Category: News

Mustapha Balogun, a former Inspector-General of Police (IGP), is dead. Family sources confirmed the death of Balogun, who became IGP in March 2002.

Born on August 8, 1947 at Ila-Orangun in Osun State, Tafa Balogun, was the 21st Inspector-General of Police. He was a member of cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Course 3. Having worked in various Police commands throughout the federation, and earning his promotions as at when due, Tafa, was at a time, the Principal Staff Officer (PSO) to former Inspector-General of Police, Muhammadu Gambo, Deputy Commission of Police Edo State, the pioneer Commissioner of Police in Delta State. He was also CP in Rivers and Abia states.

Tafa, a fellow of the premier highest military institution in Nigeria, the National War College, later became the Assistant Inspector General of Police A.I.G Zone One, Kano, from where he was named the 21st IGP of Police on March 6, 2002.

His infamous trial drew global attention in 2005. On April 4, 2005, Tafa Balogun was arraigned at the Federal High Court, Abuja for stealing and laundering of over $100 million in his three years as Inspector General of Police from the Police treasury.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) under Nuhu Ribadu brought 70 charges against him, covering the period from 2002 to 2004 when he was the Inspector General of Police. He made a plea bargain with the Court in exchange for returning of most of the properties and money. He was sentenced to six months in jail.

Judge Binta Nyako said her sentence reflected that Balogun was a first offender and had shown remorse. He was directed by the Court to pay N500, 000 on each of eight counts charges totaling N4 million.

His trial was full of drama. One of such was when he collapsed on his seat on June 29, 2005, at the Abuja High Court.

The former police boss, who pleaded guilty to eight of the 56 count-charges directly affecting him, was convicted and sentenced to six months in each of the charges, which is however to run concurrently.

He was released on February 9, 2006 after serving his sentence, part of it at Abuja’s National Hospital.

Governor ‘Seyi Makinde and the Minister of Industry, Trades and Investment, H.E. Adeniyi Adebayo on Thursday launched a new ride-hailing service in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

Codenamed: ‘AFRICAR’, the ride-hailing service was launched at a well-attended ceremony with over One-Hundred and Fifteen vehicles.

Speaking at the event, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State appreciated AFRICAR, noting that choosing Ibadan as its first base in ride-hailing service, attests to the business-friendly atmosphere for investors, made possible by his administration.

Governor Makinde said the introduction of the service into Ibadan is in line with his administration’s goal to invite new investors into the State.

Governor Makinde, who spoke through his Chief of Staff, Mr. Segun Ogunwuyi, also said he is delighted to witness another demonstration of his administration’s commitment to make life comfortable for residents of the State.

“I am very delighted to be at the event of today which is a further demonstration of our administration’s commitment to making life comfortable for our people and thereby improving the socio-economic activities of the citizenry and the state at large”, he said.

Noting that transportation is evidently important for economic activity and social life in a state, the Governor added that the current economic status of Oyo State is due to many factors, chief among these factors is the development and continuous improvement of our public transport system.

“The State has witnessed and as a matter of fact still witnessing a tremendous growth in the Transport sector since the inception of this Administration in the areas of Transport Infrastructures and procurement of Vehicles for Mass Transit”, he said.

Makinde said as part of his administration’s efforts to improve the transportation sector in the State, he has purchased 109 buses for mass transit tagged ‘Omituntun Bus Mass Transit’.

He also said he has constructed four (4) Bus Terminals at Iwo road, Challenge, and Ojo to ease commuting in the State capital.

Congratulating Stallion Group, owners of AFRICAR, the Governor expressed hope that the launch will birth more interesting fruits as the Group collaborates with his Government for the well-being of the people of Oyo State.

Also speaking, the Minister for Industry, Trade and Investment, H.E. Niyi Adebayo appreciated Stallion Group, a home-grown conglomerate, commending them for adding value to the economy of the country for the past 52 years.

The Minister also thanked Governor Seyi Makinde for the welcoming environment that has been provided to Africar.

He added that Africar’s platform has the potential to transform the transportation industry in the state, providing both employment opportunities and low-cost rides.

According to the CEO, AFRICAR, Mr. Sahil Vaswani, all of the cars being used for this project are assembled in Lagos at Stallion Group’s Von Plant.

He said Africar, in Partnership with the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), has developed the Bajaj Qute cars used for the new ride hailing taxi.

“This car is assembled in Nigeria by Nigerians and is environmentally friendly, with 50% lower carbon emissions than the average car”, he said.

The event was also attended by the State Commissioner for Works and Transport, Prof. Daud Sangodoyin, who hailed the infusion of a new ride-hailing service into the transportation system in the state.

Other dignitaries at the event were the top Government functionaries and the Executives of AFRICAR.

The Western Security Outfit Amotekun in Oyo state has intercepted a truck containing not less than 150 travelers and some items.

It was gathered that the truck which was heading to Ogere in Ogun state from Zamfara was intercepted around Bodija market in Ibadan after suspicious observers raised an alarm and alerted relevant security agencies.

The Oyo state Amotekun who quickly intervened brought the truck to its base, where it did a thorough search and found some food items and luggage belonging to the travelers.

The Special Assistant to Oyo state Governor on Arewa Ahmed Murtala confirmed that the persons were just mere travelers who were on their way to Ogun state.

Ahmed who revealed that the travelers would be sent back to their states assured Residents in the state that the state Government would continue to prioritise the security of lives and property in the state.

