The Lagos State Police Command has foiled a staged kidnapping and arrested four people involved in the scheme.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed this in a statement on Friday.
The statement partly read, “Detectives of the Lagos States Police Command have arrested Margret Itodo ‘f’ aged 25, Agnes Ogbeh ‘f’ aged 23, Esther Anyanwu ‘f’ aged 24 and Anthony Chinakwe ‘m’ aged 24 for faking the kidnap of Agnes Ogbeh.
“On March 19, 2024, Agnes Ogbeh, resident in Akure, had travelled to Lagos and was reportedly kidnapped in Lagos.
“The family back in Akure received a video showing Agnes and one other tied, gagged, and groaning with blood droplets around them.
“The ‘kidnappers’ demanded N5m for the release of Agnes.
Nigeria’s former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has revealed what he spends the better part of his weekdays doing.
Speaking when he paid a courtesy visit to Abia state governor, Alex Otti on Friday, the elder stateman disclosed that he plays squash on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays to be physically fit.
He earlier hailed Otti for repealing the law that gave pensions to ex-governors and their deputies.
The ex-president was on his way to attend the 61st birthday celebration of his former Special Assistant on Privatisation, Bishop Sunday Onuoha.
Obasanjo commended Otti for taking time to engage in exercise, saying leaders must keep themselves in healthy shape.
“This morning, I came in and I met you exercising. A sound mind and a sound body and I say to you, now I know your secret,” Obasanjo said.
“I was glad when you said you do that every other day. It’s just like me playing squash on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. I think a leader must keep himself or herself in a healthy condition,” he said.
The former leader celebrated his 87th birthday on March 5.
Operatives of the Ogun Police Command on Thursday reportedly engaged suspected kidnappers in a gun duel and killed five of them.
The kidnappers numbering eight were said to have been responsible for the kidnapping of Tunde Osifowokan, the farm manager of Flourishing Poultry Farm, Idowa in Odogbolu Local Government area, Ogun State.
The masked gunmen reportedly stormed the poultry farm on Monday shooting sporadically after which they abducted Osifowokan said to be the younger brother of the owner of the farm.
The hoodlums were said to have demanded for the whereabout of the owner of the farm after which his younger brother stood up to say that the farm owner was not around.
On getting to know that the young man is the brother of their target, the kidnappers were said to have whisked him away amidst heavy shooting.
The Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alamutu said the police had been on the trail of the armed gang since the incident was reported.
Alamutu said the command’s operatives stormed the kidnappers’ hideout on Thursday and engaged them in a gun battle
He said “at about 4am on Thursday morning, our anti-kidnapping unit stormed the kidnappers hideout at Odogbolu forest along Sagamu-Benin express way“.
“The kidnappers engaged the squad in a fierce gun battle during when five of them, out of about eight were neutralised while the rest escaped with bullet wounds.
“Exhibits recovered from the dead among the kidnappers are cash sum of N1,185, 070 suspected to be part of the ransom the kidnappers had collected.
“Other exhibits are one sword, cellphones, substances suspected to be hard drugs, charms, empty shells of AK47 riffle and sticks.”
Alamutu also said that the victim, Tunde Osifowokan, was rescued unhurt.
He said corpses of the kidnappers were deposited at the morgue of a General Hospital for autopsy.
The CP said that the command has intensified efforts to arrest all the fleeing suspects.
Chaos engulfed Abeokuta, the Ogun state Capital on Monday following a violent clash between two factions of the National Union of Road Transport Workers at Kuto, Lafenwa, Obantoko, Ita-Osin Odeda, and other motor parks across Ogun Central Senatorial District.
The conflict underlines an ongoing dispute within the NURTW, a development that observers say requires urgent intervention by the Ogun state governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, to prevent further breakdown of law and order, especially in the capital city, Abeokuta.
It was reported that a clash broke out when supporters of the NURTW, Mustapha Ismaila Yaro, who some of their members believe were forced on them by the secretary to the Ogun state government, Mr. Tokunbo Talabi, and Akeem Bodunrin who people believe worked for Dapo Abiodun’s second term bid within Ogun Central Senatorial District.
Earlier this month, the Honourable Commissioner for Transportation, Engr. Gbenga Dairo gave a directive that the transport union has been given to 3 different groups as instructed by Governor Dapo Abiodun; NURTW, RTEAN, and OGSPAM. A development that the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Tokunbo Talabi was not comfortable with as gathered.
This week, the OGSPAM team led by Alhaji Iyeru was supposed to start work but the Commissioner for Transportation gave another directive that the union team loyal to the SSG should work again, while technically scrapping the OGSPAM. A move the other transport union considered as empowering the opposition party.
This Newspaper reports that Iyeru and his supporters had earlier revealed that he sought the intervention of the governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, Ogun Central Senatorial District Leaders, the Nigeria Police Force, and the DSS to resolve the situation, without success.
