OAU Shuts Down Mosques Inside Hostel Over Alleged Prostitution & Alien Doctrine Teaching

The Divisional Students Affairs of the Obafemi
Awolowo University management has stated
that it is ready to shut down mosques across
the all hostels in the institution.
According to a statement signed by the Dean
of the Divisional Students Affairs DSA, Dr. G. O
Akinola, the justification for shutting down the
mosque is not far from ranging allegations
levied on the MSSN splinter group.
The splinter group was alleged of harbouring
female students for prostitution and teaching
of an alien doctrine.
Read the statement below:
“The Division of Students Affairs (DSA)
acting upon the Statutes and Regulations of
Obafemi Awolowo University hereby declares
closed until further notice, the two purported
mosques in Awolowo and Fajuyi Halls for the
reasons of peace, free movement of students
and staff within the Halls and the overriding
need for the security of all persons, assets
and installation in the Halls.
The reasons for this closure are as set out
below:
1. On Friday 12th August, 2016 when the
current executive members of the Muslim
Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Obafemi
Awolowo University (OAU), Ife B.ranch were
to be inaugurated at the Central Mosque, the
Division of Students Affairs (DSA) was
invited and was duly represented by the Vice
Dean of the Division. There were issues at
the inauguration when we were told of
another group of Muslim students who
wanted to impose themselves and their
doctrines which are not consistent with the
Constitution of the MSSN members. At that
point the Vice-Dean was asked to interact
with this group with a view to finding out
what their arguments and positions were;
2. After the Vice-Dean’s interaction with the
group (which is yet to give a name to itself,
although they insisted that they should be
called MSSN too), we decided to call
members of the group to a meeting at the
DSA.
They came on Tuesday, 23rd August 2016 at
6.15pm. After several attempts at making
them attend the parley failed, we eventually
held a meeting with them on this 23rd
August. We stressed at the meeting the
point that the DSA is only aware of the
existence of only one MSSN as a registered
Muslim students’ group on the campus of
the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
We impressed it on the group that even the
DSA is also aware that the National body of
the MSSN recognises only one MSSN group
here on campus. We therefore advised the
group to, if they have any issue of
disagreement between them and the
mainstream MSSN, please for sake of peace
on campus and interest of their members
take steps to sort them out with the
Executive of the MSSN on campus.
3. The meeting deliberated extensively on
how to bring this settlement about and at
the end of it, it was agreed that a period of
one (1) week be given to permit the group
interact with the mainstream MSSN and
settle their disagreement amicably failing
which the two ‘mosques’ at Fajuyi and
Awolowo Halls would be closed down for
peace to reign.
Note that this splinter group of the MSSN
had begun to use the two ‘mosques’ in these
Halls as a base for their anti-mainstream
MSSN rhetorics and doctrinal disagreement
on campus, including recruitment of students
for their separate teachings. Note also, that
these two ‘mosques’, converted as such
were originally Cafeteria buildings meant for
the respective halls under the University’s
master plan.
We also agreed at the meeting that if the
DSA found that they were able to make
progress on the reconciliation, even if they
have not completely reached an agreement
on doctrinal or worship issues, the
suggestive closure of the ‘mosque’ would be
suspended to permit for more room for
rapport and deeper reconciliation. We agreed
that we were going to meet again on the
very day that the one-week ultimatum to
reconcile expired, that is Tuesday 30th
August, 2016. Meanwhile, desirous of a way
to convince the DSA that the splinter group
meant well, they invited the DSA to visit the
two ‘mosques’ in Fajuyi and Awolowo Halls
to see that there was nothing sinister in the
activities of the splinter group and that if
anything at all, they have been peaceful and
law-abiding.
4. However, on Thursday 25th August, a
meeting was held with the University
recognized MSSN Executive members. This
same MSSN Executive is also recognised by
the OAU Muslim Community and by the
National body of MSSN in Nigeria. That
meeting was called to hear the complaints
of the splinter MSSN members and their
grievances. The recognized MSSN was
informed of the University’s plan to close the
‘mosques’ in Fajuyi and Awolowo Halls if the
splinter group of the MSSN failed to make
peace with the mainstream MSSN and
reconcile accordingly;
5. On Friday 26th August, the MSSN
National body paid a courtesy visit to the
DSA to discuss the furore over the
recognized MSSN on campus. The visitation
team led by the President of the National
MSSN, Muhammad Jameel Muhammad
came in company of the campus mainstream
MSSN and some of his officials. The thrust
of their visit was to make a passionate
appeal to the DSA on their fear for the
possibility of “emergence on the OAU
campus of an extremist group of Muslim
students in a fashion similar to the current
Boko Haram insurgency besetting Nigeria”.
They expressed some fears and strongly felt
that the splinter MSSN group in OAU and
what they referred to as “their strange
doctrinal principles and procedures” could
lead to the materialization of such fears.
The visitation team pleaded with the
University through the DSA to do all that
was lawful and needful to see that such
fears were allayed. The visitation team also
reiterated their support for the recognized
MSSN mainstream organization and its
president. In addition, the team gave a copy
of the MSSN Constitution and 5 copies of
the articles of faith of the MSSN titled
“MSSN at a Glance” to the DSA;
6. On the night of 27th August, 2016 reports
came to the Acting Dean, DSA, that the
splinter MSSN group were planning to hold a
religious programme in Awolowo Hall
Cafeteria the following day (i.e. 28th August,
2016), for which they had not sought or
obtained permission. The Acting Dean
reported to the University Chief Security
Officer who immediately sent a group of his
men to see how things would go with a view
to apprehending any illegality or untoward
behaviours and report forthwith. Report
came that the religious programme held and
that the leaders of the splinter MSSN
presided at that programme. The point here
is that the group failed to seek or secure
approval for this religious activity in the
Cafeteria.
7. However, on the night preceding the
expiration of the ultimatum given to the
Splinter MSSN group, to make peace with
the mainstream MSSN and reconcile
accordingly, a text message was sent to the
Vice Dean, DSA, from the Splinter MSSN
group that they had contacted someone who
would help broker the reconciliation talks
and that the person said he would see the
Chief Imam of the Central mosque later. The
DSA quickly apprehended this as delay
tactics as the text could have been sent
earlier. Otherwise, why the night preceding
the expiration of the ultimatum to reconcile?
In any case, on the agreed date when the
ultimatum expired (Tuesday 30th August,
2016), the DSA expected them to come for a
meeting at the DSA’s office, but to our
chagrin they refused to show up.
8. Meanwhile, acting upon the invitation
earlier extended to the DSA by this splinter
MSSN group, the Acting Dean and Vice Dean
at about 10.45am on 31st August, 2016,
visited the Fajuyi and Awolowo Halls with a
view to seeing for themselves samples of the
activities of the splinter MSSN group. We
told them of many irregular and outright
illegal things we have heard them do at the
‘mosques’. We made them realise that they
had been holding unauthorized religious
programmes in these ‘mosques’ and several
other places on campus without approval
from the DSA. They, however, argued that
they had not been violent but law abiding
and that they had never done anything illegal
or irregular in any of their religious meetings.
9. But on this our visit to Awolowo
‘mosque’, we discovered a door leading to
one of the rooms in the ‘mosque’ was
securely locked from inside and the
occuP@nts refused to open. We threatened
to force the door open if they refused any
further, and after much persuasion, the door
was opened and we discovered to our utter
amazement that a group of girls numbering
about a dozen were locked inside the room
either fully or partially veiled. Our
amazement was that the room in which they
were locked or locked themselves was in a
male hall, we wondered to no end why
purported female students would be locked
up in a male hall during lecture hours, no
matter the excuse. Before we could
interrogate them, some escaped through the
backdoor of the room but we were able to
apprehend three of them from whom we
collected their identity cards.
10. At the Fajuyi Hall, we also discovered to
utter shock that a group of girls who
purported themselves to be students were
locked in a room in the ‘mosque’. We
interrogated them and they claimed that
they were kept there by their leaders who
happen to be the leaders of MSSN splinter
group. They, in addition claimed that they
were praying in the room. Our dilemma was
why a group of female students would claim
to be praying during lecture hours in an
exclusive male hall at around 11am! There
was five girls in this room and we collected
the identity cards from four of them. The
fifth one who was fully veiled said she had
not her identity card on her. However, a
male student who vouched for this fully
veiled girl volunteered to stand in for her
until she produced her identity card. We
collected this male student’s identity card.
11. Having observed the seeming obstinacy
of the splinter MSSN group to interact with
the DSA and to fulfill the requirements of the
agreement reached on 23rd August, we again
were forced to send a follow-up invitation to
them stating that they should come to the
DSA for a meeting on Wednesday, 31st
August for a serious interaction at the DSA’s
office. But to our utter dismay they sent a
text message to the DSA that all of them in
the group would be having Continuous
Assessment tests from 10am to 5pm on
31st August, 2016. We replied that text
message that no test of any kind could
possibly last from 10am to 5pm in this
University and that in their own interest they
needed to show up for the meeting on or
before 2.00pm on 31st August to discuss the
issue of reconciliation as agreed in our last
meeting with them.
12. The splinter MSSN group eventually
came in the afternoon of 31st August at
about 1.15pm. We intimated them with our
findings and told them they had to put a
stop to their practice of harbouring girls in
rooms within the ‘mosques’. Their leaders
insisted that they could not abide by that
demand and that they reserved the right to
keep any of their female members in the
rooms in the ‘mosque’! We explained to
them that what they were doing was
contrary to the laws of the University and
the regulations guiding religious worship and
students’ conduct. But they held their
ground that since the ‘mosque’ was a place
of worship they could not abide by the rules
and the need to desist from keeping female
students within its rooms at any time. The
meeting ended in a stalemate.
13. We thereafter pleaded with the Chief
Imam of the University to take full charge of
the ‘mosques’ and prevent forthwith any
breach of the University’s rules within its
walls. He declined flatly and said he would
rather not be held responsible for what ever
happened in those ‘mosques’ as he had
since dissociated himself from the practices
and doctrines of the splinter MSSN who
controlled it.
14. It should be noted that the Federal
Government, of Nigeria of which Obafemi
Awolowo University is an integral part, has
not legalized prostitution in Universities. It is
pertinent to note also that no female should
be camped in a male facility under the guise
of religion, as this is tantamount to running
a brothel which will breed prostitution; and
this is illegal. It is only fit, proper and
responsible that any grossly abused
university facility be closed down.
15. Consequently, acting within its powers to
prevent any breakdown of law and order and
to ensure freedom of movement of persons
within the respective halls of residence,
especially at this time of dire security
concern in the country, the DSA has
therefore acted this 2nd day of September,
2016 to seal off and close down henceforth,
the two ‘mosques’ in Awolowo and Fajuyi
Halls until such a time that orderliness and
the rule of the University would be respected
within its walls.
Signed: Dr. (Mrs.) G. O. Akinola
(Acting Dean, Division of Students’ Affairs)
Stamped!!!

