The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Akinloye Olakulehin, Ige Olakulehin I, has declared that indigenes of the ancient city stood by him during his struggle to become the 43rd Olubadan of Ibadanland.
Oba Olakulehin made this declaration on Friday in his inaugural address, shortly after he was presented with the staff and instrument of office by Governor Seyi Makinde.
TVN reported that the 42nd Olubadan, Oba Mahood Olalekan Balogun, joined his ancestors on March 14th this year.
The controversy over who becomes the next Olubadan started immediately after the death of the last occupant.
Olakulehin was thereafter appointed and nominated as the 43rd Olubadan on April 12.
He was finally coronated on July 12th, three months after his nomination.
The traditional ruler, while speaking, thanked the sons and daughters of the ancient city for standing by him during the trying period.
He added that he was happy with how the sons and daughters of the ancient city stood by him during the struggle.
The traditional ruler, who spoke in Yoruba, said: “I thank you for standing by me. I thank you all, sons and daughters of Ibadanland.
“Ibadan will continue to witness developmental projects under my reign. I also thank our President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu for sending his representative to attend my coronation.”
You stood by me during my struggle – Olubadan tells indigenes of ancient city
You stood by me during my struggle – Olubadan tells indigenes of ancient city
Tinubu appoints former head of South-West support group, Dayo Adeyeye as NPA chairman
President Bola Tinubu has appointed Senator Adedayo Adeyeye as Chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Board.
The Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Ajuri Ngelale, who confirmed the news in a statement on Friday in Abuja, said his principal also appointed Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho as the agency’s Managing Director.
Dantsoho will replace Mohammed Bello-Koko as managing director of NPA.
On his part, Adeyeye was the leader of the South West Agenda for Asiwaju 2023 (SWAGA), a support group that rallied support for President Tinubu in Yoruba land ahead of last year’s presidential election.
The statement read: “Dr. Dantsoho holds a Doctorate in Maritime Technology from Liverpool John Moores University, United Kingdom, and a Master’s degree in International Transport from Cardiff University of Wales, United Kingdom.
“Before his appointment, he had served in various roles in the Nigerian Ports Authority as assistant General Manager; Technical Assistant to the Managing Director; Port Manager, Onne Port; and Principal Manager, Tariff & Billing.
“The President expects the new leadership of this pivotal agency to deploy excellence in the discharge of their duties to enable efficient port services and improved industry outcomes.”
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Group hails Tinubu, wants INEC to conduct polls
A socio-political group, Asiwaju Mandate Group, has commended President Bola Tinubu for his role in securing financial autonomy for Local Government Areas across the country.
The group also urged the National Assembly to come up with laws that could enable the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct local government elections.
In a landmark ruling delivered on Thursday, the Supreme Court declared that Local Governments should independently manage their funds, free from state government control.
The judgment ordered the Federal Government to allocate funds directly to the 774 local government councils, reinforcing the democratic structure at the grassroots level and eliminating the undue influence of State Governors.
Following the ruling, the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, emphasised that the judgment takes immediate effect, describing it as an “emancipation” for Local Government Areas from the shackles of the past.”
He noted that the responsibility now lies with state governors to comply with the Supreme Court verdict.
He warned that there are stipulated consequences for non-compliance to the court directives.
Commenting on the development in a statement signed by its Director General, Mr Olumuyiwa Asagunla, and the Publicity Secretary, Ayodeji Ologun, obtained in Osogbo on Friday, the group expressed its appreciation for the decisive actions taken by President Tinubu on the matter.
“This ruling is a significant victory for democracy and local governance. We commend President Bola Tinubu and Attorney General Fagbemi for their unwavering commitment to upholding the constitution and ensuring that Local Governments can operate independently and effectively,”‘ the statement reads.
AMG however urged the electorate to be mindful of the character, exposure and capacity of such a person who would be at the helm of affairs in their respective Local Governments to ensure all-round development.
“With financial autonomy, Local Governments can now address the unique needs of their communities without undue interference,” AMG further said.
It described the judgment as “an emancipation for the people and hope that most of the governors who have practically turned themselves into some sort of Emperors will not continue to err on the part of the law by the unlawful constitution of Caretaker Committees thereby depriving the constitutionally recognised Local Government from the federal allocations due to them as this will amount to undue ripping off of the local government system.”
The group further noted that the Supreme Court’s ruling addressed several key issues, including the dissolution of democratically elected local governments by governors as illegal, and barring the federal government from continuing the practice of paying local government allocations through state governments due to misuse.
AMG also call on the “National Assembly to enact laws empowering Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct Local government elections in the 774 LGs across Nigeria.”
