The Oyo State Chief Judge, Justice Iyabo Yerima, on Monday swore in 15 new magistrates, saying it would enable the state judiciary to perform better. Yerina, at the swearing-in ceremony held at the State High Court premises, Ring Road, Ibadan, said that the Oyo State Magistracy had, over time, suffered a shortfall in the number of magistrates.
She said there were only 19 magistrates presiding in the various Magistrates’ Courts, spread over all the magisterial districts in the state.
According to her, there have been circumstances where a magistrate would preside over more than one magisterial district.
She was, however, optimistic that the situation was set to change.
“With the appointment of more qualified legal practitioners as magistrates, I am confident to state that the judicial arm of government will be many steps closer to responding adequately to its statutory responsibilities aggressively.
“This will ensure that justice is not only done, but seen as done to all and sundry,” she said.
The chief judge charged the newly appointed magistrates to exercise their authority with fairness, impartiality, honour and utmost integrity.
“You have the power to shape lives and communities through the decisions you make; with this power comes an even greater responsibility.
“Remember that the scales of justice are balanced, and it’s your duty to ensure that they remain so,” Yerima said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the new magistrates are: Adebola Adedoyin, Olasumbo Kudirat, Raji Oluwaferanmi Ayomide, Adelabu Olajumoke Victoria, Rufus Adeoluwa, Ige Oladipupo and Jimoh Kazeem.
Dignitaries present at the event include the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice, Mrs Evelyn Akintunde, as well as serving and retired judges.
No fewer than four persons were on Sunday confirmed dead, while 11 others sustained injuries in a lone accident involving a Foton bus at the Aiyetoro axis on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
The incident was confirmed by the spokesperson of the Ogun Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps Babatunde Akinbiyi.
Mr Akinbiyi explained that the accident occurred at 09:59 a.m. and was caused by a tyre burst which led the commercial bus to somersault into a ditch.
The Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, on Saturday, described his father, Pa Ezekiel Oyebanji, as a man who places great value on honesty, integrity, humility, hardwork and self -discipline, virtues which, according to him, have helped in shaping his own personality.
The Governor also stated that those who have been speculating over possible political crisis between him and the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele will be grossly disappointed, adding that the cord of their relationship stands strong and unbreakable.
Governor Oyebanji spoke on Saturday, during a thanksgiving service held at the First Baptist Church, Ikogosi Ekiti, marking the 90th birthday celebration of his father, who is a retired school principal.
Shedding light on his simplicity and humble approach to life, Governor Oyebanji stated that his father contributed immensely to his spiritual growth, which had buoyed his faith in God, as the only one with the capacity to provide solution to all life’s challenges.
Giving reasons for the decision of the family to have a low key celebration devoid of any formal invitation to anyone, Governor Oyebanji said it was in line with the family’s modest manner of doing things, coupled with the fact he, as the Governor of the state, has to live by example.
The Governor said: “I would have loved to make the birthday elaborate, but I have to make it a low key for the fact that Ekiti people are currently my employer, so I have to behave responsibly. I have to be cautious and circumspect in whatever I do.
” If I wasn’t a governor, I would have celebrated him more than this. We deliberately did not send out invitation card to anyone so that Baba can have a modest celebration with his friends and family members. But somehow people heard and turned up to honour our father”.
Speaking regarding his father’s virtuous life, Oyebanji stated: “Those who are saying I am humble should blame my father for it. He is the one who thought me to be humble. I have no apologies about that. If I have misbehaved as a Governor, my father would have called to caution me. He is such a disciplinarian and would waste no time in correcting me even as a sitting Governor”.
Speaking regarding his political future, Oyeabanji said he has no enemy to fight and that those postulating that he and Senator Bamidele would soon clash would be disappointed.
“The two of us are first and foremost friends and brothers, we believe in God as the sole determinant of the future and we are also highly experienced politicians who have committed our political future in the hands of God. So, stop speculating about any war between us.