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Ogun state permanent secretary dies 24 hours after swearing-in

24 hours after she was sworn into office by the
Ogun state governor, a permanent secretary,
Mrs. Olubunmi Odumusi has died. According to
family sources, she died in her sleep last night
September 2nd. She was aged 57. She is said to
have been battling cancer disease for a while.
May her soul rest in peace, Amen.

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Fake miracle syndicate nabbed, says pastor hired them

 

Members of a syndicate, which specialised in confirming fake prophecies for pastors, have been arrested by the police in Enugu State.

Our correspondent gathered that the group also faked healings for some men of God, who contracted and paid them for their services.

The suspected fraudsters were identified as Obi Ejike from Ubaho Okija in Anambra State; Mary Kuku from Ijebu Ode, Ogun State; Joy Oluwakemi from Ojo, Lagos State; Nwosu Chizoba from Umunze, Anambra State; and Peter Uchechi from Ebonyi State.

They were reportedly apprehended while on their way to Abakiliki, Ebonyi State, where they were contracted to stage phoney miracles and healings for an unnamed pastor in the state.

naijatonic learnt that the suspects were apprehended on Friday during an argument while waiting to board a vehicle at Holy Ghost Park, Enugu.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Enugu State Police Command, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, who confirmed the development on Sunday, explained that the argument among the fraudsters drew the attention of some policemen within the premises of the park, who interrogated them.

Amaraizu said two members of the syndicate, Ejike and Oluwakemi, opened up on the group’s activities.

Revelations made by the duo led to the arrest of other members of the group at P and T bus stop, Enugu, on Saturday, where they had assembled to board a bus to Abakiliki, the venue of a church service.

A member of the group, Uchechi, said they were usually recruited in large numbers and kept in a house from where they would shuttle to confirm fake prophecies and stage-manage miracles for pastors.

Uchechi said they were usually paid through a coordinator, who acted as a middleman between the syndicate and the pastors.

Upon their arrival in the church, a man, who works for the pastor, would instruct the syndicate on the nature of the assignment.

Uchechi explained that before the scheduled church service, they would list their names and the fake ailments they had, which would be given to the pastor while  ministering to the congregation.

During the ‘prophetic hour’ session of the service, members of the syndicate, who were already known to the pastor, would come out when people who had problems were summoned to the altar.

Subsequently, members of the syndicate would announce before the congregation that they had received healing following the pastor’s ministrations.

In other cases, according to Uchechi, members of the syndicate would come out to ‘confirm’ a prophecy, which would be made by the pastor in the course of the service, based on the information they provided before the session.

She added that the members of their group usually fell under the ‘influence’ of the pastor’s anointing, during worship sessions.

“Some pastors use us to grow their churches and ministries and we are paid later through our coordinator, depending on our roles,” Uchechi said.

Ejike, who explained that he worked with the coordinator, admitted that he was in charge of the Abakiliki job, which the group was going for when they were apprehended.

He said he decided to go into the fake prophecy business after his business collapsed in Lagos.

Ejike added that he was mostly involved in the recruitment of personnel for various assignments.

Another member of the group, Chizoba, said she started the ‘business’ in Abuja, after finding it difficult to fend for her baby, who she had out of wedlock.

According to her, she eventually relocated to Onitsha, Anambra State, to team up with the syndicate.

Two other members of the syndicate, Oluwakemi and Kuku, claimed to be widows with four children each, adding that hardship pushed them into the crime.

The police spokesperson, Amaraizu, said investigations were ongoing.

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Appointments: Don’t marginalise any region, Mbaka tells Buhari

Enugu Catholic priest and Spiritual Director, Adoration Ministry, Enugu State, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, on Saturday, advised President Muhammadu Buhari not to marginalise any part of the country in the appointments made by his government.

Mbaka was quoted in a statement made available to journalists by his media aide, Maximus Ugwuoke.

