Category: News

Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, on Thursday, visited the family of the military officer killed during the jailbreak at the Abolongo Correctional Facility, Oyo, Corporal Ekaile Emmanuel, stating that his administration recognises the heroic service of the slain soldier and all other security agents operating in the state.

Makinde, who was represented by a delegation led by the Executive Assistant to the governor on Security, Mr. Sunday Odukoya, a retired Commissioner of Police, lauded the security agencies in Oyo State for their commitment and dedication towards making the state safe.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, quoted Odukoya as saying that the Makinde government will continue to give due recognition to the heroic service of all servicemen in Oyo State.

He commiserated with the families and loved ones of the slain soldier, who he described as an incredibly brave military officer.

On the delegation were the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Alhaja Kafilat Omolabake Olayiwola, Otunba Seye Famojuro, Director-General of Operation Burst, Col. Oladipo Ajibola (rtd) and the Commandant, Oyo State Àmótékun, Col. Olayinka Olayanju (rtd).

Men of the Ogun State Police Command, have arrested three suspected land grabbers for attempted murder.

The suspects, according to a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer for the command, Abimbola Oyeyemi, were arrested on the 25th of October 2021, while invading Jegede village in Igbesa area of Ado Odo/Ota Local Government with dangerous weapons, with which they inflicted varying degrees of injuries on members of the community.

Oyeyemi, said the suspects, Adewale Muyibi, Kamoru Ayodele and Taofeek Ogundele were arrested following a distress call received by the policemen at Agbara divisional headquarters that armed hoodlums have invaded Jegede village and were shooting sporadically.

He said: “Upon the distress call, the Divisional Police Officer, Agbara Division, Saleh Dahiru, led his men to the scene where six men, namely Sunday Okorie, Shoneye Akeem, Lakan Oloyede, Jimoh Musibau Akande Oyedeji and Hamzat Idiris, who have been shot by the hoodlums were rescued to the hospital for treatment.”

while three amongst the hoodlums were apprehended and others escaped.

“Recovered from them are; six live cartridges and fourteen expended cartridges.”

Oyeyemi said the Commissioner of Police, for the state, Lanre Bankole, has directed that the suspects be transferred to state criminal investigation and intelligence department for discreet investigation.

He also directed that the fleeing members of the gang be hunted for and brought to justice. The CP therefore warned land grabbers to stair clear of the state, as their violent activities will not be tolerated by the command under his watch.

The EFCC projected the virtual, through its second witness, Mr Augustine Anosike, a forensic analyst.

Anosike was leading evidence in the trial of the defendant, who is facing an 11 counts charge, bordering on conspiracy, possession of counterfeit credit cards as well as fraud.
The anti-graft agency preferred the charges on May 14, 2019

Fashola, who sang the popular song: “Am I a Yahoo Boy”, was consequently arraigned on May 20, 2019, before Justice Nicholas Oweibo, but he pleaded not guilty.

The court had, accordingly, granted him bail in the sum of N2 million, with two sureties in like sum.

The trial had since commenced in the case and the second prosecution witness who began his testimony shortly before the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, continued his evidence on Wednesday.

The witness, who resumed his testimony on Tuesday, concluded his evidence after the virtual display.

Prosecution Counsel, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, had told the court at the last adjourned date that the prosecution only printed out hard copies of relevant portions of the exhibit, which it considered key to its case.

He had told the court that a full version of the total analysis was contained in a CD.

The printed copies of the exhibit were labelled exhibit F while the CD containing full analysis is exhibit F1.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the court had granted prosecution leave to display the CD in a projector, in order to discharge its burden of proof as required by law.

Also on the last adjourned date, the witness had narrated how different text messages and chats containing credit card details were exchanged between the defendant and another recipient identified as Yadd.

When the trial resumed on Wednesday, the witness again reiterated portions of his earlier testimonies of October 26, and indicated the visual spots of those testimonies, on the screen of the projected CD.

For instance, the witness showed visual displays of the credit card numbers, chats, as well as incoming and outgoing short message services (SMS), which were analysed from the defendant’s iPhone.

The witness typically identified the “message trafficking” between the numbers +447426343432 and +447548061528.

On the whole, he told the court that the CD contained a total of 51,933 pages of the analysis conducted on the defendant device.

After the CD was displayed for about 45 minutes, the prosecutor then asked the witness to confirm if exhibits A and D were vital elements of his analysis, and he replied in the affirmative.

Exhibit A is the Forensic Report Form, while exhibit D is the iPhone of the defendant.

