Category: News

The Synagogue Church Of All Nations (SCOAN) has provided an insight into the last moments of its founder, Temitope Joshua, who passed on Saturday.

ODUDUWA NEWS earlier reported that Mr Joshua, popularly known as Prophet T.B. Joshua, born June 12, 1963, died on Saturday at 57.

He was to clock 58 in about a week’s time.

In its statement posted on its website announcing his death, the church said Mr Joshua still spoke during the ‘Emmanuel TV Partners Meeting’ on Saturday.

Emmanuel TV is a cable television station owned by the church. It focuses on the church’s activities and that of Mr Joshua.

He spoke on the TV programme about how life is designed to have things happen at their different time, the church said.

The message was apparently referring to Ecclesiastes chapter 3 which dwells on the seasonal nature of life.

The church said Mr Joshua spent his moments on earth in the service of God.

“On Saturday June 5, 2021, Prophet TB Joshua spoke during the Emmanuel TV Partners Meeting: “Time for everything – time to come here for prayer and time to return home after the service.”

Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN receives the news of the death of Pastor Temitope Balogun Joshua with a heavy heart.

Governor Akeredolu says the renowned man of God was a blessing to humanity and a great Ambassador of the Sunshine State whose Ministry was noted for charity.

“Undoubtedly, Pastor Joshua’s demise came as a rude shock. The pains are not mere emotional flashes; they are indeed piercing. The Ondo-born Pastor and Televangelist was a philanthropist whose exit will be sorely missed by many.

“Pastor Joshua was committed to giving and was more often, inexorably imbued with calmness while lifting the downtrodden. As a televangelist, he did not just win souls for Christ, he was passionate about changing lives.

“He demonstrated timelessly, an alluring service to humanity and compassion by assisting not only his home local government, Akoko North West. Other adjoining local governments in Akoko land benefitted from his large heart of benevolence.

“Of significant note too, Pastor Joshua never hesitated to assist in whatever manner the Ondo State Government desired such.To us in Ondo State, we consider this a personal loss. He was a pride to the Sunshine State

“Not only Africa is hit hard; this is a great global knock as his Pastor TB Joshua’s ministry attracted an immeasurable foreign followership. Christendom has lost a giant.

“The reality of the finality of death, truly hurts the heart. But for TB Joshua, he had played his own part of the endless life orchestra; he has departed. We must take solace in his good deeds he while here. He is now a Heaven’s gain. The people have lost a committed giver. We shall continue to remember his contributions to the development of our State.”

While commiserating with the immediate family, the entire membership of the Synagogue Church of All Nations, Governor Akeredolu expresses his heart-felt condolences to the Zaki of Arigidi Akoko, Oba Yisa Olanipekun and the entire community over the loss of a great son of the soil.

The Governor prays God to grant the late man of God an eternal rest in His bosom and comfort grieving family members, friends and associates.

The Oyo State Speaker, Debo Ogundoyin has confirmed killing of five people in fresh attacks by bandits in Igangan, Ibarapa area of Oyo State.

This was contained in a statement made available today as gotten by ODUDUWA NEWS which reads in part:

” Early this morning I received distressed calls of fresh attack on our people in Igangan, Ibarapa North Local Government by bandits and suspected criminal herders in which about 5 residents were allegedly killed, some injured and properties burnt.

“I condemned this unfortunate attack and sympathy with the families who lost their loved ones and properties. I also appreciate the security personnel, vigilantes, Amotekun corps, our local hunters and brave men that rose in the middle of the night to combat the bandits and safe lives of our people.

“These murderers are not tired and It is our collective responsibility to protect our lives, women, children and our communities from these evil doers.

“While assuring my continuous support to every adoptable security measures and strategies, I’m also calling on all security agencies- the Nigerian Police, Operation Burst, Amotekun Corps, Vigilante Groups, Local Hunters, Community Leaders within and around Ibarapaland for an urgent security meeting.

“If this insecurity persist, it means we have not done enough. All of us.

“It is not time to sleep…let us all stay awake”.

A consultant anatomic and forensic pathologist, Prof. John Obafunwa on Saturday told the Lagos state judicial panel on restitution for victims of SARS related abuses and other matters, that the coroners office conducted post mortem autopsies on 99 bodies between the October 20 and 27.

