Lagos State High Court sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square on Tuesday heard that a Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) pastor, Babatunde Dada, was found coughing blood after he was stabbed by two teenagers that he converted and helped off the streets.

Lagos State High Court sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square on Tuesday heard that a Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) pastor, Babatunde Dada, was found coughing blood after he was stabbed by two teenagers that he converted and helped off the streets.

An eye witness, Michael Dada, who happens to be the younger brother of the deceased, disclosed this to the Lagos State High Court sitting at TBS under the Lagos State director of public prosecutions (DPP) Babajide Martins.

The teens, Farouk Mohammed, 16, and Kasali Jamiu, 19, were said to be new converts at the church branch in Festac and are currently standing trial before Justice Sherifat Sonaike for the December 2, 2021 murder of 46-year-old Dada.

Michael said, “On the 2nd of December 2021, I received a call from my younger sister, Oluwakemi Dada who lived with my deceased brother. She was screaming on the phone, that my brother was lying in a pool of blood in the church.

“Before getting to the church, she called me back that my brother had been taken to Navy Town Hospital where they took the body. There I found him already confirmed dead.”

Witness Tells Court How RCCG Pastor Was Killed

He said his sister told him “there were two strange boys working with them whom the church had accommodated.

“According to her, when she interrogated my deceased brother about them, he said they were new converts and the church had accommodated them on the church premises. He said he didn’t want the two boys to be stranded or roaming around the church premises so decided to engage them in his laundry business.

“The boys started working with him and were going to be paid. According to my sister Oluwakemi, on that fateful day, my deceased brother told her and the other laundry workers he was going to the bank and that he would be back.

“She said when he came back, he went upstairs in the church to go and rest. After a while, she wondered why he had not come down after resting for quite sometime. One of the laundry workers went upstairs to pick a cloth to wash. On getting there, he screamed. I asked my sister why they were not listening. They said the generator was on.

“The worker screamed and called the rest. They all met the pastor in a pool of blood and he was coughing up blood. They noticed that the two strange boys, Farouk and Jamiu were not there.”

Michael said he asked about the deceased’s phone, but it was nowhere to be found including some of the deceased’s belongings.

Justice Shonaike adjourned till December 12, 2022 for hearing of the defendants’ bail applications and January 10, 2023 for continuation of trial.

The defendants are facing four-count charges bordering on conspiracy to murder, murder, conspiracy to commit robbery and armed robbery.

2023: INEC Chairman Laments Attack On Commissions’ Facilities, Optimistic Of Successful Election

2023: INEC Chairman Laments Attack On Commissions’ Facilities, Optimistic Of Successful Election

By Akinwale Kasali

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Mahmood Yakubu has complained bitterly on the series of attacks on the Commission’s facilities in last Four months.

The electoral umpire said that the Commission has lost 1992 Ballot Boxes, 385 Polling Cubicles, 22 Electric Power Generators and thousands of Permanent Voters Card, PVCs, were destroyed with some carter away by unknown men who had attacked the INEC Facilities in Ebonyi State and other States that have experienced such attacks.

Yakubu said that the Commission will recover from the attack as it has just 86 days to the 2023 General Elections, stressing that the destroyed equipment and facilities are been replaced, despite the limited resources.

He however added that the electorates and Nigerians as a whole should discountenance any debate about a Court Judgement or ruling that called for the extension of Voters Registration, and also the false information been peddled by mischief makers that without Permanent Voters Card, PVCs, one can vote.

The INEC Boss made this remarks at the Induction of 19 News Resident Electoral Commissioners, RECs, in different States of the Federation held at Four Point By Sheraton, Lagos.

Yakubu said that the Induction was necessary as it was an avenue to review the performance of previous elections and how to make it better by leveraging on the successes of the Ekiti and Osun Governorship Election held recently.

The United Nations Development Programmes, UNDP, Technical Director, Darren Flitz said that it was an opportunity to brainstorm on how to have an efficient, successful, free, fair and peaceful elections in 2023.

Flitz added that it was necessary for the RECs to create a bond, strategize and understand the rudiments of electioneering, in which teamwork, peace, justice and restitution is prioritized.

The Lagos State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Olusegun Agbaje, said that it is an opportunity for him and his colleagues to learn the rudiments of electoral processes and management.

Agbaje said that the induction is coming at a critical  time for the betterment of the RECs as they will be better equipped with improved electoral practices.

He added that Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BIVAS, as made identity theft impossible which is a big boost to electioneering in the country, stressing that all hands are on deck in Lagos for a better election.

I’m ready to work with you, Adeleke woos APC dominated Osun Assembly

I’m ready to work with you, Adeleke woos APC dominated Osun Assembly

Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has promised to work with members of the All Progressives Congress-led Osun State House of Assembly to deliver on his administration’s five points agenda.

Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was on Sunday sworn in as the sixth Executive Governor of Osun, along with his Deputy, Kola Adewusi.

Speaking while receiving Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Timothy Owoeye, in his county home at Ede, the new governor described himself as a man with passion for the legislature, while restating his readiness to work with the lawmakers.

The meeting was held with top leaders on both sides of the government arms in attendance, the governor’s spokesperson, Malam Olawale Rasheed said.

According to the governor, this would enable him to deliver on the five points agenda of his administration and take Osun to a greater height.

Adeleke commended the excellent partnership between the two arms of government in the state.

At the meeting, the governor described the legislature as a critical arm of government which plays important role in the efforts to deliver on good governance, accountability and leadership transparency.

In his remarks, the speaker assured the governor of the readiness of the legislature to support his administration to deliver on its promises to the people of the state.

Lagos Police Command Finally Arrest Abubakar Maiyaki Ajagungbale's Notorious Boys Terrorising Ibeju Lekki

Lagos Police Command Finally Arrest Abubakar Maiyaki Ajagungbale's Notorious Boys Terrorising Ibeju Lekki

Nine notorious land grabbers, terrorizing Eti-Osa, Oreki Village, Ibeju Agbe, Ibeju Lekki and Epe Area of Lagos State, allegedly working for a renowned land grabber, Abubakar Maiyaki A.K.A Ajagungbale and  Taiwo Enitiodunmo (A.K.A) T9, have been arrested in Lagos after their invasion at Odogbawojo Village with firearms on 21st November 2022, to perform their landgrabbing duty.

They were arrested by the Noforija Police Officers and later transferred the case to the CP Lagos State Crack team, on instruction of the Commissional of Police

Maiyaki, we gathered, is working hands in hand with Taiwo Enitiodunmo, an alleged Killer who was recently released from the Homicide, DIG Force C.I.D cell through the influence of a top officer in S.W.A.T.

 

Enitiodunmo, we learnt, recently led armed land grabbers to Eredo and Odogbawojo where he allegedly killed a 4 years old boy and was released from Homicide, in other to escape justice within 4 months after his freedom. T9 is said to have been unleasing terror on Epe and Ibeju Lekki communities without fear of the law.

Abubakar's team invaded Araromi Village at Abijo G.R.A where they attacked some Lagos State Task Force on landgrabbing with men attached to S.W.A.T, who are working with him before the case was finally sent to the I.G.P Monitoring Unit, where the case was finalised and a legal opinion from Force Headquarters followed but till now, the I.P.O in charge of the case has been accused of taken the file away through the influence of Maiyaki relationship with S.W.A.T.

In a petition written to the Attorney General of Lagos State, on 22nd November, 2022, the Erelu Family of Odogbawojo village, Mojoda, Eredo LCDA, Epe Local Government Area, Lagos State, claimed that, 9 of Abubakar Maiyaki's armed thugs and hired assassins engaged to invade Odogbawojo were arrested and handed over to the CP Lagos Crack team but Peter Ogungbesan who hired Maiyaki and Taiwo Enitiodunmo to seek self help is elusive known that arresting their boys with Firearm in contravention of the Section 2,3,4,5,6 and 10 of Lagos State Properties Protection Law 2016. 

A statement from the petition claimed that, This same Maiyaki is terrorizing Araromi in Abijo GRA, Ibeju-Agbe, Ibeju-Lekki perpetrating land grabbing because some aggrieved members within some of the communities, continue to engage him to intimidate and harassing their families or fellow community members, thereby cause breach of peace everywhere and it is time for the AG Lagos office to use Maiyaki case to sensitize Lagosian on the law that provides that, “No person or group of persons from the commencement of this law shall cause to be placed on any land or landed property agent for the purpose of forceful takeover of the said land.

The petition further claimed that,  as it is, Mr. Peter Ogungbesan is also in contravention of the Lagos State Properties Protection Law for engaging Maiyaki to invade Odogbawojo with firearms.