Oyedepo then indicated to the court that he had concluded the examination of the witness, adding that whatever remained was left for his address

During cross-examination, defence counsel, Mr Olalekan Ojo, first sought leave of court to apply for a variation of its order and prayed that the court take custody of the iPhone of the defendant which had been in the custody of the prosecution.

According to him, the Federal High Court is well capable of keeping the exhibits in its custody, adding that it would also create ease for the defence to apply for the exhibits if needed.

The court noted the request.

Fielding questions from Ojo, the witness confirmed to the court that he had confined his analysis within the compass of his forensic reports.

When the defence counsel asked the witness to confirm if his analysis had also covered the possible number of persons that had used the said iPhone of the defendant, the witness replied that the number of persons were not ascertained.

The defence asked, “As an experienced operative, are you aware that it is possible for a person other than the owner of a phone to have access to the use of that phone.”

The witness replied, “That will only be possible where the owner grants access.”

When the witness was asked who supplied him with the password to the iPhone, he told the court that the defendant provided the password to the investigating operatives who consequently, transmitted the same to him for his analysis.

He told the court that he only had knowledge of the period the iPhone was brought to him for forensics and not when it was taken from the defendant.

When asked to confirm the number on the iPhone, the witness told the court that the registered number on the phone is iCloud +447426343432.

Meanwhile, when the defence counsel reminded the witness that he had told the court during the examination that the telephone number of the defendant was 07426343732, the witness replied that any SIM card can be inserted in a device.

When asked to confirm if there is a difference between the owner and user of a device, the witness answered “The names on a phone can be changed depending on what the owner chooses to use,”

The defence then asked the witness to show to the court from the two pages of his analysis summary, where he had indicated that there was a change of names in the device.

The witness replied that although it was not captured, the content of his report also reflects the content of the device as recovered therein.

Justice Oweibo adjourned the trial until November 30, December 13 and December 14.

According to the EFCC, the defendant committed the offence on different dates between November 26, 2018, and December 11, 2018, as well as May 10, 2019.

The commission alleged that Fashola and his accomplices conspired to use different Access Bank ATM cards to defraud their victims.

It alleged that the defendant used a bank credit card issued to another person, in a bid to obtain fraudulent financial gains.

The EFCC also said that the defendant possessed counterfeit credit cards belonging to different people, with intent to defraud which amounted to theft.

The alleged offence contravenes the provisions of sections 1 23 (1) (b), 27 (1) and 33(9) of the Cyber Crime (Prohibition) Prevention Act, 2015.

The police in Oyo State have arrested one Ismaila Wasiu and Mutairu Shittu for killing a woman, identified as Mujidat in Ayekale Area Saki, Oyo State and being in the custody of a fresh human head.

Daily Trust learnt that the victim was lured from Lagos through a phone call by one of the suspects.

Confirming the report, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Adewale Osifeso, said the dismembered body had been deposited at the morgue, while intensive investigations regarding the incident continued.
The police urged residents to support the fight against crime by providing information.

The Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN has urged the State Command of the Nigeria Police to take adequate measures to secure Correctional Homes across the State.

This becomes very compelling in view of the disturbing trend of incessant attacks on Correctional Homes in some States that border Ondo State.

This latest variant of insecurity calls for concern, especially as contiguous States like Kogi and Ekiti as well as Oyo have suffered similar ordeal in what appears to be well-coordinated breaches aimed at achieving a common goal: setting free crime suspects, particularly those with gang identities.

In Ondo State, there are several of such suspects standing trial in respect of cases of alleged murder, kidnapping, rape and destruction of farmlands. The most celebrated of such suspects are those standing trial in the murder of Funke Olakunrin, daughter of our Elderstatesman, Pa Ruben Fasonranti.

While the Southwest Security Network, otherwise known as Amotekun has demonstrated considerable capacity in tackling insecurity, it is pertinent that the Nigeria Police authority, especially the State Command, deploys more men to secure Correctional Homes in the State.

All residents are equally enjoined to be vigilant and report any suspicious movement around their respective environments.

In furtherance of his massive investment in human development and capacity building, the Arole Oduduwa & Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, on Monday equiped many young girls with sowing machines after successfully training them in the field of fashion designing.

Addressing newsmen during the event, the Ooni who expressed his heartfelt joy over the success recorded through the initiative since inception five years ago, thanking sponsors as well as partners including the International Breweries, Ilesa (Maker of Trophy Lager Beer) for their support.

“I wish to call on the government at all levels and all well-meaning Nigerians to direct huge resources in this line in order to create opportunities for younger people.

