Category: News

Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, on Wednesday, said he never interfered with the appointments of judges in the state, adding that he only ensured that due process was followed to the letter in the appointments.

The governor, who stated this while hosting the Muslim Ummah in the state at his residence in Ibadan, added that his government has continued to be fair and just to all religions and that he has always ensured that merit and excellence were considered for appointments and recruitments in the state.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, quoted the governor as stating that though some elements had been trying to cause confusion along religious lines, they have not been successful because the government has been transparent and fair.

He added that rather than dissipate energy on religious differences, residents of the state should unite to fight the challenges of poverty and hunger, which, according to him, know no religion.

The governor, who charged the Muslim faithful in the state not to listen to those who want to use religion to destabilise the state, stressed that they should rededicate themselves and focus on the development of the state.

He said: “The message for us this morning is to rededicate ourselves and focus on our state and not tolerate those who want to use religion to destabilise our state. Also, in our different positions, let us be fair to everybody. Let us use this period to assist the have-nots and underprivileged.

“We thank God for Oyo State and for allowing the efforts of those who are trying to cause confusion and chaos in this government to always prove abortive.

“Though they come out, talk about all sorts of things, God, in His infinite mercy, has always revealed the truth on time to shame the detractors.

“The latest one is on the issue of the judges. I know we cannot question God on those he decided to call. We just have to accept it that way. I didn’t interfere in the matters of judges but I always like to know those who will be appointed, because of the approval I need to make – to know if due process was followed and that has been my approach.”

The governor equally challenged those alleging that he wrote a letter to block a particular person from being appointed as a judge in the state to produce the letter, adding that his focus has always been on merit, capacity and performance.

“If they say I want to block a particular person, am I God? I was alleged to have written a letter indicating that the appointments of one Muslim and three Christians should be balanced out. We just finished fasting and I am saying before you that when they came to meet me, I insisted that the person that came first in the interview must be included. I didn’t even know if the person was a Christian or a Muslim.

“As a matter of fact, those who know me know I don’t consider religion in my appointments. My focus is always on merit, performance and delivery. So, I challenge anyone that saw such a letter anywhere in the system either from me or the Attorney-General, to bring the letter out. I want to see it.

Nollywood actor, Yomi Fabiyi has finally staged the much-publicized protest to demand the release of his embattled colleague, Baba Ijesha, who was arrested for allegedly defiling a minor.

The actor, who has shown support to Baba Ijesha since the alleged rape saga began, had appealed to the police to release his colleague on bail, but all efforts proved abortive.

Following his appeal, he threatened to lead a protest against the continuous detention of Baba Ijesha without trial, which he claims is a violation of his human rights.

Fabiyi wrote:

“PEACEFUL PROTEST on Human Rights, Illegal Detention by Police coming up on Wednesday if the Police refuse to do the right thing and grant BABA IJESHA administrative bail which is his fundamental rights.

“Any progressive state and society MUST respect the RIGHTS of others as enshrined under the law.

ODUDUWA NEWS has gathered that The Chief Imam of Ibadan, Sheikh AbdulGaniyu Abubakry Agbotomokekere on Wednesday performed Eid prayer at the Ibadan Central Eid praying ground, Agodi.

This was held in contrary to Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs directive that the Ramadan fasting should continue today while Eid-el-Fitri Prayer holds on Thursday due to inability to sight moon in Nigeria and some other countries.

The Report by the Committee on the Review of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State was formally presented to the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Moyosore Onigbanjo SAN at his office at the Secretariat on Tuesday 11th May 2021 in the presence of top management of the Ministry including the Solicitor General/Permanent Secretary, Ms Titilayo Shitta-Bey.

The criminal laws when reviewed will address certain deficiencies in the existing on criminal cases in Lagos State.

The Attorney General, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo SAN while speaking said, it is imperative to address some loopholes in the extant laws of Lagos State. He thereby thanked the committee for the job well done and assured them that the report will be properly looked into for further consideration.

Gunmen stormed a Deeper Life Church in the Onigari area of Shagari Village, Akure, Ondo State, on Monday and kidnapped a Pastor and ex-Director in the Ondo state civil service, Otamayomi Ogedengbe.

The unknown gunmen attacked the Church at about 8:37pm and whisked the pastor away.

Ogedengbe was said to have gone to the church in the company of his wife but was abducted by the kidnappers who stormed the church in a black Corolla sports car.

Narrating the incident, the pastor’s wife, Mrs Ogedengbe, they came to the church together for a programme when the gunmen stormed the church and abducted her husband.

The state’s police public relations officer, Tee Leo lkoro, confirmed the abduction of the clergyman.

He said ” Yes the clergyman was abducted by some gunmen who stormed his church and whisked him away.”

Ikoro, however, noted that the police and other security operatives have come together to ensure the pastor is rescued.

Oduduwa News has gathered that earlier today, fight ensued between Commercial motorcycle riders and officials of the Lagos State Task Force who were on an operation aimed at restoring sanity on Lagos roads and checkmate Okada menace.

At the end of the operation carried out around Jakande Gate, Ejigbo, Iyana Ipaja and environs, a total of 92 motorcycles were impounded.