Prof Obafunwa made this disclosure while testifying with a view to assist the panel in its investigation of the October 20 Lekki toll gate shootings.

The pathologist, who was involved in coroner services through the office of the Chief Medical Examiner of Lagos State, said the 99 bodies were picked up from different locations by officers of the Lagos State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit, LASEHMU.

Of these 99 bodies, the pathologist said that only three were identified as victims of the Lekki shootings.

He proceeded to speak to the post mortem report and the cause of death of each of the three victims, all male.

The witness also played a video evidence detailing the extent of injury suffered by the deceased and the cause of death.

According to the witness, the first body of an unknown victim simply identified as number 005, EndSARS/Yaba/2020 and brought in from Lekki bridge, on October 24 by the Lagos state government agency showed a fracture, a laceration on the left side of the skull and a body that was already decomposing.

The pathologist gave the cause of death as “a result of bleeding into the chest cavity, following a blunt force trauma to the chest.”

According to the witness, the second body , “041 unknown identity”, was said to have died at about 1.45am on October 21; he was taken to Reddington hospital Lekki in an unconscious state as a result of open skull fracture, an attempt to revive him failed and he was pronounced dead after which he was taken to LASUTH on November 1 for post mortem.

“X-ray conducted prior to touching the body showed no bullet or pellets in the body,” the witness said. “The x-ray revealed multiple skull fracture. Autopsy showed there was a ragged laceration running from the left side to the right side of the skull, further exploration of the wound showed bleeding into the scalp, multiple fracture of the skull, bleeding into the brain tissue. In the chest, there was bruises of the anterior, fracture of the left rib.

“Generally the internal organs were pale and it suggested there was severe blood loss. Hypertensive heart disease, upon examination under the microscope and samples for DNA, death was as a result of skull and brain injury which was due to blunt force trauma.”

The third case, identified as “062 unknown identity”, was also said to have died at Lekki tollgate. The body was said to have been taken to the General Hospital Yaba and autopsy was conducted on November 2. Cause of death was said to be severe blood loss as a result of disruption of major blood vessel, caused as a result of gun shot injury.

Counsel to some of the #EndSars Protesters, Olumide Fusika, however faulted the testimony that only three of the 99 bodies were related to the Lekki shootings.

He made an application that the witness be required to produce details of all 99 bodies to enable him fully conduct his cross examination of the pathologist.

Counsel to the Lagos State Government, Olukayode Enitan objected to the granting of the application.

He noted that the summons which commanded the attendance of the witness at the panel required him to give reports of incidents of October 20, which occurred at the Lekki toll gate with a view to assisting the panel.

For him, anything outside this will amounted to inviting the panel to go beyond its terms of reference and the instruments setting it up and this will be tantamount to acting ultra vires. He urged the panel to refuse the application.

After taking submissions from other lawyers in the matter, the panel chairman, Justice Doris Okuwobi noted that though it would take a lot of the panel’s time to sit through looking at 96 more bodies, she would bow to the majority decision of the lawyers.

The panel then ordered the pathologist, Prof Obafunwa to produce the records and autopsy reports of the remaining 96 bodies.

Further proceedings on the matter were adjourned to June 19.

The erstwhile Minister of Aviation, Fani-Kayode has recounted his claim that TB Josuha has not died.

He confirmed the death of Pastor TB Joshua’s just after he has debunked the report.

This was contained in a statement made available today via his social media platform as read in part.

“The passing of my dearest brother Prophet TB Joshua saddens me deeply. At 3.00am this morning I was told by one of his daughters that this was fake news and I tweeted as much. Sadly I was misled. Five minutes ago the same person called me back and confirmed the story. @GazetteNGR was right and I am in shock and pain”.

Former aviation minister, Femi Fani-Kayode has debunked report of the death of Prophet TB Joshua, confirmed the claim to be fake.

“The story that is being peddled around by some fake news merchants that my dearest friend and brother, Prophet T.B. Joshua of SCOAN, is dead is FALSE!

“It is FAKE NEWS in its most hideous form. The Prophet is alive and well and he shall live long and prosper. Glory hallelujah!”.

Meanwhile, an official statement is still being awaited from the church Synagogue Church of All Nations and his family to either debunk or confirm the news, ODUDUWA NEWS will keep you posted as events unfold.

