A new-born-baby was early Tuesday morning dumped at a refuse dump along Enugu Road in the university community of Nsukka, Enugu State.
The baby was wrapped in a blue waterproof, and packaged in a carton. As at the time of filing this report, the baby’s remains had not been evacuated.
The act attracted curses from sympathisers. A woman who could not hold her tears said, “Only cursed women can do this kind of thing. If you see the number of women looking for the fruits of the womb, you wonder how any woman could carry a baby for nine months, and decides to waste the baby.”
Mrs Ozoemene Okonkwo advised young ladies to report to welfare units or registered motherless babies’ homes when they do not want to own their babies.
She said, “Thousands of people want to adopt babies and give them a sense of livelihood. It is very bad to kill a baby one cannot create.”
The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi who died in Ekiti State on Friday night failed to carry out some of his plans before his death.
The well respected Yoruba monarch before his death had plans to visit the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi.
Oba Adeyemi before joining his ancestors also had planned to install the Speaker of the House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila as Baamofin of Oyo.
The monarch also took steps to end the rift between the Minister of Interior Rauf Aregbesola and the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu.
A source that spoke with The Nation disclosed that Alaafin had planned to hand over two new houses to two of his wives as gifts before the end of this month.
The source said: “Kabiyesi was waiting to get well. He planned to hand over a gift of new houses to two of the queens. But, death has made that impossible now. The houses have been completed. They were just to be handed over to the wives.”
It was gathered that the monarch had planned to meet with the Oyo State Government over the elevation of some chiefs and balee into obas without his consent and in violation of chieftaincy laws.
A source disclosed that the Alaafin of Oyo had written former Governors Rashidi Ladoja and Abiola Ajimobi on the issue, but no action was taken.
It was claimed that the monarch had planned to complain to the current Governor of the state, Seyi Makinde before his death.
The monarch had gathered relevant documents, which he planned to launch by end of April before death came.
In a 2017 letter to the late Ajimobi, the Alaafin had listed bales who elevated themselves to Obas and those who gave themselves non-existing titles.
“One seemed to believe that with these and a host of legislations on chieftaincy matters, both the administrators, prescribed authorities and the beneficiaries would be guided alright. It was very disappointing that self-esteem, corrupt practices, negligence, and carefree attitude by those concerned have led to great abuse and bastardization of the important culture. Dubious characters in our society now found the acquisition of chieftaincy titles at all costs a haven since the anointment is honourable for life. They manipulated their ways to the highest position, sometimes, to the disadvantage of some families. Criminals have invaded the culture.”
Members of the Nigerian Senate have been accused of diverting funds meant for constituency projects to non-existing projects.
The Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) made the accusation in its interim constituency and executive projects tracking report, Naija News reports.
According to the report, the anti-corruption agency uncovered how the members of the Red Chamber illegally added N20 billion to N100 billion annual constituency projects.
The ICPC added that the lawmakers embedded additional projects into the 2021 mandate budget of MDAs, which is a long way affected budget performance, as well as distorted developmental planning and implementation of the 2021 fiscal year.
The report read in part: “Budget insertion remains one of the egregious, yet illegally acceptable phenomenon that has distorted the nation’s developmental planning and implementation of developmental programmes.
“In addition to the N100 billion appropriated annually for constituency projects, the National Assembly embedded additional projects into mandate budgets of MDAs. This is done to increase the project portfolios of concerned legislators and their influence on MDAs. The value of the insertion was in billions.
“Analysing the 2021 National Budget alone across key sectors of education, water resources, health, power, science and technology, environment, works and agriculture, we found duplication to the tune of over N20 billion.”
In the report, the ICPC cited other areas of infractions where lawmakers allegedly awarded contracts to themselves or to proxy companies.
This includes the “contract for the construction and renovation of blocks of the classroom at the Federal University Staff School, Wukari, Taraba South Senatorial District by a popular Senator“.
ICPC alleged that the project was “haphazardly nominated, appropriated and executed in locations that have no need for such projects.”
Another infraction pointed out by the ICPC was the supply of tricycles to Rivers West Senatorial District was an empowerment project, where the sponsor allegedly used one of her cronies as the contractor.
The commission alleged that “while the contract was never performed, the sum (N30m) was fully paid and shared“.
