An angry mob at the Adagbada/Arola community in Apete, Ibadan, Oyo State has reportedly beaten a serial armed robber cum rapist, to death on Wednesday.
According to reports, the mob descended on the suspect after invading a residence at about 4am to forcefully cart away with phones and money from two ladies.
The armed robber, who had been on the wanted list of the police for some years, was further reported to have locked one of the ladies inside a toilet and ordered the other to lie down for him to rape.
An eye witness narrated that the lady he locked up found her way out and alerted neighbours.
This made the neighbours to come together to prevent the suspect from succeeding in his move.
It was gathered that immediately the suspect knew he had been exposed, he made an attempt to escape, but was caught by sympathisers who joined in the race after him.
A credible source, who craved anonymity said that the suspect threw the phones he forcefully took from his victims over the fence of a building, from where they were eventually recovered by the police in Apete Division.
A crowd which had gathered descended on him until he was beaten to death.
Early in the morning, many residents from adjoining communities in Apete gathered to watch the suspect’s lifeless body, while many of them who were privy to his past criminal activities started jubilations.
In an interview with some of the residents, the eye witnesses narrated to the newsmen how they lived in fear because of the activities of the slain suspect.
They disclosed that the suspect was always armed with cutlass, which made many ladies to fall victims out of fear of being killed.
They said he used to act as if he came for operation with other gang members, with him barking orders and asking them to bring his gun if the victim he wanted to rape did not give in easily.
According to the sources, sometimes, he would lock up residents in an invaded house and take his victim outside the building to rape.
The deceased, whose acts were said to have been ongoing for about five years, was said to have raped a lady who was with her fiance after locking up the man.
In the meantime, the corpse has been recovered by the police in Apete Division and taken to Adeoyo State Hospital to be deposited in the mortuary.
It was learnt that the Police has launched an investigation into the incident.
The supporters of Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi in the last general elections have begun reacting to the crisis rocking the party in recent time. They have attributed the crisis to the manipulation and plot carefully orchestrated by president-elect, Bola Tinubu to take over the party affairs in order to install his stooge that would later withdraw the petition filed against him.
Recall, ODUDUWA NEWS had earlier reported how Police took over the national secretariat of the Party in Abuja as a result of crisis rocking the party.
Some members of the National Working Committee of the Labour Party (LP) led by the Deputy National Chairman of the party (South) Lamidi Apapa have taken over the affairs of the party following a court judgment restraining Julius Abure and three others from parading themselves as national officers of the party.
The development took place in Abuja on Thursday during an emergency meeting of the LP National Working Committee (NWC).
Lamidi said he is now the Acting National Chairman of the party while Saleh Lawan is the Acting National Secretary.
According to him, Abure and the three others must vacate the order of the Federal High Court retraining them before further action can be taken on the leadership of the party.
The emergence NWC meeting also reinstated Executive Council members from Ogun State, Rivers State, and Gombe State.
A Pastor, Dr. Owen Abraham have allegedly absconded with 52 Android and iphones, money, and valuables of residents of Aponrin in Agbowo, Ibadan who came for a crusade organised by him.
The crusader, according to some of his victims said he was led by God to come to Ibadan from Gambia for the crusade.
Abraham, at the last day of the three days crusade claimed Holly Spirit directed him to tell people to submit their phones and valuables, but later absconded with it.
The victims said Abraham, who lured them into three days fasting and prayer was no where to be found the last day of the crusade as all effort to reached him proved abortive.
A victim, Mrs Grace Akintola said many widows went for the crusade because the Pastor promised to give each person a bag of rice and money, adding that Abraham also promised to empowered students with scholarship.
Mrs Akintola, a widow while recounting her ordeal said, “the Pastor approached an Igbo lady in our area to assist him to gathered widows and students, he said he want to help us.”
“Someone in my area invited me for the crusade, the crusader wear Pastor regalia, he said he will buy house for one of us, he said the house is fully furnished.”
“He promised some people who attend the crusade money, even politicians can not give out such money he promised.”
“The last day of the crusade, he sold a bottle of water for us at the rate of N4,800, he said perfume is inside the bottle water, many people paid for the water.”
