Filmmaker Olajide Kareem popularly known as Seun Egbegbe has said that he was sent to jail six years ago for a crime he ‘did not commit.’
The movie producer was jailed on February 10, 2017, after fraudulently obtaining N39 million, $90,000, and £12,550 from over forty Bureau De Change Operators in Lagos between 2015 to March 2017. Egbegbe, who was the boss of Ebony Production, swindled the BDC operators out of money by claiming that he had naira to change into foreign currencies and vice versa. A Federal High Court, Ikoyi, found him guilty of just one of the 44 Counts charges against him.
After 42 months in jail, Egbegbe was set free on October 11, 2022.
In an interview with BBC, Egbegbe described his incarceration as a blessing in disguise as his prison experience helped him identify his enemies disguised as friends around him.
“Those I thought were my friends before I had that issue, I found out were my enemies after I returned from prison. None of my explanations will be acceptable to some people, and they will keep saying it’s a lie because there are too many enemies around me, but I thank God for life.
I believe God made me go to where I went for a purpose because my eyes were open to a few things while I was there. The crime I was incarcerated for six years over, I didn’t commit, but I am happy I went there to know what living on earth means. 95% of the people surrounding me were enemies, not my friends. If this had not happened, I would have lived a worthless life because I believe those around me are my friends.” he said.
Major petrol filling stations in Ibadan had since yesterday been witnessing long queue from the motorists who have been struggling hard to get fuel into their various cars.
ODUDUWA NEWS correspondent who visited some petrol stations in Ibadan discovered many that motorists were on a long queue at some filling stations at Akobo side, Mokola area, Agodi-Gate and others.
While some filling station visited locked their gates and refused to sell fuel, some were seeing rationing the sales of petrol to the motorists.
The fuel scarcity was learnt to have resurfaced also at some filling stations in Ogun and Lagos States.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority has cautioned motorists queuing up for fuel at different filling stations thereby causing serious traffic gridlock to other road users.
The General Manager of LASTMA Mr. Bolaji Oreagba said this today while deploying more Officers of the Authority on monitoring of traffic around filling stations across the State.
Mr. Oreagba disclosed that the deployment became imperative following reports of long queues around filling stations caused by motorists parking indiscriminately and blocking roads while queuing up and waiting to buy fuel.
Oreagba expressed displeasure at the disorderly behaviour of some drivers, who queue up haphazardly and distrupt traffic flow around various petrol stations.
He urged petrol marketers to ensure that products are sold in an orderly manner that would not infringe on the right of other road users to free movement.
“The scarcity of fuel being experienced is not an excuse to block and impede traffic flows across Lagos”
According to Oreagba “We want our roads to be free ; we do not want fuel queues to constitute a burden for other road users in Lagos”
The General Manager reiterated that efficient traffic management has remained crucial in the attainment of seamless multi-modal transportation system in Lagos.
He however sought maximum cooperation from the monitoring public to ensure that the ‘T.H.E.M.E.S’ agenda of the present administration yields positive results in term of socio-economic development, as well security of lives and property.
Holding political office is more of an opportunity to serve and positively impact the lives of millions of people, rather than the prestige that comes with the position, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.
Prof. Osinbajo stated this on Tuesday in Abuja at the launch of the book titled “Deputising and Governance in Nigeria” by the Governor of Kano State, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
It was an occassion where the roles of a deputy to an elected public official, especially Vice Presidents and Deputy Governors, came under public searchlight with remiscences from former President Goodluck Jonathan, Prof. Osinbajo, the author himself and his deputy, Alhaji Nasir Gawuna.
“A thought that runs through the book is that despite the put-downs of the office, being political number 2 is important because the political office is about the lives of millions of people not just about the prestige of office,” the Vice President stated.
But he added that “in our Constitutional Democracy, the effectiveness of the number 2, the Vice President, depends a great deal on the trust reposed in him by the President. That is a function of loyalty and it goes both ways as Umar Ganduje points out in his book.”
