Oluwasegun Adesuyi, Author at SocietyGazette.com

Ife LG workers buried OAU MBA student on police directive – Lawyer Alleges

The investigation of the circumstances surrounding the death and burial of the Obafemi Awolowo University MBA student, Timothy Adegoke, took a twist yesterday following an allegation that the deceased was buried by workers of the Ife Central Local Government with the consent of the police.

Mr. Abiodun Williams, counsel to the detained Chairman of Hilton Hotel and Resorts, Chief Ramon Adegoke, now wants the police to widen the scope of their investigation to cover this allegation.

Williams, in a November 26,2021 petition to the Osun State Police Commissioner, claimed that some people working close to where the corpse was dumped reported the matter to the LG authorities who, in turn, contacted the police to seek their consent for burial.

The police subsequently granted the request, Williams said.

He said: “You will recall that some of the suspects in your custody allegedly confessed to dumping the corpse of late Mr Timothy Adegoke in the bush, they did not admit to burying him. You will equally recall that during the interview you granted to Rave 97.1 FM Radio on the 22nd day of November 2021, there it was insinuated that some of the suspects confessed to have buried the corpse in the bush at about 2km to the hotels somewhere along Ede Road, Ile-Ife, Osun State. However, there is now a strong rumour peddled by some people to the effect that that position may not be correct after all.

“It was the officials of the Department of Public Health, Ife Central Local Government, Ile-Ife that buried the deceased having received clearance from the officers of the Nigerian Police of one of the Divisions in Ile-Ife. We could not establish which of the divisions in Ile-Ife gave the clearance. However, we are of the view that, if the information is correct, discreet and diligent investigations will establish it.”

He said if the police could establish that officers of the Public Health Department, Ife Central Local Government were the ones that buried the corpse of Adegoke, it would go a long way in assisting the pathologists in their quest to unravel the circumstances that led to Adegoke’s death.

Williams said: “It would stop the question: ‘why did those that buried the corpse of Mr Timothy Adegoke keep silent all this while and allow an innocent man to be languishing in detention?’”

He added: “We also gathered from the stories going round in the public domain that the artisans, workers and business owners around the premises where the body of late Timothy Adegoke was initially found reported the case to the police; who in turn cleared the officials of the Department of Public Health, Ife Central Local Government, Ile-Ife to bury the corpse.

“We heard that activities leading to the burial of the deceased young man were properly recorded on video and pictures taken by the officials.”

He implored the police commissioner to “use your good office to confirm the truth of the information stated here-above for the purpose of truly determining what role each of the suspects and/or anyone or officers of government played in the events that led to the death and burial of Mr. Timothy Adegoke to ensure that justice is done above all things.

“We are of the view that if the information relating to the burial of the corpse of the deceased is promptly investigated, it would further establish the innocence of our client.”

The Chairman of the LG, Hon Olayera Elugbaju,had told The Nation on Friday that speculations that some local government staff had been arrested by the police for their involvement in burying the corpse of Adegoke were untrue.

“No staff of the secretariat was arrested by the police. I cannot confirm to you now if our staff buried the corpse of Adegoke until I see the file they record corpses that the local government had buried in the time past,” he said.

Source: The nation

KWAM 1, best friend in cold war over new wife

There seems to be a silent war between Fuji singer, Mayegun Wasiu Ayinde, and his best friend, Bolaji Basia, following his recent marriage to Emmanuella Ropo.

Basia was the first to fire the shot in his congratulatory message to KWAM 1, saying that in as much as he would love to wish KWAM 1’s new wife to be his last, he knew it might not be possible. He then added: “But please try not to dump one for another since you are so blessed to have as many as you want.”

In a recent performance, thesinger said he would not curse anyone who was praying that his new marriage would not see the light of the day. According to him, they are not God; so, they should shut up.

The Mayegun also stressed that every one of them had their own shortcomings, which they should focus on.