Another victim, a student of University of Ibadan (UI) who pleaded anonymity said the Pastor ordered them to fast for three days, adding that the evangelist collected their phones so as to keep it away from them and focus of the prayers unknowing to them that it was a trick to get rid of their belongings.
“He said no phone should ring, that was why he collected all the phones, in fact, a lady stood up and wanted to snapped him, he seized the phone from her.”
“On the last day of the crusade, he said he wanted to go and rest at the hotel where he lodged, he later said he wanted to go and eat at UI, we don’t know how he escaped with our belongings.”
“As a man of God, we respected him alot, we didn’t know that he wanted to use the name of God to duped us.”
Meanwhile, Abraham has been declared wanted by people in the area, as posters bearing his name and pictures has been circulated within the area to track him down.
On Thursday, the Oyo House of Assembly granted the governor’s request to borrow N50 billion to finance ongoing and future infrastructural projects in the state.
A commercial bank would give the N50 billion contract finance facility at an interest rate of between two and four percent spread over 48 months in order to finance a selected group of projects.
Some of the new and current road infrastructure projects around the state that will be supported from the loan were enumerated in the letter that was read during the plenary, which was presided over by the deputy speaker, Honorable Abiodun Fadeyi.
In seeking the Assembly’s approval of the loan, Majority Leader, Honourable Sanjo Adedoyin said the fund will go a long way in enabling the current government to execute contracts for infrastructure development projects.
He added that the fund will also help the state to continue to bridge its infrastructure gap.
At the plenary meeting on Thursday, the Assembly was asked to ratify the nomination of Justice Iyabo Yerima as the state’s chief judge in a different letter.
A bill to prevent Nigerian-trained medical or dental practitioners from being granted full licences until they have worked for a minimum of five years in the country has passed second reading at the House of Representatives. The bill is part of the measures to halt the increasing number of medical doctors leaving Nigeria for other countries in search of ‘greener pastures.!’ The title of the amendment bill, which was sponsored by Rep. Ganiyu Abiodun Johnson, reads, “A Bill for an Act to Amend the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act, Cap. M379, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to mandate any Nigeria- trained Medical or Dental Practitioner to Practise in Nigeria for a Minimum of Five (5) before being granted a full licence by the Council in order to make Quality health Services available to Nigeria; and for Related Matters (HB.2130)” The second reading was taken on the floor of the House in Abuja on Thursday. Johnson told the House that it was only fair for medical practitioners, who enjoyed taxpayer subsidies on their training, to “give back to the society” by working for a minimum number of years in Nigeria before exporting their skills abroad.
The majority of lawmakers supported the bill, though a number of them called for flexibility and options in the envisaged law. One member, Rep. Uzoma Nkem-Abonta, opposed the bill on the grounds that it was more like enslavement to tie a doctor down for five years in Nigeria, post-graduation, before seeking employment in a foreign country. However, a majority voice vote passed the bill for second reading. The plenary of the House was presided over by the Speaker, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila.
Oyo House of Assembly has reinstated the Vice Chairman of Ona-Ara Local Government, Kunle Balogun who was suspended for alleged gross misconduct.
This decision was made today at the plenary.
The motion for the reinstatement was moved by the Chairman House Committee on Local Government, Hon. Akintunde Olajide while he was reading the committee report.
The report of the committee is reproduced below:
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT, CHIEFTAINCY MATTERS AND STATE HONOURS THAT INVESTIGATED PETITION AGAINST THE VICE-CHAIRMAN ONA-ARA LOCAL GOVERNMENT MR. KUNLE BALOGUN OVER GROSS MISCONDUCT AND ANTI-PARTY ACTIVITIES AND HIS SUSPENSION BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT
1.0 PREAMBLE: 1.1 Pursuant to the Directives of the House on Thursday, 22nd December, 2022, that the Committee on Local Government, Chieftaincy Matters and State Honours investigate petition against the Vice-Chairman, Ona-Ara Local Government and Political Head, Inukan Local Council Development Area (LCDA) Mr. kunle Balogun over gross misconduct and anti-party activities in the Local Government which was detrimental to the progress and goodwill of the administration of His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde.