The Vice President further highlighted that the importance of dedication, loyalty and service in political office on governance.
Describing the relationship between him and his boss – President Muhammadu Buhari, as ideal and exemplary, the VP noted that he has been “more fortunate than others in my relationship with my principal, Mr. President.”
According to the VP, the President “genuinely believes in the role of the Vice President.
“When he was leaving on medical leave, the second time, there were a few things that were outstanding to send to him, and he said, “I don’t want you to send me anything, it is your job now, just make sure you do a good job.”
“As former President Jonathan said, of his relationship with late Governor, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, the President does not expect me to call him when he is away, he expects that I know what to do and should do it.
“Indeed, once when I called him, he said, “Professor, I am on leave, you are supposed to do your job. Do whatever you want to do, when I come back, we will discuss it.” And that is the way we have always related. I think that is ideal, and I recommend it to principals everywhere.”
While the VP noted the analogy of the spare trye widely used to describe the role of the deputy to the President, he explained that a better description would be that of the relationship between a captain of a flight and his deputy.
His words: “imagine a commercial flight with people, including yourself on a plane, there is the captain, and then there is his deputy. The captain flies the plane, but no human being can be completely focused for several hours. So, sometimes he gets up and goes to the bathroom, while the flight is on, his deputy had better be a good pilot otherwise lives are at risk.
“Can you imagine a situation where the captain leaves the cockpit briefly and you hear an announcement from the cockpit, “ladies and gentlemen, I am the deputy to the captain, the captain is in the restroom, and I am only a spare tyre and I am not sure what to do now?” If you are on that plane you will ask God for forgiveness, for expecting that a deputy or vice plays no role.”
Referencing Governor Ganduje to further emphasize the important role of deputies, the VP noted that, “the deputy or vice must be up to the task every day. He must be the most hardworking in the government, bringing his own skills and talents in representing the principal as efficiently and effectively as possible every single day.”
Noting that unlike deputy governors, he added that Vice Presidents have a few more well-defined constitutional roles.
“The Vice President is the chair of NEC, the monthly meeting of 36 governors, the Chair of the National Planning Commission, the Chair of the National Council on Privatization, the Chair of several boards and also deputy of several other official bodies.
Prof. Osinbajo observed that the book was “full of wisdom and wit from a practical politician and erudite social scientist, Governor Umar Ganduje.”
In the VP’s words, Governor Ganduje was “worth studying not because he has always succeeded politically, but because he failed many times, yet he always knew how to lose and not get lost.”
As Prof. Osinbajo observed, Governor Ganduje had first-hand knowledge and experience to write on such an important subject of ‘Deputising and Governance in Nigeria’, having served as deputy before becoming governor himself.
“More importantly, on the subject of deputizing, no one has his experience. He has been deputy governor twice. Except perhaps, His Excellency, former President Goodluck Jonathan. Governor Ganduje is one of the few who from being deputy governor, became governor and he is perhaps the only governor who has now put forward his deputy to succeed him,” he said.
He further noted that it was rare for a politician to write a book that is not about himself or herself and their great achievements.
“This book is not about Ganduje and his achievements, it is more a textbook on governance and politics. And we have heard this most eloquently from Prof. Jega, the book reviewer today, it contains important nuggets on those two subjects.
The VP also disclosed that “in my very early interactions with him, and there have been many, I found that Umar Ganduje is probably one of the wittiest, most cerebral and most humorous politicians that you could ever found. I always find his views incredibly witty and perceptive. I thought it would be interesting to have his thoughts in writing somewhere. If you are looking for a deep, witty, unforgettable analysis of a subject, you have your man.”
Prof. Osinbajo then recommended the book “to everyone, not just politicians but anyone who has any kind of interest in good governance.”
Aside from the Vice President, other dignitaries at the event included former President Goodluck Jonathan; the APC vice-presidential candidate, Senator Kashim Shettima, who represented the party’s Presidential Flagbearer; Governors Babagana Zulum of Borno State; Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State and Abdulrahman Abdulrazak of Kwara State, among others.