His response was immediately tagged as an indirect reaction to the earlier post made by his best friend.

On Thursday, November 18, 2021, the Mayegun of Yorubaland, tied the knot with Ropo at the Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta, Ogun State. Even though it was meant to be a low-key ceremony, the number of dignitaries that graced the event was huge.

APC National Chairmanship: Al-Makura, Adamu, Yari, Others May Be Disqualified Due To Indictment By Efcc

Some chieftains of the All Progressives Congress aspiring to contest for the National Chairmanship of the party are in danger of losing out due to indictment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, THE WHISTLER has learnt on Friday.

The APC is currently being administered by a 13-man Caretaker/Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee CECPC led by Governor Mai Bala Buni of Yobe State. It was inaugurated in June 2020, following the removal of Mr Adams Oshiomhole, about two years to the end of his tenure.

While there was high hope that the Buni-led Committee will steamroll the party to early successful National Convention, that hope was dashed early on when many bigwigs started feasting on the party following the decision of the Supreme Court on Ondo State Governorship Election.

The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr Eyitayo Jegede, had gone to court to challenge the legal validity of Mr Rotimi Akeredolu’s nomination by the national Caretaker Committee of the APC headed by the Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mal Buni.

The Supreme Court ruled through the majority decision that the non- joinder of Buni as a party in the matter, proved fatal to Jegede’s case, acknowledging that the issue raised by the appellants had merit and constitutional implications.

Soon after that decision, party top shots and stakeholders began to call for Buni’s removal as all decisions undertaken by the caretaker Chairman will be a nullity if joined in any suit.

The schism finally reached boiling point few weeks ago leading to the convenance of APC Governors Forum to chart a new course towards the party’s convention.

While the meeting hit a stalemate, a closed-door meeting by some delegated governors of the party with President Muhammadu Buhari led to the announcement that February 2022 will be ideal for the party to hold its convention.

However, the party, sensing bashing from the main opposition PDP, has decided on easing out from the race those who have been indicted by the EFCC, a reliable source told this paper.

The PDP held its National Convention which produced Mr Iyorchia Ayu in October, and few days ago held a 2-day national retreat for all elected officers at both the national and state levels.

It has put the PDP on good footing, a development that the APC national hierarchy and supporters are not unaware of thus triggering systematic purging of the contenders to ensure whoever eventually emerges does not have the baggage that could be used against it as the election year approaches.

With the development, top contenders may directly be affected.

One of the few frontrunners that may be eased out is current senator, who’s a former governor of Nasarawa State, Mr Tanko-Al-Makura.

The senator and his wife were arrested in July 2021 for illegal retention of government funds, misapprehension and money laundering.

EFCC indictment was based on possessing about 55 accounts controlled by the couple and their companies, that they were involved in suspicious transactions, amounting to billions of naira, when Mr Al-Makura was the governor of Nasarawa State between 2011 and 2019.

It said in one of the accounts, less than $250 was lodged there in the two years preceding his assumption of office, but soon started receiving huge sums after he became governor.

In one case, one business entity paid over N200 million, broken into structured nine transactions, in a single day, August 9, 2016, into one of Mr Al-Makura’s accounts, according to the anti-graft agency.

Also, another contender from Nasarawa State, Mr Abdullahi Adamu, a former governor of the state and current senator, was arrested in 2010 by the EFCC for allegedly misappropriating N15 billion alongside 18 others.

He was subsequently arraigned on a 149-count charge of fraud to the tune of N15 billion alongside his co-accused. The case is yet to be concluded

In February 2018, the EFCC arraigned Nuraini Adamu, a son of the senator, and one Felix Onyeabo Ojiako before judge, Farouq Lawal of the Kano State High Court on a four-count charge of conspiracy, forgery and obtaining money by false pretence.

Yet another contender and former governor who is having a running battle with the EFCC, is Mr Danjuma Goje of Yobe State.

