Category: News

A first class graduate of University Of Ibadan whose name is Opuofoni Freeborn Ebimotimi was killed at the early hours of today at Honeyhill Tombia Bayelsa State for stealing bread.

Opuofoni Freeborn Ebimotimi who is From Korokorosei community of Southern Ijaw Local Government area Studied Business Administration (B.Sc) UI.

He was beaten to death by angry youths for stealing a bread this morning, Neighbors and friends who saw the incident rushed to the scene of the actions and pleaded with the angry youths to allow him leave, stating they will pay for the bread in double folds but the angry youths decline the plead of the people as they killed him.

Opuofoni Freeborn Idisemi, the younger sister to the deceased lament that life has been unfair to them since the demise of their father adding that she has no idea of what led him to steal bread this morning stating that they are used to the hardship of life.

She however points out that despite having uncles who are doing well in government and other places but could not help them.

An Ikeja High Court has sentenced a 30-year-old hotel worker, Jeffrey Ehizojie, to death by hanging for strangling his employer, Olusola Olusoga and the hotel manager, Tunji Omikunle, to death in Lagos. Delivering judgment on Tuesday, July 11, 2023, Justice Oyindamola Ogala, held that the prosecution has proved its case beyond reasonable doubts.

Mrs. Ogala found Ehizojie guilty of beating and strangling the Managing Director of Etsahol Hotel and Suites located at Ojodu-Berger, Lagos. She said the crux of the case of the prosecution was premised on the confessional statement of the convict as well as circumstantial evidence.According to her, the court had carefully considered the retracted defence statement, (which was admitted as evidence) which showed where Ehizojie stated that one of the hotel staff, Henry, had informed him that he observed that the owner of the hotel kept much money at home.

Mrs Ogala said: “the defendant, in his confessional statement  said that Olusoga treated her workers badly so they planned to tie her and collect her money.
Confessional statement is the best evidence to ground conviction and as held in several cases, it can be relied upon solely where voluntary.It is curious that the defendant who was privy to the state of affairs in the hotel told  the court that he was shocked when the police informed him of the death of his boss and the manager when he was arrested at Port Harcourt.

“There is no doubt that the defendant was present at the premises of the scene of crime as confirmed by him in his evidence in chief and exhibits before the court,”
The judge held that the court had carefully considered the evidence of the defendant, particularly his account of how he left the hotel premises on Jan. 25, 2019 and his incredible story as to why he did not return to the hotel after the incident nor report at the police station”.

She held that the convict had no clear explanation why fled to Port Harcourt the next day until his arrest. According to her, the circumstantial evidence against the convict was unequivocal, positive and irresistibly pointed to his guilt.

Paramount Traditional Ruler in Oke Ogun region of Oyo State, The Onitede of Tede in ATISBO Local Government of Oyo State, His Royal Majesty, Oba Alhaji Abdulrauf Adebimpe Oladoyin, has congratulated the newly elected chairman of the Economic Community of West African State ( ECOWAS) , President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria.

The Royal Majesty pledged the supports of Traditional Rulers in Yorubaland and indeed the Nigeria for the President in the discharge of his duties at various levels.

He advised the Government to consider the nomination of Barrister Ahmed Raji, SAN or any other prominent Oke Ogun Professionals home and abroad for Ministerial, Ambassadorial and Policy making positions in order to support the new hope of Nigeria.

The Monarch maintained that there are enormous lands across Tede and Oke Ogun region which are suitable for Agriculture, Mineral Resources exploration, Industries, Research Institutes and Educational Institutions, Commerce, Tourism, etc. The utilisation of such will provide employment opportunities for the Youths, expansion of our Foreign Exchange markets, revenue generation for local, State and Federal Government among others.

The Monarch finally urged Nigerians to be patient for the Tinubu- led administration and be prayerful for an unprecedented transformation programmes of the Government which he believes shall have positive impact on all citizens in the medium and long terms.

A Nigerian man, Oluwatobi Kufeji, has embarked on the longest singing marathon in his quest to set a new Guinness World Record.

The marathon kicked off in Lagos on July 5 and is expected to run until July 13.

Kufeji had earlier announced his ambitious plan to undertake a 200-hour praise-a-thon as he aimed to surpass the previous record of 105 hours set by Indian singer Sunil Waghmare in 2012.

“Guinness world records has accepted my application to break the record of the LONGEST SINGING MARATHON of 105 hours currently held by Sunil Waghmare (Indian) since March 2012 and the record of the LONGEST CONCERT BY A SOLO ARTIST for 501 hours currently held by Kuzhalmannam Ramakrishnan (Indian).

“These marathons will be done separately. I’m very convinced that I will break the two records. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” he posted.

As observed by our correspondent on Kufeji’s Instagram handle, he has already surpassed 106 hours.

However, he is not the only Nigerian seeking to break Guinness World Records recently.

ODUDUWA NEWS reports Hilda Baci, a talented individual, recently achieved a new record for the longest cooking marathon by an individual.

Following in her footsteps, another chef based in Ekiti State, Damilola Adeparusi embarked on a five-day cooking marathon, further adding to the wave of record-breaking attempts. Also, a chef, Adeyeye Adeola recently undertook a 150-hour cooking marathon in the Ile Oluji/Oke Igbo Local Government Area of Ondo state, to surpass Baci’s record.

A former President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Dipo Fasina, popularly known as ‘Jingo,’ has been found.

Earlier it was reported by newsmen that Fasina had been missing since Saturday, July 1, 2023.

Fasina was reportedly travelling to Algeria at the invitation of the Algerian government when he missed his connecting flight from Istanbul, Turkey.

