Category: News

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said the former governor of Kogi state, Yahaya Bello must be made to face the law as he is currently charged with money laundering, breach of trust, and the misappropriation of N80.2 billion, during his time as governor.

The anti graft agency made this known on Thursday, during an interview on News Central TV.

Speaking at the interview, Spokesman for EFCC, Dele Oyewale said they had declared Bello wanted after multiple attempts to arrest him were unsuccessful and are unaware of his current location.

THE WHISTLER had reported that the Court of Appeal, Abuja on August 20, 2024, ordered Bello to appear before it for arraignment on corruption charges brought against him by the EFCC.

Reacting to the judgement, Oyewale said “the court of appeal is just to amplify the position of the commission and also to establish the fact that we are focused concerning his matter”.

“We are collaborating with both local and international law enforcement agencies to ensure Bello’s arrest.

“As it is now, Yahaya Bello cannot come into the open. He cannot make himself available anywhere because he has become a fugitive, and we all know the instruments of the law.

Anywhere he is sighted, he would be arrested,” Oyewale said.

A 20-year-old construction worker identified as Adeshina Adewale has been accused of raping a woman in the Itori area of Ewekoro Local Government, Ogun State.

The incident reportedly took place on Wednesday, August 14, 2024, while the woman was suffering from abdominal pain.

According to reports, the victim’s mother, Abiodun Odunlami, who runs a food business in the area, had left her daughter in charge of the shop while she was away.

Due to late sales that night, the lady decided to spend the night in her mother’s makeshift room near the shop.

Adewale, a regular customer, had earlier come to the shop to buy food but was informed that it was sold out. Later that night, he returned, claiming that his company’s gate was locked and he needed a place to sleep.

The lady, trusting him as a longtime customer, gave him the key to a nearby shop.

However, at around 3 am, Adewale allegedly entered the room where the woman was sleeping and raped her.

Four days after the incident, he reportedly returned and apologised, expressing remorse for his actions.

Odunlami said, “He came to our shop to buy food, but my daughter informed him that it was sold out, so he left. Much later that night, he returned, telling my daughter that his company’s gate was locked and he needed a place to sleep.

“Since he had been a longtime customer, my daughter gave him the key to a shop near where we sleep. We had no idea he harboured ill intentions towards her. He left the shop and, at around 3 am, entered my room and raped my daughter.

“He didn’t show up until four days later and began apologising, saying he didn’t know what came over him and expressing remorse for what he had done.”

The victim’s mother further revealed that the suspect tossed her daughter with ₦2,000 after committing the crime.

Ogun State Government has declared Tuesday, August 20th, as public holiday to celebrate this year’s Isese day, in line with Dapo Abiodun-led administration’s firm belief in religious inclusivity.

According to a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Strategy, Hon. Kayode Akinmade, the work-free day will allow traditional worshippers across the State to commemorate their special day.

The statement added that Ogun State remains an exemplary federating unit with enviable level of religious cohesion and harmony, even in the face of diversity.

It, therefore, urged traditional worshippers in the state to celebrate in moderation and respect the right of others religions in the course of celebration, so as to sustain the inherent culture of religious tolerance in the State.

The statement also charged the adherents to use the special festive period to pray for peace and economic advancement in Ogun State and Nigeria at large, adding that prayers contribute immensely to the success of every nation.

The Oyo State People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed its sadness over the death of Barrister Ajiboye Isaac Omodewu, Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State. The news of his death, which occurred in the United States, was announced earlier today.

In a statement signed by the Chairman, Secretary, and Acting PRO of the PDP in Oyo State, the party described Omodewu’s passing as a colossal loss to the people of Oyo State.

The statement highlighted Omodewu’s contributions as a community leader, political figure, and commissioner who served in various ministries, including Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Physical Planning and Urban Development, and Lands, Housing, and Survey.

