Category: News

The Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde, members of Oyo State House of Assembly, Commissioners and other political functionaries were hosted yesterday in London for International Business Summit (OYSIBS) 2023.

Makinde in his presentation, at the event titled, “Your All Access Card to Sustainable Investments in Oyo State – Follow the Data,” he talked about how the data from Oyo State shows that Oyo State is the gateway into Nigeria’s thriving economy.

Thus, He discussed the investment opportunities in Oyo State in the Agribusiness, Solid Minerals, Sustainable Energy, Tourism and Infrastructure sectors.

As part of the pre-summit activities, he also visited the CEO of the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr Richard Burge and his team yesterday.

Makinde was quoted as saying, “ we talked about investment opportunities in Oyo State and how Oyo State can benefit from their ongoing activities around the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

“Ibadan is part of the Lagos, Ibadan and Cotonou city cluster, which is the second largest in Africa and thus a big market for investors and so, we look forward to this collaboration.

“Many thanks to Mr Burge and his team for their warm welcome”.

The Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun, has congratulated the new Accountant-General of the Federation, Dr. (Mrs.) Toyin Madein.

Abiodun, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin, on Saturday, expressed delight that Maiden, who is the first female to occupy the exalted position in the country is from Ogun State, saying she has recorded another first for the state reputed for many firsts in the country.

According to the governor, the newly appointed Accountant-General’s track records and astuteness in the accounting profession would have served as a launch pad into the number one public accounting officer in the country.

Abiodun hailed President Muhammadu Buhari for approving the appointment, noting such a feat by Ogun State born public administrator would serve as an encouragement for the womenfolk in the country.

He, however, urged the Iperu-Remo born top public servant to uphold the ethics of the accounting profession and give good account of herself as true born Ogun indigene

The governor further charged her to use administrative experiences she had garnered while serving at different ministries such Police, Power, Works and Housing, Youth and Sports Development, to excel at her new duty post.

While reminding Dr. Maiden of the delicate and sensitive nature of her new position, Abiodun tasked her on probity, accountability and transparency while carrying out her duties as the Chief Accounting Officer of the Federation.

The president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has returned to the country from his 10-day working visit to Europe.

The private jet of the former Lagos governor landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja at about 2:15 pm, where his supporters, party members and some governors welcomed him.

Among the delegation were his Vice-President-elect, Senator Kashim Shettima; Governor Abdullahi Ganduje; Senate, Ahmad Lawan and the ruling party’s anointed candidate for the post of Senate president in the 10th Assembly, Senator Godswill Akpabio.

Tinubu had jetted out of the country to Europe, on May 10, ahead of his May 29 inauguration.

According to a statement by his aide, Tunde Rahman, Tinubu was billed to meet with investors and key allies in business during his trip to Europe.

This is coming two weeks after the President-elect returned to the country from a trip to the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia and France.

ODUDUWA NEWS has gathered that the team of the the Nigerian Communications Commission NCC) has paid a visit to the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH Iseyin Campus in preparation towards the commencement of the construction of N1.1billion 250-Seater Virtual Examination Centre.

At the visitation to the school, the management of Ladoke Akintola University, Iseyin Campus handed over the document of the allocated land to the officials of NCC to begin the project as planned.

The LAUTECH team was led by the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, Professor Adewale, while the NCC team was led by the Direcor of Projects of the Commission, Mr Philip Eratan.

Also present at the visitation, were the past chairman of Iseyin Local Government, Alhaji Saheed Alaran and the incumbent chairman of the council, Mr. Mufutau Abilawon.

The VEC is a 250 seater multi-purpose ICT facility that will make the university operate according to global digital standards.

This project is believed to have been facilitated by the Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Professor Adeolu Akande who hails from Otu, Itesiwaju area of Oke-Ogun.

Ekiti Police parade suspected kidnappers terrorizing Ekiti & Kogi communities and others for various crimes

Ekiti State Police Command has paraded 16 suspects in connection with various criminal offenses such as kidnapping, murder, armed robbery and cultism.

The state Commissioner of Police, Dare Ogundare while parading the suspects restated police effort to get rid of criminals

According to him, the various suspects were apprehended at different locations of their hideouts within the state.

The Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, May 18, 2023, secured the conviction and sentencing of the trio of Semiu Oladiti, Owolabi Azeez and Nnagbogu Chikelu Nicodemus, who were prosecuted for a N1.5 billion fraud, before Justice O.O. Abike-Fadipe of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos.

Nnagbogu was arraigned on an amended one-count bordering on stealing to the tune of N15 million.

However, Azeez and Oladiti were arraigned separately alongside Dauda Adeboyega, Ojo Samson Gbemi, and Zuraai Gold Ventures Limited on an amended 13-count charge bordering on stealing to the tune of N1,598,144,188.36 (One Billion, Five Hundred and Ninety-Eight Million One Hundred and Forty-four Thousand, One Hundred and Eighty-eight Naira Thirty-six Kobo).

The count against Nnagbogu reads: “Nnagbogu Chikelu Nicodemus, between January 2023 and 18th January 2023 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonestly converted to your use the total sum of N15, 000,000.00 property of British Airways.”

He pleaded “guilty” to the charge, following a plea bargain.