The truck had on transit, one hundred and thirty four males and six females as about ten of them were said to have escaped into the market

It has just been confirmed to ODUDUWA NEWS that Opadele RACHAEL a 500 level Student of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho, LAUTECH who was kidnapped last week at a hotel in Abaa community has been killed this morning alongside with the hotelier, Mr. Olugbenga Owolabi, the owner of Tana Suites Ogbomoso after the collecting a ransome of Five Million Naira.

In addition, an Okada rider who also took his family member to an unknown location for the ransom payment also perished, leaving his passenger hurt.

The victims were taken last week in the Abaa locality, and the kidnappers demanded 100 million Naira.

According to the Police, eight suspects have been detained in relation to the abduction of Dr. Abdulrasheed Oladoye and the farm manager of Alao Akala.

A family source hinted that after negotiation the family arranged N5m which was taken to the bandit on Tuesday and confirmed by them after which the victims were shot, the person who conveyed the money to them was also shot but he was lucky to escap.

It was also gathered that the Police have deposited the corpse at a morgue while the person who sustained injury is recieving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.

A resident of Abaa community told our reporter that residents are already protesting against the insecurity and have blocked major road leading to the place.

The Police Public Relation Officer in Oyo state Adewale Osifeso when contacted promised to confirm and get back to our us.

TV Broadcaster Hit With N75,000 Fine For Traffic Offense
Rufai Oseni, a well-known TV personality, was fined 70,000 for a driving offence in Lagos.

The update was made public on Tuesday by Benjamin Hundeyin, spokesman for the Lagos State police command.

Due to his allegations that a police officer brandished a gun at him for using a designated bus lane, Oseni was trending on social media on Monday.

According to Hundeyin’s report, “Earlier today, Mr. Rufai Oseni appeared in court. He was determined to have broken the Lagos State Transport Law (2018). He was then assessed a fine of 70,000 Naira. After making the payment, he received access to his car.

It was indeed a gory sight in Ado Ekiti as a yet to be identified young man died in a lone accident. The incident occurred around Opposite Ado Grammar School, Nur & Pry, Odo Ado Ado Ekiti.

Witnesses said the deceased was driving from Ijigbo area before his vehicle lost control and Summersalted

The vehicle was said to have landed on his head and scattered his brain. His brain was said to have flipped out.

A phone was found in his hand which suggests that he was making a phone call before the incident. Police officers also visited the spot to unravel the mystery behind the accident.

The hike in the price of diesel is taking its toll on Nigerians, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo and his agric business.

This is as Obasanjo lamented the high cost of diesel, feeds and exchange rate crisis as they affect fish production in Nigeria.

Chief Obasanjo said he has been sweating because of the high cost of diesel, saying this has been affecting his fish production.

Speaking at the Southwest fish farmers’ congress held Tuesday at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), the Balogun Owu complained that the hike in the cost of diesel, as well as the constant increase in prices of fish feeds, would kick fish farmers out of business.

To avoid this, Obasanjo said the only way is for them to come together to agree on sustainable prices that could be adopted to keep them in business.

According to him, farmers cannot be producing at the mercy of the buyers who would come around to buy the fish for whatever amount that suited them without considering the effect of the harsh economy on the production of fish.

He maintained that with the current price of diesel at N800 per litre, the production of a kilogram of fish is N1,400; he said the farmers cannot sell such fish for less than N1,500 as anything short of that amounts to “outright loss.”

“The price of diesel has gone high because the management of this country is not what it should be. And it is as simple as that. Then, what will happen is that particularly those of us who have to use a bit of diesel in producing fish, we will completely go bankrupt, and when that happens, Nigerians will still have to eat fish.

“Fish production will be out of reach and then, people will be producing fish outside Nigeria and be dumping it here. And you will go jobless, poor and indigent. So, what do we have to do? To come together. We want to sustain fish production and we must be able to take care of those who are going to eat and those of us who are producing,” he explained.

Facing the farmers, he asked, “How many of you are using diesel in your production? I use diesel and I’m already sweating. I’m already sweating.”

The President of South-West Fish Farmers Price Sustainability Group, Amo Tunbosun disclosed that the Country currently consumes around 3.6 million metric tonnes of fish annually but only produces 1.12 million tonnes leaving a balance of 2.6 million tonnes to be imported.

Amo explained that one of the major challenges confronting the fish farmers is the continued increase in the prices of inputs in the production of fish and majorly the feed and the refusal of the buyers to buy the fish at a commensurate price.

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has today commissioned 16th housing project in Victoria Island.

This was contained in a statement made available today via Gov Sanwoolu’s official Twitter account as read in part:

“Today, I commissioned Point Apartments in Victoria Island. This is the 16th housing project we have delivered in the last 3 years of our administration

“This housing project is jointly developed by the Lagos State Development and Property Corporation (LSDPC) and Brook Assets and Resources Limited.

“I congratulate LSDPC and Brook Asset and Resources Limited on the successful completion of this edifice. Progress is, indeed, achievable when public and private sector enterprises come together, bringing their core strengths to the table, for the good of the entire society. This positive outcome is yet another testimony to the effective collaboration between Government and the private sector in the implementation of our agenda to provide affordable and decent housing for our people.

“I am impressed by the quality of work done by the contractor, which reflects the quality of monitoring and supervision by the LSDPC, which has sustained the high standards set long before now. We shall continue to pursue and implement this tried-and-tested model of public-private collaboration, as it has proven to be a potent strategy for keeping up with the rate of demand for housing by our rapidly increasing population”.