The PDP noted that Oyo State will deeply miss Omodewu’s departure and has directed its members to mourn and pray for the repose of his soul. The party also extended its condolences to the APC, friends, and family of the deceased during this difficult time.

According to the statement, “the loss of a loved one is a sad one, moreso a community leader, father and political figure whom many aspirations depend on and next meals come from is a loss that will continue to resonate for a long time.

” The death of Barrister Omodewu is indeed a sad one for us as his death marks the end of a political camaraderie, brotherhood and friendship but we will take solace in the fact that he lived a life of fulfilments and service to God and humanity.

” As a party, we have directed our members to mourn his loss and also enjoined them to pray for the family he left behind. We also identify with All Progressives Congress which he was their chairman until his death, we pray that God will prevent future occurrences.

It could be recall that late chairman of the APC, Barrister Isaac Omodewu and the Oyo State People’s Democratic Party chairman, Hon. Dayo Ogungbenro, hail from the same town, Otu in Itesiwaju Local Government of Oke Ogun.

Barrister Omodewu, who became the APC Chairman in October 2021, passed away at the age of 61.

Signed:
Hon. Dayo Ogungbenro
Oyo State PDP Chairman

Alhaji Wasiu Adeleke
Oyo State PDP Secretary

Mr Micheal Ogunsina
Acting Publicity Secretary
Oyo State PDP

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has issued three Exective Orders to establish two new agencies, namely: The Ogun State Mineral Resources Development Agency and The Ogun State Landscaping and Recreation Agency.

In addition to the establishment of these two agencies, the third executive order, therefore restrains monarchs from entering into any form of agreement or Memorandum of Understanding concerning mining activities or any other land matters in their domains.

A statement issued on Saturday by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Strategy, Hon. Kayode Akinmade said the three executive orders take an immediate effect.

“Executive Order One: ESTABLISHMENT OF THE OGUN STATE MINERAL RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT AGENCY. Section 5(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 vests in the Governor of Ogun State, the exercise of executive powers of the State for the purpose of effective governance. Government’s responsibilities include the security, welfare, good governance, safety, and peaceful co-existence of all persons in the State, including in business clusters such as mining communities.

“Ogun State has rich and vast deposits of mineral resources which must be explored responsibly, judiciously and without detriment to the environmental ecosystem in mining areas. NOW THEREFORE BY THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN ME AS THE GOVERNOR OF OGUN STATE UNDER THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA 1999 (AS AMENDED) PRINCE ADEDAPO OLUSEUN ABIODUN, CON, HEREBY ORDER THAT: An Agency to be known as the Ogun State Mineral Resources Development Agency is hereby established.

“The Agency shall directly or through qualified third parties, conducts and establishes working relationship with host communities and local governments for the conduct of geo-technical and geological surveys of solid mineral deposit within their domains; geo-technical survey of solid mineral deposits in the State and maintain relevant data in the Sector; organises the solid minerals sector to the best interest of the State;

“Develop and strengthen the local capacity of investors in the solid minerals sector and build value re-orientation of indigenes of the state towards engaging in solid mineral SME business; empower the youths in the state to participate in the mining business under a specified program; promote solid mineral investment within the state through prospection and exhibition; establish a data bank to document the rocks and minerals identified in the State; and conduct regular visits to mining sites to forestall environmental degradation in collaboration witha other Agencies.

“To realise its objectives, the Agency shall be funded through fees generated from regulatory agency, budgetary allocation; grants and financial intervention from both local and international development partners; as well as gifts, aid and other legitimate contributions. This Executive Order shall take effect on the day of 2024.

“Execitive Order Two: ESTABLISHMENT OF OGUN STATE LANDSCAPING AND RECREATION AGENCY. One of the current administration’s Transformation Agenda is the structure to anchor on a policy of thrust of a sustainable economy through its infrastructural renewal and poverty alleviation programmes, to restore order, and improve quality of life in the neighbourhood.