One of the counts against the other defendants reads: “Dauda Adeboyega, Ojo Samson Gbemi, Semiu Oladiti, Owolabi Azeez, and Zuraai Gold Ventures Limited, between October 2019 and 31st January 2023 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court ,conspired amongst yourselves to commit felony, to wit: stealing of the total sum of N1,598,144,188.36 property of British Airways.”

While Azeez and Oladiti pleaded “guilty”, following a plea bargain, the other defendants pleaded “not guilty”.

In view of this, the prosecution counsel, A.O. Mohammed, adopted the plea bargain along with the review of the facts.

Consequently, Justice Abike-Fadipe convicted and sentenced Nnagbogu, Azeez and Oladiti to one-year in prison and ordered them to forfeit the sum of N15 million raised by them as restitution to British Airways

The West African Examinations Council(WAEC) has insisted that private schools are the worst culprits among social agents aiding malpractice in its West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in the country.

The council said it had never claimed that public schools were not also guilty of examination malpractice but the fact remains that private schools are worse comparatively.

The Head of Public Affairs Department of WAEC Nigeria, Mrs Moyosola Adesina, made this clarification as a response to an earlier report by Tribune Online and credited to the National President of National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Yomi Otubela, that WAEC always accused private schools of aiding examination malpractice and make it appears as if public schools are not involving in the practice.

In the report, NAPPS boss said even though private schools had never and would never support or justify exam malpractice in any form, WAEC should not exempt public schools when it is making such accusations.

WAEC, however, in a statement exclusively obtained by ODUDUWA NEWS on Wednesday, said though it would not have bothered to engage private schools in argument over this matter and the others raised in the report, it is doing so to put the record straight particularly for the public.

According to WAEC, the council has never said that public schools are not involved in exam malpractice in the country.

“What we know is that there are some bad and good private schools, just as we have some good and bad public schools but comparatively, private schools are worse in exam malpractice in Nigeria.

“WAEC does not also shy away from exposing any guilty persons or institutions in our exams..

“So, for the avoidance of doubt, WAEC, in the past, has named and disgraced all perpetrators of examination malpractice during and after the conduct of its examinations, no matter their status or who they are. And both private and public schools have been named, among others as pepetrators of this dastardly act.

“However, the naked truth remains that the volume of examination malpractice cases is higher in private schools than in public schools.

“So, the reaction of the National President of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) in the fight against examination malpractice is quite unfortunate, and the collective justification for the actions of private school owners is laughable.

Fifty-three days after the sad exit of the mother of the Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Chief Mrs Justina Iyabo Ogundoyin, God has added a new addition to the Ogundoyin’s family.

The Speaker, Hon Adebo Ogundoyin and his wife early this morning (Thursday) welcomed their second child, a baby boy.

Announcing the newest arrival to his family, the Speaker said ” My heart is full of joy as my wife has just put to bed. To God be the glory. It’s another bouncing baby boy. We have another beautiful soul added to our family as a consolation from the Lord. Just less than two months, our Mum bid the world goodbye. We are happy Mum is resting with the Lord now but we have another bundle of joy, another precious gift. Thank you O Lord! My beautiful wife, Olamidun and the beautiful baby are amazingly good. We are super excited at the moment.

” We feel blessed and happy to receive and welcome our little one to the world this beautiful Thursday. He is our second bundle of joy. It is a special gift from God. We can’t be happier. Join me in praising the Lord ” Oyo Speaker said

The National Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, of the Osun State University Teaching Hospital says it will not be joining the ongoing national strike.

This was the outcome of a close door meeting with Governor Ademola Adeleke as contained in a statement by the Governor’s Spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, where the 12 years demands of the doctors were approved by the Governor.

At the meeting attended by the leadership of the union and management of the teaching hospital, Governor Adeleke approved with immediate effect the payment of hazard allowance for clinical and non-clinical workers in the service of the state teaching hospital.

The Governor also approved payment of a percentage of residency training allowance for residency doctors for the same hospital on an annual basis.

Reacting to the presentation by the President of the medical union, Dr. John Ojo, Governor Adeleke further directed that all other operational issues raised by the union should be looked into with immediate effect.

He however charged the medical workers to reciprocate the gesture of the state government by re-dedicating themselves to excellent service delivery.

Elated resident doctors at the meeting jubilated and appreciated the Governor for fulfilling a 12 year old dream of the resident doctors.

A Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Yaba, Lagos has foiled an attempt by the police to detain singer Seun Kuti for 21 days for allegedly a§§aulting a police officer.

The police had on Tuesday, May 16, applied to detain Seun Kuti for 21 days, claiming the policeman he allegedly a§§aulted is in a coma at an undisclosed hospital, SaharaReporters reports.

However, the court granted bail to the Afrobeat musician on Tuesday afternoon, and also ordered the Nigerian police to finish their investigation into the alleged a§§ault in 48 hours and allow Kuti to go.

According to the report, a witness disclosed that: “The court grants police 48 hours to complete ‘their investigations’ after which Kuti can be left to go home on bail.

Kuti’s bail is with two sureties who must be with landed property in Lagos.”

The Chief Magistrate also asked the police to remove themselves from prosecuting him. She directed that the case file should be duplicated and forwarded to the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions for prosecution.

Recall that Seun’s lawyer, Olumide-Fusika, SAN, on Tuesday accused the police of st@rving the musician and denying his wife access to him.