Delta: Police escort LG election materials from CBN to LGAs
Delta State Commissioner of Police, Olufemi Abaniwonda, and his men have inspected council election materials at the office of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, in Asaba, Delta State.
Abaniwonda subsequently issued a firm directive to DCP Operations, the squadron commander of 31 PMF and DPOs, to personally lead all sensitive and non-sensitive materials to the various council areas.
He urged them to ensure the materials get to their various destinations and assured all residents and the electorate that the command will ensure that the election is conducted peacefully and hitch-free.
Before now, the command has deployed Marine Police to the waterways and others to the 25 local government areas to ensure hitch-free elections.
It equally banned all non-state actors, such as vigilantes, anti-cult volunteers, hunters and others, from playing any role whatsoever during the elections.
CP Abaniwonda said the command is in synergy with other sister agencies to protect all polling units, RACs, collation centres, and DSIEC offices to ensure a hitch and also protect the electorate and DSIEC officials.
He threatened to decisively deal with non-state actors found meddling in the election process.
According to him, there would be a restriction on vehicular movement from 8 am to 3 pm on the day, saying only officials on emergency and essential duties, including accredited election monitors and observers, NABTEB examination students.
“The electorate in Delta State will exercise their right and ensure that the areas are peaceful during the election. NABTEB examination students are also exempt from this restriction on movement order.
“The ban on VIP escorts during the election will also be enforced, they are therefore advised not to move with their security details on Election Day, as any officer found wanting will be arrested and sanctioned accordingly,” he stated.
Delta: Police escort LG election materials from CBN to LGAs
Plateau govt confirms 200 pupils trapped in collapsed school building
The Plateau State Government said on Thursday at least 200 pupils were trapped in the school that collapsed in Busa Buji, Jos North Local Government Area of the state.
An unspecified number of students and teachers were feared dead when a two-storey school building collapsed at the Saints Academy in the area collapsed on Friday morning.
Eyewitnesses told journalists the building collapsed at 8:30 a.m. when many of the students and teachers were already in classes writing their end of term examinations.
The state’s Commissioner for Information and Communication Musa Ashoms, who disclosed this to journalists, said that many of the trapped pupils were rescued by emergency responders.
He added that the school has a population of 400 pupils.
The commissioner noted that the building did not meet the standards and warned schools with similar structures to close shop.
Ashoms said: “From what we have gathered because it was an emergency, about 200 people were trapped in that collapsed building.
“The emergency intervention has done a lot, and a lot of children have been evacuated to the hospitals. And we pray that at the end of the day, it’s going to end this way that we don’t lose a life.
“Efforts have been made by NEMA, SEMA, and other security agencies to make sure that we find them alive and take them to the hospitals.
“And so far, we have gotten a number of them. We want to thank God that there was no examination today. The casualty figure would have been more than this.
“For the school, you can see that it is by the river bank and, from your eye evaluation, you know that it is not a very strong structure.
“We are calling on other schools that didn’t follow plans that have similar issues to close down in the interest of our state and in the interest of our people.”
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Ex-Man Utd star Patrice Evra sentenced 12 months for family
The 43-year-old former Manchester United defender and French national team captain, Patrice Evra, has been handed a suspended 12-month prison sentence after being found guilty of abandoning his wife and two children.
The Nanterre prosecutor’s office confirmed the verdict, as reported by Le Parisien.
The court ruled that Evra abandoned Sandra Evra and their children from May 1, 2021, to September 28, 2023. He is alleged to owe €969,000 (£813,640) in unpaid alimony. The sentence is suspended for two years with provisional execution, and Evra has been ordered to pay €4,000 (£3,358) for moral damages and €2,000 (£1,679) for legal costs.
Evra’s lawyer, Jerome Boursican, stated that his client has appealed the decision.
“Mr Patrice Evra filed an appeal, knowing that he provided his wife with an apartment, a house with a swimming pool in the south of France and that he lent her almost two million euros for her daily life,” Boursican said.
He added, “A sum that she refuses to return, which is the reason for this trial.”
Sandra Evra’s lawyer, Nathalie Dubois, commented on the verdict stating, “I hope that, thanks to this decision, Patrice Evra will finally understand that he is not above the law and that you cannot abandon your wife and children overnight. Even more so when they met when they were 15 and she followed him all over the world to support his football career.”
The couple, who married in 2007 and have two children together, began divorce proceedings in 2020, which remain unresolved. In July 2020, Evra was seen kissing Danish model Margaux Alexandra, his current fiancée, with whom he now has two children.