Oyo state Governor Seyi Makinde has appealed to the Federal Government to reverse the suspension of Twitter operations in the country for the greater good of Nigerians.

The Nation had reported that the federal government on Friday announced an indefinite suspension of the operations of Twitter, the microblogging and social networking service, in Nigeria.

But defiant Nigerians on Saturday opted for the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to bypass restrictions due to the suspension of Twitter operations by the Federal Government in the county.

Reacting, Makinde in a statement on Saturday, described Twitter as a platform for young people and all Nigerians to exercise their fundamental right to express and publish various opinions.

He said, “They use the platform to complain, argue and give feedback to the government and its agencies who in turn, use these to improve policies. This is a fundamental point that should be kept in mind as we debate the necessity of this suspension.

“As leaders, we should go beyond emotional reactions to issues and think about how our actions will affect the people we lead and our international ratings socially and economically.

“We should also remember that Twitter has gone beyond a source of communication for many of our hardworking youths in Nigeria.

“It has become a source of livelihood for many, irrespective of their political affiliations or religious leanings. Nigerian youths and digital communications organisations earn a living from being able to use the platform to post communications on behalf of their clients.

“Others who may not have physical stores also rely on Twitter to give visibility to their products and services,” he added.

Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka has distanced himself from statements making the rounds on social media, suggesting that he supports the agitation for the Yoruba Nation.

In a statement seen on Thursday, the laureate urged the general public to ignore the utterances of those he described as “contemptible interlopers” who lack the courage of their conviction and thus take to Identity Theft for the furtherance of their views.

The statement added that Professor Soyinka does not express his opinions on national issues on social media except through print media.

“For a start, Wole Soyinka does not participate in Facebook, Tweet, Blog, WhatsApp, or other offerings of Social Media. Any views that he wishes to express on national and other issues routinely go through the print media,” the statement partly reads.

Marginalization of the South-West
Sunday Igboho, a self-acclaimed activist, and Ayo Adebanjo, one of the leaders of the Afenifere socio-political organization recently came up with the push for the Yoruba Nation.

According to the activists, this political ideology seeks to liberate and make sovereign the Yoruba tribe from Nigeria where the activists believe the Odua people have continued to be marginalized.

This opinion, however, has not sat well with many political leaders within the region and several statesmen have kicked against the move, asking instead that the citizens do more to accommodate all Nigerians regardless of tribe and religion.

Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, was on Thursday, joined by his Benue State counterpart, Governor Samuel Ortom, to commission the 65 kilometres Moniya-Ojutaye-Ijaiye-Iseyin Road.

Ortom, who was the soecial guest of honour at the event, commended Makinde for delivering such a massive road project, among many others, despite economic challenges and other odds that have befallen the nation.

He congratulated Makinde for standing firm with his people, saying Governor’s of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are living up to expectations of the people.

The Benue governor equally lauded the people of the state for supporting Makinde, noting that evidence around have shown that while the All Progressives Congress (APC) has failed the leadership test across different spheres of life, PDP governors the are doing very well.

Ortom also charged the APC-led Federal Government to ensure security of lives and property and enhance justice in the land.

Governor Makinde, while speaking at the official commissioning ceremony held at the Akinyele Local Government Secretariat, Moniya, Ibadan, maintained that the Moniya-Ijaiye-Iseyin road will enhance the socio-economic development of the state and play a major role in engineering a modern Oyo State.

He added that the project aligns with his administration’s focus to lift the people of the state from poverty to prosperity, noting that the government has, in the last two years, embarked on reducing the infrastructure deficit in the state and building infrastructure that target the economy.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, indicated that the road was revoked and re-awarded by the Makinde government on November 5, 2019, after the contractor engaged by the previous government demonstrated lack of capacity.

It added that the fact that the road was completed in 18 months despite the challenges of COVID-19 pandemic and economic recession, which affected activities around the world, showed the administration’s commitment to keeping its promises.

While addressing those in attendance at the official commissioning of the road project, including the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji and other notable traditional rulers, especially from the Oke Ogun zone of the state, Governor Makinde said that the delivery of the road project is another promise kept.

The governor added that the project is one of many projects that will play a major role in engineering “a modern Oyo State where the prosperity of the people through economic integration serves as the fulcrum of government’s decisions.”

