Nothing But Fact
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.
Engr. Seyi Makinde while speaking at the Opening Ceremony of the Annual Conference of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Nigeria Branch on Tuesday says that he has always been an advocate of Alternative Dispute Resolution.
“Because of my background in business, I have always been a great fan of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). In a country like ours, where legal battles are often long and drawn out, business people are interested in settling issues out of court”.
“The ADR is a tidier way to resolve matters. It is in the best interest of all concerned to find alternative yet legal ways of speeding up the process of dispute resolution. So, I can happily identify with the theme of this event, “Future Perfect: Securing Africa’s Ascent On The Global ADR Stage.”
The Governor further commended the Chairman of the Institute for his choice of Ibadan as the place of the Conference, and assured them that his administration will facilitate more collaboration with the Institute.
“Let me commend the organisers of this event, especially Chief J. Akingbola Akinola, C.Arb, Chairman, Chartered Institute Of Arbitrators Nigeria Branch, for bringing this event to Ibadan. We are always happy to welcome visitors here. We hope you enjoy your stay with us and take advantage of this conference to see a little more of our city”
“I read your welcome address, and I am assured that this will indeed be a rich conference. The lineup of panels, sessions and conversations show that Nigeria is indeed ready to take its rightful place in the international Alternative Dispute Resolution stage. Of course, there is a continuous need to inject new thoughts and improve the process of dispute resolution such as arbitration and mediation here”
I look forward to a time where people will think of arbitration first before heading to the courts. We already know that our judicial system is overburdened. The innovative use of the ADR process can reduce the stress on our courts. So that, it is primarily criminal cases that they will adjudicate.
“So, I am pleased to read about the collaborative efforts between the judiciary and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. If there is anything our administration can do to make this collaboration more effective in Oyo State, we will be happy to help.”
The Governor further charges the Institute to offer local solution to issues affecting the patronage, especially as regards the cost and other matters surrounding ADR.
“So let me use this opportunity to challenge the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators to think about issues that affect us here at home. You will agree with me that there are definitely gaps in the dispute resolution process that need to be filled. These issues include the high cost of alternative dispute resolution processes as well as the fact that cases dealt with through ADR may still end up in court. It is time to develop home-grown solutions to these problems. And I am confident with the calibre of people in this room that you will be able to get this done”
An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday sentenced a 45-year-old Yemisi Najimu to 10 years imprisonment for causing harm to a pregnant woman.
Najimu was tried on three charges bordering on attempt to murder, acts intended to cause grievous harm, and occasioning harm.
According to the charge, “The defendant on 26th August, 2019 at No. 20, Afro Akinyede Estate, Odo Ado, Ado Ekiti, did attempt to murder, cause grievous harm, and assault one Bosede Ojo, contrary to Sections 320(1), 322, and 355 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap C16, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.”
In her statement, the victim, who said she was eight months old pregnant at that time, said Najimu and her son were beating her child, after which she intervened to stop the fight.
According to her, the mother and son descended on her, pushed her, and she fell on the ground with her eight-month-old pregnancy, which led to abrupt delivery in the hospital, through surgery.
The prosecutor, Dolapo Oyewole, called five witnesses to prove the case and tendered statements of the victim and the defendant, as well as one cement block, and a medical report.
The convict also spoke in her own defense through her counsel and called three witnesses.
In his judgment, Justice Lekan Ogunmoye said, ‘’What the convict did was reprehensible enough. Therefore, the punishment on her must be such that would serve as deterrence to her and others who may wish to behave in a similar way in the future.
“She is sentenced to 10 years imprisonment with N70,000 as option of fine.”
A 26-year-old lady, Onyinye Enekwe, is among those who lost their lives, in the 21-storey building that collapsed on Monday, November 1, in Ikoyi area of Lagos State.
The deceased, whose wedding is slated for next month, was employed to work as a personal assistant, just few days before the unfortunate incident occurred.
According to a source, “Oyin is one of the people that was trapped in the collapsed building. Her corpse was found this morning, November 3.