“God is the Alpha and Omega of human beings, He does things at his own will. God is the decider of our fate. I want to tell you clearly that nothing can separate me from Senator Bamidele. We have built a strong relationship over the years, so politics can’t separate us”.
In his remarks at the thanksgiving service, the celebrant, Pa Oyebanji, said his strong belief in scholarship as a weapon to overcome poverty, propelled him to acquire western education through hardwork and resoluteness.
Pa Oyebanji appreciated God for being alive to celebrate 90, and still standing tall in good health to contribute to the growth of education in his community, state and the country at large.
“When I finished my Primary six, my father loved all his children, but he didn’t have money to send us to school. I was farming with him, but I loved education and I was determined to acquire it at all costs, which I later did.
“What I know is that whoever that is not focused and hardworking can’t succeed in life. It was these principles that led me to study for my GCE as a private candidate. It was this that gave me admission into the university. Our youths must know that those who made it to the top struggled in life to get there. So, they must work hard to rise and succeed”.
The nonagenarian father of the Governor also charged parents to invest hugely in their children’s education to make their future brighter, more rewarding and glowingly remarkable.
“That was what I did that paid off today. I took the upkeep of my children with passion. I didn’t joke with it. Our parents should also imbibe same because whatever you sow, you shall reap”.’ Pa Oyebanji said.
In his remarks, Senator Bamidele, said the good deeds Pa Oyebanji inculcated in his children reflect in Governor Oyebanji’s remarkable performance as Governor of thr state, a development he said had raised his political rating and would make him spend eight years as a governor.
“As God liveth, Baba will still live longer to reap the fruits of his labour. I appreciate the Governor for standing by me to be Senate Leader. His support was strong and solid. He did this because he had imbibed the culture of Omoluabi and love for Ekiti from his father.
“I will make sure that I join Governor Oyebanji to improve the wellbeing of Ekiti in terms of road construction and facilitating federal projects to Ekiti. This is what we owe Ekiti and we shall achieve it”.
In his sermon titled: ‘Teach us How to count our days’, the Pastor in charge of Gateway Baptist Church, Ado Ekiti, Reverend Michael Otun, dismissed the insinuation that birthday celebration is a signal of imminent death as being thought in some quarters, instead, he said birthday celebration is as an opportunity to think more about heaven.
Showering encomiums on the celebrant for his discipline, humility, prudency, honesty, the Cleric urged Nigerians to always do things right for the nation to experience radical development in all facets.
Pastor Otun described Pa Oyebanji as a courageous man, who faced the vicissitudes of life with valour and triumphed in spite of the initial frictions and snags caused by poor background.
“Baba is not a proud person, in fact he is humble to a fault. Whoever that is diligent is his friend. He has a good and rich history. He believes in intellectual building. He began his life from a humble beginning and rose to the Pinnacle of his career. He is today the father of Ekiti State Governor.
Present at the church service were the the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, Senator Cyril Fasuyi, the Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye, House of Representatives members, Hons. Biodun Omoleye and Akinlayo Kolawole, former Chief Judge of Ekiti State, Justice Ayodeji Daramola.
The roll call also included, the Secretary to Ekiti State Government, Dr. Habibat Adubiaro, the Chaplain of Government House, Pastor Segun Awolumate, Vice Chancellor, Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Victor Adeoluwa, Local Government Chairmen, traditional rulers, top government functionaries as well as former students of the celebrant.
A female victim of suspected kidnappers has been rescued in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, by operatives of the So-Safe Corps.
The Corps put up a big fight in an exchange of gunfire with the hoodlums to successfully secure the victim’s freedom, and also arrested a 32-year-old member of the syndicate, Tunde Salami, from Ibadan in Oyo State
The victim was said to ran into her abductors on July 13, at about 8:00pm, while returning home from the market.