According to the head of the family, Chief Bilesanmi Ashiru Oyede, "The gravamen of our complaint is that recently, precisely on the 21st day of November, 2022, one Peter Oriyomi Ogungbesan in connivance with one Abinleko Adeleke Sikiru engaged the service of the renowned and notorious land grabbers in person of Abubakar and Taiwo, who forcefully with the aid of his fellow land grabbing partners, as well as some unknown persons armed with dangerous weapons such as guns, cutlass, and others broke in and forcefully took over Odogbawojo Village.

 

"In the course of the said rampage and chaotic activities, Abubakar secured about Fifty (50) armed men pretending to be mobile police to illegally carry out their unlawful actions and consequently inflicted grievous harm on one Yusuf Ahmed and Adesegun Lawal, who are members of our family. They were only engaged to supply blocks to one of our assignees in respect of their land at Odogbawojo village. 

"In order to carefully exclude themselves as the perpetrators of the evil and oppressive acts, the said land grabbers fronted their partner in crime, the said Abinleko Sikiru, who is the Baale of Ora's PA, Mr. Peter Ogungbesan as a complainant wherein a frivolous and malicious charge was made against the said Yusuf Ahmed and Adesegun Lawal having assaulted, inflicted on them serious and grievous injuries and locked them up at Naforija Police Station, unjustly amidst mental and physical tortures in the said station. 

"In an already planned script, the land grabbers ensured that one CHIA TERKUA, a 

fellow land grabber in police uniform, is the Investigating Police Officer (IPO), who without any investigation of the fraudulent, frivolous, misconstrued, misconceived and malicious complaint of his fellow land grabbers, immediately charged the said Yusuf and Adesegun before the Magistrate Court, Epe in Charge No: EP/A/34/2022 COMMISSIONER OF POLICE VS. ADESEGUN LAWAL & YUSUF AHMED, who after serious arguments in court reluctantly granted bail on stringent bail conditions that took the said Yusuf and Adesegun to Ikoyi Prison, on their inability to perfect the stringent bail conditions all in a bid to get rid of them without just cause. 

"It is not in dispute that Erelu family are the beneficial owners of all that parcel of land measuring 93.325 acres with Survey Plan No: I.O/0495/026j/2007/La lying, situate and being at Odogbawojo village, Mojoda, Eredo LCDA, Epe Local Government, Lagos State, having inherited same from our great grandfather, ADEBANJO who founded the present day Odogbawojo village. The said ADEBANJO of blessed memory in his life time begat ALAGBO and MIJA to whom he shared the said vast land before his demise. 

"MIJA begat ERELU subsequently inherited the MIJA’S portion of land. ERELU family and or his descendants which include us have been in possession of the land and has equally exercised various/numerous acts of ownership and possession over same including sales/assignments over time without any interference from anybody. It was the said Yusuf Ahmed and Adesegun Lawal who were engaged by one of our  Assignees and in carrying out the tenets of their engagement, which include taking blocks to the site that the said land grabbers and hoodlums broke into the land on the 21st day of November, 2022, inflicted serious wounds and injuries on the two of them", he said.

Meanwhile, information has it that, this is however not the first time that Peter Oriyomi Ogungbesan is engaging the services of Maiyaki and Taiwo to harass and forcefully take over Erelu Family's land by way of invading communities. 

The said Peter, whose his town shares boundary with Erelu Family's land and having sold all his land, have encroached on other family land as well as privately owned land as a land grabber that he is alleged to be. Peter is also in series of contempt of court judgement linking one Mr. Ibraheem Eleniyan

The first act of encroachment on Erelu Family's land was sometime in the month of October, 2021 when he made an attempt to  take over the land, having forcefully broken in with the aid of Abubakar Maiyaki and Taiwo Enitiodunmo and their thugs, but when he saw that Erelu family were resistant and unwillingly to be forcefully intimidated and thrown out of their village, they allegedly wrote a concocted and frivolous report. Alagbon and consequently some members of the family were unjustly apprehended, detained and maliciously charged to court with the said matter still pending at the Magistrate Court, Epe, Magisterial district.

We have suffered" Oko-Oloyun's Parent Narrates

“We have suffered"

Oko-Oloyun's Parent Narrates

Recall that the Late Alhaji Fatai Yusuf, Oko-Oloyun, was killed on January 23, 2020, when unknown assailants opened fire on his two-car convoy on the Abeokuta-Iseyin road in Oyo State. It’s almost three years since his gruesome murder, and the case remains unsolved to date.

It was later reported that the wife of the deceased, Wuraola Titilayo remarried a famous socialite known as Aremu Abiola in a quiet society arrangement. This case has generated a lot of reactions from people querying how she remarried barely three years after her husband’s demise.

A follow-up story on this case brings about an explanation from the parents of Oko-Oloyun, Alhaji Amuda Yusuf and Alhaja Wulemot Yusuf, who have spoken extensively on their experience and travail after the demise of their son.

Father of late Oko-Oloyun, Alhaji Amuda Yusuf explained that the deceased was killed on his way to visit him to inspect a building project he was coordinating for him (the deceased).

He explained that precisely six days after Oko-Oloyun’s death, the wife and her family visited to claim the deceased’s properties. He added that on the 14th day of his death, no fewer than 40 relatives of his wife came to claim his properties again, even when the death was still fresh.

Alhaji Yusuf explained how they (the parents) were barred from seeing the remains of Oko-Oloyun before he was buried.

Deceased’s father

He also explained that after a series of legal, physical, and spiritual threats, the wife insisted that the unused materials budgeted for the building project before Oko Oloyun’s death be given to her.

“We had been invited to the court 18 times. The EFCC also came to check the veracity of her claim, and we have always been vindicated.

“We can’t inherit our son. It is immoral in Yorubaland, and we didn’t see anybody to support and stand by us. Everyone abandoned us.

“We have suffered, Oko-Oloyun’s friends and associates were nowhere to be found during this challenging period. The wife had turned our grandchildren against us. God will judge her. We have left her to God to deal with her.

“She was a maid in a canteen before our son married her. After the death of our son, she later came to claim she borrowed our child a sum of 10 million naira.

“The wife didn’t allow us to have the time to investigate the killing. She tried all means to get us killed but God has been keeping us alive.

“Even after she remarried, she insisted on inheriting the properties of her late ex-husband”, Oko-Oloyun’s father narrated.

Recounting how the deceased died, his father maintained that the car was an automatic gear type and if the driver had opened the door, Oko-Oloyun might have escaped death.

He added that the two policemen in his convoy did not attempt to defend or repel these assailants while only Oko Oloyun was killed in the cold assassination.

Governor Adeleke Sacks 12,000 Workers, Dethrones Three Monarchs

Governor Adeleke Sacks 12,000 Workers, Dethrones Three Monarchs

Governor Adeleke Sacks 12,000 Workers, Dethrones Three Monarchs

According to reports, Governor Adeleke has sacked 12,000 workers and dethroned three monarchs.

The Nation reports that Osun State Governor Senator Ademola Adeleke has sacked 12,000 workers and ordered the dethronement of three monarchs barely 24 hours after his inauguration.

The Governor also nullified the appointment of 30 Permanent Secretaries and suspended the chairman and members of Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC).

The affected monarchs include Akinrun of Ikinrun Oba Yinusa Akadiri; Aree of Ire Oba Ademola Oluponle and Owa of Igbajo, Oba Gboyega Famodun. He ordered the monarch to vacate the palace, asking security operatives to take over.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Adeleke, Olawale Rasheed on Monday stated that the new Governor signed the Executives orders which covered chieftaincy matters, appointments issues, setting up of review panel, staff audit and employment matters.”

Vehicle burnt, members injured, offices vandalised as Osun NURTW members engage in battle of supremacy

Vehicle burnt, members injured, offices vandalised as Osun NURTW members engage in battle of supremacy

Vehicle burnt, members injured, offices vandalised as Osun NURTW members engage in battle of supremacy

Factional members of the National Union Of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Osun State who attempted to hijack the control of motor parks in the state were resisted on Monday.

The renewed hostility followed attacks on Sunday where the Financial Secretary of the union, Mr. Sunday Akinwale, and a pregnant staffer of the union identified as Doyin were injured and subsequently hospitalised. Other persons met at the union secretariat were locked indoors before the intervention of policemen. The secretary of the union, Mr. Osundiya Akinsola was said to have narrowly escaped during the attack.

As earlier as 7 am on Monday, members of the faction stormed Old Garage Motor Park and Aregbesola Motor Parks in Osogbo but their moves were vehemently resisted by the supporters of those presently controlling the parks.

Members of the two factions reportedly used guns, broken bottles, knives, arrows and other forms of dangerous weapons in the fracas that led to the arson of a vehicle that belongs to one of them and vandalisation of the union offices.

Many people sustained deep matchet cuts on their bodies while some key members were also inflicted with other sharp objects.