In the statement, which was apparently released to counter a media report that the cleric attacked the President in a recent message, Mbaka said that he only advised Buhari.

While refuting the report that he attacked President Buhari, the cleric said he only offered suggestions to the President on how to tackle the current challenges in the country, which he said were caused by the actions and inactions of previous administrations in the country.

The appointments made by President Buhari, so far, are believed to be lopsided and in the favour of the northern part of the country.

Mbaka advised President Buhari to empower those that worked for him during the 2015 presidential election.

The statement partly read, “Fr. Mbaka advised the President to be careful about how he appoints people to prominent positions so that no region would appear marginalised, as it happened in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation board and charged the President to make sure that those around him do not mislead him.”

He advised the President on human empowerment and asked him to ensure that those who worked for him (Buhari) during the election ought to be empowered.

“Fr. Mbaka merely reinstated the obvious suffering that Nigerians are facing (which even the President himself had acknowledged and sued for patience and perseverance) and advised the President on the ways to tackle it, that is, by engaging economic gurus and by listening to good advisers.

“For the purpose of clarity, granted that Fr. Mbaka stated the obvious — that there is hunger in the land — he never attributed the cause of the hunger and economic hardship bedevilling the nation to Buhari. Rather, he attributed it to the actions and inactions of the past administrations of this country.”

Mbaka’s aide, in a move that suggested an attempt to mend fences between the cleric and the Presidency, added that the message in which Mbaka reportedly attacked Buhari was followed by another one where he blamed former President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party for mismanaging the economy.

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Court remands Fayose’s ally, Agbele, in prison

One of the bank tellers used in paying money into Fayose's account by his best friend, Abiodun Agbele.

A Federal High Court in Abuja has remanded an associate of Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, Mr. Abiodun Agbele, in Kuje Prison, Abuja,till Thursday when it will rule on his application for bail.

Justice Nnamdi Dimgba made the order of remand afterAgbele was arraigned on 11 counts of money laundering involving the sum of N1,219,000,000 said to be part of N4,685,723,000 allegedly transferred unlawfully from the account of the Office of the National Security Adviser.

Arraigned along with Agbele were three companies, Sylvan Mcnamara Limited, De Privateer Limited and Spotless Investment Limited.

Agbele pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

The prosecution, alleged that others involved in the alleged crimes, including former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, were on the run.

Other suspects said to be at large were Lt. A. O Adewale and Olalekan Ogunseye, who was said to be the sole signatory to the account of Sylvan Mcnamara Limited.

The charges preferred against the accused were said to be contrary to section 15(2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011(as amended in 2012).

The offences were said to be punishable under section 15(3) of the same Act.

After the arraignment on Wednesday, Agbele’s lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), moved his client’s bail application, urging the judge to grant it in liberal terms.

The prosecuting counsel, Mr. Johnson Ojogbane, urged the court to dismiss the application.

Ojogbane urged the court to remand the accused in prison throughout the period of the trial and instead of granting him bail, the judge should rather grant an order of accelerated hearing.

Justice Dimgba fixed Thursday for ruling on the bail application

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How Adeboye’s marriage teachings caused stir

The ongoing annual convention of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, on Tuesday, received enormous publicity. The publicity, however, came in a controversial manner.

The General Overseer of the church, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, in a message on marriage, stirred a widespread debate on social media, with thousands taking to the Internet to protest or support his positions on the categories of people Christians should not marry.

Adeboye, who is fondly called Daddy G.O. by members of his church, advised a congregation of bachelors and spinsters at the convention to avoid marrying certain individuals in order to enjoy their marriages.

Videos of the teachings, which were uploaded on different social media sites, received huge ‘share’.

The pastor urged bachelors to shun ladies who could not pray “non-stop” for at least an hour. He also advised them against marrying “lazy” women as well as those who could not cook.

The cooking aspect particularly caught the attention of feminists. They took protested the pastor’s remark, saying they were not supposed to be consigned to kitchens just because they were women.

Adeboye also warned ladies against accepting marriage proposals by “jobless” bachelors. He said those who could not earn incomes should not marry.

A social media activist, Asuquo Ulo, said the teachings were part of unacceptable thinking that characterised the age.

The tweeter disagreed with the cleric’s position, saying “marriage is really beyond jobs, cooking and prayers”.

As far as Chinye Onwordi, a Twitter user, is concerned, Adeboye’s advice had solved a persisting puzzle on the social media.

“Whether Nigerian ladies agree to cook when they marry or not, Adeboye has spoken the truth nobody should shy away from,” he tweeted.

One Ahmed Isah also wrote, “Adeboye, we thank you for ending this long debate. You spoke from a spiritual realm, not as a mere mortal.”

As of Tuesday evening, many sites had unveiled online polls with a view to assessing the acceptability of Adeboye’s marriage ‘prescriptions’.

In one of the videos, Adeboye advised, “Marry a prayer warrior! Don’t marry any girl who cannot pray for one hour non-stop. Don’t marry a girl who is lazy! If she is lazy when she is single, what will happen if she is married?”

In another one, he warned, “Don’t marry a man who has no job. Before God gave Adam Eve, he gave him a job. He said, ‘This is the garden, keep it.’ So when anybody comes to you and say, ‘Sister, thus saith the Lord, you are going to be the star in my firmament,’ ask him — ‘What is your job?’

“If he tells you he is a contractor, ask him to show you evidence of all the contracts he has done because the contract he is talking about is you. He wants to live off you.

“Don’t be a fool. If he hasn’t got a steady income, don’t marry him. A man is to provide for the house and not the other way round. If he has no income, he should not marry. Those who do not work should not eat. And if they can’t eat, they can’t even marry.”

Adeboye trended widely on social media platforms as the issues he raised were scrutinised by his fans and foes. The videos became the toast of members of the online community.

Adeboye’s popularity rating, by online metrics, soared. He also enjoyed a huge Google search, as bloggers dissected thousands of comments for catchy headlines for their posts.

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No regrets about 2015 poll prophecy – Mbaka

The Catholic Priest and Spiritual Director of the Adoration Ministry, Enugu, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, on Sunday, said he had no regrets about a message in which he expressed support for President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2015 presidential election.

In the 2015 message entitled, ‘From good luck to bad luck’, Mbaka had faulted the performance of former President Goodluck Jonathan, predicting that Buhari would win the presidential poll.

 Mbaka, who spoke through his media aide, Maximus Ugwuoke, said he had not regretted the prophecy despite the sufferings Nigerians were currently experiencing under Buhari’s leadership.

Ugwuoke spoke ahead of Mbaka’s 21st priestly anniversary, which is to be celebrated within the week.

 He said, “Some call him controversial priest; some call him fiery priest and all that, they are entitled to their opinion.

“I will tell you something: It is not for us human to judge prophesies; he was the only person who said Buhari would win.

“If it were in the olden days, all those so-called men of God, who castigated him (Mbaka), would have received the wrath of God immediately.”

He described the hardship faced by Nigerians as ‘sufferings of change.’

He added, “Don’t forget that two months before that prophesy, Jonathan’s wife came to the Adoration Ground. That is to tell you that the prophesy came from God, if after such a visit, he (Mbaka) had the courage to reveal such prophesy against them, that tells you that it was much more than what people think.

“Before Buhari took over, the dollar was rising but there was already problem with our economy.

“I recall that on January 31, this year, he said clearly that Nigerians should brace for hard times, he said a lot of hardship was under way; this suffering Nigerians are passing through is process of change.”