“When I started about six years ago, my intention is to create chances for all able-bodied young persons to breakthrough either in education or vocation. So I awarded scholarship to indigent students, train others in several vocations including fashion designing like we have here today.

“I am so surprised when my staff in charge told me that over 1,000 persons have benefited. We now have our beneficiaries scattered all the country studying one course or the other while those we trained and empower in different vocations are now financially independent and even assisting their respective homes.” The Ooni said.

Speaking on behalf of the about 50 beneficiaries, Miss Oluwaseun thanked the Ooni for the intervention, noting that it came when she almost lost focus in life.

“All I want to say is a very big thank you to Baba Oonirisa for all he has done for me and my colleagues, we hold this in a very high esteem and we pledge to make the very best out of this uncommon opportunity.”

Addressing the gathering on behalf of the event’s partner; International Breweries, Ilesa (Maker of Trophy Lager Beer), the organization’s Corporate Affairs Manager, Mr. Adewole Lawal, explained that Ooni’s initiative to make life better for all, falls in line with the firm’s Corporate Social Responsibility.

“We are grateful that the Ooni opened his door to us through this programme, we are proud as an organization to profit the society and we cannot wait to do this again.” Mr. Lawal said.

Oyo State Governor, ’Seyi Makinde, on Tuesday, said that his administration will continue to re-engineer agribusiness development in Oyo State, with a view to expanding the economy of the state.

The governor, who was speaking at the Oyo State 2021 Agribusiness Summit, held at the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, maintained that for agriculture to lift people from poverty to prosperity, it must not only be seen as a tool for rural development, but, specifically, as a business.

While making a presentation titled “Re-engineering Agribusiness Development in Oyo State,” at the Oyo Agribusiness Summit 2021, Makinde enumerated the agribusiness investment potentials of Oyo State to the world, saying that his administration was already in partnership with the government of France and IITA, among others.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, quoted Governor Makinde as saying that the summit is to showcase the investment potential of Oyo State, adding that it would also enable the state come up with more ways to create incentives to local and international partners.

The governor maintained that the decision to re-engineer agribusiness development in the state followed a set of carefully planned and strategically executed efforts, which, he said, have made the state to be able to offer unbeatable incentives to intending investors in agribusiness in.
Governor Makinde stated that apart from the comparative advantage that the state has in terms of the availability of about 28,500 square kilometers of arable land and abundant freshwater sources as well as 3,000 hectares of artificial lakes, which, he added, give the state a competitive advantage in fish farming.
He added that his administration has embarked on a massive infrastructure development that targets agriculture and agribusiness development.

The governor also said that the construction of the 65-kilometre Moniya-Iseyin arterial road, ongoing construction of Oyo-Iseyin Road, Apete-Awotan-Akufo Road, Saki-Ogbooro-Igboho Road, Sabo-Oroki-Asipa Road, Ajia-Airport Road with a spur to Amuloko, as well as the ongoing construction of four Bus Terminals in Ibadan, and the ongoing efforts to have the Ibadan Airport upgraded to international standard, are all parts of the government’s deliberate efforts to attract agribusiness investors.

Makinde added that apart from these infrastructure projects, the government will also, from the first quarter of 2022, begin fixing over 1,200 kilometres of roads under the Rural Access and Agriculture Marketing Project (RAAMP), saying this effort will improve the agro-logistics chain and provide access to local and international markets.
He said: “We developed the Oyo State roadmap to accelerated development 2019-2023 and we sold it to the people of Oyo State. The understanding of that roadmap essentially informed our decision to make agriculture one of the main drivers of the Oyo State economy between 2019 and 2023.

“So, how should this information affect your investment decision? Well, in clear terms, our administration did not stumble on the decision of re-engineering agribusiness development in Oyo State and transforming the state from a sleepy agrarian community into a thriving agribusiness hub.
“Our efforts are a result of careful planning and strategic thinking and this is why we offer unbeatable incentives to investing agribusiness in Oyo State.
“First, we created the Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency (OYSADA). This is to serve as the vehicle for driving agribusiness development. This has eliminated the administrative bottlenecks that prevent private investors from communicating directly with public officeholders.

“One of the strongest factors that support large-scale agribusiness production is the availability of arable land. Over 60 per cent of Oyo State, 28,500 square metres of land are suitable for agriculture.
“When we came in, we went for a brainstorming session at the Republic of Benin. We brought in agric experts all over and then the permanent secretary, Ministry of Agric then (this was barely three to four months into office). He said that Oyo State is the largest producer of Cassava in Nigeria. And when I asked if it was a deliberate engagement, the response was more of, ‘the farmers were just planting. But now, we are moving towards deliberate efforts, deliberate policies to stimulate agribusiness in Oyo State. And, additionally, we have abundant freshwater sources and about three thousand hectares of artificial lakes giving us a competitive advantage in fish farming.”
Makinde, further listed the competitive advantages of the state in the area of agribusiness as including the centralized position of Oyo State in the agribusiness corridor of Nigeria and especially the South-West.