The lawmaker representing Ibadan Southwest Constituency II at the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Oluwafemi Fowokanmi has called for urgent rehabilitation of damaged Oluyole Estate Bridge.
According to the motion sponsored by the lawmaker as highlighted below:
AN APPEAL TO THE EXECUTIVE ARM OF GOVERNMENT FOR URGENT REHABILITATION OF THE DAMAGED OLUYOLE ESTATE BRIDGE EXPANSION
“Notes that Oluyole Estate serves both industrial and residential purpose within Ibadan city, it is a renewed middle-income neighborhood located in Ibadan South West Local Government Area of Oyo State. The area is bordered by Apata in the North, Elebu in the South West, Challenge in the South East, and lyaganku in the East. These listed areas harbor different notable citizens of our dear State and many from other States in Nigeria. This city is also a mixed use city which is mainly consisting large industrial area. The industrial market in Oluyole is approximately 351,000sqm (the largest in Ibadan city).
“Further Notes on that this is the only bridge which serves the residents and motorists plying Mobil Ring-Road to Oluyole estate extension road is presently in need of the urgent attention of the Government to fix all the damaged bridge expansion joints which has totally removed from the bridge, leading to serious traffic gridlock in the area, especially in the peak hours in the morning when residents are going to work and in the evening when they are returning home. Residents/motorists could spend nothing less than two hours in the axis due to the traffic gridlock being caused by the slowing down of the movement of vehicles as a result of the bad bridge expansion joints and the case has seriously escalated after the resumption of the academic activities, because there are numerous public and private schools domiciled in the axis.
“Aware that this bridge was constructed by the immediate past administration in the year 2016.However, the residents and motorists of Oluyole estate extension came to my Office in great numbers being their representative in this Government, appealing to me to use my able office call on Oyo State Government for the repair/fixing of the damaged bridge extension joints as a matter of urgency.
“Further Aware that the alternative road, Mobil 7up Sumal road which the residents/motorists in this area ought to plight to escape the said gridlock is also in a more terrible condition that is not advisable for any motorists to ply at the moment, which also diverted most of the trucks carrying the raw materials to various industries in the axis to also join light vehicles to plight the single Oluyole extension Aare road which worsen the traffic gridlocks in the area.
“Concerned that there has been a Motion raised by myself in this Honourable House that appealed for urgent Government intervention to fix the deplorable Mobil 7up/Sumal Road in Oluyole Estate Ibadan” but nothing has been done on the road till date despite that the road serves the largest industrial hubs in Ibadan city. However it is noted that too numerous are the road fixing demands on the table of the government with very limited resources to meet up those demands, our people in Oluyole Estate are appealing to the the Executive Arm of Government under the able leadership of our visionary and masses minded Governor Seyi Makinde to see the need to fix the deplorable Mobil 7up/Sumal Road in Oluyole Estate Ibadan as one of the priorities of the Government due to its links to the biggest industrial hub in Ibadan city.
Resolve to:
(i) urge the Executive Arm of Government through the Ministry of Public Works and Transport to urgently rehabilitate Oluyole Estate bridge expansion to safe the bridge from total collapse. (ii) urge Oyo State Road Maintenance Agency (OYSROMA) to carry out urgent palliative work on the alternative road to Oluyole Estate extension which is Mobil 7up/Sumal Road to reduce the vehicular movement concentration on the Oluyole extension/Aare Road;
(iii) urge the Ministry of Public Works and Transport to give situation report on the Mobil 7up/Sumal road;
(iv) urge this Honourable House to direct Oyo State Road Traffic Management Authority (OYTMA) to station some of their men at the Obasanjo farm junction close to the damaged bridge to control the motorist, to ease the traffic gridlocks in the axis at the peak hours of the day”.
Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday condemned in strong terms the closure of two markets in the Alimosho area of the state, saying the party leadership found what it described as the intimidation of the good people of the state by the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government “disheartening and uncalled for.”