They reportedly seized her phone, gold jewelry, N100,000 in her possession and an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card and thereafte drove her away in her car.
On receipt of a distress call on the incident at the headquarters of the So-Safe Corps, the State Commader, Dr. Soji Ganzallo, charged the Ijebu Zonal Commander, superintended by ACC Marcus Ayankoya, to embark on the victim’s rescue, and do everything within the team’s capability to arrest the kidnappers.
Ganzallo disclosed in a press release issued by the Corps’ Director of Information and Public Relations, AC Moruf Yusuf, that the team could not easily catch up with the kidnapper because of logistics challenges, but was unrelenting in the onerous task.
In the process, the team was informed of strange footprints on a farmland at Oke-Ako Community in Ijebu-Ode Local Government Area, following which Ganzallo instructed the Isiwo/Itamapako Divisional Officer of the Corps, SC Aderibigbe M.O, to mobilize and lead his special squad to deal with the suspected kidnappers decisively.
“The kidnappers were tracked down after rigorous and intensive search, even as they were on the verge relocating the victim”, the Commander stated, adding that, the operatives consequently confronted them in a shoot-out and were successfully repelled, a development that led to the arrest of Salami, from whom a locally-made pistol was recovered.
The victim, according to the statement, was traumatized but not harmed.
The statement further disclosed that both the suspect and the victim have been transferred to the Obalende Divisional Police Headquarters in Ijebu-Ode for further investigation.
A student of Federal School of Statistics, Ibadan was shot by soldiers on Saturday afternoon.
The student was shot at the school premises during the “signing out event” of the graduating students.
According to an eyewitness who spoke to ODUDUWA NEWS under condition of anonymity said, “the student was one of the HND graduating students and was asked to remove his cap by the soldiers stationed on campus but the said student refused to remove it and this made the soldiers to be infuriated and started beating him”.
It was learnt that the student who brazenly refused the order of the soldiers also engaged in heated argument with them having been alleged of being a member of the dreaded Eye Confraternity by putting on the semblance of a cultist cap.
In the course of the heated argument, one of the soldiers pulled the trigger and shot the student at leg.
It was learnt that the Rector of the institution, Dr. K.O. Balogun waded in and directed the soldiers to take the student out for immediate treatment.
The immediate past Committee Chairman on Information, Media and Publicity in Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Kazeem Olayanju has emerged the concensus candidate for the coming Local Government poll in Oyo State.
Hon. Olayanju who served meritoriously during the Oyo 9th Assembly emerged as the flag bearer of People Democratic Party PDP through the joint decision of all the major Stakeholders at Olorunsogo Local Government area of Oyo State.
While making their remarks at the meeting that produced Olayanju as the party sole candidate , the party leaders, Chief JG Adetoro, Ezikiel Babalola, Biodun Oni, Ganiyu Opeloyeru ,Saminu Oladele, Ayantunde Ayandeyi among others unanimously agreed on candidacy of Hon. Olayanju, declared that his track records while serving the constituency as the State Lawmaker through the good representation pave ways for the confidence and support bestowed on him as the concensus candidate.
Presenting his nomination form to the Deputy Governor of Oyo State and a prominent leader of the party at Olorunsogo Local Government, Bar. Bayo Lawal , Hon. Olayanju expresses his gratitude to the Executive Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde for given him another opportunity to serve his people at the grass roots level and bringing light to the lives of downtrodden in Oyo State.
Members of the Traditional Religion Worshippers Association (TWA), Oyo State Chapter have commended the Ogun State House of Assembly for passing the bill, approving the Isese Day holiday for traditional religion worshippers in the State.
The legislators gave their nod for the holiday on Tuesday, years after their predecessors in the chamber declined requests by the traditional religion adherents for the August 20th festival, during which worshippers of various traditional deities come together and celebrate the annual festival.