Goje, who has been standing trial since 9 years ago and still a senator, is being accused of conspiring with four officers of his administration while he was a governor, to defraud the state of N25 billion via illegal acts.

The former governor of Zamfara State and current senator, Mr Abdulaziz Yari has also been arrested severally by the EFCC on suspicious monies stuffed in his bank accounts including the sum of $56,056.75 reportedly lodged in his account with Polaris Bank; N12.9m, N11.2m, $l303m, N217,388.04, and $311.8m said to be kept in different Zenith Bank accounts in the name of the ex-governor and his companies, EFCC indictment said.

In February 2021, Yari was first arrested and grilled by EFCC operatives in Lagos, while the Federal High Court in Abuja had, on January 26, 2021, ordered the final forfeiture of funds belonging to Yari domiciled in Zenith and Polaris Banks.

But for former interim Chairman of the PDP, Senator Ali Modu-Sheriff, his controversial nature and alleged excessive baggage like his linkage to Boko Haram terrorists is working against him.

THE WHISTLER could not verify this claim as calls and text messages sent to the phone of Mr John Akpanudoedeh, the National Publicity Secretary of the party were not replied.

However, the source at the APC National Secretariat revealed that these individuals will most likely miss out because of the need to ensure a rancour-free convention and getting a clean National Chairman.

“It’ll be suicidal for the APC to elect a national Chairman who has a case with the EFCC,” he said, noting that the way the PDP handled it convention was encouraging and that APC cannot do less.

He pointed out that the APC, facing already angry Nigerians, will be faced with cleaning the image of its National Chairman, “who looted the treasury of his people because he was a governor.

“The 2023 election will be crucial. We will have to prove we are a great party to transit from one president to another and not end with President Muhammadu Buhari.”

He said the guidelines that will emerge towards the convention will be one that will first and foremost disqualify these persons with “questionable characters and past misdeeds.”

CONFIRMED: Tinubu contesting for president in 2023 – elder statesman

A founding member of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and elder statesman, Tanko Yakasai, has revealed that national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu was at his Abuja residence on Wednesday to solicit support for his (Tinubu’s) presidential ambition in the 2023 general elections.

Although Tinubu has yet to declare his intention to contest any office in 2023, there have been reports and veiled indications that he might be interested in the exalted seat.

Speaking to Saturday Punch, Yakasai divulged: “He (Tinubu) just came to visit me but actually I have two of them (presidential aspirants) that I have earmarked right from the beginning and I made a vow that any one of them who came to ask for my support first is the person I would support. Tinubu is the first person.”

When asked whether Tinubu told him he would be contesting for President in 2021, Yakasai said, “He (Tinubu) did and he asked for my support.”

Furthermore, Yakasai said interested aspirants must first scale the hurdles of primary elections in their various political parties “then we will begin to compare them.”

The 2023 Nigerian general election will be held on 18 February to elect the President and Vice President.

President Muhammadu Buhari is in his second term in office, and cannot run for re-election.

Breaking: FG Orders Civil Servants on GL 12 and Below to Resume Duties Dec 1

The federal government has ordered all civil servants on Grade Level 12 and below, who have been working from home as part of measures to curtail the spread of COVID-19 to resume duties on December 1, 2021.

The Head of Service of the Federation, Dr Folasade Yemi- Esan gave the directive in a circular HCSF/ 3065/ Vol. 1/ 107 dated 26th November 2021.

Yemi Esan in the circular, which was addressed to the Chief of Staff to the President, Deputy Chief of Staff the President, Office of the Vice-President, Ministers/ Ministers of State, Permanent Secretaries, National Security Advisers, Chairman Code of Conduct Bureau and Federal Civil Service Commission among others, said the directive followed the advice of the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19 that this category of officers were expected to resume duties on December 1, 2021.

She noted that in line with the recommendation of PSC, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the vaccine mandate policy whereby all government employees were required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or present negative COVID-19 PCR test result done within 72 hours.