The party said this in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Hon. Hakeem Amode, lists Council Market in Idimu and Pudaki (Akeja) Market in Ile Iwe, Egbe as the affected centres currently on lockdown.
It would be recalled that the PDP Governorship Candidate, Dr Abdul-Azeez Olajide Adediran (Jandor) and his running mate, Funke Akindele’s campaign trail, was late last week, in Alimosho to galvanize votes in the area among residents as they also visited markets to canvass for votes, ahead of 2023 General Elections.
PDP, while strongly condemning the act, noted that the soaring popularity of both Jandor and Akindele on joint governorship tickets as evidenced in their acceptance and reception by the various groups during their tour of Alimosho communities remained a pointer to the rejection of the ruling APC in the state, which it said had inflicted the people with untoward poverty and depredations in the last 23 years.
“This government yet continues to harass, intimidate and coarse people to continue their imperialism governance in Lagos State.
“As at the time of this statement, two (2) markets in the Alimosho area namely: Council Market, Idimu and Pudaki (Akeja) Market, Ile Iwe, Egbe are currently on lockdown while the responsible citizens plying their trades in these markets are been threatened and intimidated. The attitude of the representatives of the government of Lagos State towards the people of the market is appalling and shameless,” the party said.
“The leadership of our party finds the intimidation of the good people of the state by this government disheartening and uncalled for.
“We would like to condemn in strong terms the attitude of the APC government agents in these markets and to restate our support for the people who under the democratic rule are entitled to choose who leads them through the ballot,” it added.
PDP warned the APC- led government that itself and its candidates would not fold its arm while the ruling party continued what it termed “their misanthropic policies and programs while using the government apparatus to cow everyone to do their whims and caprices.”
The main opposition party, while recalling that the state governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, recently boasted that Lagosians were behind his government and that Lagos was the base for APC, challenged him and others in his camp “to respect the tenets of democracy and freedom of speech and self-expression as enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and allow the good people of Lagos to choose who will form the government of Lagos State in 2023 through the ballot without intimidation and undue influence.”
“We are also using this opportunity to call on well-meaning citizens of the state to rise up to defend democracy in Lagos State and to protect individuals in the state to enable them to make their choice in the coming election freely without fear or favour,” PDP demanded.
When contacted, Treasurer, CDC, Alimosho Local Government, Pastor Wale Olaogun, confirmed that two markets were indeed shut sequel to Jandor’s campaign visit, but listed the affected markets as “one in Ikotun/Igando LCDA and another in Agbado Oke-Odo LCDA, adding: “Bit the affected markets have been reopened for trading activities.”
“I can confirm to you that two markets: one in Ikotun/Igando LCDA and another in Agbado Oke-odo LCDA were shut down. But the affected markets have been reopened for trading activities,” he said.
A yet-to-be-identified man has been captured in a viral video jumping into a river in Lagos State after he was reportedly accused of stealing. according to the Information gathered the man took his life on Saturday night at the Idumota Bridge, Lagos Island. A Facebook user, Ngozi Blessing, shared videos of when the man was addressing some onlookers and the moment he jumped into the river.
Blessing, in the post, alleged that the man took to suicide because he was framed for stealing a huge amount of money, which he denied knowledge of.
In a text accompanying the video, Blessing wrote: “He was saying in oyinbo that they framed him that he stole a huge of money which he did not and they said they give him 24 hours to refund the money and he did not steal and for him to eat once in a day is a problem that where did he want to get that kind of money from within 24 hours so he is tired of life and he jumped down the bridge, it happened yesterday night at Idumota bridge in Lagos island. I am tired of this country the man just wasted his life”.
One of the videos explained to onlookers that he decided to give up his life because he was frustrated after being accused of stealing money he cannot afford to pay back.
The man lamented that despite going to the Police station to prove his innocence, he was still asked to look for a way to repay the money.
In an interview with ODUDUWA NEWS, the Dean of Students’ Affairs of The Polytechnic Ibadan, Mr. John Akinwumi Makinde discussed the recently conducted Students’ Union election.
