Category: Featured

Operatives of Ibadan Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested twenty-three (23) suspected internet fraudsters.

The internet fraudsters were arrested at Akobo area of Ibadan in Oyo State following credible intelligence linking them with suspected involvement in fraudulent internet activities.

Items recovered from them include eight exotic cars, laptops, phones and a play station game, among others.

The suspects will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.

The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) and Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) have demanded the immediate release of detained human rights lawyer Dele Farotimi and the dropping of all charges against him, including criminal defamation. In a joint statement, the groups criticized President Tinubu’s administration for “targeting journalists, activists, and human rights defenders,” calling for an end to the use of repressive laws like the Cybercrime Act to stifle dissent.

They urged the government to ensure the protection of media and civil society, respect court rulings, and repeal laws that restrict freedom of expression, emphasizing that such actions violate Nigeria’s constitution and international human rights obligations.

The groups also called on the international community to pressure Nigerian authorities to halt repression, protect media freedom, and investigate human rights violations.

The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the November 16 governorship election in Ondo State, Agboola Ajayi on Monday said he had filed a petition at the Ondo State Election Petition Tribunal against the victory of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa. This development came 24 days after the governorship poll.

The Independent National Electoral Commission declared Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress as the winner of the election, having polled a total of 366,781 votes to defeat his closest rival, Ajayi, who had 117,845 votes.

Speaking with journalists at the PDP Secretariat, Akure, the state capital, Ajayi disclosed that his legal team had filed the petition at the election tribunal, with the hope of getting justice from the court.

Three employees of ATC Nigeria Base Station, Ogijo—50-year-old Sikiru Oyedokun, 46-year-old Oladimeji Monsuru, and 33-year-old Abraham Ebenezer…

Three employees of ATC Nigeria Base Station, Ogijo—50-year-old Sikiru Oyedokun, 46-year-old Oladimeji Monsuru, and 33-year-old Abraham Ebenezer—were arraigned before the Ogun State Magistrate Court in Sagamu on Tuesday. They are accused of the fraudulent appropriation of 165,033.18 kilowatts of electricity, valued at ₦22,887,474.28, belonging to the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC).

The alleged offence occurred between September 17, 2019, and May 5, 2022, as well as from August 3, 2023, to December 5, 2024, at the ATC Nigeria Base Station site in Ogijo, located in the Sagamu Magisterial District.

The suspects face two charges: fraudulent appropriation of electricity, contrary to Section 516 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State, 2006, and unlawful diversion of electrical power, contrary to Section 400 of the same code.

The charge sheet reads:

“That you, Sikiru Oyedokun ‘M’, Oladimeji Monsuru ‘M’, Abraham Ebenezer ‘M’ and others at large between September 17, 2019, to May 5, 2022, and August 3, 2023, to December 5, 2024, at Site ID: No. OG0061, ATC Nigeria Base Station in Ogijo, Ogun State, did unlawfully conspire to commit an offence of fraudulent appropriation of electricity (power), thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State, 2006.

“That you… did wilfully and unlawfully divert electricity power to Site ID: No. OG0061, ATC Nigeria Base Station… to the quantum of 165,033.18 kilowatt-hours valued at ₦22,887,474.28, property of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 400 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State, 2006.”

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Counsel to the accused urged the court to grant bail on liberal terms, arguing that the suspects were merely employees of the company and not the owners of the base station where the alleged theft occurred.

Magistrate Olayinka Idowu granted each defendant bail set at ₦7 million, with one surety each. The sureties must reside within the state, own landed properties in the magisterial district, and provide proof of tax payment to the Ogun State government.

The case has been adjourned for trial on January 9 and 10, 2025.

The Lagos State University (LASU) has been plunged into an indefinite strike as academic and non-academic staff, under the aegis of a joint action committee, protest salary disparities and unfulfilled commitments by the Lagos State government.

The strike, involving the LASU chapters of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), is fueled by grievances over salary differences between LASU and other state-owned universities.

Obafemi Sanni, Chairman of NASU-LASU, stated that the strike was inevitable following the government’s failure to honor a 20% salary increase promised by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu during his election campaign. While civil servants at the state secretariat received the promised increment, LASU staff claim they were left out.

“They used us during the election, and despite our active contributions, they have neglected us,” Sanni lamented. He also highlighted longstanding salary disparities, noting that staff at LASU earn less than their counterparts at Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (now Lagos State University of Education) and Lagos State Polytechnic (now Lagos State University of Science and Technology), even before their transition to universities.

The unions also demand the implementation of federal agreements on a 20% and 35% salary increase for university workers. Despite several meetings with the Lagos State Ministry of Tertiary Education and the Ministry of Establishment and Training, as well as intervention efforts by LASU’s Vice-Chancellor, the unions argue that no tangible progress has been made.