But on Sunday, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission confirmed that Fasina had been located.

NiDCOM and incumbent ASUU president, Prof. Emmanuel Sodeke, earlier confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES that Fasina’s whereabouts were unknown.

Osodeke however, added that the lecturers’ union was working hard to ensure Fasina’s safe return home.

But in a statement issued by NiDCOM on Sunday afternoon titled ‘Update On The Missing Ex-ASUU President, Dipo Fasina ‘Jingo’, said the academic had been found.

It said, “He has been found.

“The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, in collaboration with the Nig high commission in Turkey, has successfully located Prof Fasina who went missing for a few days at Istanbul Airport while connecting on a flight back home.

“Mr. Fasina, 76, was traveling to Algeria when he was said to have missed his connecting flight from Istanbul, Turkey.

“The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, in collaboration with the Nig high commission in Turkey, has successfully located Prof Fasina who went missing for a few days at Istanbul Airport while connecting on a flight back home.

“A big thanks to the Nigerian Ambassador to Turkey who immediately sent officials to the Airport to physically locate him in the very busy and huge Istanbul Airport.”

Fasina, a polyglot, reportedly speaks Yoruba, English, French, Russian, and Ukrainian. He also reads and translates German and Spanish.

The wife of the Ondo State Governor, Mrs Betty Akeredolu has announced the suspension of activities lined up for her forthcoming 70th birthday celebration. The Ondo First Lady will be 70 on July 20.

There had been criticisms in some quarters about her plans to have a big celebration while her husband is in convalescence and the postponement is believed to be a reaction to the criticisms.

She said in a a Twitter post on Sunday morning that the suspension was a result of circumstances beyond her control.

The tweet reads, “Hello Family and Friends. This is to inform you that all activities lined up to mark my 70th birthday are hereby suspended till further notice due to unforeseen circumstances beyond my control. Sorry for any inconvenience caused by this development. Nevertheless, be assured that I will be celebrated in style upon my return. Thank you for your understanding. I remain Arabinrin a.k.a Ada Owere I.”

In another Twitter post accompanied by a photo of her birthday flyer, she said that as long as there is life, ‘Owambe’ (party) can come at any time.

Governor Akeredolu has been on medical vacation since the 7th of June, 2023.

Soyinka had described the decision to cancel the festival as “a crime against the cultural heritage of all humanity” and “an assault on civilised conduct”.

He had said the Nigerian constitution guaranteed a freedom of belief, adding that the cancellation would undermine the country’s progress.

But reacting to the position of Soyinka, the monarch said the decision to cancel the ceremony was to prevent crisis.

The Emir described the decision as “proactiveness”, saying it “is necessary to sustain peaceful co-existence in the society.”

Gambari in statement issued on Friday through his spokesperson, AbdulAzeez Arowona, said the decision was taken to avert situations that might lead to “reprisal attacks by sympathisers or promoters of such belief (Isese festival) in other parts of the country”.

He added that the priestess had lived “harmoniously” in the town for years “until she decided to go beyond her boundaries”.

“In order to set records straight, Professor Wole Soyinka tends to be economical with facts, forgetting that war is nobody’s want,” the statement said.
grin
“As he decided to settle with a factor that is capable of causing chaos in the society, if not quickly averted.

“This is to prevent crisis and not waiting until it erupt because the cost of managing crises cannot be equated to the wisdom or courage required to prevent it.

“Such proactiveness is necessary in order to sustain peaceful co-existence in the society. It is therefore surprising to hear that the position of Professor Soyinka is identical to someone who does not consider what might transpire if the programme was hosted.

“It may result to issues which could also lead to reprisal attacks by sympathisers or promoters of such belief (Isese festival) in other parts of the country.

“There are many non-indigenes in Kwara who are serving and retired, including business owners who have vowed to move their families to the state due to the peace and harmony enjoyed therein.

“Yeye Ajesikemi also confirmed that she has been living harmoniously in Ilorin for many years, not until she decided to go beyond her boundaries,” the statement partly read.

The veteran actor, Alapini has been gifted a car by a fan based in Europe after crying out for help.

A fan identified as Lekan Enuope had earlier vowed to get a new Toyota Sienna for Alapinni during a fund raising live video organized by Kamo state.

Kamo state had earlier raised #3.7million before Lekan called to shoulder the responsibility of getting a car for Alapinni.

Kamo has however made it known during a live video monitored by ODUDUWA NEWS on Saturday, July 8, that the money will be shared between the duo of Lalude and Alapinni for renovation of their houses. Adding that Alapinni will be getting the largest share of #2million while his friend, Lalude will get #1.7million.

Ekiti State Government has prohibited the staging and hosting of an event tagged: “Kiss-A-Thon in the state.

The government in a letter conveyed through the state Ministry of Arts, Culture and Tourism to State chapter of Hoteliers Association warned them against holding such event.

A flier obtained by journalists in Ado Ekiti, the state capital yesterday, about the event has the inscriptions “SUGARTEE KISS-A-THON: 3-Day Kissing Marathon Date: July 7th – July 10th. In an attempt to break the Guinness World Records for the longest kissing marathon”.

The letter signed the state tourism director, Mr Adebanji Adelusi on behalf of the ministry Permanent Secretary, Dele Ogunsemoyin described such event as absurd and immoral. The organizers and whosoever that is willing to participate in such risk 3-year jail term.

The letter reads, “The attention of the State Government has been drawn to a planned hosting of ‘Kiss-a-thon’ in Ekiti State.

“According to information at the disposal of this Ministry, kiss-a-thon, a 3-day kissing marathon event, has been scheduled to hold on 7th of July, 2023 at one of the hospitality outlets in the State.