Sandra Evra, speaking to The Sun, described the day she learned of Evra’s new relationship as “the worst day of my life.”
She added, “I was devastated, distraught. I have been left paying all my credit cards and the Netflix bill. It has taken me a long time to realise what he’s like… he has turned into a rat.”
Evra, who played 379 times for Manchester United between 2006 and 2014, has not yet responded to requests for comment on the court’s decision.
School building collapse: Plateau Govt confirms 22 dead, 132 hospitalised
The Plateau State Government has confirmed 22 dead and 132 persons injured in the Jos collapsed school building.
Musa Ashoms, the Commissioner for Information, said six of the injured were in critical condition.
Ashoms said that those injured were receiving treatment in various tertiary health facilities in the state, while the bodies of the deceased had been deposited in the mortuaries.
NAN reports that a two-storey building of Saints Academy, a secondary and primary school located in Busa-Buji community of Jos North Local Area, had collapsed, trapping students, teachers and others.
The incident occurred at about 8:30 am on Friday when the students were writing their third term examination.
Meanwhile, Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State has described the incident as a tragic and monumental loss to the state.
Mutfwang stated this in a statement issued by Mr Gyang Bere, his Director of Press and Public Affairs, on Friday in Jos.
The governor, who sympathised with the families of the affected victims, further described the incident as heartbreaking and unfortunate.
“This is tragic, unfortunate, heart-wrenching and a gloomy situation. We appreciate the timely intervention of the search-and-rescue team, as well as members of the public, who rushed to the school premises to assist in evacuating some of the surviving students and staff,” he said.
School building collapse: Plateau Govt confirms 22 dead, 132 hospitalised
Three killed in Swiss scaffolding collapse
Three people were killed while eight were injured on Friday when scaffolding collapsed off a 19-storey building under construction in the western Swiss city of Lausanne, police said.
The scaffolding collapsed shortly before 9:30 am (0730 GMT), falling “like a house of cards”, according to one witness.
The entire scaffolding structure on one side of the 60-metre (200-foot) tower came down, sending construction workers plummeting to the ground.
Regional police said around a dozen people were directly impacted by the accident in Prilly, on the outskirts of Lausanne, including the three construction workers who died.
Police on Friday evening, said they had identified the deceased as a 43-year-old Swiss man, a 35-year-old from Cape Verde and a 30-year-old Frenchman.
The men’s families had been informed and were receiving psychological support, the police statement said.
Four of those who survived were seriously injured. They and two people who were moderately injured had been taken to nearby hospitals, police said.
AFP journalists saw yellow-clad firefighters clambering on top of a jumble of twisted metal at the foot of the building while others worked to stabilise the remaining parts of the scaffolding.
Police said that work would continue through the night and into Saturday, even as poor weather conditions were complicating the job.
Police spokesman Jean-Christophe Sauterel said the cause of the accident remained unclear.
“We see that the scaffolding across the entire facade has collapsed, but we do not know the causes,” he said, adding that the public prosecutor’s office had opened an investigation.
Like ‘a bomb’
The RTS public broadcaster reported that initial information indicated the freight elevator used to transport construction workers and material to the top of the building had fallen when it was at around the 13th floor, bringing the scaffolding down with it.
Local retiree Fernand Monot witnessed the collapse shortly after seeing a group of construction workers emerge from a nearby shop with pastries and head towards the elevator.
“I saw the freight elevator going up, and then suddenly I heard a loud noise. Everything collapsed,” he said.
“It fell down like a house of cards. It didn’t stop, just tac, tac, tac all the way down.”
“I think they were in the elevator.”
Construction workers at the site which is due to house up to 200 people when completed, told AFP there had not been any particular safety concerns at the site.
The men, who did not want to give their names, suggested that too much weight in the freight elevator might have caused the accident.
One witness to the accident told RTS that the sound of the collapse was “frightening”.
“It lasted at least seven long seconds,” said the man, whose name was not given.
“I thought it was a bomb.”
AFP
Edo police arrest three for cultism, recover arms
The Edo State Police Command has paraded three suspected cultists in Benin City alleged to be members of the Maphite confraternity.
According to a statement by a media aide to the governor, Crusoe Osagie, on Friday, the police commissioner, Funsho Adegboye, paraded the suspects, identified as Eyefia Godbless (30), Imuetiyan Ewemade (30), and Emeka Okpaja (22).
The trio were reportedly apprehended at Ubiaza Community, Off Sapele Road in Benin City, where they were allegedly planning to avenge the killing of a fellow member.
“We have the full backing of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun on the fight against cultism and we are not joking with it,” Adegboye was quoted stating.