Other motor parks like Oke-Baale, Ilesa Garage and Old Coca-Cola Area in the state capital were also attacked by the hijackers as reports indicated that the warring factions used charms on one another after bullets failed to penetrate into the bodies of some members.

The State Secretary of the union, Osundiya Akinsola, condemned the spate of violence that had rocked the union and called for peace.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson for Governor Ademola Adeleke, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, warned against violence and directed security agencies to maintain law and order.

In a statement, the governor’s aide warned against violence among transport workers’ unions in the state and directed security agencies to maintain status quo across the motor parks.

According to the statement, “All union leaders and their supporters are hereby directed to remain calm and bring any grievances to the state government for resolution. Security agencies are consequently directed to maintain law and order.”

FLASH} Osun LG Election: OSIEC Withdraws Certificates of Return, Says Commission Won’t Appeal Judgement

FLASH} Osun LG Election: OSIEC Withdraws Certificates of Return, Says Commission Won’t Appeal Judgement

  Following an order of the Federal High Court, Osogbo nullifying the October 15 local government election in Osun, the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission OSIEC, has withdrawn the certificates of return from the elected Chairmen and Councillors. The commission will not also appeal the judgement. This is contained in a statement signed by the…”

Following an order of the Federal High Court, Osogbo nullifying the October 15 local government election in Osun, the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission OSIEC, has withdrawn the certificates of return from the elected Chairmen and Councillors.

The commission will not also appeal the judgement.

This is contained in a statement signed by the Executive Secretary of OSIEC, Adedapo Adejumo, on Monday.

The statement read: “Consequent upon the judgement of the Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo in the case FHC\OS\CS\94\2022 involving the Peoples Democratic Party VS the Independent National Electoral Commission and 6 others, delivered on Friday 25th November, 2022 which nullified the Local Government Elections conducted by the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) on the 15th October, 2022, the Commission hereby announces it’s decision not to appeal the judgement of the Federal High Court, Osogbo.

“The decision of the Commission is coming against the backdrop of OSIEC’s failure to follow strictly the provisions of section 24 of OSIEC Law, 2022 and Section 28 of the Electoral Act 2022, which mandate the Commission to give a notice of 360 days before the conduct of the election.

“In view of this, the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) aligns perfectly with the decision of the Federal High Court, Osogbo as the elections stand nullified.

“Consequently, the Certificate of Returns already issued to the purportedly elected Chairmen and Councillors are hereby withdrawn with immediate effect.”

How I sustained Osun economy without borrowing in four years -- Oyetola

How I sustained Osun economy without borrowing in four years -- Oyetola

...pays N97billion out of inherited debt, leaves behind over N14 billion cash in State's coffers

Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun on Saturday disclosed that his administration is leaving behind for the incoming government a total sum of N14billion cash in the State's coffers.

Oyetola also revealed that his government had successfully paid N97billion from the total debt inherited in 2018 when he assumed office.

He disclosed that his administration didn't borrow a dime anywhere in the world to finance the economy of the State, saying he successfully kept faith and maintained fidelity with his electoral promises since the assumption of office.

Governor Oyetola made the disclosures in his farewell statement to the people of the State, indicating the expiration of his first term in office.

Governor Oyetola was sworn in on 27th November, 2018 taking over from his predecessor, former Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

The results of the last governorship election as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) favoured Senator Ademola Adeleke, a decision that is already being challenged by Oyetola and his party --- the All Progressives Congress, APC -- at the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Osogbo.

Oyetola in his address, averred that his administration has put Osun's economy on a surer footing through the myriad people-centred and masses-focused projects timely and promptly implemented to make life worthwhile for the people of the State.

According to him, Osun under his watch has been stable economically as manifested in the astronomical increment in the GDP of the State since he assumed office.

Governor Oyetola affirmed that Osun is more stable economically than he met it in 2018, saying despite all the visible socio-economic challenges confronting the State with its attendant effects, he was able to take care of the fears and evil of fiscal indiscipline and lack of implementation, which hamper projects and services in the nation's public service.

"As I step aside today following the conclusion of the four-year tenure you freely gave me, I thank God and I thank you for your support, cooperation and prayers over the years.

"I recall how the journey began four years ago; how by your belief in me and your conviction in the plans and programmes of our Party, you exercised your right to vote for me.

"As we draw the curtains on this first tenure, we are convinced that we neither reneged on our promise nor disappointed you. We kept faith with you and maintained fidelity with our electoral promises. It was our wish to continue to serve you but we are constrained by the outcomes of the July 16 Governorship election which we are already challenging in court.

"As a law-abiding citizen and government, we are stepping aside to allow the law take its course.

"However, we look forward to continue to serve you in no distant future. We have absolute trust in God that we shall be back soon, as we have implicit trust and confidence in the Judiciary to do justice in the case before it.

"We are confident that this period of temporary political eclipse shall pass. The sun shall shine again, brighter and warmer and the sustainable development and participatory governance that we enthroned, which have been applauded by local and international organizations, shall be restored and put on a surer and better footing.

"There can be no substitute to people-oriented and development-savvy governance in a democracy.  The tap roots of the unprecedented good governance, inclusive and participatory governance that we introduced, which delivered massive equitable projects and programmes are too strong to be uprooted.

"As we end our first term, rest assured that Osun is more stable economically than we met it in 2018 and it remained the most peaceful state in the country under our leadership.

 "For four years, we did not take any bank loan facility. But we benefitted from the N3billion monthly intervention from the federal Government to all the States for six months to cushion the effect of deductions of budget support facility and salary bailout accessed by the previous administration, just as we have paid N97 billion from the total debt we inherited in 2018.

"We are leaving behind cash of over N14 billion. In addition to the N14 billion cash, another N8 billion is being expected between December and January from our performance in SFTAS and the IGR. Also, another Seventy-Two million Dollars will come to the State soon from RAMP 3, NG-CARES, Nigeria for Women Project and Ease of Doing Business. These are earned, based on performance. And we have indeed performed to earn them. It was part of the same performance that earned us the award of Best Governor on Efficiency of Public Expenditure and TOP Performer on Domestic Revenue Mobilisation by the World Bank’s States’ Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability, SFTAS, recently.

"We have gone this length to let you know that Osun under our leadership was sustainable. It was done through fiscal discipline and personal sacrifices.

 "On behalf of our team, I appeal to you all to continue to be law abiding and to work assiduously to build the Osun of our dream. Together, we shall continue to mend the broken walls of our dear State and restore her glory for our collective good and that of posterity. Thank you all and may God continue to bless Osun," Oyetola added.

Hoodlums attack Amotekun at Adeleke’s inauguration in Osun

Hoodlums attack Amotekun at Adeleke’s inauguration in Osun

No fewer than five personnel of the Western Security Outfit, condnamed Amotekun, were yesterday assaulted by some hoodlums who were at the Osogbo Township Stadium during the swearing in ceremony of Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State. At the venue, men of Amotekun joined other security agencies on the open field of the stadium beside the podium to maintain peace and order. Meanwhile, after the arrival of Adeleke to the venue, hoodlums in their numbers started to hit the corps with cutlasses and sticks before some policemen secured them. Few minutes after the attack, the hoodlums regrouped and attacked the corps again that they had to escape to safety. Our correspondent, who was at the event, saw one of the operatives wounded and

consequently  rushed to an undisclosed hospital for medical attention. The hoodlums, who were in their numbers, were prevented from causing further trouble by armed police men and other sister security forces who were on ground to keep surveillance during the inauguration of the governor. An eyewitness who confided in our correspondent said the hoodlums were obviously on a mission of avenging their anger on the western security operatives, codenamed Amotekun. Meanwhile, two policemen were reportedly injured during attacks by hoodlums on three motor parks as several residents were severely injured. A competent police source  who confirmed the story at the Township stadium hinted that the police are on the trail of the hoodlums and they will soon be brought to book. Confirming the attack, the Field Commander of Amotekun, Comrade Amitolu Shittu said, “Five of  our men were attacked at the venue of swearing-in. The hoodlums that attacked our men are criminals that are involved in robbery, drug, stealing among others, who we have arrested their gang members at a point. “

  

BREAKING: Adeleke freezes Osun State Accounts, reverses appointments

BREAKING: Adeleke freezes Osun State Accounts, reverses appointments 

The new Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke has ordered the immediate freezing of all accounts of the state.

Adeleke who was sworn-into office on Sunday, also reversed all appointments by his Predecessor, Adegboyega Oyetola made from July 7, 2022, till he left office.

He also announced that a committee will be constituted to review all appointments and make recommendations.

It can be recalled that Oyetola caused some controversy after he appointed 30 permanent secretaries hours to the end of his tenure.

The New Governor has also reversed the Osun appellation from “The State of the Virtues” to “The State of the Living Spring”.

Speaking after taking his oath of office at the Osogbo City Stadium, Adeleke said he was aware of the expectations of Osun residents, promising not to disappoint them.