In a statement made available to journalists in Ibadan on Friday and signed by the State Secretary of the Association, Mogaji Dr. Fakayode Fayemi Fatunde and the Public Relations Officer, Chief Taiwo Fagbohun, respectively, the body used the medium to call on Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State to follow the steps of South-West State Governors that have given approvals for the Isese Festival holiday and gave assent to the bill that has already been passed by the State House of Assembly for the holiday.
The statement reads “it is noteworthy, commendable and historical, the action of the Ogun State House of Assembly for passing the bill for the Isese Day holiday for our teeming members in Ogun State, it goes to show that members of the house are not discriminatory and embrace all religion worshippers as members of the society.
“The Nigerian constitution allows all citizens to practice their choices of religion, in as much as it does not affect the freedom of others, it is unfortunate that such freedom of choice is not allowed to grow in Nigeria, but we appreciate Olodumare that the Ogun State House of Assembly followed the footsteps of the Osun State by declaring the August 20th Isese Day holiday.
“We are using this opportunity to appeal to our amiable Governor in Oyo State, during whose regime different positive beginnings are being witnessed to also follow this step and declare the holiday, as done by the Osun and Ogun States’ governments.
“Our demand is anchored upon our right as a body of believers like our Christian and Muslim brothers and the the freedom entrenched in the Nigerian constitution for us all to associate with our desired religion, we are well aware of Governor Makinde’s capacity to make the bold decision.”
The Ogun State House of Assembly Members anchore their resolution for the holiday on the need to propagate the rich culture and tradition of the State by preserving same for the oncoming generations.
Members of the Assembly called for the observation of every 20th of August as Isese-Cultural Day, which should be declared a work-free day.
Signed:
Dr. Fakayode Fayemi Fatunde, State Secretary, (T.W.A).
Just in 25minutes, Agbala Gabriel raises #1million for veteran actor Ajikanle
In a surprising turn of event, Pastor Gabriel Amusan, popularly known as Agbala Gabriel raised #1million for the ailing actor, Mufutau Ajikanle in a 25minutes live video.
The pastor only visited the actor at his Ibadan residence on Thursday, July 13, following popular demand but lovers who are too eager to help donated a million Naira for the actor within 25minutes.
Agbala Gabriel however stopped the fund raising session owing to noise disturbance at the actor’s residence and promised to take him to church for proper treatment and fundraising activity.
The Ogun House of Assembly on Tuesday passed a resolution for the state to observe the Isese Cultural Day every August 20.
At the plenary, the Majority Leader, Mr Yusuf Sheriff (APC – Ado-Odo Ota I), moved the motion for the House to adopt the passage of the resolution which was later seconded by Mr Lukmon Adeleye (PDP-Odogbolu).
According to him, the Day will also be declared a Work-Free-Day by the state government.
Speaking, Mr Adegoke Adeyanju (APC-Yewa North 1), who sponsored the motion, said the Day was meant to promote the people’s tradition and culture in the state.
The Ogun Police Command on Tuesday, paraded a 77-year-old father, Adedamola Idowu for allegedly defiling his seven years old daughter.
The Police also paraded Idowu’s 26-year-old neighbour, Oluwatobi Adebisi, after they were arrested at Ijagun, Ijebu-Ode for the alleged defilement.
The Police Commissioner, Abiodun Alamutu paraded the suspects alongside others at Elewe eran Police headquarters, Abeokuta.
About seven suspects were paraded for offences related to defilement, cultism, and kidnapping.
Speaking on the offences, Alamutu described the 77-year-old man as a “randy father who has been having unlawful carnal knowledge of the 7yr old girl with his neighbour.”
He said, “The above randy father and his neighbor have been having unlawful carnal knowledge of the 7yr old girl. She has been referred for counseling and emotional therapy, and the case has been transferred to SCID for discreet investigation and prosecution.”
Alamutu also paraded five suspected cultists, Francis Okere, Ogunkoya Olayinka, Awotungase Samson, Abalo Ayomide, and Saka Olawale.