“Part of the visible evidence of the Transformation Agenda is the attraction of both Local and International commendation of the current administration’s vision in the State with regards to Tree planting, landscaping and beautification programmes in line with the International environmental standard and its vision for a flood free, hygienic and beautiful Gateway State such as to mitigate the effect of climate change. The Ministry of Environment has started a massive and aggressive tree planting campaign to complement the beautification and landscaping programs to ensure environmentally sustainable, healthier and beautiful society.

“This greening initiative of the Ogun State Government is therefore conceived not just to beautify the environment but also to be experienced as an effort to mitigate the effect of Climate change, save the environment and protect our future which is aimed at reclaiming open spaces from all agents of environmental degradation.

“There is, therefore, the need to create the Ogun State Landscaping and Recreation Agency, to sustain the modest achievement of the Ministry of Environment in the area of environmental regeneration and restoration and through the provision of Parks, Gardens and Recreational Centres State-wide to preserve the biodiversity and ecosystem of the environment.

“THEREFORE, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN ME BY THE CONSTITUTION AS THE GOVERNOR OF OGUN STATE, I HEREBY ORDER AS FOLLOWS; ESTABLISHMENT OF THE OGUN STATE LANDSCAPING AND RECREATION AGENCY.

“The Agency shall: Administer, maintain and manage all designated parks and recreation centres in the State; carry out the general directives and policies of the government in respect of the development, maintenance and management of parks, recreation centres, gardens, playing grounds and open spaces in the State; Grant permits on the payment of the prescribed fees in any of the open spaces in the Parks or Gardens managed by the Agency; charge appropriate fees for the use of facilities provided where necessary in the State’s Parks and Gardens; regulate the hours of use of the open spaces in the State Parks or Gardens by members of the public.

“Provide and maintain adequate security and environmental sanitation facilities for the State Parks, Gardens, Open Spaces and Recreation Centres; enumerate and tag all trees within the State inclusive of those private tenements; monitor and supervise pruning and felling of trees within the State; advise on all matters relating to the greening programmes of the State; cause fund for the maintenance of Parks and Gardens; carry out such other assignment as may from time to time as directed by the Governor.

“For the purpose of realizing its objectives, the Ogun State Landscaping and Recreation Agency shall be funded through any or all of the following means: Budgetary allocation; Monies received for services rendered; Grants and financial intervention from both local and international development partners; as well as Gifts, aids and other legitimate contributions.

“Executive Order Three: BARRING TRADITIONAL RULERS IN THE STATE FROM ENTERING INTO ANY FORM OF MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH REFERENCE TO MINING OR ANY OTHER LAND MATTERS.

“Ogun State has vast tracts of land containing mineral resources attractive to investors. The Ogun State Government is building a sustainable industrial economy which will significantly increase private investments, enhance job creation and improve revenue generation, thus making land, its management and use an area of key focus and interest. Whereas, the State recognises that to achieve the above, when miners and investors bid to acquire and explore available land for mining, industrialisation or any other approved use by the State Government, such acquisitions and explorations must be made through approved, standard, preset, and transparent processes.

“The State, therefore, observes the current trend in which miners and investors circumvent regulation and government oversight by encouraging Traditional institutions to interfere with land management by entering into Memorandums of Understanding and other irregular legal arrangements. NOW THEREFORE PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN ME BY THE CONSTITUTION AS THE GOVERNOR OF OGUN STATE, I HEREBY ORDER AS FOLLOWS:

“That all forms of Traditional Institutions existing within the State are hereby with immediate effect barred from entering into any form of Memorandum of Understanding or Agreement with any individual, companies or organisations seeking Land within any part of the entire State for purposes of Mining or Industry and are to forthwith refrain from issuing any form of consent letters for mining across the State.

“Any Traditional Institution or stakeholder in the Institution who flouts this Order shall be sanctioned in line with the provisions of the Obas and Chiefs Law and other relevant criminal statutes. From the date of this order, any individual, company or organisation that enters into any Memorandum of Understanding or agreement with a Traditional Institution or stakeholders, whom this order applies on mining or industry shall be proceeded against in line with Section 61 of the Ogun State Criminal Law 2006 which prohibits interference with executive power. This Executive Order takes effect immediately.”