An Ota Magistrates’ Court in Ogun on Monday sentenced a 21-year-old driver, Kenneth Divine, to one month imprisonment for stealing 14 cartons of ”Indomie” noodles worth N48,300.
The police charged Divine, alongside Joel Olawale,34, with two counts of conspiracy and theft.
Delivering ruling, Magistrate A .O. Adeyemi, sentenced the convict to one month imprisonment, after he had pleaded guilty to the charge preferred against him. with an option of N10,000 fine.
Adeyemi, however, gave the convict an option of N10,000 and also directed him to restitute N48,300 to the complainant.The second defendant, Olawale, pleaded not guilty to the charge and was admitted to bail in the sum of N50,000 with one surety in like sum.
Earlier, Prosecution Counsel, Insp E.O.Adaraloye, told the court that Divine, Olawale and others at large, committed the offence on March 29 at the Indomie Company, Fowobi,Oju-Ore area, Ota.
Adaraloye said they stole 14 cartons of 70g f Indomie noodle worth N48,3000 belonging to one Balogun Ayokunle. He said that the offence contravened the provisions of Sections 390(9) and 516 of the Criminal Code,Laws of Ogun,2006.
She adjourned the case until May 13 for further hearing.
Nse Ekpenyong, the legislator representing Oron Constituency in the House of Representatives, Abuja, is dead.
Oron is a coastal city and Local Government Area (LGA) in Akwa Ibom State.
This newspaper learned that Ekpenyong, who showed no sign of illness, died on Sunday. He was 58.
The deceased is a former member of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly and a former deputy chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa lbom State.
Before joining politics, he was the Managing Director of Based/Investment Trust Co Nigeria Limited and later the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Brule Integrated Nigeria Limited.
Messages of condolence have poured in.
Francis Otioro wrote on Facebook: “I’m just glad I was privileged enough to meet you. Deep inside my heart, my thoughts for you are stronger than death, Hon Nse Ekpenyong. May your reputation precedes you Oh Ofriyo!”
Mattello Felix wrote on Facebook: “Shocking! Rt Hon. Nse Ekpenyong?? Sad news for Oron Federal Constituency. One lost too many.”
DrDurable Osung wrote on social media: “This is a great loss to Oro Nation. But God understands! May God have His way and avenge the death of Nse Ekpenyong. Adieu my brother and friend!”
Citizens of have re-elected President Emmanuel Macron in a tightly contested presidential election.
It took Macron 58.5% votes to defeat his nationalist rival, Marine Len Pen in the runoff election on Sunday, Naija News reports.
First-round voting results between the top two contenders, Macron and Len Pen are shown below:
Emmanuel Macron of the Republic on the Move polled 9,783,058 in the first round of France’s 2022 presidential election, earning 27.8% count of the total votes.
While his major contender in the race, Marine Le Pen of the National Rally gets a total of 8,133,828 votes which stood at 23.2%.
This led to Sunday’s second-round runoff which secured Macron another tenure in leadership.
As projected by French polling agencies, 44-year-old Macron garnered between 58.5 per cent of the vote in the second-round runoff to beat down 41.4% vote for Le Pen.
The latest victory for Macron makes him the first president in France to have won re-election since Jacques Rene Chirac who served as President of the European country from 1995 to 2007.
Len Pen on the other had lost against the incumbent president for the second time, Naija News understands.
She was defeated in the 2017 France Presidential election after earning just 33.90% of the total votes, against Macron’s 66.10%.
Speaking on his latest victory, Macron acknowledged the love from his loved ones and the entire residents of France.
He vowed to improve the living standards of the less privileged.
“Many in this country voted for me not because they support my ideas but to keep out those of the far-right. I want to thank them and know I owe them a debt in the years to come,” the 44-year-old said.
He assured the people that he will address the “anger and the disagreements” that led to many French voters choosing the extreme right, saying “this will be my responsibility and that of those around me”.
“No one in France will be left by the wayside,” he continued, pledging to be a “president for all”, Macron added.
Some residents of Oyo town who thronged the Oyo Palace to mourn the death of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi on Saturday were stung by bees.
This happened around 10 am after Islamic clerics had arrived at the palace in preparation for the burial of Oba Adeyemi, who died on Friday night.