We shall henceforth not hesitate to defend our mandate with the last drop of our blood,” The fraction had earlier vowed while accusing Yaro of illegally occupying the State Secretariat of the union according to a video shared by a name called Simple.
No fewer than ten people have lost their lives to the ghastly motor vehicle accident that recently occurred on Tuesday night in Oyo State.
It was learnt that the motor accident conveying passengers from Iseyin to Ogbomosho suddenly summersaulted and ten people reportedly died while others sustained serious injuries.
A source who spoke to ODUDUWA NEWS said the bus took a disorderly heap off the road after experiencing a sudden tyre burst on a full speed.
The bus driver, Alhaji Lukman Omipoleko Olope, was said to have died immediately as other casualties were tragically recorded.
He was a fitness enthusiast.
“It was this morning I saw him. He asked if I was going to Ilorin or not. This is so sudden.
“People who saw him before the accident are in shock and disbelief. May God overlook his shortcomings and forgive him,” a grief-stricken ally of the deceased driver, Ashirudeen Ayuba, said.
Meanwhile, the remains of the deceased have been brought back home for burial according to Islamic rites.
A WhatsApp voice note dropped in a group where Olowoeko was a member, which this publication heard revealed that sympathisers have been gathering at Oja Ebedi Motor Park in Iseyin to pay their last tributes to the driver and others.
All respective Local Government Areas in Oyo State that have outstanding Audit Queries to be answered on Statutory Audit Report for the year 2021 and 2022 have been directed to submit their various responses within two weeks to the Office of Auditor General for Local Government in the State.
The directive came following a report presented by the Chairman of Public Accounts Committee, Hon. Olorunpoto Rahaman, during the plenary on Tuesday.
In his report, Hon. Olorunpoto revealed that while considering the Audit Report of the thirty – three Local Government areas in the State, it was discovered that virtually all violated the Appropriation Law for the years under review by incurring Excess Expenditure against the approved Budgets and unbudgeted Expenditure.
He maintained that the reason for the Excess and unbudgeted Expenditure was as a result of Expenditure incurred centrally by the State Joint Local Government Account Allocation Committee, which at times facilitated by the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters on Infrastructure projects at various Local Governments, Primary Health Care, Education support programmes for First Technical University Scholarship, LAUTECH and others.
” All aforementioned Expenditure appeared unaccounted for in the General Purpose financial statement of the respective Local Government which is one of the documents used by the office of Auditor – General for the Local Government to prepare the Audit financial statement of all the Local Governments”. He added
The PAC Chairman further stated that the Legislative Hearing which pave the way for engagement with the officials of Local Government Areas served as an avenue to realise that the signatures appeared in the Local Government approved Budgets or Supplementary Appropriation shows that most Local Government Officials did not carry along their Legislative Council.
“Most Local Government officials did not carry along the Legislative Councillors in the process of approving the Budget as required by Law and Model Financial Memoranda of the Local Government which is the Financial instrument and guideline of all the Local Governments”.
In his report, the Committee Chairman however declared that there was no loss of Local Government Funds or fraud and misappropriation of fund recorded according to the Statutory Audit Report that was carried out.
The House has however urged the Chairmen and Heads of Local Government Administration in the State to put in place an adequate internal control mechanism across LGAs in observing strict adherence to the provisions of Model Financial Memoranda of Local Government on maintenance of proper Local Government Transactions, Asset Register books, personnel emolument Register, Pensioner Register, Revenue Earning Books, Investment Register ,Revenue Collectors Chart and others.
Speaking to the newsmen shortly after the proceedings on the Constitutional roles of the Public Accounts Committee, Hon. Olorunpoto stressed that “As custodians of the public trust, it is imperative that we approach the review process with the utmost diligence, impartiality, and dedication it deserves. The findings outlined in the Auditor-General’s report provided us with invaluable insights into the stewardship of public funds, the efficiency of financial management practices, and the adherence to regulatory frameworks.
“Our role as the Public Accounts Committee is not merely to scrutinize the findings presented to us, but to delve deeper, to question, to analyze, and to ensure that the interests of the citizens we serve are safeguarded. We must identify areas of concern, deficiencies in accountability, and opportunities for improvement, and we must do so with a commitment to fairness and objectivity”.
“Our deliberations are not just a procedural formality; they are a fundamental aspect of our democratic governance, a demonstration of our commitment to upholding the principles of transparency and accountability. By engaging in rigorous scrutiny and constructive dialogue, we have the power to effect positive change, to strengthen the integrity of our institutions, and to instill public confidence in the management of public resources”. The lawmaker added.
A Chinese national, identified simply as Yespon, is currently on the run after allegedly using an electric shocker on one of his father’s employees, known as Kelvin Godwin, at a timber factory in Ijebu-Ode.
