Popular yoruba Actress, Folake Aremu popularly known as Orisabunmi dies at 61. Details later.
JUST IN: Ace Nollywood actress, Folake Aremu (Orisabunmi) dies at 61
Petroleum dealers threaten to shut down filling stations in Oyo State over incessant killings
Petroleum dealers, on the platform of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, (IPMAN), Ibadan depot have threatened to shut down all petroleum stations in Oyo State.
IPMAN noted that the need to shut down all the petroleum stations was necessary due to the killing of innocent citizens in some parts of the State.
Oduduwa News recalls that the State, in the last one month, has witnessed the killing and kidnap of no fewer than seven people in some parts of the State.
Our correspondent recalls that no fewer than four people have been kidnapped in the State in the last three weeks.
Among the four people kidnapped in the last three weeks are a woman abducted at a Quarry site in Moniya, a farmer kidnapped along old Ibadan/Oyo road, Mrs. Jimoke Oludele-Babalola, an elder sister to Mr. Sunkanmi Babalola, member representing Egbeda State Constituency in the Oyo State House of Assembly and a medical doctor in Ibarapa North Local government area of the State.
It was authoritatively confirmed to us that out of the four people kidnapped in the last three weeks, only one of them, Mrs. Jimoke Oludele-Babalola has been released.
ODUDUWA NEWS gathered that among those who were killed at the weekend is a petroleum dealer, Mrs Sherifat Adisa, who owns Subawah petroleum.
IPMAN in its reaction has threatened to shutdown all filling stations in the State.
IPMAN Chairman, Ibadan Depot, Alhaji Bukola Mutiu, said all filling stations in Ibarapa zone of the State had been ordered to close down.
Mutiu, in a statement obtained released on Tuesday, said the closure of all filling stations in Ibarapa was a warning to the Oyo State government to urgently arrest the growing trend of killings and kidnap of petroleum dealers in the State.
Mutiu, while describing the killing of Mrs Adisa as one too many, warned that except the trend is arrested, all filling stations in the State would be shut down.
He said, “This killing and kidnapping has become so rampant as series of cases have been coming up recently.
“Last night (Saturday), one of us, Alhaja Sherifat Adisa, who was the owner of Subawah petroleum, was kidnapped at about 7:30 p.m. from her office and two people were also killed in her station. Her corpse was found at about 11:00 p.m. close to her station.
“The IPMAN has decided to close down all petrol stations in Ibarapa till something is done by the government to protect them and if something is not done, the shutdown of all petrol stations will be extended to Oyo State as a whole.”
Ekiti govt hands over N100m car loan to workers
ODUDUWA NEWS has gathered that Ekiti State Government has handed over over N100m car loan to workers across the State.
The Commissioner for Finance, Akintunde Oyebode, who described the gesture as demonstration of the state government’s commitment to the welfare of workers, promised mouth-watering offers to the workforce.
Oyebode, who, according to a ‘Press Release’ by the Press Officer, Ministry of Finance, Dayo Adeniyi, made available on Saturday, urged the beneficiaries “to make use of the loan positively and basically on what it is meant for.”
The commissioner said that beneficiaries of the N100.28m included 41 beneficiaries on Grade levels 02-06 which cost N3,280,500; 96 beneficiaries on Grade levels 07-09 which cost N24,000,000; while N45m was disbursed to beneficiaries on Grade levels 15-17; and N1.5m to one beneficiary on consolidated scale.
He said, “The state government under Governor Kayode Fayemi finds it necessary to make the workers happy despite the economic situation induced by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
BREAKING: Secondary, primary schools to resume in Lagos by Jan 18
The Lagos State government has set the resumption of the second term of 2020/21 academic session from Monday, January 18, 2021.
The state Commissioner for Education, Mrs Folashade Adefisayo on Monday made this known
She said, “All public and private schools below the tertiary level in Lagos State should be reopened for the second term 2020/21 academic session from Monday, 18th of January, 2021.
“Schools should have flexible plans where students and teachers who feel sick can teach or learn from home via available online platforms. Schools should also strive to avoid any COVID-19 infection among all students and staff,” the statement read in part.
The commissioner advised students, teachers and all other stakeholders to observe physical distancing, regular sanitization and hand washing.