She was employed to work as a personal assistant for the developer, Femi Osibona, and she resumed work on Friday, October 29, 2021, she has not collected any salary from this employment. She lived at Ago palace way, Okoya, they offered her accommodation in Ikoyi because of the distance and also, a monthly salary of N150k.
Her wedding is coming on this December, her family has even given the husband’s family their list. May her soul Rest in Peace.”
The Ondo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has suspended the Chairman of Ifedore Local Government, Mr Alex Oladimeji, over alleged anti-party activities.
This was contained in a letter signed by the party executives in the Ijare ward of the Local Government Area which was made available to our correspondent, on Wednesday.
Specifically, the executives alleged that Oladimeji’s activities in recent times were at variance with the provisions of the party’s constitution.
The letter read in part, “We, the executive members of Ifedore Local government Area of Ondo state hereby today, November 3, 2021 suspend Engr Alex Akinyemi Oladimeji from our party, APC, as a result of his various anti-party activities in breach of the provisions of article 21 of the APC constitution and his several unwholesome conducts against the name and image of our party in the state, despite several warnings from the state”.
However, the state chairman of the party, Mr Ade Adetimehin, said there was no crisis in the party and if there was any internal wrangling in any local government, the party had a way of resolving it.
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“As we speak, Ondo State APC is one of the crisis-free chapters in the country. You could observe that in our last congresses, so we have a way to resolve our internal crisis in the state down to the wards. So, the Ifedore matter would be resolved.”
Efforts to reach the suspended chairman were unsuccessful as his telephone line was unreachable.
A female student of the Polytechnic Ibadan, Oyo State, Taibat Babatunde, has been allegedly shot by a yet-to-be-identified person.
The victim, a National Diploma One student of the Science Laboratory Technology Department, was seen in a video being rushed into a security patrol van.
Some students claimed that the victim was shot by a member of the security unit of the polytechnic, adding that the men stormed the Sewage Hall of the institution to arrest a student.
The guards were reported to have opened gunfire at the hall as a stray bullet hit Babatunde.
The Registrar of the school, Mrs Modupe Fawale, appealed to students of the institution to remain calm while assuring that an investigation was ongoing.
Fawale, in a statement on Wednesday, said the victim was responding well to treatment at the University College Hospital, Ibadan.
She also appealed to students to be vigilant and report suspicious activities to the students’ affairs office for necessary action.
The statement read in part, “The unfortunate incident happened at the Sewage area late in the afternoon where a gunshot hit the female student.
“The female student was immediately rushed to the University College Hospital where first-class medical attention was given to her.”
The Lagos State University Teaching Hospital has commenced the Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation (LASER) treatment for kidney stones.
According to a statement on Wednesday, the hospital performed its first LASER Lithotripsy on October 28, 2021, making it the only state tertiary institution with a full upper tract endoscopic and LASER facility which could be accessible by the residents of Lagos State and its environs.
A Professor of Urology at LASUTH, Prof. Stephen Ikuerowo, said the treatment would save patients the pain of opening up their upper urinary tract during surgery.
He explained that the LASER treatment was deployed through the urinary tract of the patient where the stone is broken and flushed out.
The expert noted that the treatment of kidney stones in hospitals outside Nigeria takes a huge chunk from patients’ finances.
He, however, said patients in LASUTH would pay less than half of what obtains in private hospitals to treat the ailment.
Also, a Consultant Urologist in the hospital, Dr. Oluwaseun Akinola, said, “Before now, the care for kidney stones had not been readily accessible but the present management of LASUTH has now made it possible.
He said patients with kidney stones now have access to more affordable health care, fewer scars and faster recovery rate.
The Urologist stressed the importance of drinking sufficient water, saying, “the general public are advised to care for themselves by making it a habit to drink at least three liters of water on a daily basis, since ninety per cent of kidney stone cases are caused by dehydration.”
“People should also reduce salt intake and generally maintain a healthy lifestyle. Nigerians must also form the habit of visiting the hospital immediately they feel abnormal pains because if left untreated, kidney stones could develop into serious diseases that may cause total kidney collapse and eventual loss.”