A statement by the Task Force confirmed the attacks, adding that there was no casualty, while some suspects were arrested.

“There were attacks but operatives neutralised them. No casualty but some suspects were arrested.

“They have been transferred to Panti for prosecution,” the statement disclosed.

The leader of Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Professor Ishaq Akintola has said that 2023 presidential ticket must be given to a Yoruba Muslim.

MURIC, in a release signed by its director, Professor Akintola said former President Olusegun Obasanjo is making plans to draft Akinwunmi Adesina, president of the African Development Bank (AFDB), into the 2023 presidential race.

MURIC said Obasanjo’s attempt to draft Adesina, who is a Yoruba Christian, into the race negates the principles of fairness, justice and equity.

The group noted that while three Yoruba Christians have “occupied Aso Rock villa”, not a single Yoruba Muslim has been allowed to hold the position of president or vice president since independence.

MURIC described it as “an attempt to rob Yoruba Muslims of the presidential slot”, adding that it violates the principle of inclusiveness.

“Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo is reportedly making attempts to draft the current president of the African Development Bank (ADB), Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, into the 2023 presidential race. We object to this move. Obasanjo wants to waste all the efforts put in place by the Nigerian government to get Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina to that continental position,” the statement reads.

“We remind the former president that as a Yoruba Christian, he has led Nigeria twice. Two other Yoruba Christians have also occupied Aso Rock. Chief Earnest Adegunle Oladeinde Shonekan was the interim head of state from 26th August 1993 to 17th November, 1993. The current vice president, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, is also a Yoruba Christian.

“It is an open secret that Yoruba Muslims who form the majority of the population in the South West are being denied their Allah-given fundamental human rights.

“This has led to complaints and court cases initiated by Muslims across Yorubaland over political and religious persecution. Yoruba Muslims are at the receiving end of deprivation of civil liberties. It is our contention that another Yoruba Christian presidency will usher in another opportunity for Christian hegemony and the marginalisation, stigmatisation, repression and persecution of Yoruba Muslims.

“MURIC rejects this grand design to keep Muslims in Yorubaland in perpetual bondage. There are many Yoruba Muslims who are eminently qualified for the post of president. We also believe that the interest of the Yoruba people will be best served if they will channel their grievances towards ensuring that a Yoruba man emerges president instead of pursuing a separatist agenda that may lead them nowhere.

“We advise ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo to relax his grip on the Nigerian jugular vein. He should stop pushing Yoruba Muslims to the background. Christians are not the only human beings in Yorubaland.

“The political party does not matter to us. What is important is that the next Yoruba presidential ticket must go to a Yoruba Muslim in the name of fairness, justice and equity.”

The Ogun State Judicial Panel of Investigation on Police Brutality, Human Rights Violations, and Extra-Judicial Killings has concluded its sitting six months after it held its inaugural session.

A total of 58 petitions out of the over 100 complaints received were treated in the course of the panel’s sittings at the Magistrate Court 1 in the Isabo area of Abeokuta, the state capital.

The Chairman of the panel, Justice Solomon Olugbemi, announced the completion of the committee’s sitting while briefing reporters in Abeokuta at the end of the six-month period.

“The panel received a total of 106 petitions, out of which 58 were treated and the remaining 48 were either withdrawn, rejected, or abandoned wholly or halfway by the petitioners,” he was quoted as saying in a statement by the media officer of the panel, Femi Osipitan.

Justice Olugbemi explained that some of the petitions were rejected because they were not in line with the terms of reference that the panel was given by the state government.

He, however, assured all petitioners and respondents of justice without fear or favour, saying the panel’s report was ready for submission to the state government.

The chairman of the panel stated that after submission, it would be left for the government to implement the report or not.

“Although the panel encountered some logistics challenges, it was able to surmount them,” he said of some of the hurdles faced by the panel.

The state governor, Dapo Abiodun, inaugurated the members of the panel on October 19, 2020, and gave them six months to receive and investigate petitions from members of the public whose human rights have been violated and abused by security personnel within the state.

He also asked the panel to make appropriate recommendations to the state government.

The Lagos State Government has said it will roll out 500 Last-Mile Buses to serve as an alternative to commercial motorcycles popularly called Okada to access inner streets.

The rollout will continue until the state meets the target of 5,000 such buses.

The Federal Government has reintroduced COVID-19 restrictions across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

This new directive is to take effect by midnight of Tuesday, a member of the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19, Dr Mukhtar Mohammed, declared.

Mohammed, who is the Head of Technical Secretariat of the PSC, made the announcement while briefing reporters on Monday in Abuja.

With the restrictions imposed, mass gatherings in public spaces have been restricted to 50 people at any given time.

Access to government institutions would also be denied to anyone not wearing a face mask while government meetings and travels have been limited to the virtual platform.

According to Mohammed, the government has directed that bars and nightclubs should remain closed and the nationwide curfew will be in force until further notice.

He added that only essential international travels would be encouraged, and all existing protocols must be strictly adhered to.

The PSC member, however, stated that there was no limitation to intra-state travel.