploiting challenges for personal or political gain. We will fix what went wrong and continue to build an examination system Nigeria can be proud of.”

Oyo State governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will continue to identify with the Nigerian masses and their aspirations despite the gale of defection that has hit the party.

The governor stated this on Wednesday, at the official inauguration of the newly elected PDP South West zonal executive members held at the party’s zonal secretariat, Soji Adagunodo House, Old Ife Road, Ibadan.

Makinde, who added that the 2027 election would be determined by hungry Nigerians and not politicians, stressed that the party would not be overly bothered about members defecting to other parties.

He charged members of the party not to be discouraged by the recent cases of defection from the party to opposition parties, noting that PDP remains the only party in Nigeria with very strong institutions.

Reiterating his support for the zonal executive, Makinde said, “My brother, the Executive Governor of Osun State, has already mentioned that the two of us will support our zonal Exco so that you can deliver. I am just reaffirming that. We will support this Exco to deliver on its mandate.”

While appreciating members of the party for their steadfastness, Makinde said, “This is a demonstration of your commitment to this party, it is not about positions. And I can give you the assurance that there are still some positions coming. We are going to have the National Convention and would be asked to do one or two things. Rest assured that we will not forget you, and God will not also forget you.

“People have been asking us as leaders of this party that a lot of people are decamping, even governors, and some others are threatening to decamp and all of that. And they said, look, where is this party going?
“Well, I have good news; I said to the people that we will not be bothered until hunger has decamped to the ruling party, APC.

“The day hunger decamps, they should come and tell us and, then, we will know what to do. Because there is hunger in the land and majority of the people that are hungry would determine what 2027 would look like.

“So, don’t be bothered. If any governors like, let them decamp. We will stay with the people of Nigeria.

“I read an analysis where they said the PDP has been building strong men but not strong institutions. I beg to differ. PDP lost power at the federal level in 2015 but PDP did not die. After then, I read an article sometime around 2017 which was about PDP and its many crises in Oyo State. Despite the crises, we won election in Oyo State under PDP.

“We are here today to inaugurate the South West Executive for the PDP. How much of an institution do you still want? They may sponsor so many people against the party but don’t be discouraged, PDP is the only party in Nigeria with very strong institutions. Have you heard about APC holding South West congress? After this speech of mine, mark it, they will quickly go and do South West Congress.

“This is a party that only held NEC meeting once since the advent of this current administration. PDP’s NEC meeting, I believe the next one we are having is the 300th NEC meeting. So, PDP is the only party in Nigeria with very strong institutions.

“As leaders, we are committed to even further strengthen the institutions within the PDP. So, hold on to your party and I will repeat again that 2027 would not be APC versus PDP but APC versus the people that are hungry in Nigeria.”

Also in his remarks, the Osun State governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, who described the emergence of the new leaders of the party as a good omen in the South West, urged the newly inaugurated executive members to strengthen the party structures at all levels through inclusive practices and build the party from the grassroots so as to maintain and gain more electoral territory. He charged them to embark on aggressive peace building across the South West states and bring aggrieved members of the party together in unity.

The Olugbon of Orile-Igbon, Oba Francis Olusola Alao, has expressed his dissatisfaction to the Obaship amendment bill as recently passed by the Oyo State House of Assembly.

A statement by his media consultant, Bisi Oladele, explained that if the bill is allowed to sail through, Ibadan’s dominance on other zones would have been cemented.

“The Palace of the Olugbon of Orile-Igbon views the Council of Obas and Chiefs (further amendment) Bill 2025 brought to the Oyo State House of Assembly as a faulty political document whose consideration should be halted to give room for consultations.

“The bill is faulty and defective because there was no adequate consultation by the House of Assembly, neither was there public hearing or enquiry before it was presented and considered,” he said.

The bill earlier sought to make the Alaafin of Oyo the permanent chairman and the Olubadan of Ibadan and Soun of Ogbomoso co-chairmen. The three monarchs will be concurrent chairmen but later changed to two-year rotational basis between Alaafin, Olubadan, Soun.

The controversial bill was later passed yesterday at the Plenary after amendment has been made.