Ogun lady who accused Commissioner of sexual harrasment recants, says purported video misconstrued
Melojeuekun Barakat Mayowa, the 16-year-old student who accused the Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Abiodun Abudu-Balogun, of sexual harassment, has appealed to Nigerians to allow the issue to die down as her words in a video she had made on the allegations, were misconstrued, as many people misunderstood her.
The Senior Secondary School 3 (SSS111) student had, on Saturday, December 2, released a video where she accused Abudu-Balogun of attempting to rape her in the guise of helping her financially.
In the video, Mayowa had said, among other things:
“When Abudu-Balogun came into the room, he locked the door and put the key inside his pocket. He asked about my school and I said Victory Model College. He said how much is my school fee, I said N30,000. He asked who pays it and I said my daddy.
“Hon Abudu-Balogun now moved closer to me and pressed my breast. I moved away from him. He said won’t I cooperate, and I replied by saying why will I cooperate. He now started pressing my breast, pressing my body and harassing me, something like that. Then, I was struggling to free myself from him to get freedom.
“He started reciting some incantations and wanted to place his hand on my head, I now moved away his hand and said nobody touches my head. He wanted to force me into his room, but I struggled with him and started shouting.”
The video had drawn the anger of Nigerians who called for the dismissal of the Commissioner as well as his prosecution.
On his part, Abudu-Balogun swiftly released a statement debunking the allegation, saying it was the handiwork of his political enemies who wanted to tarnish his image.
“My attention has been drawn to a purported video circulating on social media of a girl alleging that I attempted to sexually harass her,” the statement read.
“On this said day, the girl was brought to my house by one of my loyalists who is her uncle, to assist her to get a job as a Computer Operator at the ICT Centre I facilitated while I was serving as a member of the House of Representatives years back which has been moribund
“I met her at my sitting room for a few minutes where many of my loyalists are, people that came to visit me for the New Year. I chatted with the lady for few minutes and as part of my usual gesture, I gave her some amount of money for her transportation.
“A day after, I was informed by some people that I have been alleged to have attempted to sexually harass the girl and I should invite the family for a meeting so as to settle the matter amicably.
“It was after my refusal to yield to their threats that they went ahead to make a teleguided video leading the lady on what to say to implicate me. This is purely a political blackmail by my adversaries.
“Let me state emphatically that I never attempted to sexually harass anyone.”
But his explanation did not hold water with the state government as Governor Dapo Abiodun promptly suspended him while ordering the police to carry out an intensive investigation into the allegations.
However, the teenager made another video on Sunday, which seems to hint at a possible recanting of the earlier allegations she made on Abudu-Balogun.
In the new short video, Mayowa pleaded that Nigerians should allow the matter to rest as she and her family were not ready to drag issues with the commissioner.
While thanking and appreciating Nigerians for standing up for her, Mayowa said:
“I want to use this opportunity to appeal to meaningful Nigerians to please allow this matter to rest. We don’t want to drag issues with the commissioner.
“The former video I made, many people misunderstood it, so please you should allow the matter to rest.”
JUST IN: Court remands Sowore, four others in Kuje Prison
The Magistrate court in Abuja has ordered the remand of Omoyele Sowore and four others at Kuje Correctional Centre.
Their formal bail application will be heard tomorrow, January 5, 2020.
Sowore was arrested by the police for leading a protest against bad governance on New Year’s Eve in Abuja.
He is being arraigned alongside four others by the Federal Government on three charges of criminal conspiracy, unlawful assembly, and attempting to incite others.
They all pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Amotekun fires shots at Police officer in Oyo
An officer of the Oyo State Security Network also known as Amotekun Corps, Ibrahim Ogundele has shot a police officer, Mr. Fatai Yekini in Oyo town on Saturday.
Ogundele is a male officer working with the Amotekun Corps at Isale-Oyo area while Mr. Yekini is a Special Police Constabulary attached to Ojongbodu police station
Source said that Yekini was shot on his left leg at a very close range on the 2nd January 2021 adding that Yekini was taken to the Oyo State General hospital in the Owode area of Oyo.
It was revealed that the police officer is reportedly still receiving treatment at the hospital as of the time of filing this report.
Ogundele is a male officer working with the Amotekun Corps at Isale-Oyo area while Mr. Yekini is a Special Police Constabulary attached to Ojongbodu police station
Source said that Yekini was shot on his left leg at a very close range on the 2nd January 2021 adding that Yekini was taken to the Oyo State General hospital in the Owode area of Oyo.
It was revealed that the police officer is reportedly still receiving treatment at the hospital as of the time of filing this report.