……..Calls on Southwest Governors To Publish School Textbooks in Yoruba Language

The Isese (traditional) religion and Ifa (Oracle), have been described as pivots upon which the Yoruba language revolves.

The President of the International Council for Ifa Religion, (ICIR), Dr. Fayemi Fatunde Fakayode made this assertion over the weekend while delivering a lecture titled “Yoruba Language and Culture, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow,” at the Palace of Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, during the 2024 Annual Cultural Festival organized by Egbe Akomolede ati Asa Yoruba, Nigeria, Ekun Ife (Association of Teachers of Yoruba Language and Culture, Nigeria, Ife Zone).

The traditionalist called on the Governors of Osun, Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti and Lagos States to immediately commence process of changing the language of all textbooks used in primary and secondary schools to Yoruba, in order to enhance good performance and aid the value of the language among speakers.

Fakayode hinted that the time has come for people to stop calling Yoruba language vernacular and make communication with the language a must at home, work and schools, as researches have shown that students taught any subject with mother tongue perform better than the one taught with foreign language.

He further stressed that the Yoruba language, having secured a vantage position among global languages because of the acceptance of Ifa Religion across the world, will continue to grow and with time, supersede other languages.

“It is high time we decolonised ourselves by stop seeing our Language as vernacular and start communicating with our children in Yoruba, our mother tongue. According to research, there is no doubt that students taught any subject with mother tongue perform better than students taught with foreign language.

“The issue of Yoruba Language and Religion can be compared to a Computer whose hardware cannot be functioning without the software. In the case of Yoruba culture, Language and other components are hardwares while Yoruba Religion is the software on which other components rely.

“Today, Yoruba Language is an International Language because, all the people who practice Yoruba Religion irrespective of color or race need to be versed in Ifa, the scripture which can only be rendered in Yoruba Language. As Arabic is the language of the holy Quran so is Yoruba the language of Ifá.

“Therefore, as spread of Islam throughout the world makes Arabic international so is Yoruba Religion makes Yoruba Language international. This is because, once one accepts a religion, one automatically accepts the culture of the source of the religion.

“It is pertinent for all Yorùbá to learn Ifa for it is the storehouse of Yoruba culture and tradition.

“I use this medium to call on all lovers of Yoruba Language to join hands in promoting Ìsẹ̀ṣe, the Yoruba Traditional Religion if truly they do not want Yorùbá language to go into extinction

“The future of Yoruba Language and Culture is promising because, it is witnessing renaissance. Yoruba religion is said to be in the sixth position among the religions of the world today. It is certain that as Yoruba Religion continues to grow, so will the language and culture continue.

“The time has come for the five South-West governors to start an immediate process of changing the language of textbooks use to teach subjects like Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics and the rest to aid the relevance of the language and most importantly, improve the academic performance of our students,” Fakayode stated.

In her opening speech, the Ife Branch Zone chairman of Egbe Akomolede ati Asa Yoruba, Erelu Olubunmi Ajayi said the cultural day gives secondary and primary school students opportunity to show and develop their talents as well as promote culture and tradition of the Yoruba.

The Chairman of Oyo State Hospital Management Board, Dr. Akin Fagbemi, has appealed to the striking nurses in the state to call off their strike, citing the magnanimity of Governor Oluseyi Makinde in addressing workers’ issues.

Dr. Fagbemi made the appeal during an interview in his office at the state secretariat, Agodi Ibadan.

“The demands of the striking nurses are purely administrative, which is within the power of the state government to address. His Excellency has given directives regarding their demands”

The key areas of contention include recruitment, which the government addressed in 2020 by recruiting health workers and issuing directives to replace vacancies within the board.