He equally defended the Buhari administration, blaming Jonathan for the economic downturn in the country.

“This is a government that has unearthed a whole lot of things. The other government had oil boom, which they squandered, they handed over oil doom to this government,” he said.

The media aide also dismissed insinuations that Mbaka received money from Buhari.

He said, “There was also these claims of meeting with the APC chieftains before the election; he (Mbaka) never held any such meeting.”

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Buhari’s style endangers democracy, says Enugu bishop

President Muhammadu Buhari

The Archbishop of the Anglican Communion, Enugu Province, His Grace, Most Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuma, has warned that President Muhammadu Buhari’s style of governance may lead to the collapse of democracy in the country.

The bishop, who said the President was acting like a ‘military democrat,’ warned that the Buhari government might not last.

Chukwuma spoke in an interview with our correspondent in Enugu.

He noted that majority of Nigerians were not happy with the nature of the appointments being made by the President.

Chukwuma noted that the conflict between the Presidency and the National Assembly was overheating the polity.

The clergyman expressed concerns that the Federal Government had not taken any decisive action to address the menace posed by armed herdsmen in several parts of the country.

Chukwuma observed that the current state of affairs in the polity did not augur well for democracy in the country.

He said, “Mr. President should know that he is the President of Nigeria, he should know that he is a civilian democrat, not a military democrat.

“He is operating a military democracy, and he is also exhibiting Islamic political militancy, that is what he is exhibiting.

“This will not augur well for this democracy, it may affect the democracy and it will crash. He should understand that this is not the way to get Nigeria united in a democracy.”

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Omisore welcomes FG’s move to reopen Ige’s killing

Senator Iyiola Omisore

A former Deputy Governor of Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore, has described the plan by the  Federal Government to revisit the killing of a former Governor of old Oyo State, Chief Bola Ige, as a welcome development.

Omisore, who spoke in a statement made available to our correspondent in Osogbo on Tuesday by his Media Director, Mr. Diran Odeyemi, however, advised the FG to revisit the killing of Funso Williams and Odunayo Olagbaju, who was a member of the Osun State House of Assembly.

Omisore said he was  in support of the calls for the case to be revisited but added that other high-profile killings should be revisited to show that the move was not targeted at political opponents.

The statement partly read, “The decision of the Federal Government to revisit the killing of the former Minister of Justice and a political icon, the late Chief Bola Ige and Chief Dokubo is good and a welcome development.

“I am particularly happy that a fresh investigation will further exonerate me and others who were wrongfully framed up and suffered untold hardship before we were finally acquitted and discharged by the court.

“The Federal Government and the Inspector-General of Police should widen the scope of their investigations to all areas  rather than limiting themselves to a particular area or section.

The Federal Government should extend its search towards unraveling the killers of the late Funso Williams and Odunayo Olagbaju just to mention a few. The Federal Government and the IG should widen the scope of their investigations to all areas  rather than limiting themselves to a particular area or section.”

He however prayed to God to expose all the people and whoever was connected to all the killings under investigation while wishing the new IG the best of luck in the task.

Ige was assassinated at his Bodija residence in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, on December 23, 2001 by some gunmen.

Ige’s son, Muyiwa, had said in 2015 that the case would be revisited.

He said, “We know the killers, they are still out there walking, but sooner or later the killers will be found. Once we have a sensible government in power we will fish out the (Bola Ige’s) killers.

“I thank God that come May 29, a sensible government will take over. When we have the government that believes in the rule of law, we are going to push for the case to be reopened. Right now, the prime suspect has no power base any longer.

“They are never made governors, they are not senators. We are going to re-open the case and hopefully justice will prevail.”

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Doctor rapes woman during abortion

A doctor allegedly raped a woman during an abortion procedure two weeks after he masturbated in front of her during a physical examination, a court has heard.
According to Tribune 242, after Dr. Gerald Mark Forbes informed the 20-year-old she would need a medical examination to work at his clinic in Freeport, the Bahamas, last February, he was alleged to have rubbed her vagina and masturbated before her.
The report added that two week’s later, after the victim asked him to terminate a pregnancy, he was accused of raping her during the procedure.
The 47-year-old is also said to have given the alleged victim a packet of Methotrexate, a drug used to induce abortions.
The defendant told the police as heard by the Grand Bahama Court that the woman was a ‘friend of a friend’, who simply worked at his office for two months. He denied the allegations of rape and indecent assault.
However, he refused to answer officers when asked about the alleged incidents, telling them he ‘had nothing to say’.
The court was told that in a WhatsApp exchange that took place after the alleged rape, the doctor told the woman he didn’t owe her salary because he had provided her with medication.
During the police interview an officer told him, “The virtual complainant informed you that she will not return to work because she was uncomfortable that you violated her, and you said you were sorry she felt that way and you told her to still come in for follow-up and medication.”
The trial resumes at 11am on Friday.

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Police to re-arraign suspects in Bola Ige’s case

Bola Ige

 

There are strong indications that the police will re-arraign suspects who were earlier arrested and detained in connection with the murder of a former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Bola Ige.

It was learnt on Tuesday that all the suspects that were arrested in 2002 who were later freed would be apprehended again for fresh arraignment and prosecution in respect of the case.

Findings indicate that a Special Investigation Panel set up by the IG will  look at all the evidence in the case including forensic analysis which will be used to prosecute the suspects afresh.

The police could not be reached for comment as calls to the police spokesman, Donald Awunah, indicated that his number was unavailable.

It was learnt that the initiative  to re-open Bola Ige’s murder case was from the acting Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris.

Sources said the IG wanted to demonstrate that the police could resolve all previously abandoned politically-motivated murder cases in the country.

A national newspaper had reported that President Muhammadu Buhari directed the IG to reopen investigation into the unresolved murder of Ige, and ex-Deputy National Chairman, South-South of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Aminasoari Dikibo, and fish out the perpetrators for prosecution.

Ige was killed in his  Bodija, Ibadan residence, on December 23, 2001, after he arrived Ibadan from Lagos.

A top Presidency source, who spoke to one of our correspondents on Tuesday on the condition of anonymity, said the reopening of the cases was an initiative of the present police management.

The source added that naturally the President would not oppose such a decision that was aimed at ensuring justice.

He said, “The truth is that President Buhari did not order the reopening of the murder cases.

“The decision was solely taken by the new police management led by the Acting IGP.

“The belief of the police management is that investigations into the cases were carried out shoddily, hence the need to revisit them.

“Naturally, the President will not go against such a decision but he was not the one that ordered the reopening of the cases.”

 

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FG begins recruitment of 500,000 teachers on Sunday

The recruitment of the 500,000 teachers promised
by President Muhammadu Buhari in his Democracy
Day speech starts on Sunday.
According to a statement on Wednesday by the
Senior Special Assistant to the Vice-President on
Media and Publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande, the
recruitment would be done online.
Akande said the 500,000 Teacher Corps, nicknamed
N-Power Teach on the portal, was one of the three
direct job creation and training schemes Nigerians
could start applying for from Sunday.
Others, according to him, are N-Power Knowledge
which will train 25,000 Nigerians in technology, and
N-Power Build, which will train another 75,000 in
building services, construction, utilities, hospitality
and catering, automotive vocations, aluminium and
gas services.
He said all trainees would be paid for the duration of
their training.
He added, “The N-Power Teacher Corps initiative
which will engage and train 500,000 young
unemployed graduates, is a paid volunteer
programme of a two-year duration.
“Unemployed Nigerians selected and trained will
play teaching, instructional, and advisory roles in
primary, and secondary schools, agricultural
extension systems across the country, public health
and community education-covering civic and adult
education.
“Besides their monthly take home pay estimated at
about N23,000, the selected 500,000 graduates will
also get computer devices that will contain
information necessary for their specific
engagement, as well as information for their
continuous training and development.
“They get to keep the devices even after exiting
from the programme.”