WITH "TINUBU" AS PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE AND SHETTIMA AS RUNNING MATE,...

WITH "TINUBU" AS PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE AND SHETTIMA AS RUNNING MATE,...

APC is heading to the worst presidential electoral humiliation in the history of democratic electioneering.

To save the ugly situation APC finds itself in and stand any chance of defeating Peter Obi, the party must quickly replace sick, fake and fraudulent "Tinubu" with a credible South-Easterner and also replace Shettima with a credible Northerner from North-Central or North-East.

Otherwise, APC must forget about winning 2023 presidential election. Nigerians have clearly seen that the brain of that imposter that bears "Tinubu" is dead, among his many negatives.

Since APC leaders appear bewitched to take that decision, they need someone like me to tell them that thing they have been running around.

It may not be Yekini Amoda Ogunlere's (alias Bola Ahmed Tinubu's) fault that his brain is traumatized, but APC must not die in sympathy. It must save itself with fresh, credible individuals from popular places as presidential ticket holders. And the party has very limited time to do the right thing. 

Chinedu Jideofo-Ogbuagu.

Ahead of Adeleke’s inauguration, Osogbo wears new look

Ahead of Adeleke’s inauguration, Osogbo wears new look

…as Osun CP Assures residents adequate protection

Ahead of Sunday’s inauguration, the incoming governor of the Osun State Saturday went to the Osogbo Township Stadium for rehearsal in preparation for his swear-in ceremony.

Senator Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) will take over power from the outgoing Governor, Gboyega Oyetola, of the All Progressives Congress (APC), after defeating him in the July 16 gubernatorial election.

However, residents of the state are anxiously awaiting for his inauguration as the new governor of the state, as the four-year tenure of Oyetola ends.

Oyetola was sworn in on November 27, 2018, and he lost the bid to retain the seat for the second term in the July 16, 2022 governorship election.

In preparation for his inauguration, the incoming governor was at the Osogbo Township Stadium for inspection and rehearsal.

   

 

Good Samaritan reportedly in custody as passenger dies in his car

Good Samaritan reportedly in custody as passenger dies in his car

Good Samaritan reportedly in custody as passenger dies in his car

A good Samaritan reportedly hands over himself to the police after a passenger he gave a lift died in his car.

According to a Facebook user identified as Bashiru Adamu, chaos broke in his community following the mysterious death of a passenger.

The dead passenger reportedly got a free lift from an individual who ended up detained at a police station as a result.

“Very sad experience within my community today… A car owner decided to give a lift to someone he knows. A ride that’s not up to 20 minutes. On getting to where the guy will drop he asked the guy where will you drop… Unfortunately, the guy couldn’t answer him because he was dead. I went to the car, and I saw the guy it was a like movie, I felt like we could just call him and he will answer us.

He is currently detained in the police station where he took the dead body to 😭 People are going through a lot, let’s be a bit more kind. Never mock anyone… The old, poor, rich or sick. Let’s not mock anyone. Life is fickle and can happen to any one of us regardless of our faith.”

Tinubu suffers another gaffe, asks Lagosians to “go and take your APV”

Tinubu suffers another gaffe, asks Lagosians to “go and take your APV”

 

Bola Tinubu, presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Saturday, suffered a gaffe while speaking at his campaign in Lagos State.

POLITICS NIGERIA reports that rally was held at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere.

While soliciting for votes and encouraging attendees to obtain their Permanent Voters Card (PVC), Tinubu said: “Do you love me? Go and take your APV, APC, and you must vote.”

It is the second time in successive days that Tinubu will commit a blunder while speaking.

On Friday, the 70-year-old wrongly described the governorship candidate of Delta State for the 2023 election, Ovie Omo-Agege, as contesting for the position of ‘Niger Delta’ State governor.

This newspaper reports that concerns have been raised over Tinubu’s health and fitness, but the former Lagos State governor has declared that he is not sick but hale and hearty, saying it often baffles him when the opposition kept insisting that he is sick or question his mental capacity.

Recently, Media Scholar, Prof. Farooq Kperogi, said the speech blunders committed by Tinubu, are evidence of his worsening health.

Writing in his weekly column, Kperogi said should the former Lagos State governor win the presidency in 2023, Nigeria would suffer.

Since his emergence as the candidate of the APC in June, the spotlight has been on Tinubu who has suffered several gaffes 

See Sammie Okposo's Last Post On Social Media Hours Before His Sudden Death, According to reports, the late music producer was said to have slumped on Friday morning and died. He was aged 51.

See Sammie Okposo's Last Post On Social Media Hours Before His Sudden Death

According to reports, the late music producer was said to have slumped on Friday morning and died. He was aged 51.

It has been revealed that popular gospel singer, Sammie Okposo made a post yesterday before his sudden death on Friday morning.

His last post on Instagram appreciated God for a successful show while he was alive.

Recall that we had reported that the Gospel Singer died on Friday morning.

According to reports, the late music producer was said to have slumped on Friday morning and died. He was aged 51.

Although, details regarding Okposo’s death are still sketchy at the time of filing this report, the singer’s health was said to have deteriorated on Friday morning.

His project manager, Hillary Vincent, also confirmed the news to PUNCH but failed to disclose the cause of the death.

Responding to inquiries, he said, “Yes it’s true. It happened this morning.”

Before his death, the singer took to his Instagram hours ago to express  thanksgiving to God for the success of his Praise Party.

GOSPEL SINGER SAMMY OKPOSO SLUMPED AND DIED THIS MORNING…

GOSPEL SINGER SAMMY OKPOSO SLUMPED AND DIED THIS MORNING…

The singer had been in the hospital for some days where he was receiving treatment for an undisclosed ailment.

He was said to have been recuperating but unfortunately, his health deteriorated this morning leading to his death.

The singer is survived by his wife, Ozioma, and his children.

He was 51 years old.

Accept Permanent Secretary Appointment and Get Fired on November 28th – Osun Governor-Elect

Accept Permanent Secretary Appointment and Get Fired on November 28th – Osun Governor-Elect

The Osun State Governor-Elect, Senator Ademola Adeleke has warned that any Coordinating Directors who accept a permanent Secretary appointment from outgoing Governor Gboyega Oyetola will exit the service from November 28th.

In a statement by his Spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, the Governor-elect affirmed that taking such appointments at the last minute without due process indicated the readiness of those directors to exit the state service.

Senator Adeleke said the new permanent secretaries will be treated as political appointees who will automatically follow the outgoing Governor out of public service from November 28.

He advised that those who still want to remain in service of the Osun state government should decline the appointment from the outgoing Governor adding that, no waiver will be entertained in sacking from office any kangaroo permanent secretary.

I’m Not Supporting Tinubu; He Won’t Win 2023 Presidential election – APC Chieftain, Babachir Lawal

I’m Not Supporting Tinubu; He Won’t Win 2023 Presidential election – APC Chieftain, Babachir Lawal

Babachir in an interview with BBC, said he and others supported the APC presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, to win the primary election, but they later realised he had been hiding his decision to pick a Muslim running mate from them.

 

A former Secretary to the Nigerian Government and chieftain of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), Babachir Lawal, has said that APC will not win the presidential election in 2023 as a result of the Muslim-Muslim ticket.

Babachir in an interview with BBC, said he and others supported the APC presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, to win the primary election, but they later realised he had been hiding his decision to pick a Muslim running mate from them.

Babachir said he was no longer supporting Tinubu and APC would lose the presidential election.

He said, “I am not for Bola Tinubu now. I am not for a Muslim-Muslim ticket.

“It is Bola who did not want to go with us, he chose where he wants to go, and we told him that we will not vote for him if he did a Muslim-Muslim ticket.

“PDP (Peoples Democratic Party) discussed with us and they agreed to do what we want if we support them and we agreed to support them.”

PDP is fielding a Muslim-Christian ticket, with Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate while Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State is his running mate.

Babachir added that the Labour Party tried so much to convince him and other aggrieved members to work for the party.

He added, “You see the problem of the northerners, if you say you are a Christian, it is difficult for us to get a job. You see, of the 27 universities in the north, there are only two Christian VCs and of 27 polytechnics; there are only two Christian rectors, that’s federal, but not to talk of state-owned.”

Babachir complained that the “discrimination” shown to Christians in the North was too much for them, “and you still went ahead to do Muslim-Muslim ticket; that is double blows on us.”

When he was asked whether they tried to reach Tinubu to discuss the issue, he said, “No, he is the one to look for us now, I will not look for him. We have a place to go and a place to stay. But he didn’t look for us.

“If he sees that he will win the election, let see how he will win the election.”

He maintained that he was still in the APC but he and his people would not support Tinubu.