She advised all public officers who are yet to be vaccinated to visit the following centres in Abuja: Federal Staff Clinic, Federal Secretariat Complex, Phase I, Federal Staff Clinic, Federal Secretariat Complex, Phase ll, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing Clinic, Mabushi, Federal Ministry of Finance Staff Clinic and Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Staff Clinic and other centres nationwide that can be found on the website of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).

She enjoined all permanent secretaries and heads of government agencies to bring the contents of the circulars to the attention of their staff as well as ensure strict compliance.

It will be recalled that civil servants from GL 12 and below have since March 2020 been directed to stay at home until further notice to streamline the number of workers who come to work daily as a preventive measure to curb the spread of the virus.

Why we back FG on petrol subsidy removal by 2022 – IPMAN, others

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), said yesterday, that its support for the Federal Government over the planned removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), stems from the realization that the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari on August 16 makes no provision for subsidy.

Besides, IPMAN President, Chinedu Okoronkwo, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday that his association has consistently “advised the government to remove petrol subsidy because it is not in the interest of development of the downstream sector.”

But the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) threatened, yesterday, to shut down the country should the Federal Government go ahead with the planned fuel subsidy removal.

The students’ body also rejected the government’s plan to pay N5,000 transport allowance to 40 million Nigerians to cushion the effect of soaring fuel prices.

Okoronkwo, in the NAN interview, said: “We welcome the decision of the government to stop subsidising petrol by 2022 and we are hoping it will attract more investments to the sector, especially with the passage of PIA.”

He added: “What we want is that a level playing field be provided for everyone in the sector to encourage competition once the subsidy is removed.”

Also speaking on the issue, the immediate-past President, Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), Tunji Oyebanji, said continued subsidising of petrol was not sustainable in light of current economic realities.

He said the 2022 deadline was realistic and its impact might be mitigated with the coming on stream of the 650,000BPD Dangote Refinery, Bua Group Refinery, Waltersmith Refinery and other modular refineries.

Oyebanji, who is the Managing Director of 11 Plc, however, faulted the plan to replace the subsidy with cash transfer to Nigerians due to lack of a reliable data base in the country.

“In my personal opinion, I am of the view that such funds should be channeled to areas like education and mass transportation that would be accessible to ordinary Nigerians,” Mr Oyebanji said.

An oil and gas expert, Wilson Opuwei, said the conversation about fuel subsidy in Nigeria “should have been a thing of the past because it was an obvious wastage of the nation’s resources”.

Mr Opuwei, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Dateline Energy Services Ltd., maintained that the elite were the major beneficiaries of the fuel subsidy regime.

He said: “We should let market forces determine the price of petrol and other products, not the government dolling out subsidies with funds that we don’t even have.”

NANS rejects proposed fuel price hike, threatens shutdown

Declaring its position on the issue yesterday, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) threatened to shut down the country should the Federal Government go ahead with the planned fuel subsidy removal.

Addressing journalists in Abuja, NANS President, Comrade Sunday Asefon, said the union would mobilise its 41 million members across the country to protest what he branded a “strange proposal.”

The present economic realities in the country, Asefon said, made it wrong for the government to contemplate something as critical as deregulating the petroleum sector “without thinking it through, without consultation and without a robust debate.”

He described the move as a plan by the government to get money at all costs to squander and finance the ostentatious lifestyles of public officers and senior civil servants, adding that any attempt to aggravate the economic woes of Nigerians would not only be unconscionable but reckless.

“Nigerians are really suffering. We are in dire socioeconomic straits. We are weeping in our hearts and souls. We are dying in silence. We feel the agony and anguish because we are practically involved,” he said.

Continuing, he said:It will amount to testing the patience of Nigerians. And we wish to warn against it. The country is very stretched and tensed. In case the government is not aware, we are passing them this intelligence free of charge now. Again we advise: let the government not stretch it further.