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Corporal kills, buries inspector over N300,000

A police corporal, Daramola Tosin, attached to the Ekiti Police Division in the Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, has been dismissed from the Force for allegedly killing an inspector, Mr. Lateef Shuaib.

Tosin allegedly shot Shuaib after secretly withdrawing up to N300,000 from Shuaib’s bank account without his consent.

Naijatonic learnt that Shuaib had entrusted Tosin with his Automated Teller Machine card when he fell ill.

The suspect was said to have initially withdrawn money for the use of the father of two.

However, it was learnt that the suspect started taking money in bits from the account for his own use until he withdrew up to N300,000.

Shuaib was said to have chided him for the action.

The inspector was reportedly defecating when Tosin shot him dead with an AK-47 rifle and buried him at the back of a police barracks.

The victim’s sister, Sherifat Hammed, was said to have reported to the Osi Police Station on May 10, 2016, that Shuaib had been missing since May 6.

Hammed said she suspected Tosin because her elder brother informed her when he was sick that he entrusted his UBA ATM card to the suspect to help him in withdrawing money.

The Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Sam Okaula, said when the matter was brought to his attention he ensured that discreet investigation was conducted, adding that the suspect was arrested.

According to him, the corporal confessed to the crime and was dismissed.

Our correspondent learnt that the corporal was made to face an orderly-room trial for leaving his place of duty and for discreditable conduct and was found guilty.

The CP said, “We do not condone crime. We go after anyone including members of the Force who go out of their way to commit crime. We will investigate and prosecute them if found culpable and ensure we gain conviction. This particular dastardly act will not be an exception.”

The suspect was arraigned on Tuesday before a magistrate’s court in Ilorin.

According to the First Information Report obtained by our correspondent in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, the suspect buried the late inspector at the back of the Osi Police Barracks.

It said, “Investigation conducted at the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Ilorin, revealed that on May 6 at about 10pm, while Inspector Lateef Shuaib was defecating inside the bush, very close to the barracks at the Osi Police Station, you Daramola Tosin, callously and viciously traced him to the bush and shot him with your AK-47 rifle that led to his untimely death and you later buried him inside the bush at the back of Osi Police Barracks without the knowledge of anybody.”

The FIR said the offences were culpable homicide, breach of trust and theft, and were contrary to sections 221, 312 and 289 of the Penal Code.

When the case was called up, the police prosecutor, Inspector James Odaodu, said the offence of murder was capital in nature, adding that the suspect could not be admitted to bail.

He prayed the court to remand the suspect in prison custody.

The magistrate, Mr. Nurudeen Adeyanju, who did not take the plea of the accused, said his court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter since it was a murder charge.

He added that it should be handled by the high court.

He, however, ordered that the accused be remanded at the Federal Prison, Mandalla.

The case was adjourned till June 21, 2016, for mention.

Meanwhile, Shuaib’s wife, Mosunmola , 47, of Ife, Olukotun, in the Yagba East of Kogi State, said the death of her husband by someone he trusted was devastating to the family.

She stated that their children, Kudirat, 23, and Sadiat, 20, had been traumatised by the calamity.

She, however, commended the CP and other officers of the command for the investigation and the arraignment of the accused.

Mosunmola said she was hopeful that justice would be done.

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Headless corpse rattles Edo residents

THERE was panic among residents of Auchi community in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State, following the shocking discovering of the headless corpse of a middle-aged man on the Benin-Okenne-Lokoja expressway.

It was gathered that the body of the victim identified as Clement was found in front of Campus Two of the Federal Polytechnic, Auchi.

It was learnt that the late Clement was likely a commercial motorcyclist as his severed head was sighted by the roadside, a little distance from a motorcycle.

The circumstances surrounding the victim’s death was not clear as at press time, even as some sources gave conflicting accounts on the cause of his death.

While some residents claimed that the deceased was allegedly murdered by suspected ritualists, others said that he might have been crushed to death by a heavy-duty truck on Sunday.

The Unit Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Moses Bature, who confirmed the incident, said that it was a suspected case of a fatal accident involving a hit-and-run driver.

Bature also said that the corpse had been deposited at a mortuary.

He said, “It is hit-and-run. We did not see the driver. We only carried the body to a mortuary.”

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Fresh deadly disease breaks out in Nigeria

Niyi Odebode, John Alechenu, Fisayo Falodi, Gbenro Adeoye and Eric Dumo

The Federal Government on Friday alerted Nigerians to the outbreak of a killer disease known as Stevens-Johnson Syndrome in the country.

The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, who announced the outbreak of the disease at a news conference in Abuja, said the disease had killed one person.

He added that another person affected by the disease was responding to treatment at the National Hospital, Abuja.

Urging Nigerians not to panic, Adewole said that the Federal Government was doing everything possible to check the outbreak.

The minister described the health condition as an unusual allergic reaction to medications found in Nigeria and some parts of Europe.

He said, “We have to find a means to communicate with Nigerians, so they should all be aware of this dangerous disease and it is the sole business of the government to enlighten the society by trying to increase their awareness, knowledge and to improve their quality way of life.”

The minister urged Nigerians to be vigilant and seek urgent medical attention should they notice any sign of a rare disease.

Adewole urged members of the public to be more careful while using medications of all kinds.

He announced that the call became necessary considering the fact that a sibling of marathoner, Fedeshola Adedayo, died of the ailment.

He called for increased awareness in the use of drugs and in the reading of drug leaflets.

The minister also called attention to the need for thorough scrutiny of drug leaflets before taking such drugs to guide against adverse effects.

He urged Nigerians to always involve health practitioners when unexplained reactions occur as a result of infections or in the use of drugs as the syndrome is unpredictable and more prevalent in women.

At the press conference, a Senior Consultant Physician/Dermatologist at the National Hospital, Abuja, Dr. Olanrewaju Falodun, explained the symptoms of the disease and the cases being treated in his hospital.

“SJS is an immune complex mediated hypersensitivity reaction that typically involves the skin and mucous membranes and was first described in 1922 by Albert Stevens and Frank Johnson,” Falodun said.

“SJS is a rare and unpredictable reaction, and is also a minor form of toxic epidermal necrolysis with less than 10 per cent body surface area involvement.”

“SJS is a rare but serious and potentially life-threatening contagious drug reaction. Incidence of SJS is estimated between 1.1 and 7.1 cases per million per year and is more prevalent in women than men. Incidence in Europe is two per million per year.”

According to him, the incidence of the disease is higher in Africa because of the extensive use of herbal drugs and the prevalence of HIV.

Falodun explained that the symptoms of the SJS disease include fever, sore throat, runny nose, fatigue, general aches and pains, ulcers in mouth, genitals, anal regions as well as conjunctivitis.

According to him the health complications include pigmentation problems, skin scarring, scarred genitals, joint pains, lung diseases, obstructive disorders and eye complications, adhesions, ulcers, and blindness.

The medical doctor said the cause of the disease was unknown, adding that self-medications appeared to be one of its causes.

He urged Nigerians to avoid self-medication, adding that individuals with previous drug reactions should report to health care practitioners.