He said: “First, let me appreciate my brother, Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State for travelling down to be with us on this happy occasion. I want to use this opportunity to convey the deepest sympathies of myself, my family and the good people of Oyo State to you over the death of your Senior Special Assistant on Security, Christopher Dega. May God grant you and his friends and family the strength to bear the loss.

“I am sure I speak for myself, the people of Iseyin in particular and the good people of Oyo State when I say, we are delighted that you could be here today at the commissioning of the 65-kilometres Moniya-Ijaiye-Iseyin Road.

“This road remained in a deplorable state for several years. I remember that immediately after I became governor, I began to receive SOS messages regarding this road. I remember this particular request on social media from someone who said some parents have had to withdraw their children from school because of their inability to navigate this road to get to school.

“The state of this road also kept people away from going from Moniya to Iseyin. On a good day, they would spend three hours out here. You can then imagine what it would be like on a bad day when perhaps a truck has broken down at one of the terrible spots.

“Although a contract for the rehabilitation of this road was awarded by the previous administration, our initial inspection visits in 2019 revealed that the contractors had not even done 5 per cent of the work here before abandoning it. We therefore had to revoke and re-award the contract.

“I always say that whatever decisions we make at any point in this administration will be based on science, data and logic. So, we factored in that we wanted this road to be top grade and last at least 10 years before any rehabilitations.

“For this reason, we decided to increase the stubbing course from about 150mm to about 200mm, and we also changed the asphaltic wearing course from 40mm to 50mm. Looking at the initial design, we also realised that there was inadequate provision for drainage. So, we had to remedy that too.

“More importantly, the original contract was for what they called, “limited rehabilitation.” This is just a fancy way of saying they would patch the road. They would look at those areas that they felt were bad and do some rehabilitation works.

“For us, this was flawed logic. We knew this would only amount to kicking the ball forward. In a year or so, we would be back to doing major rehabilitations.

“So, with all the available data, we decided that the more logical thing to do would be to increase the contract sum by about 2.9 billion Naira and deliver the quality of road that our people deserved.

The Lagos State Government has dislodged 10 more illegal slaughter slabs and animal markets at Ayobo, Ipaja; Oko Filling, Ikorodu; Odoguyan Road, Ikorodu and Mangoro, Old Abeokuta Expressway axis of the State.

The Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms. Abisola Olusanya, who made this known today, explained that the exercise was in continuation of the sanitisation and reform of the red meat value chain with a goal of producing wholesome meat for the consumption of the citizenry.

She disclosed that during the exercise, which was carried out by men of the Monitoring, Enforcement and Compliance Team of her Ministry, no fewer than 21 live rams, 13 live goats and 4.5 tonnes of meat carcass were confiscated.

Olusanya added that the confiscated meat carcass was subsequently donated to the Bab-Es-Salam Home, GRA, Ikeja; the Real Woman Foundation, Magodo and the Love Home Orphanage, CMD Road, Magodo Shangisha.

Noting that confiscated live animals would be auctioned at the Mobile Court of the Lagos State Task Force on Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences Unit with all offenders duly prosecuted, Ms. Olusanya stressed that there would be no option of fine in order to serve as a deterrent to others.

In her words, “The officials of the Monitoring, Enforcement and Compliance Team (MEC) of the State, during the week dislodged four illegal slaughter slabs and animal markets at Ayobo-Ipaja, Odogunyan and Maya in Ikorodu, and Mangoro, Old Abeokuta Expressway. During the exercise, 21 live rams, 13 live goats and well over 4.5 tonnes of meat carcass were confiscated; after being certified safe for consumption the meat was donated to orphanages and correctional homes”.

“It has been observed that the animals slaughtered at these illegal slaughter slabs are not inspected by veterinary officials, as a result, the wholesomeness cannot be vouched for, hence the need for officials of the MEC Team to continue the dislodgement exercise”, she added.

The Commissioner also enjoined those who breed animals within their residences to restrain and prevent their pets from roaming the streets as these animals not only constitute a nuisance to public health, but also destroy the aesthetics created by the State Government to beautify the city, adding that any stray animal confiscated by the MEC Team would be auctioned.

Olusanya, therefore, urged all animal health practitioners, cold room operators and meat shop operators in the State to ensure registration with the Veterinary Services Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and obtain appropriate license to operate, stressing that quackery would no longer be tolerated.