“The consequences will be dire. The people are already flamed. Mendacity will beget mendacity

NANS is happy that the organised labour and civil society groups have all rejected the proposal.

”We shall ensure that the entire country is shut down and paralysed should the Federal Government proceed with its insensitive plan of deregulation, or even any further increase in the pump price of fuel. We have had enough.

”We know that neo-liberal and imperial economists will soon emerge to confuse themselves with some well- rehearsed stale analyses and commentaries.”

“It is therefore very strange that the Federal Government could contemplate the removal of fuel subsidy now. The four refineries are not functioning, and if they are functioning at all, it is at a near zero level. There is a zero consultation with stakeholders to even consider issues around deregulation and why it should or should not be. The survival of Nigerian workers and their wards is yet to be discussed, yet a date that may take lives out of them has been fixed.

”Furthermore, inflation is already passing a skyrocketing level. So we may need to find a word to describe the kind of inflation that will be experienced if the pump price of PMS goes above 200 percent. In fact, we are very convinced that the Federal Government is acting impulsively on a matter as sensitive as this. And our conviction is based on many things that cannot just add up. Beyond the issues already raised, let us consider the following economic confusions:

”In the 2022 Appropriation Bill, the FG already provided for fuel subsidies. One then wonders why it will provide for what it plans to eliminate.

”Upon which data did the Honourable Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning determine that only 40 million Nigerians are vulnerable? And what is the definition of vulnerability in our socioeconomic context?

“Where does she intend to generate the money which will be paid to those 40 million Nigerians since there is no provision for it in the 2022 Appropriation Bill?

”Is it not a very strange economics to rob the poor to pay the poor even lower? In which economic sense or theory does 5000 the inflationary effect of 200 percent increment on the central economic item of a country?”

Asefon urged the government to rescind the plan till adequate arrangements like refining at home and utilising the nation’s petrochemical by-products are made.

”After that, there will be a robust discussion by all stakeholders to deal with associated socioeconomic issues and discuss the details of the new regime. It is only on this condition that there can be a corresponding social equilibrium, economic prosperity, job and wealth creation for Nigerians.”

Finance, Budget and National Planning Minister , Zainab Ahmed, had announced that the government would remove fuel subsidy and replace it with a monthly N5,000 transport grant to about 40 million poor Nigerians.

‘Expect more mayhem’, Gumi tells Nigerians after bandits’ proscription

Controversial Islamic preacher, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has said the declaration of bandits as terrorists “will not change anything”, rather, “it will cause more mayhem”.

In a statement issued on Friday by Malam Tukur Mamu, Gumi’s Media Consultant, obtained by POLITICS NIGERIA, the cleric criticised Thursday’s verdict of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which proscribed the activities of some groups linked to banditry.

According to him, “I think the Federal Government has succumbed to media blackmail by a section of the country.

“It will not have any practical value because even before the declaration they are being fought and treated as terrorists.

“It is just a nomenclature which I believe will not change the dynamics on ground.

“If you can remember, IPOB was also declared a terrorist organisation. The declaration was even backed by the order of the Court, but as you can see even the international community did not recognise FG’s declaration on IPOB.

“So it has failed to be effective or to achieve the desired results.

“They have not been banned from travelling to other countries, while their citizenship remains intact; it has not been denounced. So what type of declaration is that?

“I sincerely hope that Nigerians will not take the herdsmen as terrorists, but should regard the criminality of the few among them against innocent people as acts of terrorism just as we see IPOB and their attacks on security agencies and other northern citizens as acts of terrorism.

“The proscription will cause more mayhem. The declaration will not change anything, it will not change the dynamics. Already the military is engaging them.

“It didn’t stop them from kidnappings and killings. The declaration will not end their aggression against the society.”

