Oduduwa News

Governor Ademola Adeleke has warned traditional rulers in Osun State that they risk dethronement if communal clashes between Ifon and Ilobu persist.

The conflict has resulted in three d+aths, over 30 injuries, the displacement of 100,000 residents, and property lisses exceeding N2 billion.

To restore order, Adeleke imposed a 24-hour curfew on the affected areas and met with the Olufon of Ifon, Oba Peter Akinyooye, and the Olobu of Ilobu, Oba Ashiru Olaniyan, issuing them warning letters.

Security forces, including the military and DSS, are enforcing the curfew. High Chief Leke Ogunsola of Ilobu confirmed that an attempted arson attack was swiftly thwarted. Oba Akinyooye called for peace, urging displaced residents to return home.

Meanwhile, Federal Housing Authority Executive Director Oluremi Omowaiye criticized the state’s delayed aid response and appealed to Vice President Kashim Shettima for urgent intervention.

With growing pressure for relief efforts, stakeholders are watching closely to ensure peace is restored and victims receive necessary support.

The Ogun State Police Command on Saturday said that its operatives have arrested eight students of Ifo High School for allegedly engaging in cult activities.

Those picked up were Omolaso Waris (16 years) Bennett Bolawatife (15 years)Aluko Taiwo (15 years) Akinola Ifeoluwa (16 years) Azeez Hassan (16 years) Kilani Babatunde (aka Soldier) (16 years) Kehinde Aluko (15 years) and Fasedemi Samuel (16 years).

They were reportedly arrested after the Principal of the secondary school, Mr Alako Oluwole, alongside a teacher, Mr. Akinseku Oloruntoba Julius reported the activities of these teenagers to the police on Friday.

The students during interrogation were said to have disclosed to the police that two students in Senior Secondary School one, Ebenezer Ope and Ebenezer Tobi allegedly initiated them into the cult group called Future Guys.

Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has criticized the suspension of elected officials in Rivers State, stating that imposing a state of emergency goes against the principles of federalism.

Speaking to an international news outlet, Soyinka argued that the 1999 Constitution grants excessive power to the president, emphasizing the need for a national dialogue to address the issue.

“If the action is constitutionally valid, then it is time to amend the constitution to ensure true federalism,” he said. “The government is overly centralized, and while the debate will continue on whether this decision was wise, it fundamentally contradicts the spirit of federalism.”

Soyinka reiterated his long-standing position that Nigeria’s system of governance is unsuitable for a diverse society.

“The federal spirit of association is crucial & that’s why some of us have repeatedly called for a national conference to create an authentic people’s constitution. As it stands, this action violates federal principles,” he added.

Operatives of the Lagos Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have commenced investigations of a suspect, Okorie Sylvernus Sunday, arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, by the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, with $578,000( Five Hundred and Seventy Eight Thousand United States of America Dollars)

The investigations commenced on Friday, March 21, 2025 when the Area Comptroller in charge of the NCS at the airport on Friday, March 21, 2025, handed over Sunday to the EFCC for false currency declaration.

The suspect was arrested by the Customs upon arrival in the country from Johannesburg , South Africa, on Wednesday, March 19, 2025.

On arrival, he had approached the Currency Declaration Desk and declared the sum of $279,000( Two Hundred and Seventy-nine Thousand United States Dollar).

However, an additional sum of $299,000( Two Hundred and Ninety-nine Thousand USD) was found to be neatly concealed in different packages, thereby totaling $578,000 (Five Hundred and Seventy Eight Thousand USD).

During further examination, the suspect was found to have also concealed the sum of 100 Euros (One Hundred Euros) as well as a counterfeit $250 (Two Hundred and Fifty USD).”

Speaking during the handing over, Harrison said: “ This is in contravention of the provisions of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011, which stipulates that any currency or other forms of negotiable instruments , where the value exceeds $10,000 threshold or its equivalent must be properly declared for inbound and outbound passengers.”

Harrison, who spoke on behalf of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, added that “ The Command will be handing over a total sum of Five Hundred and Seventy-eightThousand, United States Dollar ($578,000) to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for false currency declaration.”

While receiving the suspect, the acting Zonal Director, Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the EFCC, Okotie Eboh, Ahmed Ghali, commended the NCS for its cooperation with the EFCC.

He stated that inter-agency collaboration was very crucial to achieving a common goal, adding that “We are here today to take over one passenger coming from South Africa for falsely declaring the cash he was carrying along . I want members of the public to be weary of this kind of act . It is incumbent on each and every person going out or coming into the country to declare any cash in excess of $10,000. It is mandatory by virtue of the provisions of our laws, especially the money laundering law”.

He also appealed to the members of the public to desist from the act of false declaration or non-declaration, adding that the long arm of the laws would always catch up with anyone involved in the criminal act.

“ We will not allow anyone to sabotage the economy or the nation’s financial system. This is because this kind of act exposes the country to a lot of risks, in terms of money laundering; it also makes the country to be seen as a haven of fraud. We will continue to synergise to make sure we have a better country , a stronger economy and a more functional financial system”, he said.

Police found dead bodies riddled with bullets in Gbalegi, a village on the border between Idanre and Akure

Another clash between two communities in Ondo State has resulted in the tragic loss of six lives, with four persons killed in a separate incident on Friday.