He added that Governor Godwin Obaseki and his executive team are also supporting the initiative to rid the state of cultism and criminality.
The police recovered several items from the suspects, including an automatic pump action gun, 11 live carriages, three green berets, and a Maphite constitution.
According to the Commissioner, the suspects made confessional statements affirming their membership in the cult group.
Adegboye emphasized the dangerous nature of the weapons seized, stating, “This is an automatic pump action gun which is as deadly as AK 47 which has a bullet that can kill several people, unlike AK-47 which can kill just one person. According to the suspects, the gun was purchased for about N700,000.”
The Commissioner used the opportunity to appeal to the youth, urging them to gainfully engage themselves in profitable and positive activities adding that crime, cultism, and internet fraud do not pay.
In addition to the three cultists, the police reported other recent arrests. These include five suspects apprehended at a cultist hideout along Siluko road, where two pump action guns, two locally made single barrel guns, and 20 live cartridges were recovered.
In a separate incident, one Osayande Tony was arrested with a pump action gun and two cartridges while driving a Mercedes Benz C300 Saloon car.
The police also have in custody one Apalobi Daniel from Powerline, Ugbiyokho, Benin City, who allegedly strangled his wife to death during an argument. The suspect is expected to be charged in court soon.
“At same Siluko road, Rapid Response Squad intercepted one Mercedes Benz C300 Saloon car with registration number YAB 389 BG, driven by Osayande Tony ‘M’ 48 years and was arrested with one pump action gun and two cartridges,” Adegboye added.
Adegboye further reiterated the commitment of the Edo State Government and the police, in collaboration with other security agencies and the press, to continue sensitising the public about the dangers of cult groups and criminal activities.
My arrest means no criminal can escape justice
A confessed member of a secret cult group called Aye, Olabode Owoeye, popularly known as ‘Bode Itapa’ has commended Osun Police Command for ensuring he was arrested after being on the police wanted list for over 2 years.
Bode Itapa’ was among suspected criminals arrested across the state for various crimes paraded at the Osun Police Command headquarters in Osogbo on Friday.
Before his eventual arrest, Bode’s group, Aye Supremacy’s fight with the Eye cult group in Ilesa and its environs, often resulted in the deaths of several individuals including residents who usually get hit by stray bullets.
Answering questions from journalists, Bode Itapa, admitted being a member of the Aye group but denied killing anyone, adding that he was however present when two members of a rival group were killed.
“Have been with the police for 104 days. I am not a political thug. I am their child, they would have secured my release. I am a member of Peoples Democratic Party but I do not work for them to get to position of authority.
“I want to plead with the government to have mercy on mercy, I won’t repeat mistakes I made in the past. I thank Osun State Police Command, the Anti kidnapping Squad. I thank them because they did their job well.
“This will serve as a big lesson for others that are members of cult groups or involved in thuggery. There is no one above the law. I regret being a member of cult group. Whoever sees me in this state my take caution and change. If they fail to change, they will meet their waterloo one day,” he said.
Giving details of how ‘Boda Itapa’ was arrested, Osun Police Command spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola, who presented him and other suspects arrested to journalists said, “On 9th February, 2024 at about 1820hrs, complainants reported at Iperindo Police station that, on 08/02/2024 their children Kelechi Agha and Tega Robinson left homes to their mining sites and they did not return. The case was transferred to the Anti-Kidnapping Squad for discreet investigation.
“Credible Intelligence revealed that, members of Aye confraternity were sighted freely moving around with dangerous weapons on the dat the two went missing, which led the detectives to search the hideouts of the cultists where one locally made barretta pistol and a black mask were found and register as exhibit.
“Subsequently, the detectives on rescue mission later apprehended one Bode Owoeye a.k.a. “Bode Itaapa” who was identified as a member of Aye confraternity who is on a wanted-list of Osun State. During the interrogation, he confessed that, other members of his Aye confraternity were responsible for the abduction and killing of the victims inside the bush.
“Also he confessed that they attacked one Honourable Ayodeji Olaolu, the APC candidate during the election into the House of Representatives in 2023, at the party secretariat and shot him on his head and chest. He further revealed that, the confraternity had over 30 pump action rifles which were mostly procured before the 2023 election.
“Subsequently, the detectives arrested one Samuel David who was mentioned to be a member of Aye confraternity involved in the killing of one Ibrahin Taiwo a.k.a. Omo-Alhaja. During the investigations, the suspect mentioned his five fellow hit-men under Kehinde Itaapa who stormed the venue of the PDP rally on the 21/02/2023 and killed the deceased.”