The Dean who was also the electoral chairman, while granting an interview to ODUDUWA NEWS early hours of Monday, affirmed that the election was free, fair and transparent as against the allegation from some students that the process was tampered with to favour their annointed candidates.
Recall that some students had protested last week against the outcome of the election where they barricaded the school entrance, carrying placards with various inscriptions and chanting ‘aluta’ songs.
According to the Dean, “there was nothing like rigging in the election as all candidates were pleased with the process because all their party agents who represented the candidates appended their signatures on the result sheets.
“We had our Students’ Union election through electionic voting and we firstly had our dummy demonstration to showcase our readiness before the whole process.
“Thank God ODUDUWA NEWS correspondent witnessed the election, you saw the transparent process and how the election was conducted peacefully without any rancour.
“As unmpire we promised them fairness, equity and we demonstrated and showcased it. The process was so transparent because those that won and lost all appended their signatures.
“How will I rig online voting in the presence of security forces, journalists and several other people. We ensured that all stakeholders were carried along before the commencement of the electioneeing process and I didn’t even know the IT expert that designed the platform for election.
“The hues and cries aftermath were handiwork of my traducers who are hellbent on using every ocassion to launch their mischievous act, they have been on this before I became the Dean as no fewer than thirteen petitions were written against me and I overcame all their traps.
“I am from Marketing Department of the Faculty of Business and Communication Studies, both the students that won and lost are not from my department. The guy that won is from the Department of Purchasing Supply and the guy that lost is from Business Administration.
“It is however sad that some students embarked on protest and locked the gate to mislead the public. Though it is within their constitutional right to protest and express their grievances but I would implore them to be civil in all their approaches.
“We are open for talks on any issue, I will implore students to shun any act capable of truncating the smooth academic environment we have been enjoying for a long period of time.
“As an institution we have tried our best. Though, students will always be students. At the same time, they would keep on improving. Our expectations from those that won should be based on template and platform we give to them to ensure that the school is peaceful. We are lecturers here because they are here and we shall do everything under our control to ensure that the school is peaceful”.
The Dean implored the students not to be unnecessarily combative and when they have their grievances they should choose best alternative dispute resolution.
He talked about the students were suspended recently on the allegations of kidnapping and robbery. He said those students were given fair judgement at the disciplinary committee and they were suspended according to the rules and regulations guiding the institution.
According to the Ogun Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), three people were killed and two others were injured in a road accident on Sunday along the Lagos-Abeokuta expressway.
Mr Ahmed Umar, Sector Commander, told reporters in Abeokuta that the accident involved a Volvo mini truck and a Nissan car after the Obada police station along the expressway.
According to Umar, the accident happened around 7:15 a.m. and was most likely caused by a route violation on the part of the driver of the truck marked AKM 489 ZY.
The Lagos Zonal Command of the EFCC, on Thursday, October 20, 2022, arraigned a former Attorney-General of Lagos State, Olasupo Shasore, SAN on a four-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of $100, 000(One Hundred Thousand Dollars) before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos.
Olasupo Shasore, SAN, on or about the 18th day of November, 2014 in Lagos, allegedly induced one Olufolakemi Adelore to commit an offence to wit; accepting cash payment of the sum of US100, 000.00 (One Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) without going through a financial institution, which sum exceeded the amount authorized by Law.
The offence is contrary to Section 78(c) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under section 16(6) of the same Act.
ODUDUWA NEWS has just gathered that Police had fired tear gas at some youths who stormed Lekki Toll Gate early morning of today to embark on what they called the “remembrance of their fallen heroes”.
The youth participants at the second #EndSARS Memorial Procession showed up with dummy coffins, flowers and stained Nigerian flags.
Recall, the #EndSARS movement was led by Nigerian youths across the country to register their displeasure against brutality, Indscriminate arrest as well as extra judicial killings usually perpetrated by the disbanded unit of Nigeria Police Force, Special Anti-Robbery Squad SARS.
The procession passed through the Lekki Tollgate, the scene of the killings that took place on Tuesday, October 20, 2020.