1.2 Prior to the House Directives the Committee had earlier received a correspondence to conduct investigation via the Office of the Clerk of the House on suspension of Vice-Chairman, Ona-Ara Local Government- Mr, Kunle Balogun by the Legislative Council, Ona-Ara Local Government. The correspondence was authored by members of the Legislative Council, Ona-Ara Local Government and intimated the House on the resolution of the Legislative Council to suspend Mr. Kunle Balogun as Political Head, Inukan LCDA with effect from 15′ November, 2022 and replace him with the Deputy Leader of the House, Councillor Adedokun Mumini Ololade. The correspondence was duly endorsed by Legislative Council Members from the wards of Ona Ara Local Government namely wards: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 10 and 11.
The Committee consequently swung into action and carried out investigations on the two (2) subject matters.
The Committee met with all concerned and relevant stakeholders on Friday, 6 January, 2023 with a view to investigating the matter. The Committee also affirmed the signatories to the petition and the correspondence authored by the Legislative Couneit Ona-Ara Local Government. Each person interrogated was put on oath in accordance with legislative practice and procedures. The members of the Committee raised critical and fundamental questions on each of the issues raised in the petition as allegations against Mr. Kunle Balogun in order to take informed decisions and make appropriate recommendations to the House. 3.0 FINDINGS: 3.1 The following are the findings of the Committee: 3.1.1 Investigation revealed that the actions and administration of Mr. Kunle Balogun, the Political Head of Inukan LCDA were very inimical and detrimental to the policy objectives and people oriented programmes of Governor Seyi Makinde in the State and Local Government levels.
3.1.2 Mr. Kunle Balogun did not regularly attend Security and Finance and General Purpose Committee (F&GPC) meetings when invited by the Officials of the Local Government. Investigations further revealed that on few occasions when he attended due to his ineptitudeness, he disrupted the meetings of important Government decisions.
His action was tantamount to loss of value for Governance and abuse of Office, 3.1.3 It was also found out that, Mr. Kunle Balogun had no human relations with the grassroot people in the Local Government. Whenever his attention was drawn to embark on meaningful and developmental projects within the Council Area, Mr. Kunle Balogun turned deaf ears to the elder’s advice. His action was definitely detrimental to the philosophy of good governance of Governor Seyi Makinde.
3.1.4 The respondent (Mr. Kunle Balogun) accepted in totality all allegations levelled against him by the petitioners while pleading for mercy and compassion from the Committee. He promised Officials of the Local Government, the Committee Members and others that he was going to make necessary adjustments on areas of negligence.
3.1.5 After an exhaustive interrogation and questioning, the Committee observed that the allegations levelled against Mr. Kunle Balogun over gross misconduct was basically on anti-party activities and not found culpable of any financial recklessness or mismanagement of Public Funds in his Official duties.
3.1.6 On issue of suspension of Mr. Kunle Balogun as Vice- Chairman, Ona-Ara Local Government by Members of the Legislative Council of the Local Government through resolution while replacing him with the Deputy Leader of the House, Councillor Adedokun Mumini Ololade. The Committee’s invesigations revealed that the suspension was carried out illegally and without due process or legislative procedures as required by Sections 20, 21 and 22 of the Local Government Law, 2001 (as amended) which provide the procedures for the suspension or removal of Chairman or Vice-Chairman. The action of O na-Ara Local Government Legislative Council over the suspension of Mr. Kunle Balogun as Vice-Chairman, Ona-Ara Local Government contravenes the provisions of the sections cited above. The Committee considered it null and void.