The violence occurred in the Gbalegi village on the border between Idanre and Akure, the state capital. Tensions had been simmering in the community for some time before the armed attack erupted on Friday morning at around 8:00 a.m. The victims were initially taken to the nearby police station before being transferred to the morgue in Akure.

The Ondo State Police Command confirmed that it received a distress call that a group of thugs mobilised themselves to the Gbalegi area (a disputed land between Akure and Idanre), attacking the people of the said area.

Following the incident, the police responded swiftly and apprehended seven individuals. These individuals were found to have charms and seven single-barrel guns, along with a supply of both live and spent ammunition.

In a recent interview with Biola Adebayo, Nigerian veteran actress Dupe Jaiyesimi opened up about her struggles with childlessness revealing she has no child to celebrate her 60th birthday with.

Dupe shared her heartbreaking story, including a past pregnancy that ended in disappointment.

She recounted being pregnant at 40, only to be told by her doctor that the child was not in the womb, leaving her questioning God.

According to her, the pregnancy was ectopic, meaning the baby was growing outside her womb.

After losing the pregnancy, her husband brought another woman into their home, who was already expecting his child. This betrayal led Dupe to leave the marriage.

Despite her desire for motherhood, Dupe admitted that she had struggled with infertility and had undergone two rounds of IVF in an attempt to conceive, but both failed. She also considered adopting a child but was discouraged by her late mother.

Dupe stated that she has been single since leaving her marriage.

The actress, who once graced Yoruba movie screens with her talent, admitted that she had been absent from the industry for over seven years. She has neither featured in films nor produced any projects of her own.

Despite the setbacks, Dupe remains hopeful. She firmly believes that as long as she is alive, there is still a chance for her to become a mother. Her unwavering faith in the future keeps her going.

Her story has sparked an outpouring of support and sympathy from fans and fellow celebrities on social media.

Source: Biola Adebayo’s interview with Dupe Jaiyesimi

The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, are at loggerheads over alleged dethronement plots.

Oluwo, in a statement on Friday night, alleged that Oba Ogunwusi is seeking his downfall after he played a prominent role in his emergence as Ooni of Ife.

He claimed the link he used for Oba Ogunwusi would have been used for his elder brother, Tunji Adeyeye, who was his friend and peer at Akobo, Ibadan but he underrated his status.

Oluwo narrated how he arranged several meetings in Ibadan after one Akin Daodu, a close ally to Oba Ogunwusi, begged for his intervention.

He said “To my surprise, the same person I helped to the throne has been planning evil against me. He orchestrated my suspension from the Osun State Council of Obas meeting against the AIG who was a star witness to what transpired. He is using a few kings in Iwoland to destabilize my territory.

“He attacked me last month in the presence of the Governor that I’m discouraging deity worshipping. He was part of those who used my former wife against me. He wants me to be removed as Oluwo by all means. Such is a dream that can never come through. No one can remove me as Oluwo. No one can kill me and no one can bring me down.

“He should keep trying. He will be the one to live to regret, his cohorts that have tried it in the past failed.”

Governor Ademola Adeleke has assured the people of Ilobu and Ifon communities that speedy conflict resolution steps are being taken to restore peace even as he expressed directed the emergency services agency to activate its operations

Responding to a Save Our Soul message from the people of Ilobu and Ifon, Governor Adeleke said his administration has re-strategized on resolving the conflict with multiple peacebuilding options which are being unveiled and implemented.

“I assure the people of Ilobu and Ifon that I am committed to securing their lives and properties. I have updated the presidency of development in the state. We are on top of the situation”, the governor was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, we seek to bring to the attention of the public that old videos of communal conflicts in some parts of Osun state are being circulated by opposition elements to spread false pictures of insecurity in Osun state.

While the ongoing conflict is regrettable and while all hands are on deck to stop the violence, we inform the public to take note of the activities of fake news merchants who are digging up old videos to discredit the state government.

The videos being circulated of violence in other towns and villages in Osun are fake news and should be disregarded by the members of the public.

Governor Ademola Adeleke has stepped up conflict de-escalation moves on Ifon- Ilobu conflict, imposing a 24-hour curfew, mobilising joint security task force and hosting a peace deal between the two warring communities.

A Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti has arraigned Dr. Oyeyemi Agbeleoba, a lecturer at Ekiti State University (EKSU), over allegations of impersonation and cyberbullying. Agbeleoba, who is also a journalist and Managing Director of Our People’s FM, was taken into custody by the Department of State Services (DSS) on February 11, 2025.

The case has drawn significant public attention due to Agbeleoba’s familial connection to Mrs. Folasade Adebayo, who had previously accused the vice chancellor of Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), of sexual harassment. However, it’s essential to note that the charges against Agbeleoba are specifically linked to allegations of impersonation and cyberbullying, not related to the sexual harassment allegations.

Agbeleoba’s arraignment on Thursday was his second court appearance, with the case adjourned to April 29, 2025, for further hearing. The Ekiti State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has called for Agbeleoba’s immediate and unconditional release, alleging that FUOYE’s vice chancellor, Prof. Abayomi Fasina, played a role in orchestrating Agbeleoba’s arrest.

As the case unfolds, further details may emerge regarding the nature of Agbeleoba’s alleged offenses, including claims that he impersonated security officials and engaged in cyberbullying against FUOYE staff. If convicted, Agbeleoba could face a three-year jail term and a fine of up to N10,000,000.