Regarding the fact that he might be accused of anti-party conduct, Babachir said he was bothered even if he would be insulted. 

BUSINESSBREAKING: FG unveils redesigned naira notes to general public

BREAKING: FG unveils redesigned naira notes to general public

The Federal Government has unveiled the redesigned naira notes to the public.

It was unveiled at the Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari a few minutes ago.

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele warned Nigerians against hoarding of the old notes, saying there is no going back on the January 31st 2023 deadline to completely render the old notes useless.

The redesigned notes are in denomination of N1000, N500 and N200.

Prophet who impregnated teenage church member says ‘I attempted the younger sister too’

‘Prophet who impregnated teenage church member says ‘I attempted the younger sister too’ ‘

A white garment church prophet, Yusuf Ogundeji, has confirmed that he slept with a 16-year-old member, who eventually became pregnant. He however, said that he could not penetrate the sister of the pregnant girl and had to get off her, feeling remorseful.

Ogundeji  denied using diabolic means to put the girls to sleep, which he was accused of by the victims, saying that what he gave them was just meant for protection from spiritual attack.

The prophet was arrested by policemen from the Ogun State command for defiling two underage sisters who were attending same church with him.

The command’s Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Oyeyemi, told the Nigerian Tribune that it was the father of the girls who reported at Ajuwon divisional headquarters when he discovered that his teenage daughter was pregnant. Inquiries on who was responsible for the pregnancy  led to another shocking discovery that it was a prophet who impregnated her.

The PPRO said that the report made the Divisional Police Officer, SP Andrew Akinseye, to send detectives after the prophet for his arrest.

SP Oyeyemi added that in the course of investigation, it was discovered that the said prophet did not only have carnal knowledge of the now pregnant girl, he also defiled her 13-year-old younger sister.

“The two victims informed the police that whenever they had a vigil in the church, the prophet, who lives very close to the church, would ask them to go and stay in his house after the vigil which always came to an end at about 3am.

“They stated further that anytime they stayed in the prophet’s house, he would give them something to lick, and after licking it, they would sleep off, only to wake up and discover that the prophet had had sex with them,” the police spokesman disclosed.

The incident also made the state Commissioner of Police, Lanre Bankole, to order the transfer of the suspect to the anti-human trafficking and child labour unit of the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.

Nigerian Tribune had an interview with the suspect, during which he said:

“I’m Yusuf Ogundeji. I’m from Ibadan, Oyo State, but I live in Akute, Ogun State. I’m 30 years old. I’m a painter and a prophet. I don’t have a permanent church structure. I used to go to churches to minister. I started the work of ministration about five years ago after being severally told by other prophets that I have a divine calling.

“I started having sex with the elder sister in 2021. It was the time I was sick. But this year, in August, we slept together again. It was her parents who called and told me she was pregnant.

“I don’t understand what is happening to me. I have a wife who has a child for me. We had a quarrel and got separated in September. But I had been having sexual relationship with the elder sister.”

The suspect also admitted he attempted doing the same to the younger sister once, but said he could not penetrate her, which made him to have a rethink and withdraw from the act.

“Concerning the younger sister, it happened only once. It was at night and she came to my house in preparation for a vigil. She had slept and I didn’t even know how it happened. As I climbed on her to have sex with her, I noticed that I couldn’t penetrate her easily. I realised that I was doing a wrong thing and quickly rolled off her. Her elder sister was also in my house but she was sleeping at that time,” he explained.

Speaking on what he was giving the girls to lick, the suspect said it was for traditional detoxification.

“I was not giving them any charm of something diabolic to lick. I was only giving them  what we call ‘ebu’ in Yoruba (to ward off evil powers), and I was using it myself. It was meant for protection against spiritual attack or any evil whenever we were going to or coming from church late in the night. It is usually used by many people. I started using the protection when I fell ill for months and couldn’t lift my hands and legs. That was the local medication given me at that time,” Ogundeji said.

He also stated that the elder sister was unaware of what transpired between him and the younger one.

Doctors were said to have seen bruises around the younger sister’s vulva during medical examination.

It was also learnt that the four months pregnant elder sister was a secondary school student in SSS2 class before the incident.

Osun Election Tribunal: Oyetola Case Near Collapse As Counsel Withdraws Witnesses Lined Up For Appearance

Osun Election Tribunal: Oyetola Case Near Collapse As Counsel Withdraws Witnesses Lined Up For Appearance

The end may be near for the petition filed by Governor Gboyega Oyetola at the Tribunal sitting in Osogbo, as his star witness, Isiaka Olanrewaju destroyed the arguments of over-voting even as his counsel hurriedly withdrew other two witnesses arising the abysmal performance of the witness from Ila Orangun. Following the indicting confessions of the…”

The end may be near for the petition filed by Governor Gboyega Oyetola at the Tribunal sitting in Osogbo, as his star witness, Isiaka Olanrewaju destroyed the arguments of over-voting even as his counsel hurriedly withdrew other two witnesses arising the abysmal performance of the witness from Ila Orangun.

Following the indicting confessions of the star witness, Akin Olujinmi (SAN), the lead counsel for Oyetola made the application to withdraw other witnesses earlier scheduled for today shortly after the panel reconvened from a short break.

Making an oral application, Olujinmi said the petitioner will no longer call the two witnesses in support of its petition and seek the leave of the court to have them withdrawn.

“My Lords, we want to drop the two witnesses we had lined up for appearance,” Olujinmi applied to the panel.

In response, Paul Aganaba (SAN) said Olujinmi had seen the futility of pouring water into a basket, hence the withdrawal of the other listed witnesses.

Oyetola’s Star Witness Fails at Tribunal

The actual hearing of the governorship tribunal commenced today with the star witness for the petitioner, Isiaka Olanrewaju practically failing today as he openly, comically and technically disowned many of his own depositions and comprehensively knocking life out of case against the election of Senator Ademola Adeleke as the next Governor of Osun.

The witness proved beyond reasonable doubt that the grounds on which the petitioner built his case is not just weak but unfounded and only served to confirmed that Senator Adeleke was duly elected on July 16th.

The witness who was cross-examined by Paul Ananaba SAN, Alex Iziyon, SAN and Onyechi Ikpeazu SAN spoke against many aspects of his own deposition and accepting clearly that BVAS machines as primary source are superior to BVAS report which are secondary source.

The witness and his many gafe and admissions saw many APC supporters leaving the court room even as a leading counsel for Mr Gboyega Oyetola , Saka Layonu(SAN) left the court room probably due to the embarrassing show from the star witness.

• Claims he Works for Senator Adeleke in Deposition

His first error was the claim in his deposition that he worked for rhe second respondent, Senator Ademola Adeleke. This drew so much drama from the court. The witness to the consternation of the court claimed it was “an error, not a mistake”

• Witness a Staff of Oyetola, so not an Expert

The witness who claimed to be a retired civil servant was found to be a serving aide to Governor Oyetola undermining his claim to being an expert in electoral matters. He is a paid employee of the petitioner which casts doubt on his claim to being an expert.

Network Key to Election Results Transmission

He openly admitted that server can only get a data transmitted to it and that this is not possible unless there is network. A result not transmitted can therefore not be on the server. Network issue can delay transmission of results. A server can therefore not be superior to the machine which transmitted report to it.

• I did not Compare Form EC8 with Ticking of Voters’ Register

He admitted that his report did not include comparising of actual voters register to Form EC8A, meaning that his report lacks a basis for ascertaining actual voters on the day of election and therefore not competent to determine question of over-voting.

• Admits he Secured Bvas report on July 17

He contradicted himself on the time he secured the BVas report . While his deposition said July 17, he mentioned July 27th. His inconsistency irked the judges.

• Admits he did not cross check the Bvas Machines

The worst of the witness failure was his admission that he did not compare all the documents he had with the primary source of election data which are the BVAS machines. The BVAS report was then based on generated data from a server that does not contain all information on the election outcome.

• Admits that BVAS are the primary Source of Data, while BVAS report is secondary

He proceeded to admit that BVAS machines are the primary source of data for the election. The machines and their contents are superior to the BVAS report generated from the server.

• Admits he did not use form ECG40(1,3), EG40B,

Worst still was the witness’ admission that he did not defer to EG 40 series in his analysis of the results. That gap created big hole in the report of the witness as the ECG form series contain vital final phase data on an election.

•Disown Table of Report by Claiming it is 749, not 762 polling units even after table count

On table of election result computed to show over-voting, the witness was at a loss when he was told that the table he submitted contains 762 units rather than 749 reported by the witness. This generated heated debates among counsel, putting the witness on the spot for more than 10 minutes.

By the time the star witness concluded, he had practically disowned form EC8 series on which the over-voting claim was based as he admitted he is not sure whether the forms are genuine or not.

He also discredited large parts of his own report sworn to under oath.