…asks others eyeing governorship seat to wait for their turn
‘Our endorsement is a clarion call for more service to the people’ – Gov
Ahead of Osun 2022 governorship election, the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), has endorsed Governor Adegboyega Oyetola for second term in office and asked other politicians eyeing the seat to wait for their turn.
The NURTW joins other groups of workers and critical stakeholders in Osun who have thrown their weight behind Oyetola’s second term ambition and are ready to ensure the success of the Governor in the forthcoming election.
In October alone, workers under the auspices of Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) and their counterpart in the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), had endorsed Oyetola.
This is even as the Governor attributed his open endorsement as a challenge to do more for the people of the State.
On Wednesday, 3 November, 2021, thousands of NURTW members thronged the Mandela Freedom Park in Osogbo, to declare their support for the Governor whom they described as an extraordinary leader.
The Chairman of Osun NURTW, Comrade Olelakan Folorunso said the Union decided to endorse Oyetola after assessing his remarkable and unprecedented achievements in the last three years.
Folorunso who doubled as the Zone 2 Council Chairman (NURTW Southwest), described Oyetola as a man of outstanding leadership traits and professional know-how, adding that the Union in particular and the State in general have benefitted from these qualities in no small measure.
He commended the Governor for the exemplary way he has been piloting the affairs of Osun and appreciated his Administration for the recognition accorded the Union as critical stakeholders in the development of the State, stating that “it has never been this good.”
The NURTW boss who highlighted a number of commendable projects undertaken by Oyetola, said the Union was resolute in ensuring that excellence is enthroned yet again.
“The Union, at its monthly meeting, highlighted the performance of His Excellency, despite the little resources available to the State, hence our resolve to support our Governor to lead the State for another term of four years.
“This is a bold statement from the Osun State Council of NURTW to always support your programmes and ideas that would bring the State to attain its goals.
“We also express gratitude to the government of Governor Oyetola, for the necessary recognition accorded our Union as major stakeholders in the Osun project. This is another reason why we are also assuring him of our support”, Folorunso said.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Lagos Council and Vice-Chairman of South-West Zone of the Union, Musiliu Ayinde Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, lauded Governor Oyetola for the good works he is doing to bring real development to the State. He also applauded him for being supportive of the Union in Osun.
Akinsanya who described Oyetola’s Administration as one that cares for all, reiterated the Union’s commitment to work for his return to office com 2022.
He however called on members of the Union to prove that they are serious about their open endorsement, by doing their Voter’s registration and turning out in large numbers to vote on the election date.
In his response, Governor Adegboyega Oyetola commended the management and members of Osun Council of NURTW, for the open show of support for his Administration.
He assured that his administration would continue to invest in human and infrastructural development for the benefits of different associations in the State.
Governor Oyetola who described the endorsement as a manifestation of good governance that the Administration has provided since inception, noted that he would not take it for granted but rather see it as encouragement to do more for the generality of the people of the State.
“I am extremely happy today that a notable Union like NURTW could come out in thousands to endorse our administration. I appreciate you for your solidarity and show of love. As a government, we will never take it for granted.
“It is always a thing of joy for people to appreciate your little effort. I thank you for appreciating the modest achievements that God has done through our efforts in almost three years.
“I appeal to you all to go and register and collect your voter’s cards. There is still opportunity to do so. This is the only power to further prove your support for us particularly in the next election. As said by your Chairman, we are here as a government for all and nothing will stop us from putting the welfare and well-being of our people at the front burner.
“I am assuring you that we will do more than what we have done. We are constructing several kilometers of roads to change the face of infrastructure and ensure improved standard of living for all.
“Our Adminstration is committed to making life easier for all, and that is why we have been running all- inclusive, participatory and Goverment-for-all as reflected in the successes we have recorded so far. We have seen your commitment, support and cooperation so far, and I am assuring you that soon, we will attend to your requests.
“We will leave no stone unturned to strengthen the existing synergy to bring about more success. I believe strongly that majority of your people are for us as this informed today’s collective decision to endorse us for second term. I am assuring you once again that you will not regret taking this action”, Oyetola said.
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