Continued Olugbon: “The amendment also listed the 10 Ibadan high chiefs who are members of the Olubadan-In-Council, as members of the Council. This is an aberration in culture and tradition.

“For such an important bill that seeks to revive and do justice to the council of obas and chiefs, the key stakeholders are the traditional rulers who should have been adequately consulted before it was packaged. Besides, there should be a public hearing on the proposal.

“The actions on the bill so far clearly ignored the relevance of traditional rulers in Oyo State. It is openly based on political patronage.

“In the proposed amendment, the law further cements Ibadans’ dominance on indigenes from other parts of the state. Should the bill be passed, indigenes of Oyo, Ogbomoso, Oke-Ogun and Ibarapa zones will again become second-class indigenes in their own state, just as Ibadan indigenes have been dominating other parts of the state politically. The city has produced the governors since 1999 with the exception of the late Adebayo Alao-Akala.

“While there is need for the Council to be revived and strengthened, it should not be skewed in favour of a particular zone to further dominate other zones. It should reflect fairness, justice, equity, and possess the capacity to promote peace among traditional rulers in the state.

“The Olugbon urges the lawmakers and other stakeholders to suspend work on the bill and consult widely to avoid passing a bill that will breed crisis among monarchs in Oyo State,” said the statement.

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has signaled a bold political movement that has sprung up ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Speaking at a recent event, El-Rufai revealed ongoing efforts to form a powerful political alliance aimed at challenging the current administration.

“We had a very important meeting with the coalition that we are putting together to ensure that Pres. Tinubu goes back to Lagos,” El-Rufai stated.

The comment has stirred speculation about El-Rufai’s next political steps and the details of the coalition movement.

Abdulrahman Bello, the suspected murderer of Hafsoh Lawal along with his accomplices on Wednesday appeared in court in continuation of the muder case charge against them.

In the video evidence shown in the court, Abdulrahman Bello, confessed that he killed Hafsoh Lawal because he needed human’s hands for money rituals .

He confirmed that if he had the connection of how to get such part from anywhere, he wouldn’t have gone to the extent of killing another soul personnally stressing that he carried out the evil act all alone.

The trial continued with the appearance of another witness, Inspector Ayodele Azeez attached to Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Kwara State Police Command.

He said that “on 14th February 2025, a case of murder and rape was transfered from C Division Oja-Oba to State CID. The 1st defendant of Olunlade was found with the following exihibits; one axe, cutlass, table , charms, right and left hands of the victim, consultation book, techno phone, iPhone, iPhone SR, paint rubber, container with blood, slippers and after the case has been accepted at the state CID, it was later reffered to anti-homicide and anti-robbery sections.

“The case was assigned to some team of Police officers led by ASP Dada Segun who directed me to obtain statement from the suspect and I took him to a conducive environment in a room. I asked him which language he prefer to speak and he settled from English Language and I asked him some other important questions that did he have any relative around the police command or any lawyer to witness how his statement will be recorded.”

The police personel added that, “He said No! I asked him if he need the service of any lawyer so that I can assist him to get one. He agreed that I should get him a lawyer but that he doesn’t have any money to pay for the legal service. I told him not to worry about the money.

“I eventually got him a lawyer and the lawyer agreed on how his statement will be recorded. After this, I brought out my statement sheet already cuationed. After writing his statement under caution, he signed it and after recording everything in his own hand writing in the presence of his lawyer, Barr. A.O. Ahmed.

“I told him to cross check again incase there was any ommission or need for addition to the earlier wrtitten Statement and he confirmed the there was no problem and he finally signed the statement.

“After checking the statement, my team leader ASP Dada Segun requested that the lawyer should also endorse the statement which he also did while I also signed my column too as an IPO. ASP Dada Segun also requested me to also do video recording of how the suspect signed his statement.

“I also used my Android Phone to do recording and I transfered it to my laptop and later to s Compact Disk with Certificate of compliance.”

Speaking further, Insp. Azeez said: “On 16th February 2025, team led by ASP Dada Segun left the office and went to the scene of the crime at Olunlade and a pair of ear ring belonging to Hafsoh Yetunde Lawal was found therein.”