The Tribunal adjourned hearing till tommorow.

Election results, BVAS Report Established Over Voting for Adeleke — Expert Told Tribunal

Election results, BVAS Report Established Over Voting for Adeleke — Expert Told Tribunal

…As Tribunal strikes out INEC’s application to stall Adeleke’s certificates presentation

An expert witness, Isiaka Olanrewaju, told Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal that he established irregularities in the results used to declare the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Ademola Adeleke, as the Governor-elect by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He said he came to that conclusion after analysing the result forms for the election and comparing them with the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS).

He made these revelations while giving evidence before the Justice Tertsea Kume-led tribunal at the resumed hearing in the petition filed by Governor Adegboyega Oyetola and the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday.

This is just as the tribunal struck out the application by Counsel for INEC, Prof. Paul Ananaba, SAN, filed to set aside the Subpoena issued on the INEC for the production of Adeleke’s credentials used in the 2018 Governorship Election.

The witness who was led in evidence by the Petitioners’ counsel, Chief Akin Olujinmi (SAN), said he relied on forms EC8As, EC8B, EC8C, EC8D, EC8E and BVAS report released by INEC to arrive at his findings.

While being cross- examined by the INEC counsel, Professor Ananaba, the witness said he analysed the results of the election in 749 units across 10 Local Governments as against 762 units being suggested to him by the counsel for the respondents.

While INEC counsel put it to him that the witness analysed results of 762 units, he responded: “That is your opinion, I worked on just 749 units. where you see 762, I don’t know”.

The witness was also cross-examined by counsel for Adeleke, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), and counsel for the PDP, Alex Izinyon (SAN).

He told the tribunal that though he didn’t operate the BVAS machine on the election day on July 16, 2022, he received the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the BVAS report on the 27th of July 2022 after the election.

The style of the witness’ testimony however threw the entire court into laughter while mentioning the documents used for his analysis, saying: “I used form EC8A, comma, EC8B, comma, EC8C, comma, EC8D, comma, EC8E, no comma and BVAS report”.

He testified that he is an expert who had operated several electronic devices, including BVAS before and was aware that an electoral officer might fail to submit the data imputed into the machine or that if the network was bad, the data submitted would not be successful.

Asked again on whether his analysis was done only where the PDP won, the witness said, “I did my analysis across 749 polling units in 10 local governments regardless of which party won.”

Earlier, the tribunal had granted an application by Oyetola’s counsel, asking to amend the list of witnesses filed before the panel by including the acronym used to represent their names.

Olujinmi had also informed the tribunal that the INEC counsel had filed an application to attack the Subpoena issued by the tribunal on INEC to bring Adeleke’s certificate and other documents he used in the 2018 Governorship Election.

Olujinmi said, the evidence of his next witness would be based on the documents being requested for, saying he would wait in the calling of the said witness listed as number 2, until the tribunal decides on the application of the INEC counsel.

The tribunal had earlier fixed tomorrow, Tuesday, for the hearing of the application and agreed that the witness should wait until it takes a stand on the said application, before he withdrew the application.

Meanwhile, the tribunal has struck out the application by Counsel for INEC, Ananaba filed to set aside the Subpoena issued on the INEC for the production of Adeleke’s credentials used in the 2018 Governorship Election.

The ruling of the tribunal followed the application by INEC counsel to withdraw the application.

Addressing journalist after the sitting, Olujinmi said the application was the only obstacle for the appearance of INEC official to produce Adeleke’s credentials, saying the obstacle has been dealt with and the INEC Resident Electoral Commission would have to appear before the court with the documents requested for.

“What happened today is that the petitioners called their witness who gave oral evidence on the analysis he did on the results produced by INEC after the election. And the other witnesses who will testify will be coming in tomorrow and the court has adjourn to tomorrow.

“As regards the Subpoena, we expect that the only obstacle as against it was the application filed on behalf of INEC against the Subpoena but they withdrew that application today which means the Subpoena could be obeyed by INEC and then the officer we Subpoened will appear in court by tomorrow with those documents”, Olujinmi added.

Oyetola upbeat on success at Osun election tribunal

Oyetola upbeat on success at Osun election tribunal

The Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola, on Saturday expressed confidence he would reclaim his mandate at the state election petitions tribunal.

Oyetola, who spoke at the 31st Iragbiji day celebration in Iragbiji, Boripe local government area of the state, expressed optimism that he would grace the annual celebration as the governor of the state next year.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Ademola Adeleke as the winner of the July 16 governorship election in the state after polling 403,271 votes while Oyetola garnered 375,027.

The governor had since approached the tribunal to overturn the PDP candidate’s victory in the election, citing irregularities in 749 polling units across 10 local government areas of the state.

He said: “I congratulate us all on this memorable and rewarding 31st Iragbiji Day even as we pray to God for a more eventful 32nd version.

“By the special grace of Allah, In Sha Allah, be rest assured that I shall grace this occasion next year, still as the Osun Governor.

“I have no doubt in my mind that I shall reclaim my mandate.”

After I Was Dumped By My Abductors, A Woman Urinated On My Head And Gave Me ₦500 At Epe - Kidnap Survivor Recounts

After I Was Dumped By My Abductors, A Woman Urinated On My Head And Gave Me ₦500 At Epe - Kidnap Survivor Recounts

A 50 year old survivor of a kidnap attempt, Gbenga Maxwell Ajayi, has narrated how he regained his freedom and the ordeal he faced while returning home. In a recent interview with Vanguard Newspaper, Mr Gbenga revealed that he was on his way to Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos State, from where he was billed to travel to London, when he was kidnapped by the driver of the commercial bus he was in.

According to the 50 year old, he had boarded the vehicle heading from Ijaye area of Lagos to Oshodi on Friday, when the bus driver sprayed perfume inside the vehicle, apparently to stop bad odour but they all dozed off. He continued that upon waking up, he and other passengers were in an apartment and they looked all dizzy with white stains on their bodies.

He said he regained his freedom after his abductors noticed he wasn't good for ritual purposes. However, he met a woman at the place he was dumped who urinated on his head before he could regain consciousness.

Mr Gbenga recounted thus:

“I heard an old man giving order for my release saying that I cannot be used for ritual purposes. Immediately, the charms placed on my head were removed, my eyes tied and was driven to an area, very close to a construction site. I saw a woman who told me that I am at Epe. I explained my ordeal to the woman; she urinated on my head and immediately I regained consciousness. She sympathized with me, and gave me N500 and left. I then asked for direction from some headsmen who directed me on how to locate my way to Ajah.”

The presentation of the staff of Office and Instrument of appointment to Oba Charles Adesina Ogunwusi, the Atilade of Fasina in Ife Central Local Government area of Osun state.

The presentation of the staff of Office and Instrument of appointment to Oba Charles Adesina Ogunwusi, the Atilade of Fasina in Ife Central Local Government area of Osun state. The Governonr who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of Local Government and Chieftancy Affairs, Mr Feni Ogundun, noted that Monarchs are veritable instruments of achieving peace and harmony between the government and the people. He thereafter congratulated Oba Charles Adesina Ogunwusi, on his appointment as the traditional ruler of Fasina. The new monarch similarly appreciated his teaming subjects for their lover and confidence which culminated into his eventual choice and subsequent appointment as the new Atilade of Fasina. Messages of goodwill by the eminent personalities from all walks of life wishing the new monarch a peaceful reign on the throne of his forebears. The wisdom, knowledge and understanding to administer his domain well, God will grant it to him.

Man Catches pregnant wife in his bed sleeping with her pastor Red candles, native pots and other items were found on the floor

Man Catches pregnant wife in his bed sleeping with her pastor Red candles, native pots and other items were found on the floor

In the viral clip, the pregnant woman identified as Martha could be seen stark naked while the pastor who reportedly hails from Congo quickly wore his shorts upon seeing the lady’s husband with the camera.

On the floor, candlelights could be sighted, what a lot of people and sources claim to be in line with the ritual that was ongoing during their intercourse.

At the time of filing this report, the video is currently trending on the micro-blogging platform, Twitter and Nigerians are already giving their opinions as regards the shocking and shameful act.

A report from Zambia Online reads:

MARTHA WAS BARREN AND CONGOLESE PASTOR HELPED IN MAKING HER PREGNANT

New information suggest that the trending video, in which a lady identified as Martha who was begging for mercy from her husband after being caught red handed with another man, was actually performing The last Ritual for safe Delivery.

sources say the 2 individuals, the ungodly papa and Martha were performing the last ritual, as she she was barren for sometime and the Congolese pastor assisted In bringing the fruit of the woman.