BREAKING: CCTV shows how Female Clubber died in Obi Cubana’s Club in Abuja [VIDEO)

Society gazette has obtained Closed Circuit Television Footage, CCTV, showing how a female died in a popular Abuja Night Club, Hustle and Bustle.

The club owned by socialite, Obinna Iyiegbu alias Obi Cubana, trended online over the development as many sought for clarifications on the circumstances surrounding the lady’s demise.

The incident, which occurred on the 14th of November, generated so much controversy as the club had to ultimately shut down operations completely to mourn the deceased.

It had initially been circulated in the media that the lady was electrocuted but the footage shows otherwise.

In the video below, the lady, wearing a red dress, can be seen walking out of the club with two other men before dashing towards the side of a fence and crashing to the ground.

Obasanjo Reveals Where Boko Haram Next Recruit Will Come From

A former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, on Thursday, stated that the next recruit of Boko Haram will come from out-of-school children in Nigeria.
Obasanjo made this claim while addressing participants at the presidential youth mentorship retreat held at Youth Development Centre, Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

According to Obasanjo, no one needs an oracle to know that the 14 million out of school children would turn to Boko Haram recruits in the next ten years.

He said “A situation today where we have 14 million children that should be in school that are not in school, does anybody need to be an oracle to tell that 10 years or 15 years from now, those will be where you will recruit pure Boko Haram.

“So, if you deal with Boko Haram by stick today in few years time the situation will be worst because we are talking about security, it will be worst. So, if we are talking of insecurity, where should we begin? If we are talking of poverty where should we begin? It is education.

“Somebody said if everybody is educated who will be a servant and I said if everybody is educated then we will get a better servant than you should have gotten from those that are not educated.”

Obasanjo further stated that the unity of the country is important, adding that he would clamour for the unity of the country throughout his life.

He said, “If I was a Yoruba leader, I would not have succeeded as I succeeded for Nigeria, I might have succeeded for the Yorubas. Your brother from South East is right, I believed that every Nigerian is more respected in the committee of nations if Nigeria remains.

“Don’t let us deceive ourselves, will people still respect us because of our population, 200 million people, you cannot just waste them, even when I go out, people will say you Nigerians are not at the table and that is true, we are not at the table when we should be at the table.

“I have no regret for fighting for the unity of Nigeria and if it comes up tomorrow that it should be done and I have the ability to do it, I will do what I have to do. I believed that the last thing is not in our fighting for the unity of this country is in subsequent leadership that we have.”

Klopp clashes with reporter after calling AFCON ‘little tournament’

Liverpool boss, Jurgen Klopp has lashed out at a reporter after he was accused of insulting Africa by referring to the Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, as a ‘little tournament’.

Before Liverpool’s Champions League match against Porto on Wednesday night, Klopp was asked about the lack of international breaks until March.

And in response, Klopp said, “No international break until March, I’ve heard that so often, but in January there’s a little tournament in Africa, I just want to say.”

And after Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Porto, a reporter returned to the Liverpool boss, asking him to apologize to the people of Africa for his choice of words.

The German said, “It’s all good, I didn’t mean it like that. I don’t know why you understand it like that to be honest.

“I didn’t mean it like that, come on… so I was not even close to it being the idea in my mind that I want to talk about the AFCON as a ‘little tournament’ or about the continent of Africa as a ‘little continent’, not at all.

“What I meant was, if you watch the full press conference, then you might have understood it the right way if you wanted to because I said there are no international breaks until March now.

“I said, ‘oh, there’s a little tournament in January’ and I didn’t mean a ‘little’ tournament, I was just saying it’s still a tournament, it’s ironic. It’s still a tournament, a big one. We [will] lose our best players to that tournament.

“I am not a native speaker but if you want to understand me wrong, you can do that all the time.

“I really don’t… I know that I would never think like this. I don’t understand why you thought this to be honest, but that’s really not OK as I would never do that.

“But that is it now. It was not my intention but you made something [more] of it, so that is not so cool to be 100 per cent honest.”