He however confirmed all the exihibits tendered before the court as items recovered from Abdulrahman Bello’s house.

Barr. Agbede who held brief for Chukwudi Maduka, counsel to the 1st defendant objected to the admisibility of the Compact Disk by the court stressing that the suspect was coersed before making his statement while counsels to other defendant raised no objection.

Justice Hannah Olushola Ajayi however admitted the Compact Disk tendered by the witness as an exihibit and ordered that the compact Disk be played in the court room.

The witness further added that, “when the investigation started, Abdulrahman’s call log revealed that the remaining defendants were on his regular call list before the day and the very day he perpetrated the evil act.

“All of them were tracked and arrested. When we took them before Abdulrahman Bello, it was discovered that they know each other, and the 2nd defendant happens to be the teacher of Abdulrahman, the 3rd defendant his also a student of the 2nd defendant while the 3rd and 5th defendant are the closest friends of the 1st defendant.

“We carried search on their houses but nothing was recovered and we returned them back to the station.

The Nigerian Police Force, Oyo State Command has reacted to the report on the death of a student who was hit by stray bullet fired by one of its officials yesterday.

The Police said the father of the deceased drove recklessly and hit OYRTMA and Police vehicles to Evade Arrest which led to the tragic incident. The Police made this statement through its Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso as reproduced below:

RE: FATAL TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT INCIDENT INVOLVING OYTMA AND POLICE PERSONNEL.

The Oyo State Police Command regrets to inform the general public of a tragic incident that occurred during a joint traffic enforcement operation with the Oyo State Traffic Management Authority (OYTMA), which led to the unfortunate death of a 14-year-old male, Kehinde Alade.

2. At approximately 0745 hours on May 20th, 2025, along the Airport Roundabout, Alakia-Adelubi/Airport Road, Egbeda Local Government Area, an enforcement team comprising OYTMA officers and personnel of the Oyo State Police Command attempted to stop a black Honda Accord (LAGOS registration number FST 639 JJ), driven by one Odunayo Alade,’m’ (father of the deceased young male) who was found to be driving against traffic (one-way).
   Rather than complying with lawful directives, the driver allegedly accelerated towards the enforcement team in an attempt to evade arrest, ramming into two OYTMA vehicles and a Police Buffalo Patrol truck.

3.In an effort to prevent further damage and harm to officers and other road users, barricades were set up to demobilize the fleeing vehicle. However, the driver reportedly broke through these barricades, continuing to drive recklessly and endangering lives.

4.Given the nature of the driver’s conduct, officers suspected possible criminal activity or a case of abduction. A police chase ensued. In an attempt to immobilize the vehicle, a police corporal discharged a firearm aimed at the tyres. Tragically, the bullet missed and struck Kehinde Alade ‘m’, who was seated in the rear seat behind the driver. He was immediately rushed to the University College Hospital (UCH), where he was confirmed dead on arrival. The deceased’s body has been deposited at the Adeoyo State Hospital mortuary for autopsy and preservation.

5.To forestall any threat to public peace, the Commissioner of Police, CP Johnson Adenola, psc, immediately deployed tactical and intelligence units, including the Police Mobile Force (PMF), to the scene and other strategic locations in Ibadan. This swift response restored calm, ensured public safety, and allowed for normal activities to resume.

6. The Commissioner of Police has ordered a comprehensive investigation into the incident, to be led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID). The officer responsible for the discharge of the firearm has been taken into custody and, along with other members of the team, is cooperating fully with the ongoing investigation. The Command assures the public that the process will be transparent and the findings made public.

7.The Oyo State Police Command extends its deepest condolences to the family of Kehinde Alade. The Command remains resolute in its commitment to upholding justice and ensuring accountability. Further updates will be communicated as the investigation progresses.

8.In cases of emergency, the Command can be contacted through the Oyo State Call Response Center: 615 or call any of the following Oyo State Police Command Control Room Numbers: 08081768614, 09054133071, and 09061299291.

E-SIGNED
CSP OSIFESO ADEWALE mnipr
Police Public Relations Officer
For: Commissioner of Police
Oyo State Command