The management of the disease include cessation of suspected drugs; hospital admission, preferably in burns unit/intensive care; nutritional and fluid replacement; temperature maintenance; pain relief and mouth care.

A pathologist, Dr. Idris Durojaiye, described SJS as “a very severe reaction to drugs.”

He said, “The whole skin will peel off but it is usually linked to a drug that the person has taken, so if there is an outbreak, it is because people are reacting to a particular drug being circulated.

“It is usually doctors that can try to identify the drugs that may be responsible because if there is an outbreak, it means there is a pattern. So basically, it is the duty of the health authorities to trace the pattern to know if there is a particular drug that is responsible for it.

“Normally, a patient cannot know if he would react to a drug because you cannot know if you have never reacted to the drug before. So my advice is that whatever drugs that people have reacted to in the past, they should try and avoid it. But the problem is that if you have never taken a drug before, you cannot know if you will react to it.

“If the health authorities can find out if the patients took something that is common to both of them; there has to be a link somewhere if the patients are in the same location.”

Former Chairman and Secretary, Nigeria Medical Association, Lagos State Chapter, Dr. Olusola Olowoselu, described SJS as not completely new.

He said, “It is something we in the medical profession encounter from time to time in the hospital. The disease is mostly managed by dermatologists.

“We encounter it all the time especially among patients using certain types of drugs like Septrin, Metirapin, and a host of others. Some individuals are sensitive and so their bodies react to medications in different ways.

“Beyond medications, infection can also play a role in persons being afflicted with the ailment. It is something we see and deal with all the time in the hospital.”

The Medical Director of OAR Hospital, Ile-Epo, Lagos, Dr. Abiodun Ojifinni, also said that SJS was not a new disease in Nigeria and that it does not break out regularly.

Ojifinnin identified the symptoms of the disease as rashness all over the human body and fever, among others.

“The disease is contagious and once it kills one or two people, it disappears to break out some years later,” he said.

The symptoms of the disease include facial swelling, tongue swelling, hives, skin pain, blisters on the skin and shedding of the skin, according to Mayo Clinic.

It described the disease as a “rare and unpredictable reaction”, which is usually “triggered by a medication or an infection.”

Drugs identified as possible causes of SJS include anti-gout medications, such as allopurinol; pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others); and naproxen sodium (Aleve).

Others include medications to fight infection, such as penicillin, medications to treat seizures or mental illness (anticonvulsants and antipsychotics) and radiation therapy

The clinic identified infections that can cause the disease to include: “Herpes (herpes simplex or herpes zoster); Pneumonia; HIV and Hepatitis.”

In the United States, about 300 new diagnoses are made each year. The condition is more common in adults than in children. Women are affected more often than men, with cases occurring at a two to one ratio.

If 10 per cent of the body surface area is involved, the disease has a mortality rate of around five per cent

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Police abandoned us during herdsmen invasion – Enugu community

April 27, 2016

 

The people of Ukpabi Nimbo, a community in the Uzo-Uwani area of Enugu State, which was attacked by Fulani herdsmen on Monday, have blamed security agencies for failing to act on “credible” information they provided before the attack.

The villagers, who said this when the Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, visited the community on Tuesday, stated that they were abandoned even after they alerted security agencies to the plan to attack them.

The General Officer Commanding, 82 Division, Enugu, Major General Attahiru Ibrahim, and the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State, Nwodibo Ekechukwu, were also in the village on Tuesday.

Security was beefed up in the community during the visit, with heavily armed military and police personnel positioned at strategic locations.

A community leader, Dr. George Ajogu, who spoke on behalf of the people of Ukpabi Nimbo at the village square, said the villagers were not taken unawares by the attack.

A corpse of one of the victims of the herdsmen’s attack, which was uncovered in the bush on Tuesday morning, was displayed in a police Toyota Hilux van at the event.

The corpse was said to be that of a secondary school teacher, who was reportedly abducted from his home and killed in the bush by the herdsmen.

Our correspondent observed deep machete cuts on the corpse.

Ajogu added that more corpses were being uncovered in the bush after more than 20 dead bodies were recovered on Monday.

He noted that the attack would have been prevented had the security agencies acted on information made available to them by the villagers.

In an emotion-laden voice, Ajogu stated, “Had it been that security agencies responded appropriately, this would not have happened.

“They (Fulani herdsmen) did not take us unawares, we knew they were coming.

“We are not happy; we have been crying for more than two weeks that our community is under threat. Now, over 20 people are dead.

“We are still discovering corpses; we discovered one corpse this morning and so many corpses are still in the bush.

“We have been shouting and crying but the security agencies did not come to our aid; only one police patrol van comes to this community.

“Because we lack security, the Fulani come here and tell us the land is theirs. They tell the farmers to kneel down and they rape the women in front of their husbands.”

Ajogu noted that due to the location of the village on the border between Enugu and Kogi states, residents of Ukpani Nimbo community were always under attacks from herdsmen, whom he stated sought to turn the villagers’ farmlands into grazing fields for their cattle.

Urging the federal and state governments to come to the assistance of the community, the spokesman said security should be beefed up in the village to forestall future attacks.

He also urged the security agents, who were deployed in the village to restore normalcy after Monday’s attacks, to remain in the community.

“Please don’t leave, if you leave now, they will return to attack us again.

“They (herdsmen) have been killing and raping our people for some time now,” the community leader added.

The Caretaker Chairman, Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area, Mr. Cornel Onwubuya, said he personally alerted the governor, the commissioner of police and heads of other security agencies after he received a confirmation from some Fulani leaders in the area that the herdsmen were going to attack the community.

Onwubuya disclosed that acting on the report, Ugwuanyi convened a state security council meeting on Sunday night.

According to Onwubuya, the said security council meeting lasted till the early hours of Monday, shortly before the herdsmen struck.

He added, “We had a security report that this was going to happen and I convened a meeting with Fulani stakeholders in Enugu State.

“Some Fulani leaders told us that the herdsmen were camped very close to our community. I informed the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State, who assured us that the attack would be stopped.

“He (Commissioner of Police, Enugu) said he would get in touch with the Commissioner of Police in Kogi State to prevent the attack.

“The information we got was credible but unfortunately, they still attacked us.”

On his part, Ugwuanyi, who said heads of the various security agencies in the state assured him that the attack would be failed, described the incident as a sad moment for Enugu State.

Ugwuanyi noted that even as the governor, he was not in control of the security agencies.

He said, “At the emergency security council meeting, which I convened, we were given all the assurances that the attack would not happen.”

He also disclosed that information available to the government revealed that the attack was initiated from Kogi State.

Two lorry loads of herdsmen landed in parts of Kogi State before the attack, he added.

The governor urged the Federal Government to address the menace posed by the herdsmen.

“The Federal Government should do the needful, but as the governor, I call for peace and prayers.

“Until the Federal Government decides to address this situation, this will continue to happen,” he said.

The governor also disclosed that his administration had to restrain restive youths, who wanted to carry out reprisal on northerners in the state.

Ugwuanyi announced a donation of N5m to the community, adding that the government would foot the medical bills of the injured.

He urged the people to embark on two days of fast and prayers, assuring that necessary measures would be taken to beef up security in the area and other parts of the state.

The governor visited the injured in various hospitals where they were receiving treatment.

Injured villagers recount ordeals

One of the injured victims, Patrick Eze, just finished his National Youth Service Corps programme.

