Oduduwa News

ODUDUWA NEWS has gathered that the popular market located in Balogun, Lagos state has been consumed in fire between Wednesday night and Thursday morning. Marketers who came this morning with the hope of a promising day in anticipation of the festive season sales were heartbroken seeing their shops and goods worth millions of naira burnt to ashes.

Details later.

An high chief in Owo area of Ondo, Chief Elewere Tunde Ilori has been killed by unknown gunmen.

He was killed in his farm by unknown gunmen on Wednesday evening.

His gruesome murder has continued to generate reactions.

The police in the state have confirmed his killing and promised to fish out his killers

The Lagos State government has closed its case against Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju James, better known as Baba Ijesha, who is facing trial over allegations of defilement.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mrs Olayinka Adeyemi, the Lagos State Director of the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP), made this known on Wednesday after the cross-examination of the sixth prosecution witness by the defence.

Following the DPP’s statement, the defence counsel, Mr Kayode Olabiran, announced to the court that the defendant intended to file a no-case submission.

Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo said, “We will take the no-case submission in the New Year; the court is rounding up.”

Earlier, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo said Baba Ijesha’s confessional statement to the police was admissible in evidence. She ruled that there was no evidence before the court, which proved that the embattled Nollywood actor was t*rtured into making the statement to the police.

“Sitting on the floor does not vitiate the confessional statement. The statement is found to be relevant and admissible,” the judge said.

Earlier yesterday, a National Diploma certificate holder, identified as Lekan Odunare was filmed while jumping into the Lagos Lagoon in an attempt to commit suicide.

It was learnt that the victim, whose body had yet to be recovered, jumped into the lagoon in the Epe area around 10am on Tuesday.

In a video circulating on social media, Lekan could be seen sitting on the rails of a bridge before plunging into the waters.

Before he dived in, a man filming the scene was heard querying his intention.

Lekan, who looked distressed, did not answer any of the questions before jumping into the lagoon.

Many social media users, however, wondered why the man behind the camera made no effort to save him.

A source, who claimed to know the victim and spoke to our correspondent, said his remains had yet to be found.

He said, “The boy is like a younger brother to me. I saw the news first on Facebook and I called his elder brother to ask if it was true and he said yes. When I asked if they had found the body, he said they had not found it but that the people that were around the area said he died after jumping into the lagoon.

“I can’t say why he jumped into the lagoon; probably he was depressed or something. He has finished his national diploma and was learning surveying; I don’t know why he would jump into the lagoon.”

The deceased’s brother, Usman, said he never opened up about anything bothering him.

He said, “I don’t even understand the situation. He just wished to do that to himself. He used to be depressed once in a while, but at least he should have come out and spoken to someone. If there was anything bothering him, he should have talked but that was how he chose to live his life. It has not been easy for our mother, but she will get over it as time goes on.

“We have not seen his body; we are searching for his body and hoping he will float to the shore because the lagoon is deep and nobody can enter into it.”

He also said the family did not report the matter to the police.

The Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Nosa Okubor, said the agency did not receive any report about the incident.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Adekunle Ajisebutu, promised to find out and get back to our correspondent.

He had yet to do so as of the time of filing this report.

The General Manager of the Lagos State Waterways Authority, Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, told our correspondent that the agency had no information on the matter.

In fulfilment of his promise to provide a better welfare package that will enhance service delivery by health care professionals, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has presented 30 brand new vehicles to Medical Directors of State-owned secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities.

The vehicles were presented to the Medical Directors by the Governor at a brief handover ceremony held at the General Hospital, Odan, Lagos.

The elated Medical Directors thanked the Governor for his kind gesture, saying the gift is a clarion call for renewed dedication and commitment towards achieving the present administration’s goals in the health sector.

Present at the handover ceremony were the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi; Chairman Lagos State Health Service Commission, Dr. Atinuke Onayiga and the Permanent Secretaries of the Ministry of Health and Health Service Commission, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye and Dr. Muyiwa Eniayewun respectively.

Also at the event were the Chief Executive Officer, Lagos State AIDS Control Agency, Dr. Monsurat Adeleke; Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Health, Dr. Oreoluwa Finnih; Special Assistant on Health, Dr. Tunde Ajayi and Technical Assistant to the Honourable Commissioner, Dr. Olamide Okulaja.

No fewer than seven people lost their lives, while 19 others were injured in a lone accident that occurred on Wednesday morning around the Badeku area of Ibadan, Oyo State.

The lone accident, which involved a truck with registration number, OYO: NRK 312 YR, occurred about 7.00 a.m at Badeku Junction on Ibadan-Ile-Ife Road.

A witness, Mr Tunde Lateef, told the News Agency of Nigeria at the scene of the accident that the truck, carrying dozens of construction workers, was on speed going toward Ikire Road, when another truck, coming out of Badeku Village, crossed the express road.

Lateef said that an attempt made by the driver of the crashed truck to avoid collision caused it to somersault, thus flung the people on board into different directions.

It was reported that men of the Nigerian Police and FRSC who arrived at the scene of the accident assisted in carrying the victims to the hospitals.

The Sector Commander of Federal Road Safety Corps in Oyo State, Mrs Unce Chukwurah, confirmed the accident to the journalists.

Chukwurah said the truck involved in the accident carried 26 labourers that were going for construction in the area.

“It was a lone accident. The yellow tipper vehicle was carrying 26 people, 19 of them injured, while seven died in the accident.

“The injured has been taken to ASBON Hospital at Gbagi area for treatment, while remains of the seven dead had been collected by their relatives for burial,” she said.