Oyetola And His Dream Of Mandate Reclaim: Eating A Pie In the Sky

Oyetola And His Dream Of Mandate Reclaim: Eating A Pie In the Sky

Since the petitioners and the respondents joined issues in the election petition filed by Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, the outgoing Governor of Osun State and his defeated party, the APC, I have for quite some time now deliberately refrained from commenting on the same for the sake of respect for the due judicial process. For this reason, I haven’t reacted to all the distortions, misinterpretations and misrepresentations by the APC especially the CPS to the outgoing Osun State Governor, despite the onslaught of questions from concerned members of our party and the public seeking clarifications.

However, I felt morally compelled to answer the “questionnaires”, as a matter of respect, albeit not in a way that will prejudice the petition at the Tribunal. I will address the issue from two perspectives, first, from the perspective of the documents already tendered or to be tendered by the petitioners and even the respondents at the Tribunal, and second from the perspective of the BVAS report which is the fulcrum of the petitioners’ petition. I have read and learnt about the euphoria in the petitioners’ camp celebrating the admission by the Tribunal of the documents tendered by the APC as if the admission automatically translates to victory.

I quip to add here that the loyalists of the outgoing Governor and his APC throwing parties for the reason of the Tribunal’s admission of the documents is laughable. For one, they might be ignorant of the proceedings at the Tribunal or might be deliberately playing a mind game of the usual false hope or imaginary victory to keep their party together in the face of the reality of the defeat they suffered at the polls and which, Insha Allah, will still be their lot at the Tribunal.

To clarify the issue surrounding the admission of the documents at the Tribunal, I will urge the public to get a copy of the Tribunal Pre-Hearing report in which it is clearly stated that all documents shall be admitted at the hearing while objections to their admissibility (if any) shall be taken at the final address stage. This invariably means that admission is different from admissibility. A document through admission will be expunged from the court’s records if it is found out in the end that the document is not admissible.

The import of this is that if any party to the petition brings any document, whether pleaded or un-pleaded, whether admissible or inadmissible, even if it is a leaf from a tree, the Tribunal will admit it, while the fate of its admissibility awaits it at the final address stage and ultimately at the time of ruling/judgement. So, what the petitioners’ loyalists have been celebrating and over which the pen of the CPS continues to dance furiously is nothing but a mesmerising mirage. There is nothing to celebrate.

The heavy loads on the shoulders of the petitioners in terms of the burden of proof haven’t in any way been lifted to any level, not to talk of shifting it to the respondents at all. The petitioners still have a long journey ahead, wallahi, “omi n be lamu”.

As for the BVAS report being celebrated by the petitioners, I will encourage members of the public to read sections 62(1), (2) & (3) of the Electoral Act, 2022. From the marginal note of the section, it is clear that the BVAS report is a post-election procedure which is undertaken after recording and announcing of results of the election. We may want to read about the importance of a marginal note in the interpretation of a statute, I commend the Supreme Court’s decision in OSSIEC .V. ACTION CONGRESS to the readers.

Going forward, note that the BVAS report is different from the BVAS machine itself. BVAS report is not an election procedure but a post-election procedure, while BVAS itself is an election procedure. While the BVAS report was not at the polling unit, BVAS itself was there. Whatever is contained in any BVAS report that is against what is in the BVAS itself will amount to nothing. The petitioners are relying on the BVAS report from INEC’s server which was a stranger to the polling units where the election was held, while the respondents are relying on the BVAS machine itself which was a manager at the polling units. We must be reminded that each BVAS machine has automatically stored on it the accreditation figure and result of each polling unit, as well as the scanned copy of the polling unit result. The time and date of the election results issue were also captured on each BVAS machine. We must note further that the BVAS itself is a primary source while the server is a secondary source which requires continuous maintenance and updating. In the event of any controversy from the secondary source, recourse is made to the primary source. That is the whole lot of the fate awaiting the APC and OYETOLA at the Tribunal. Their dream of mandate reclaim is like eating a pie in the sky, a false hope, like a recycled loss which can only produce another loss. All the euphoria of admission of the petitioners’ documents at the Tribunal is nothing but a mirage, building a castle in the air, and eating a pie in the sky. As far as Oyetola and APC’s defeat in Osun is concerned, the die has already been cast.

APC Candidate Kicks As NSIEC Declares SDP Candidate As Winner Of Niger LG Polls

APC Candidate Kicks As NSIEC Declares SDP Candidate As Winner Of Niger LG Polls

APC

Despite the pronouncement of the Niger State Independent Electoral Commission (NSIEC) that Social Democratic Party (SDP) won the Katcha local government area election, the All Progressives Congress (APC) chairmanship candidate in the area, Hon Musa Isyaku, has insisted he is the winner.

The APC candidate who presented a result sheet before journalists yesterday said he beat the SDP candidate, Abdullahi Danlami Saku in the Katcha local government area chairmanship race.

Isyaku referred to a video showing the declaration of the returning officer in Katcha that he (APC candidate) polled 9,423 votes as against the SDP candidate’s 4,254 votes in the election.

The aggrieved APC candidate disclosed that the election results were announced by the returning officer in Katcha, Mallam Kolo Ibrahim in the presence of the electoral officer, Kassim Mazakuka, alongside the three party agents of APC, SDP and NNPP.

He said “Let me state categorically that I, Musa Isyaku, am the only duly elected council Chairman for Katcha local government of the 10th November local government elections. I won in seven out of ten wards and polled a total of 9,423 votes under the platform of APC as against the runner-up SDP that polled 4,254 votes.”

It will be recalled that in a twist the Public Relations Officer of the NIger State Independent Electoral Commission (NSIEC), Usman Aliyu in a statement released over the weekend announced that the Commission has declared the candidate of the SDP, Abdullahi Danlami Saku as the winner of the chairmanship elections in Katcha local government.

Usman stated that the Commission made the declaration after careful consideration of the results of the local government council elections in katcha local government council.

PDP's Governorship Victory in Osun Shaking as Tribunal Compels INEC to Produce Adeleke’s Academic Certificates

PDP's Governorship Victory in Osun Shaking as Tribunal Compels INEC to Produce Adeleke’s Academic Certificates

The tribunal hearing the petition of Governor Oyetola and the APC against the victory of the PDP's Ademola Adeleke in the 2022 governorship election sat on Wednesday, November 16

At the resumed sitting, the counsel representing Oyetola secured a temporary victory against Adeleke and the PDP as the tribunal compelled INEC to produce the governor-elect's certificates

The tribunal which rejected the argument of Adeleke's lawyer thereafter adjourned further hearing until Monday, November 21

Osogbo, Osun state - The Osun Election Petitions Tribunal has granted a subpoena compelling the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state, to produce the nomination form and academic certificates used by Sen. Ademola Adeleke in the 2022 governorship election.

Recall that Governor Adegboyega Oyetola and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) had on Friday, August 5, submitted a petition before the tribunal in Osogbo.

Osun Election Petition Tribunal/Adegboyega Oyetola/Ademola Adeleke/INEC

Governor Oyetola wants the tribunal to overturn the victory of Senator Adeleke in the 2022 Osun governorship election. Photo credits: @GboyegaOyetola, @AAdeleke_01 Source: Twitter

Oyetola and APC are challenging the election results from 749 polling units across 10 local government areas of the state for various alleged electoral malpractice, especially over-voting.

INEC had declared Adeleke as the winner of the July 16 governorship election, having polled 403, 271 votes against 375,027 polled by Oyetola.

PAY ATTENTION: Share your outstanding story with our editors! Please reach us through info@corp.legit.ng!

Osun tribunal: What happened on Wednesday

At the sitting on Wednesday, November 16, Counsel for Oyetola and the APC, Saka Layoonu (SAN), informed the tribunal that the petitioners had filed a Subpoena dated Thursday, November 3, compelling REC to appear before it, Vanguard reported.

Layoonu told the tribunal REC is being expected to present Adeleke’s Form CF 001, being the nomination form and all its attachments, including the certificates used in the 2018 election.

He said that since the bailiff has yet to serve REC with the Subpoena, even after being signed, he would be compelled to ask for adjournment till November 21.

INEC's lawyer objects to adjournment

However, Counsel to INEC, Paul Ananaba (SAN), objected to the application for adjournment, saying that it was clear evidence that the petitioners were not prepared for diligent prosecution of the petition, citing paragraph 18(11) of the Electoral Act.

Ananaba argued that REC being subpoenaed to bring the said documents was never mentioned in the petition.

He added that the request by the petitioners to call REC as a witness, without informing the tribunal earlier, had violated paragraph three of the tribunal pre-hearing reports.

The senior lawyer pointed out that the said paragraph three indicated that the tribunal must be furnished with a list of witnesses to be called 24 hours before the hearing day.

Adeleke's lawyer aligns with INEC's counsel

Responding, Counsel to Adeleke, Niyi Owolade and that of the PDP, Nathaniel Oke (SAN), aligned with Ananaba’s arguments and prayed that the tribunal should dismiss the petition.