When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the State Police Command, Mr. Olugbenga Fadeyi confirmed the incident.
Fadeyi told newsmen on Sunday that the incident happened when the police officers at Ojongbodu Division were responding to calls to dislodge some youths who were staging a carnival.
He added that the Amotekun Corps member has been detained at the police station for further interrogation.
Fadeyi said, “Yes, this happened when the Police personnel at Ojongbodu Division, Oyo were responding to calls to dislodge recalcitrant youths staging a carnival after several warnings that such should not be staged.
“The Amotekun personnel has since been arrested and currently being investigated at Ojongbodu Police station.”
Schools remain closed indefinitely – Lagos Govt
The Lagos State Government has announced that all public and private schools below tertiary level in Lagos State remain closed indefinitely due to the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A statement issued by the Head of Public Affairs, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Mr. Kayode Abayomi noted that the recent directive makes it mandatory that all schools earlier scheduled to resume on 4th of January, 2021, must remain closed until a new resumption date is announced.
While informing that a new date will be communicated in due course, Abayomi urged parents and students to ensure strict adherence to guidelines issued by the government to prevent the spread of COVID-19 such as the wearing of face masks, physical distancing, washing of hands under running water and use of alcohol-based hand sanitisers.
Ex-UNILAG VC, Prof. Ibidapo-Obe dies from COVID-19 complications
The former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof. Oyewusi Ibidapo-Obe, is dead.
Ibidapo-Obe, 71, died on Sunday in Lagos.
The Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), UNILAG branch, Dr. Dele Ashiru, confirmed the former vice-chancellor’s death to journalists on Sunday evening.
The Secretary of the Council of First Technical University, Ibadan, Olayinka Balogun, confirmed the former vice-chancellor’s death in a statement.
The statement read: “With heavy heart, and submission to the will of God, I write to inform Council members of the transition to glory of Prof. Oye Ibidapo-Obe, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, First Technical University, Ibadan which occurred yesterday 03/01/2021.
The Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), UNILAG branch, Dr. Dele Ashiru, who also confirmed the development to journalists on Sunday evening, said Ibidapo-Obe died from COVID-19 complications.
Ashiru described the deceased as a quintessential educationist that would greatly be missed in the country’s education sector.
He said the late professor was receiving treatment at an undisclosed Lagos hospital before his death on Sunday evening.
The ASUU chairman said: “Yes, Prof. Ibidapo-Obe is dead. He died today (Sunday) from COVID-19-related complications. The late professor’s family has properly briefed us.”
We have successfully dislodged two sets of herdsmen from Oyo Forest Reserve – Amotekun
The Amotekun Corps have said they had dislodged two sets of herdsmen from the Opara Forest Reserve and the Oyo State Agricultural Development Programme Forest.
Amotekun said it carried out the operation successfully with the collaboration with hunters.
The Chairman of Amotekun Corps, Gen. Kunle Togun (retd), on Saturday, in a statement by the Information Officer of Amotekun in Oyo State, Mrs Ayolola Adedoja, said the herdsmen, who stormed the state, claimed they were invited by some traditional rulers.
Togun commended the hunter group led by one Prophet Ojuawo for the assistance of his group, while soliciting more support from the people of the state to make the corps more effective.
The Amotekun boss added that the security outfit was open to criticism, noting that such criticism should not be to discourage the corps from its duty of protecting lives and property in the state.
He said, “On December 24, some herdsmen were seen at the Opara Forest Reserve in the Oke Ogun area of Oyo State. The attention of the chairman of the Amotekun corps was called to it and the Amotekun corps swung into action.
“They were able to flush the herdsmen out of the forest reserve around 2am. The Amotekun corps, with the assistance of one Prophet Ojoawo, who is the head of the hunters in the state, with 40 hunters drove out the herdsmen out of the forest reserve and they were escorted out of Saki West to the Orelope Local Government Area of Oyo State.
“The herdsmen were handed over to the Amotekun corps members at Orelope who also led them out of their territory and handed them to their members at Olorunsogo in Igbeti area. The Amotekun corps at Igbeti made sure they were escorted out of the Oyo State boundary.”
Togun noted that the herdsmen were interrogated and said one baale from the axis invited them to the state and we said they were able to produce a letter of invitation by the village head.
He however charged all stakeholders to be security conscious and to support Amotekun Corps in the discharge of its duties and responsibilities.