4.0 RECOMMENDATIONS: 4.1 In view of the petition against Mr. Kunle Balogun and his suspension investigated by the Committee and findings emanated from the investigations. The Committee pursuant to section 21 of the Local Government Law, 2001 (as amended) hereby recommends for the approval of the House as follows, that:
Mr. Kunle Balogun, the Vice-Chairman, Ona-Ara Local Government and Political Head Inukan LCDA having not found culpable of any financial misconduct or mismanagement of Public fund except allegations of gross misconduct on Party activities levelled against him and having been suspended unjustly by the Legislative Council be reinstated as the Vice-Chairman, Ona-Ara Local Government and Political Head Inukan LCDA with immediate effect; and
i. the Deputy Leader of the House, Ona-Ara Local Government Legislative Council, Councilor Adedokun Mumini Ololade who was elected without due process as Acting Vice-Chairman, Ona-Ara Local Government by members of the Legislative Council to vacate the Office of Vice-Chairman immediately
A Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting in the Sabo area of Yaba, Lagos has ordered the remand of a leader of the Igbo community, Eze Ndigbo Fredrick Nwajagu, for allegedly threatening to bring the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to the state.
Chief Magistrate Peter Nwaka ordered that the defendant should be kept at the Ikoyi custodial facility for 30 days pending the legal advice of the State’s Director of Public Prosecution.
The Chief Magistrate made this order on Wednesday after Nwajagu aged 67 was docked before the court by the police on a two count charge of conspiracy and conduct likely to cause a breach of public peace. The police prosecutor, SP Thomas Nurudeen, told the court that the Eze Ndigbo and some others at large committed the offences on March 26 at No. 2, Akeem Shitu Street, Ajao Estate, Lagos State.
He alleged that Nwajagu put fear in Lagos residents when he threatened to bring IPOB to the state. Nwajagu was also said to have publicly stated that IPOB would shut Lagos State for one month.
According to Nurudeen, this alleged offences contravene Sections 168 (d) and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. Being a remand proceeding to ensure lawful detention, the plea of the defendant was not taken.
The Chief Magistrate said he would await the advice of the state’s DPP, Dr Babajide Martins on how to proceed before adjourning the case to May 3 for mention.
Nigerian hip-hop artist, Folarin Falana, popularly known as Falz, has revealed why he does confrontational music.
In a recent interview with Arise TV, Falz said he was not afraid of death, stressing that life in Nigeria is not meaningful.
The multi-talented entertainer featured on the programme ‘Music as a Socio-political Tool’, on the heels of his latest song with his colleague, Vector – ‘Yakubu‘, titled after the chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.
The rappers, in the song, called out INEC, its chairman and other political parties allegedly involved in the electoral malpractices in the just-concluded general elections.
According to Falz, he would rather go down fighting for justice than to remain silent and die from the failed system of the country.
The rapper, who joined the programme via Skype from the United Kingdom, explained that he was not abroad because he was afraid of confrontation from state actors over the controversial song.
He said, “I knew that was going to come up when you announced that I was doing this from London. Like I said earlier on, this is not the first time, this is not the second time, this is not the third time.
“I have released tons of records that are very confrontational. And I was on ground. I’m always on ground when I released these records.
“It is not to say that I’m running anywhere. Absolutely not. Everyone know where to find me. If anyone wants to find me. But I have no reason to fear anything. And I always say this when people ask me ‘how do you do these things without any fear of consequences?’
“And this is the same answer that I always give: the kind of life we are living already is one which we are more or less fading away already. It’s not a meaningful life what we have in Nigeria as a country.
“What’s the worst that could happen? It’s death. I don’t fear death. I would rather go down fighting for a just cause. I would rather be remembered as someone that lived a life that was meaningful rather than someone that for example was walking down the road and got run over by a danfo [bus] because he was driving recklessly.
“Or, someone that got a heart disease and could not save himself because there are no hospitals capable of saving him in Nigeria,” Falz added.
Policeman was on Wednesday afternoon killed at Cele Bus Stop along Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Lagos during a duel with commercial motorcycles popularly known as Okada riders.
The irate Okada riders also carted away three rifles taken from police operatives, ODUDUWA NEWS learnt.
The okada riders were seen brandishing cutlasses, daggers, big sticks and other weapons.
Many took to their heels to avoid being attacked by the weapon-wielding motorcyclists.
It was learnt that the convoy of policemen, apparently reinforced to combat the Okada riders. The officers, in about six vehicles, chased the Okada riders towards the Mile 2 end.