The chairman noted that the advertisement for recruitment has been publicly available to recruit competent hands in various categories, including doctors, nurses, midwives, pharmacists, and physiotherapists.

Dr. Fagbemi revealed that he has been in talks with the chairman of the nurses and midwives union, and they have seen positive steps taken by the state government. 

He urged the striking nurses to reconsider calling off the strike, citing the efforts of other health workers who have been working round the clock to fill the gap created by the strike.

“I appeal to the striking nurses to call off the strike in the interest of the entire populace of the state. The executive governor of the state, Engr Oluseyi Makinde, has been very magnanimous in responding to all government workers’ issues in the state, including the nurses, he said

The chairman praised the commissioner for health, permanent secretaries of the ministry and board, the HOS, and the SA to the governor on Labour Matters for their efforts to end the strike. 

He emphasized that recruitment is a continuous process and that the board will address gaps in the hospitals before the end of the year.

The leader in the Lagos Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ramota Bankole, has been pronounced dead after performing her Hajj rites in Saudi Arabia.

Bankole, who was Lagos APC former Welfare Secretary, was said to be among the pilgrims that dropped dead following excessive heat recorded in the holy land.

The former politician death was confirmed on Thursday by the council chairmen of Epe Local Governments, Eredo and Ikosi-Ejirin Local Council Development Area (LCDA), amid ongoing search by friends and family members for missing hajj pilgrims in Saudi after death toll at the annual rituals, which were carried out in scorching heat, surged past 900.

They described the demise of the Lagos APC for Executive member, who celebrated her 60th birthday last month, as a rude shock to them, considering her role within the party.

Leading the trio, the Chairman Epe Local Government, Surah Animashaun, in her statement, added that the deceased was hale and hearty before leaving the country for pilgrimage.

According to the statement, “It’s with a heavy heart, and a deep sense of grief that I received the news of the death of Alhaja Ramota Bankole.

“It is a sad day indeed as I received the news that she died in the holy land of Mecca while on holy pilgrim.

“I extend my condolences to the Bankole family, Apc member and entire people of Epe on the unfortunate demise of our dear Sister and Mummy”.

A pregnant woman simply identified as Mrs Ogunbunmi has been abducted in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital. The victim said to be due for delivery had.

A pregnant woman simply identified as Mrs Ogunbunmi has been abducted in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital.

The victim said to be due for delivery had left her home in Oke Lantoro for the state general hospital, Ijaiye, Abeokuta, but was kidnapped along the way.

Her husband, Ogunbunmi Lateef, said he received a WhatsApp message notifying him of his wife’s abduction.

The Police Spokesman, Omolola Odutola, confirmed the incident but did not go into details.

,In a terse statement, on Thursday, she said, “ One Ogunbunmi Lateef of Oke Lantoro reported that his pregnant wife due for delivery left home for State Hospital Ijaiye Abeokuta.

“He received a WhatsApp message confirming the abduction of his wife by unknown armed men.”

Ogun is one of the state battling a high level of criminality in the South West region.

Ogun: Pregnant Woman Due For Delivery Abducted On Way To Hospital

A pregnant woman simply identified as Mrs Ogunbunmi has been abducted in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital. The victim said to be due for delivery had…

A pregnant woman simply identified as Mrs Ogunbunmi has been abducted in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital.

The victim said to be due for delivery had left her home in Oke Lantoro for the state general hospital, Ijaiye, Abeokuta, but was kidnapped along the way.

Her husband, Ogunbunmi Lateef, said he received a WhatsApp message notifying him of his wife’s abduction.

The Police Spokesman, Omolola Odutola, confirmed the incident but did not go into details.

,In a terse statement, on Thursday, she said, “ One Ogunbunmi Lateef of Oke Lantoro reported that his pregnant wife due for delivery left home for State Hospital Ijaiye Abeokuta.

“He received a WhatsApp message confirming the abduction of his wife by unknown armed men.”

Ogun is one of the state battling a high level of criminality in the South West region.