Ibrahim Bakare, Chairman of ASUU-LASU, emphasized that the strike is a peaceful agitation for staff welfare, urging the government to address the demands urgently.

“All unions in LASU have united to ensure fairness and equity. We remain calm and await the government’s

The court’s decision was disclosed by the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress in the 2023 election, Omoyele Sowore, via his X handle on Monday.

“The first hurdle was crossed. #DeleFarotimi was granted bail of N50 million surety in the like sum with someone with landed property. The case was adjourned to January 29, 2025,” the tweet read.

Details later…

The Osun State’s debt profile has pitched Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Olawale Rasheed, said the debt portfolio had been reduced over the last two years following repayments by the current administration.

He dismissed a recent report suggesting that Adeleke’s government had increased the state’s debt burden and accused the APC of orchestrating the publication.

He said: “The truth remains that Osun State’s debt profile has reduced under the leadership of Governor Ademola Adeleke in the last two years. Data doesn’t lie and cannot be hidden.

“The domestic debt of Osun was N148.37bn as of December 2022, but it has now reduced to N86.06bn as of June 2024. Similarly, foreign debt as of December 2022 was $91.78m, but it has now reduced to $78.17m as of June 2024.

“What this also means in terms of figures is that Governor Adeleke has paid back N62.31bn in domestic debt and $13.61m in foreign debt. This is the burden the APC-led past administration imposed on the people of the state. If this administration didn’t inherit those debts, these amounts would have been better used for the good people of Osun State.”

The APC, however, countered the claim in a statement issued by its Publicity Secretary in the state, Kola Olabisi.

He said: “Whatever he is pushing to the public now regarding the state debt portfolio is an afterthought which cannot be relied upon.

“We didn’t cook what was published as it affects the debt portfolio of the state government under Adeleke. It is in the public domain already. Where did Olawale get his figures?”

Olabisi further accused the Adeleke administration of using the APC as a scapegoat for its alleged shortcomings.

“They can’t continue to blame us for their ineptitude.”

An elder statesman and founder of Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, has said the country is facing a deep economic crisis, thereby affecting the welfare and safety of its citizens.

Babalola, who demanded concerted efforts from stakeholders to salvage the situation, noted that the nation’s constitution is the root cause of the challenges confronting the country.

The renowned legal icon spoke in Ondo town at the weekend during the 2024 Ekimogun Day celebration, where he was decorated as the “Living Legend of 2024” and inducted into the Ondo Development Committee’s Hall of Fame by the Osemawe of Ondo, Oba Victor Kiladejo.

An elder statesman and founder of Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, has said the country is facing a deep economic crisis, thereby affecting the welfare and safety of its citizens.

Babalola, who demanded concerted efforts from stakeholders to salvage the situation, noted that the nation’s constitution is the root cause of the challenges confronting the country.

The renowned legal icon spoke in Ondo town at the weekend during the 2024 Ekimogun Day celebration, where he was decorated as the “Living Legend of 2024” and inducted into the Ondo Development Committee’s Hall of Fame by the Osemawe of Ondo, Oba Victor Kiladejo.

This recognition comes barely seven weeks after he was celebrated and October 18th was declared as “Afe Babalola Day” in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.

The nonagenarian, represented by the Vice Chancellor of ABUAD, Professor Smaranda Olarinde, called on the traditional ruler and other stakeholders in the country to join his advocacy for a new people’s constitution that would guarantee social and economic prosperity for Nigeria.

He said, “It is common knowledge that Nigeria is going through economic crises, particularly in relation to the safety and welfare of the people. When I was young, and I am talking of over 90 years ago, there was no hunger, there were no thieves, life was safe, and people could go to their forests where they had their farms both during the day and under the moonlight.

“The reason was because the constitution at that time acknowledged a direct rule system, which the colonialists made use of. What this means is that when the colonial masters came, they found that Yoruba kingdoms were so well organised under the Obas. So, they relied on the Obas for the progress of the town.

“This was why, in 1960, the Independence Constitution provided for the House of Chiefs. The chiefs were close to the people, and they were given due recognition. That has been abolished.”

“Let me give you an example of the roles of the Obas and their importance and effectiveness. Some years back, the first armed robbery took place in Ado-Ekiti. The robbers came to the National Bank in broad daylight. The Ewi of Ado-Ekiti was contacted.

“He immediately sent emissaries to all villages surrounding Ado-Ekiti and asked them to block all roads out of Ado-Ekiti, including footpaths. So, when the thieves were done, they headed out of the town, not knowing that the Oba had sent messages to all the people around Ado. They were caught on one of the narrow routes in the forest. Congratulations.