Oduduwa News

The renowned legal practitioner and Senior Advocate of Nigeria SAN, Ebun Olu Adegboruwa has been hired by Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo to institute litigation against online publishers and other mainstream media houses on the alleged defamation character linking the Vice President to the ownership of the collapsed Ikoyi building.

This was contained in a statement made available today by the Senior Advocate as read in part:

“All Media Houses, Journalists, Online Publishers, Bloggers, WhatsApp and other Social Media Group Leaders, Etc.

Dear Sirs/Mas,

LIBELOUS PUBLICATIONS OF AND CONCERNING HIS EXCELLENCY, PROF YEMI OSINBAJO, SAN, GCON,
ON COLLAPSED IKOYI BUILDING

We are solicitors to His Excellency, the Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, GCON (‘our Client’), on whose instruction we write, in respect of the above subject matter. We have the mandate of our Client to draw your esteemed attention to certain publications of and concerning him, in respect of the 21-storey building that recently collapsed in Ikoyi, Lagos State.

These publications, believed to have been sponsored by faceless individuals and entities to tarnish the good name and reputation of our Client, claim most spuriously, that our Client is connected with the said building, one way or the other, without any scintilla of proof. For the records, our Client is not involved in, associated or connected with the ownership or development of the collapsed building, in any manner whatsoever.

This notice has thus become necessary, partly to explain the legal consequences of fabricating falsehood and unsubstantiated negative reports, of and concerning our Client. In law, liability for libellous publications is not limited to the original author or publisher thereof, but it also extends to and includes all those who, out of sheer ignorance, mischief or malice, or all, cause any libellous publication to be repeated, reposted or re-published, either personally or through any platform for which they have control.

Accordingly, we have the instructions of our Client to compile and preserve the particulars of anyone found to have published, re-published or endorsed or consented to the publication, distribution or circulation of any libellous material, of and concerning him, for the purpose of commencing civil actions in court, in any jurisdiction where such publication occurs.

We therefore implore you not to yield your noble platforms for the dissemination of any libellous publication of and concerning our Client, henceforth”.

Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, has refuted claims that he owns the land upon which the collapsed building in Ikoyi stood.

Osinbajo, who condoled with the families and relatives of all those who have died and those who were injured or affected in the collapsed building under construction on Gerrard Road, Ikoyi, described the incident as a horrible tragedy.

Reacting to allegations that the said land was sold to him by Chief Michael Ade Ojo, Chairman of Elizade Motors; and reports that he some time ago intervened with the regulatory authorities in Lagos State to unseal the said property, Osinbajo maintained that he has never been involved in the development of any land since he became Vice President.

A statement issued by Osinbajo’s Senior Special Assistant on Media & Publicity said, ”At no time whatsoever did the VP buy this or any other piece of land from Chief Michael Ade Ojo, or entered into any transaction for the sale of that land or any other piece of land from Chief Ade. Ojo or anyone for that matter.

”All property and assets owned by the Vice President have been publicly declared.

”Also, the Vice President has never spoken to the Governor of Lagos State or any other official of the State Government regarding the unsealing of the said building on Gerrard Road, Ikoyi, which subsequently collapsed. He has, indeed, never acted to influence any other regulatory action on the collapsed building, or any other building for that matter, in Lagos State.”

Osinbajo further explained that he has no interest and has never had any interest, in the land, the building or development.

”The wickedness and viciousness of a lie that seeks to utilise a tragedy where so many people have lost their lives, even as rescue efforts are ongoing, and in wanton disregard to the feelings and untold grief of their loved ones for political gain, reveals a dangerous desperation, as well as the heartlessness of the perpetrators of such despicable lies.” the statement reads in part.’

The Vice President added that he has referred the ‘disgraceful’ publication to his lawyers for prompt legal action.

Operatives of the Amotekun Corps in Ondo State have intercepted a bus loaded with 500 pieces of daggers concealed under the seats.

Also intercepted were weapons with different seizes of knives and guns concealed inside Tigger nut bags.

18 people suspected to be bandits were arrested with the vehicle while two buses escaped

Parading the suspects before journalists in Akure, the state Commander of Amotekun Corps, Adetunji Adeleye, said the three buses escaped from different checkpoints before they were arrested in Ondo town.

Further details shortly….

Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo has cautioned Nigerian youths against engaging in fraudulent activities, saying “what is the point of making money, yet you can’t sleep.”

Osinbajo said youths should not be distracted by gangs of fraudsters popularly called ‘yahoo boys’.