He added : “If your logistic involves Air travel, we also have that covered. Work is on-going to upgrade Ibadan Airport to international and Cargo Airport status.”
He added that the state is building a 500,000 litre Aviation Fuel Facility at the Ibadan Airport.
Governor Makinde declared that there is the political will needed to make his administration’s agribusiness development reengineering drive successful, saying that the government had been achieving what people hitherto thought as impossible.

“For example, within our first two years in office, we reconstructed the Moniya-Ijaye-Iseyin road, a 65-kilometer road, which links our food basket, Oke-Ogun and the state capital. We used to travel on that road and spend a minimum of three hours. But now, it takes 40 minutes.
“Also, we have started reconstructing the 34.85kilometre Oyo-Iseyin road, which provides a critical economic link to the Fasola Agribusiness Industrial hub. It also leads to the dual carriageway connecting Ibadan-Lagos, Ibadan-Ilorin and also the northern part of the country. The work is even about 20 per cent done. What you saw that cut down the travel time to just about 20 minutes is just the grading of the road. Now, they are going to put asphalt to make it be like Moniya to Iseyin road.

“Let me also mention that we have re-awarded the 110km Ibadan Circular Road, which will ease some activities to the South-West economic hub. Once you get on that road, it takes you a fraction of the time that you need now to go towards Ife, Lagos, or even the Airport.
“When you invest in agribusiness in this state, you are assured of a well-trained workforce. We have taken a systematic approach to manpower development. Again, the DG of IITA just spoke about the STEP programme, which we are running in partnership with them.
“So, students are introduced very early to various parts of the agricultural value-chain from secondary school.

“We also have the Youth Entrepreneurship in Agribusiness Project YEAP, which provides enterprise training for the youths in the state. Presently, we have exposed over 1,800 youths to a technology-based agriculture system. We plan to complete the training of the earmarked 10,000 beneficiaries by the end of 2022.
“To this end, we are also in partnership with IITA. We are running a complete rehabilitation of Oyo State IITA youth agribusiness incubation park at Awe. So, if you are worried about human resources, we have a well-trained workforce ready to be engaged.
“If you are also thinking in terms of out-growers schemes, we have a database of about 20,000 teachable smallholder farmers, who are ready for a mutually beneficial partnership. With this, you don’t need to leave Oyo State for your research and development,” the governor added.

The governor explained that some of the incentives available to agribusiness investors include the availability of arable lands in the agribusiness industrial hubs, which will be run by private partners, saying once any investor meets the criteria, he/she will get the allocation and start the business.
He stated that these agribusiness industrial hubs were the hitherto moribund Farm Estates, noting that the state has begun working on Fasola, Akufo and Eruwa, three of the 9 such farms settlements, to show the new direction and that works at the Fasola agribusiness industrial hub, which serves as the pilot, is already about 50 per cent complete.

When completed, the governor stated that the Fasola Agribusiness Hub will have a leisure centre, scenic golf course, emergency fire service, health facilities, luxury apartments interlinked with 24 hours power supply and maximum security and that the hub will provide opportunities for investment with dedicated crop production areas, livestock ranching facilities, production and processing facilities and equipment facilities..

He added that a recent trip to France has also culminated in efforts to have the French government turn Akufo Agribusiness Hub into a farmers’ market when it is completed.
Also as part of the available incentives, the governor assured investors of a favourable taxation policy, as there will be no multiple taxation or tax increment in the foreseeable future.
In the area of security, Governor Makinde equally highlighted the availability of the Oyo State Security Network codenamed Amotekun, which is working with the federal police to strengthen the security apparatus in rural areas.

Earlier, Director-General of the Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency (OYSADA), Dr. Debo Akande, said that the Makinde administration has set out an economic regeneration vision for Oyo State that is hinged on harnessing our natural economic comparative advantage and underpinned by the development of agribusiness-enabling infrastructure and human capacity development.
“The opportunities are myriad and in Oyo state, investors will find the enabling infrastructure, support and incentives required to exploit them,” he said.

He maintained that the government will continue to demonstrate iron-cast determination to implement proactive, business-friendly policies to ensure an enabling environment for the private sector to thrive.