Layoonu, however, described the respondents’ arguments as baseless, saying that the question of not being diligent in the prosecution of the petition was just a blanket statement by the respondents.

He also referred to paragraph 69(vi) of the petition where it was expressly stated that the documents in question would be relied on.

Layoonu said that since the tribunal had not issued the subpoena, it could not have been served on the respondents.

The counsel then urged the tribunal to discountenance all the arguments of the respondents’ counsels.

Tribunal gives verdict

In his ruling, the tribunal Chairman, Tertsea Kume, granted the subpoena.

Kume said that the subpoena was issued by the tribunal on Tuesday evening and would subsequently be served on REC.

He, then adjourned further hearing until Monday, November 21.

Oyetola versus Adeleke: Nigerians react

DeMos Ime said on Facebook:

"The matter of Adeleke's certificate had since settled by the supreme court. This one na academic exercise."

Andy Ibok said:

"That’s a pre election matter, it’s statute barred and the tribunal has no jurisdiction to entertain that! Osun people voted for Adeleke and those corrupt tribunal judges should take a chill pill!

"The constitution says attempted school certificate, first school leaving certificate or having worked for 10 years with no certificate qualifies you for an elective post!"

Engr Olaogun Timothy said:

"APC too desperate what has certificate got to do with somebody that won at the poll?..."

Marcus Malgwa said:

"Nothing can change the will of the people, Adeleke remains the people's governor."

I did not lose Osun governorship poll, Oyetola insists

Meanwhile, Legit.ng earlier reported that Governor Oyetola stated that he did not lose the election that produced Adeleke as the winner.

He said this on Tuesday, November 15, in Osun during the inauguration of “Nigeria for BAT” to canvas for votes for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Oyetola, while stating that he did not lose the election, alleged that he was defeated during the vote-counting exercise.

Source: Legit.ng

I have never, won't run my administration on religious bias, Tinubu assures CAN

PRESS RELEASE 

I have never, won't run my administration on religious bias, Tinubu assures CAN

...says choice of Shettima has nothing to do with religion

Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has assured the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria that he will not run his administration on the basis of religion if elected President of Nigeria.

Tinubu who met with the CAN leadership in Abuja on Wednesday at an interactive session assured them that the same way his administration did not discriminate against anyone either based on tribe, religion or gender when he was Lagos Governor, he would not start such in office as president. 

He was accompanied to the session by his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Presidential Running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima, House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, Governors Hope Uzodinnma (Imo), David Umahi (Ebonyi), Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano), Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq (Kwara), Deputy Senate Leader Senator Boroffice Ajayi, Senate Chief Whip Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, Minister of Special Duties, Senator George Akume and many others. 

The leadership of CAN under new president Daniel Ukoh presented  a charter of demands and issues to the APC presidential candidate.

They demanded among others state police or a decentralized policing system, devolution of power to states, equal rights for all religions and their adherents, right to self-determination by all ethnic groups, right to control natural resources by communities that bear them, no to open grazing, and equitable electoral system that guarantees the right to vote and be voted for by all.

Tinubu said, "My belief in the need for secular government and faith-based organizations to work in unison is not something adopted recently to benefit my campaign. 

"As Governor of Lagos, I partnered with the Christian to improve lives and foster education. For instance, I returned mission schools to their owners, most of who are Christians.  

"I instituted yearly Christian Denomination Service at the Governor’s residence as we approached the new year. This tradition continues in Lagos. 

"More importantly, we fostered an atmosphere of religious tolerance and inter-faith collaboration. My cabinet was diverse and talented. 

"In the exercise of government, I did not give a  thought to whether a team member was Christian or Muslim, Yoruba, Igbo or Arewa. 

"I have never lent myself to baseless prejudice and discrimination. To do so would be a recipe for failure in the governance of a diverse society and I am not a man that is familiar with failing.

"I never chased people out of Lagos nor made them feel unwanted. Under my administration Lagos welcomed all comers and continues to do so today.

"After me, Lagos has had one Muslim and two Christian governors. I may not be perfect. What human being is? But I am not a petty man secretly wedded to secret biases and prejudices.

"As such, I  see all Nigerians as equals and as brothers and sisters in our national family. This means no one is inherently inferior or superior to anyone else, regardless of faith, place of origin, social status and gender.  Anyone who does not hold this fair and equitable view, should not run for president in a country such as ours." 

He said the Christian body has a great role as the moral compass of the society which he cherishes and will always support. 

"You, as an organization and as individual leaders of CAN, are entrusted as the watch person of the welfare of this society from a Christian perspective. Which means functioning in an atmosphere of charity, understanding, patience and wisdom.

" I understand the tremendous importance of your work and have nothing but the deepest respect for your selfless contributions to our national cause," he added. 

On his choice of Senator Kashim Shettima as his running mate, which has generated a lot of controversies, Tinubu assured the Christian body that he made the best available choice at his disposal without recourse to religious sentiments. 

"I did not choose Senator Shettima so that we could form a same faith ticket. The ticket was constructed as a same progressive and people- based ideology ticket. 

"I offer a confession. I selected Senator Shettima thinking more about who would best help me govern. Picking a Christian running mate would have been politically easier. But the easy way is rarely the right one. The selection of a running mate is at once a very momentous yet very intimate decision. 

"Resting such a key decision on religious affiliation as the primary weight did not sit well with me. I am not saying there were not good and adequate potential running mates of the Christian faith.

"What I am saying is that the times we inhabit do not lend themselves to the good or adequate. We have urgent problems that lend themselves not to a Christian or Muslim solution. We need the best solution.   

"Every time I thought about it, and I did think a lot; I came to the same conclusion:  Kashim Shettima 

-- His faith was immaterial. 

-- He is a brilliant man with superior intellectual capacity. He is studious and detailed oriented. Enjoying excellent organization skills, Shettima fully understands the vital difference between governance and  politics.

-- This exceptionally gifted human being has humility of spirit, courage of his convictions and a strongly progressive world view in harmony with my own perspectives on government and its relationship to the governed.

-- I trust the calibre of the man. I know the great lengths he went in fighting Boko Haram in his state. He did his best to protect the Christian community and rebuilt damaged churches. 

-- This man understands the value of our national diversity in all of its ramifications, including religious. He possesses the courage to stand up to those who would wreck that diversity and freedom."

He continued, "I know people have reacted harshly to my selection. They have done so without knowing the man or giving him or me a fair chance. 

"The rumour that this is some plot to suppress the Christian community is untrue and unfortunate.

"I can no more suppress the Christians of this nation than I can suppress the Christians in my own household, my very family. You all know my wife is Christian and a pastor. My children are Christians. I can no more disown them and their choice of faith than I can disown myself. As a husband and father to Christian wife and children, hearing such allegations is hurtful."

He thereafter shared his campaign policies with the Christian leaders, asking for their support. 

 

"We must move the nation forward more quickly so that hatred and pettiness haven’t a chance to imbed themselves and become the main colours of the fabric of our society.    

"My team, Senator Shettima and I have crafted our Action Plan for Nigeria titled Renewed Hope. This agenda is based on the progressive notion that our economy must be recalibrated to ensure better jobs and wages for people. That all are entitled to basic health care and education. 

"We will combat hunger and poverty by growing more food and better rewarding farmers for their toil. 

"We shall revive our industrial capacity to provide work for our growing urban population and to produce more of the things that we need.

"Where the private sector thrives, we will not attempt to fix what is not broken. Where it falters, government shall lend a hand to keep people employed and the economy vibrant. Where there is a gap, we must fill it so that we more fully employ our idle workforce and productive capacity.  

"We must better tend to the poor, vulnerable and elderly by strengthening the social safety net.

"We shall end the fuel subsidy because it has become an unproductive policy favouring an elite that needs no favours while giving the people precious little. Funds that were previously used for the subsidy will be invested in public transportation and other infrastructure, education, and health. 

"Let us advance to the economy point where no parent is forced to send their children to bed hungry and no one is fearful that tomorrow will bring more lack and poverty. 

"Fiscal power and authority shall be recalibrated to give the states more latitude to better fulfil their mandate of grassroots development and empowerment of people and local communities, This includes assessing  each state’s best option regarding a more active role in crime prevention and law enforcement. 

"On security, we will not relent until terrorists, kidnappers  and criminals quit their malign ways or are completely defeated. We shall augment our security forces and use advanced technology to track and defeat these evil groups," he added.

In their contributions, Vice Presidential Candidate Shettima, House Speaker Gbajabiamila, Governor Ganduje and Senate Chief Whip Kalu attested to Asíwájú Tinubu's character and integrity.

They said he usually places merit and competence above any other factor in choosing who to work with and he is always moved to act in the best interest of the country.

Tinubu Media Office 

Tunde Rahman 

November 16, 2022