The Vice President stressed that Yahoo boys would be prosecuted and end up in jail.

Delivering the first convocation lecture of Kola Daisi University, Ibadan, Oyo State, Osinbajo said rather than allow Yahoo boys distract them, youths should try to access the various programmes set up by the Federal Government and the Central Bank of Nigeria to support young entrepreneurs.

He disclosed that a lot of Nigerian youths have made it without fraudulent practices.

He said:”Don’t be distracted by the yahoo yahoo boys that are coming up one day with fancy cars. Their days are always numbered.

“They will go to jail one day. The point, of course, is that what is the point of making money when you can’t sleep well at night.

“But you must find out about the support that is available either from the private sector or public sector. For example, the Federal Government has established a N75 billion National Youth Investment Fund. This provides financial support for small businesses in any field.”

The body of the Managing Director of Fourscore Homes Limited, Pastor Femi Osibona has been recovered from the debris of the collapsed building.

The 21-storey building belonging to Osibona, collapsed on Monday afternoon.

The incident has led to the death of 38 persons with nine injured.

His body was recovered after four days intense search by emergency responders.

ODUDUWA NEWS gathered that no fewer than three persons death recorded as Meiran Division of Nigerian Police Forced clashed with Tricycle Riders in Lagos.

It was gathered that trouble started when a yet-to-be-identified traffic warden allegedly stabbed a tricycle operator, identified only as Eleyele, to death for refusing his demand for N100.

Angered by the development, the victim’s colleagues ran after the policeman, who fled the scene.

After the cop escaped, the protesting crowd carried the victim’s remains to the front of the Meiran Police Division, where it was deposited.

The tricycle operators were said to be protesting the death when they attacked the police station with bottles and stones.

The mob reportedly attempted to set the police station ablaze, but the policemen allegedly dispersed them with bullets and tear gas canisters.

A resident, who gave his name only as Yusuf, said the traffic policeman stabbed the victim in the chest, adding that the attack was unprovoked.

He said, “The incident happened around 9am. The tricyclist was going to a destination when the traffic policeman stopped him and demanded N100. He told the policeman that he just started work and did not have the money. We don’t know if they had an argument, but the policeman suddenly brought out a knife and stabbed the operator in the chest. The man died on the spot.

“Immediately, we attempted to apprehend the policeman, but it was the same knife he used in attacking us till he escaped.

“So, we carried the victim’s corpse to the police station, but the policemen fired bullets and tear gas at us.

“Two months ago, a tricycle operator was killed, but we will not accept this one. The police have arrested a lot of us protesting Eleyele’s death. They put some of the arrested victims in a Black Maria and patrol vehicles. The tricycle leader in our area, known as Istijaba, intervened and told us to settle the matter and we agreed. But the police suddenly opened fire on us again.”

Another eyewitness, who identified himself only as Segun, said a roadside vulcaniser was hit by a stray bullet.

He said, “The vulcaniser should be about 17 years old; it was when the policemen were trying to disperse us that he was killed by a stray bullet. The bullet hit him in the back and all his intestines came out of his stomach.

“The boy’s mother is blind, and two months ago, she lost one of her children. Now, her son is dead again. We also took his corpse to the Meiran Police Station, but the police kept firing tear gas and live bullets at us and other victims suffered bullet wounds. In all, three people were killed and some others are in hospitals getting treatment.”

It was learnt that as the police fired tear gas at the mob, who were armed with bottles and stones.

The mob, while protesting the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the victims, paralysed business activities in the area.

Motorists, motorcyclists and tricyclists were prevented from operating in the area.

Bonfires were also set on the Command Road, as broken bottles littered some sections of the expressway.

Residents and business owners in the area were seen running helter-skelter to escape being caught in the unrest that enveloped the community.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Adekunle Ajisebutu, said, “The Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, has dispatched adequate police patrol teams to maintain law and order there. No cause for alarm.”

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has declared three days of mourning over the Ikoyi building collapse, which occurred on Monday. No fewer than 32 persons are believed to have died in the incident.

All flags are to be flown at half-mast in public and private buildings and official engagements cancelled during the mourning period.

The Lagos State Government, once again, commiserates with all those who lost their loved ones in the unfortunate incident.

Governor Sanwo-Olu has visited the site thrice to encourage the rescuers and console relations of those who are believed to have been trapped in the 21-storey building. He was today at the hospital to cheer up those injured before swearing in a six-man panel of Inquiry to find out why the building went down and recommend measures to prevent such incidents.