Eze sustained severe cuts on his ankles and other parts of his body.

Another victim, Mr. Kingsley Ezeugo, a former local government councillor, said he only survived because the herdsmen left him for dead after inflicting severe machete cuts on him.

Several victims in critical conditions were observed in various hospitals in the Nsukka area.

A youth, who spoke with one of our correspondents, said the herdsmen stampeded the villagers out of their homes by shooting at houses.

“Those who were caught were taken into the bush and slaughtered with machetes,” the youth said.

Our correspondent observed that the community appeared deserted with several villagers leaving the area with their luggage.

Meanwhile, the Enugu State Police Command said it was investigating the incident.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Ebere Amaraizu, who said this on Tuesday, however, said six persons died in the attack.

NLC, Afenifere, MASSOB warn

of dangerous consequences

Organised labour has, however, warned that the incessant attacks on communities by Fulani herdsmen across the country have the capacity to plunge the country into a worse security situation than the raging insurgency in the North-East if not tackled immediately.

The labour movement also berated security agencies for not living up to standard in securing the lives and property of Nigerians.

The General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson, and the President of the Trade Union Congress, Mr. Bala Kaigama, made the comments in different telephone interviews with The PUNCH on Tuesday.

Ozo-Eson, who described the reported clashes between the Fulani herdsmen and their host communities as worrisome, urged the Federal Government to address, without delay, the factors responsible for the current migratory crisis.

Ozo-Eson believed that if land needed for grazing cattle was the issue, the Federal Government should address it quickly to stop such killings and destruction which were not  recorded even in countries reputed to be major exporters of meat.

He said, “It is worrisome, we think whatever the push factors are that are leading to this situation need to be dealt with very quickly because we are trying to get out of a major security situation, the insurgency in the North-East.

“And if we allow a situation, in which these clashes allegedly between Fulani herdsmen and various communities and farmers to continue this way, we could actually have a more serious security threat on our hands than even the North-East situation because this is becoming a reoccurring issue across the country.

“There are clashes in Benue, the South-West, South-East, Enugu now, and various other places that are not even reported.

“So, I think that government needs to take this very seriously and do something quickly either by promoting a culture of ranches or whatever other interventions so that these clashes can be avoided.”

He challenged security agencies to ensure that those behind the killings and destruction of property were brought to book in a transparent manner as that remained the only way to earn the confidence of the people.

The TUC boss said, “The performance of the security agencies is below our satisfaction because the security agencies are supposed to wake up to their responsibilities and provide security for Nigerians.

“We cannot go into jungle justice. That is why we are holding the government responsible so that it will not degenerate. We cannot tolerate a situation where innocent souls are being killed like fowls. Government should know that life and property are its duty to protect.”

In a similar vein, the Afenifere has faulted the silence of President Muhammadu Buhari and the state governors on the attacks of Fulani herdsmen on farmers across the country in the recent time.

This was contained in the communique issued at the end of the monthly meeting of the association, held at the home of its leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, in Akure, the Ondo State capital, on Tuesday.

In the communiqué, read by the Publicity Secretary of the association, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, Afenifere said the Federal Government had a duty to protect the lives and property of the citizens of the country.

The association added, “We are worried that Federal Government seems to have maintained indifference to the wanton killings going on across the country against the provisions of the constitution.

“We call on President Muhammadu Buhari to speak up on this matter and take urgent action to restore the security of the people of Nigeria, especially in the South and Middle Belt.”

The group also asked the state governments and members of the National Assembly to speak out on the matter before it got out control.

“We also reject the statement of the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Muhammed, that the Federal Government is working silently on this matter. Several killings cannot be going on and the Federal Government working silently.

“It is unfortunate that that statement is coming from the Federal Government of Nigeria. There can’t be any silent working over these killings and the action of the Federal Government must be open,” Afenifere stated.

In its reaction, the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra warned that the herdsmen would no longer be allowed to get away with the destruction of lives and property in the South-East.

MASSOB National Director of Information, Mr. Samuel Edeson, who spoke to one of our correspondents, said, “We condemn the attack on helpless villagers by heavily armed Fulani herdsmen.

“The destruction of lives and property by herdsmen has got out of hand even though we are peace loving people, we cannot allow this to continue in Igboland.”

In the same vein, the Enugu State Chapter of the Social Democratic Party said the Federal Government must speak out to condemn the activities of the herdsmen.

“We call on the Federal Government to speak out against the brazen and atrocious killing of innocent villagers by herdsmen; the Presidency has been silent on this matter for a long time now. The silence seems to be given impetus to the herdsmen.

“We urge the government to condemn the murderous invasion of communities in the strongest terms, and as interim measures, halt the movement of herdsmen from the North to the South until a permanent solution is worked out,” the state chairman of the SDP, Mr. John Nwobodo, said.

Meanwhile, the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 11, Mrs. Kalafite Adeyemi, has advised farmers to always report the destruction of their farms and other atrocities of herdsmen to the police.

The AIG said this while speaking in an interview with journalists during her visit to Kunnike International School, Osogbo, Osun State, on Tuesday.

Adeyemi, who expressed surprise at the facilities in the private school, said the police had ensured that compensation was paid to some farmers, whose farms were destroyed by herdsmen, saying resorting to self-help would worsen the crisis.

The AIG added, “We can reduce the attacks. Those whose farms are destroyed should report to the police. Some of the herdsmen were made to pay damages in the past.”

She stated that the police had been talking to farmers and to the herdsmen to ensure that there were no clashes any more.

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150 females raped, 31 babies abandoned in Lagos

No fewer than 150 females were raped, while 31 babies were abandoned on the streets of Lagos in the last one year.

The Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf, said this at a press briefing in Ikeja on Tuesday.

Akinbile-Yussuf explained that 150 reported cases of sexual and physical abuse were officially recorded, while five pregnant schoolchildren were assisted to access adequate ante-natal and delivery services and were also integrated back into school.

“Also, a total of 57,350 schoolchildren benefitted from individual and group counselling sessions to curb truancy, gangsterism and other social vices. About 150 reported cases of sexual abuse and physical abuse were treated. Five pregnant schoolchildren were assisted to access adequate antenatal and delivery services. They were also integrated back into school,” she added.

The commissioner further stated that 85 suspected rapists and paedophiles had been taken to court while the cases were still pending.

She said 31 babies, comprising 19 females and 12 males, abandoned by their parents, were rescued in the last one year on the streets of Lagos.

“The Child Protection Unit is responsible for the rescue and referral of all abandoned babies and children in the state to orphanages and homes. It also carries out child audit on the registered orphanages to decongest the homes and discourage institutionalisation. A total of 31 babies —19 females and 12 males — were rescued during the period under review,” she said.

She explained that 74 babies were released for adoption, while 81 adoptions were legalised through the family courts.

Akinbile-Yussuf said the government took 1,340 beggars, the destitute and the mentally-challenged off the streets of Lagos.

“A total of 590 rehabilitees were released and re-united with their relations for re-integration.

“The state government provides medical and vocational facilities to help in turning the lives of beggars around. About 147 rehabilitees are currently undergoing vocational training at the Lagos State Rehabilitation and Training Centre, Majidun,” she said.

The commissioner added that the state handled 634 juvenile cases in the last one year, out of which 26 juveniles were repatriated to their countries after due consultation with their embassies.

In the same vein, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs. Lola Akande, said the ministry in the last one year treated about 589 cases ranging from sexual abuse, physical abuse and child labour cases.