ODUDUWA NEWS learnt that the incident occurred at a timber forest on the Ijebu-Ode-Owa Express Road last Tuesday at about 5.30pm.
Our correspondent learnt that trouble started when Godwin, a factory worker, was suspected of stealing flour believed to belong to Yespon’s father, known as Yenchingin.
While an argument ensued between the two over the stolen flour, the absconding suspect was said to have drawn out the electric shocker and used it on Godwin, causing the victim to lose consciousness.
The victim, it was learnt, was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital for medical treatment by other factory workers, including Yespon’s father.
A police source privy to the incident exclusively told Newsmen that the suspect fled the scene after allegedly committing the crime.
When contacted on Sunday, the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, confirmed the incident and told our correspondent that the Obalende Divisional Police Headquarters had intensified efforts to arrest the fleeing suspect.
Odutola said, “There was an allegation that Godwin stole flour that belongs to the factory he works at. An investigation reveals the factory is owned by Yespon’s father. The suspect allegedly used an electric shocker on Godwin and fled the scene.
“Our men in the division have intensified efforts to arrest the suspect. However, the father, who is the owner of the factory, has been with the victim, who has been responding to treatment, in the hospital to offer him support. Meanwhile, the case will be transferred to the State CID for further investigation.”
An earlier incident reportedly occurred in Kano when another Chinese man, Frank Geng-Quangrong, allegedly stabbed his Nigerian girlfriend, Ummukulsum Sani, to death in Janbulo quarters, Kumbotso LGA of Kano, in September 2022.
The suspect was arrested and is currently standing trial for culpable homicide before a Kano High Court.
Former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, has advocated adoption of Parliamentary system of government, adding that Nigeria cannot survive the current executive presidential system of government.
Aregbesola, who was Osun Governor, added that Nigerians are united more by production.
He made his submissions during the National Constitutional Dialogue organised in honour of the late renowned constitutional lawyer, Prof. Ben Nwabueze, on Monday, March 18.
Aregbesola said in part: “We are united more through production.
“So in seeking appropriate democratic representation, let us look at production as a basis of representation. That’s my first submission.
He added: “Can Nigeria survive the executive presidential system?.
K1 De Ultimate hits back at former drummer’s allegations of maltreating his band members
K1 De Ultimate has vehemently retaliated against grave accusations raised by his former and longtime drummer, Kunle Ayanlowo.
In a candid interview, Ayanlowo laid bare the extensive period of hardship endured alongside fellow bandmates while working for KWAM 1.
Nigerian Fuji icon, King Wasiu Ayinde, famously dubbed Kwam1 or K1, has finally broken his silence regarding the allegations of mistreatment brought forth by his former drummer, Kunle Ayanlowo.
Oduduwa News reported days back that Kunle in a candid interview, exposed the harsh treatment endured while working alongside K1, painted a picture of alleged exploitation and control.
He stated in an interview that K1 treated him and other band members as slaves. Kunle described instances where K1 reportedly confiscated their passports upon returning to Nigeria, exercised dominance over their movements.
Kunle recounted a distressing incident where he claimed Kwam 1 forced him to forgo urgent medical attention. He expressed ongoing health concerns stemming from that event, Kunle urged Nigerians to hold K1 accountable should any harm befall him.
Responding in his distinctive musical style on Instagram, Kwam1 directly addressed the allegations, seemingly asked Kunle to desist from spreading falsehoods and cautioning against the influence of dishonest individuals in his circle.
He highlighted his role in Kunle’s rise from obscurity, expressed disappointment at what he perceived as an attempt to tarnish his reputation.
His words, translated from Yoruba to English;
“Lairs and naysayers get away from me, stop lying. Trying to damage the reputation that raised you when you were a nobody. Disassociate from liars, you have nothing to gain from them”.
Nigeria’s inflation rate rose to 31.70 per cent in February from 29.90 per cent recorded in January 2024.
This figure indicates an increase of 1.80 per cent, the National Bureau of Statistics said in its latest CPI and inflation report released on Friday.
This indicates that in February 2024, the rate of increase in the average price level was more than the rate of increase in the average price level in January 2024.
The report read, “In February 2024, the headline inflation rate increased to 31.70 per cent relative to the January 2024 headline inflation rate which was 29.90 per cent.”
Comparatively, on an annual basis, February 2024’s inflation rate was 9.79 per cent higher than the 21.91 per cent recorded in February 2023.
Also, the month-on-month headline inflation rate in February 2024 reached 3.12%, an increase of 0.48% from January 2024’s rate of 2.64%.
This indicates that the pace at which average prices rose in February 2024 exceeded the rate of price increase in January 2024
The NBS further stated, “Looking at the movement, the February 2024 headline inflation rate showed an increase of 1.80 percent points when compared to the January 2024 headline inflation rate. On a year-on-year basis, the headline inflation rate was 9.79 percent points higher compared to the rate recorded in February 2023, which was 21.91 percent.