She said the ministry also received 382 cases of domestic violence out of which 234 were successfully treated, which among others include physical and emotional pains, harm, injury, humiliation and degradation, permanent and partial disability, separation, divorce and needless loss of lives.

Akande asked members of the society to come up with useful information on sexual violence against women and men, as well as other social vices including any suspected illegal baby factory.

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Headies awards: Fans divided over Olamide, Don Jazzy clash

 

Fans of hip-hop singer, Olamide Adedeji, popularly called, Olamide Baddo, and versatile producer, Michael Ajereh, better known as Don Jazzy, have taken on one another on Twitter over the rift between the duo at the 10th edition of the Headies held in Lagos on Friday night.

A clash between Olamide of the YBNL label and ace music producer and Mavins Record boss, Don Jazzy, over the ‘Next Rated Artiste’ award at the annual event in the early hours of Saturday had left many in the music industry and their fans shocked.

The relationship between both label heads turned sour when Headies named Mavins Record starlet, Reekado Banks, as the winner of the coveted Next Rated Artist category, which came with a Hyundai Sports Utility Vehicle prize.

Olamide’s protégé, Lil Kesh, was also a nominee in the same category.

Olamide had openly expressed his anger at the decision when he accompanied another YBNL act, Adekunle Gold, who won the award for ‘Best Alternative Artiste,’ to receive the award.

The YBNL boss, after Adekunle Gold made his remarks, took the microphone and said, “He (Lil Kesh) is our next rated artiste. He had back-to-back hits throughout the year—Lyrically, ‘Shoki,’ ‘Gbese’ and ‘Efejoku.’ Ko nii da fun iya everybody (an insulting Yoruba street slang).” He then threw away the microphone while storming off the stage.

The tensed situation became worse when Don Jazzy, apparently feeling slighted, told Olamide to come and take the car, which went with the ‘Next Rated’ award, if he wanted it.

After receiving the Special Recognition Award presented by the Chairman of the Copyright Society of Nigeria, Mr. Tony Okoroji, Don Jazzy said, “I came out here to support my children. As they were trying to present the award, Reekado Banks was performing at Ali Baba’s show. I have already told my children that I will buy cars for all of them… Egbon Olamide, if you want the car, come and collect it.”

This comment from Don Jazzy had enraged the YBNL boss, who took to his Twitter handle to insult his Marvin Records counterpart, warning him to stay away from Lagos Mainland.

He condemned the Mavins Record boss for mentioning his name when he didn’t mention his (Don Jazzy’s) name in his protest on the stage.

Among other unprintable words, Olamide accused Don Jazzy of ruining the career of his former label mate, DBanj and oppressing artistes signed to his record label.

Among other tweets, he said, “You respect me, I respect you; disrespect me, I disrespect YOU. You’re still going to do the same thing to Reekado when he leaves your label.”

The development caused a division among fans of the two artistes on Twitter.

Tweeting at @Its_Hoe_K, a fan said Don jazzy could have made his point without calling Olamide’s name while on the stage.

The fan said, ‘‘He (Don Jazzy) can, but in a smart way like Olamide play games with his response and not call out Olamide.’’

Another fan, Tunde @KobokoGCFR, tweeted, ‘‘As long as Olamide didn’t mention Don Jazzy’s name! I will support him on this 1001001000. Olamide you are the mvp #TheHeadies2015.’’

Also, tweeting from the handle, @tweetgerian, a fan stated, ‘I have serious issues with the name calling…why call out Olamide? … Childish something!’’

For a fan who tweeted via @abatike, ‘‘Olamide threw shades at the organisers not even Don Jazzy.’’

A fan of Don Jazzy, Oluwachima tweeted@chicent78 thus ‘‘@olamide_YBNL Guys am a big big fan but was really disappointed as I couldn’t differentiate between you and agbero at oshodi. Damn.’’

However, Olamide later took to his Instagram page to apologise to his fans for his conduct at the event.

He said, “I want to apologise for my conduct, including swearing on live TV at the Headies event some hours ago. I recognise that you all are the most important part of my work and my journey so far and would not have come this far without you. Therefore, you deserve better from me. I promise to conduct myself in a more respectable manner in future.”

Lil Kesh had also taken to his Twitter handle to boast that he makes more than the SUV in two weeks.

He later tweeted, “Congrats on your Next Rated Award @ReekadoBanks. This will not be the end for the both of us. More blessings and money. Nothing but love #REEKY”

Both Olamide and Don Jazzy had collaborated on the song ‘Skelemba’ in the YBNL boss’ November 2014 album, Street OT, giving the impression that the two were friends.

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Olamide, Don Jazzy start New Year with beef

Olamide, Don Jazzy

Music industry heavyweights Olamide and Don Jazzy have started the New Year by turning on each other, leaving many in the music industry shocked.

Both artistes had collaborated on the song Skelemba, which is included in Olamide’s November 2014 album Street OT, giving the impression that the two were more of friends.

The relationship between both label heads turned sour following a series of events at the 2015 Headies Awards in Lagos after Marvin Record starlet, Reekado Banks, beat Olamide’s protégé, Lil Kesh, to the coveted Next Rated Artist prize.

A visibly irritated Olamide expressed his frustration at the decision when he accompanied another YBNL act, Adekunle Gold, who won the award for Best Alternative Artiste, to receive the award.

“He (Lil Kesh) is our next rated artiste. He had back to back hits throughout the year – Lyrically, Shoki, Gbese and Efejoku,” he said among other things before throwing the mic away and storming off the stage.

The situation took a turn for the worst when Marvin Record boss, Don Jazzy, apparently feeling slighted, told Olamide to come and take the car, which went with the Next Rated award, if he wanted it.

While receiving the special recognition award, Don Jazzy said, “I came out here to support my children. As they were trying to present the award, Reekado Banks was performing at Ali Baba’s show. I have already told my children that I will buy cars for all of them… Egbon Olamide, if you want the car come and collect it.”

The comments enraged the YBNL boss who took to Twitter to insult his Marvin Records counterpart, warning him to stay away from Lagos mainland.

In a series of tweets the YBNL boss accused Don Jazzy of ruining D Banj’s career and oppressing artistes signed to his record label.

After leading the Marvin Records crew to perform at the One Lagos Fiesta which ushered in 2016 for thousands of Lagosians, it didn’t look like Don Jazzy’s next stop was to catch a beef.

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I sell to hunters, others, says 80-year-old woman found with 68 live catridges

An 80-year-old woman has been paraded by the police in Edo State for having in her possession 68 live cartridges.
Police said the woman, Comfort Izedomwen, confessed that she started selling ammunition about six months ago after she suffered a medical condition in her leg.
The state Police commissioner, Mr. Chris Ezike, at a media briefing, on Monday, said Madam Izedomwen was arrested at Ekae, a village close to Benin after her alleged accomplice, one Stella Omobude, was arrested with 32 live cartridges on October 8.
The commissioner, who also paraded 71 other suspected criminals at the Police Headquartres in Benin, noted that Izedomwen did not give details of her family members.
"On October 8, based on credible information, operatives and tactical units of the command raided Ekaen village on the Benin-Auchi expressway and arrested one Stella Omobude, aged 48, a seller of cartridges to suspected armed robbers," Ezike said.
In an interaction with journalists, Madam Izedomwen claimed that she was in the business of selling cartridges to hunters and private security operatives at the cost of N250 each.
"I sell to them at N250, but I don't know what they do with it. That is what I do for a living."

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