Our correspondent observed that to ward off the attacking bees, residents in the open space in the palace who were affected plucked tree branches and leaves to drive the unwanted creatures away.
A policeman was one of the victims and some of the mourners assisted him to drive away the bees and removed some of the insects which got stuck in his uniform.
Meanwhile, the Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, on Saturday, described the death of the Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, as “a huge loss to the state, Nigeria and the Yoruba race”.
Makinde, while describing Oba Adeyemi’s death as a personal loss to him, said that he was “an ever-supportive royal father and a worthy leader, who spared nothing in trying to make Oyo State and Nigeria greater”.
The governor, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Taiwo Adisa, said, “Kabiyesi’s words of advice and guidance were always golden and helpful”.
Makinde expressed his condolences to the Oyo State Traditional Council, the Oyomesi, Oba Adeyemi’s immediate family, the people of Oyo Kingdom and the entire Yoruba race.
The governor, however, prayed to God to grant repose to the soul of the departed traditional ruler.
According to Makinde, apart from Oyo State losing its last man standing in the rank of experienced monarchs with long years of royal leadership, it has also lost a royal institution and an authority, which Alaafin Olayiwola Adeyemi III had become by virtue of his high-octane understanding of Yoruba history, politics and national development.
He said, “I have been informed about the death of our father, His Imperial Majesty, Iku Baba Yeye, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III.
“I express heartfelt condolences to the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs, which Oba Adeyemi chaired for decades, the Oyomesi and the entire people of Oyo Kingdom.
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“I equally commiserate with the Oloris, children and entire Adeyemi family on the demise of their patriarch and worthy father.
“Kabiyesi’s departure is a huge loss not only to Oyo State, to which he committed 52 years of his life as the Alaafin of Oyo Kingdom, but also to Nigeria and the entire Yoruba race.”
According to him, Oba Adeyemi was our last man standing in the rank of most eminent royal fathers with long years of leadership.
“He became a golden king, an institution and an authority rolled into one by virtue of his immense experience, wisdom and understanding of Yoruba history, royalty and politics.
“Oba Adeyemi, not only elevated the Alaafin throne with his knowledge and wisdom, he became a worthy exemplar for royal leadership in Africa and brought glory to Oyo State and Nigeria.
“Kabiyesi never spared anything in his strive to make Oyo State greater and to bring about the Nigeria of everyone’s collective dream.
“Personally, Kabiyesi’s death is a great loss to me, because he proved to be a worthy father and had been ever so supportive of our government.
“His words of advice and guidance were always golden and helpful.
“It is my prayer that God accepts Kabiyesi’s soul into Aljanah Firdaus and uphold everyone and everything he left behind. Good night, Iku Baba Yeye !”
Former Vice President and Presidential aspirant Atiku Abubakar has reacted to the death of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi.
It was earlier reported that Oba Adeyemi had died on Friday night in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State Capital after a brief illness.
It was gathered that the Yoruba traditional ruler was reportedly receiving treatment at the Afe Babalola University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti where he later died.
It was disclosed that the rites of passage have started for Alaafin who reigned for 52 years.
Reacting in a statement by his spokesperson Paul Ibe, Atiku stated that the Alaafin was a worthy ambassador of Yoruba culture.
While describing his death as a great loss for Nigeria and Africa culture at large, the PDP chieftain said that the late Oba Adeyemi was a worthy ambassador of Yoruba culture and royal elegance.
Atiku recalled that his last encounter with Oba Adeyemi was in Ibadan during the coronation of Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Lekan Balogun.
“I admired the royal splendour of Oba Adeyemi and the fact that he remains the longest serving Alaafin means that Oyo and indeed Nigerians will not forget his reign,” the Waziri of Adamawa said.
Atiku noted that he is deeply touched by the news of Oba Adeyemi’s demise, sending his condolences to the immediate family, Governor Seyi Makinde and the people and government of Oyo State.
He prayed to Allah to grant the soul of the late king a gentle repose and to give his immediate family and the people of Oyo Kingdom the fortitude to bear the loss of a great monarch.
Top Yoruba traditional ruler, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, has been confirmed dead.
Naija News understands that the longest-reigning Alaafin died at age 83.
Oba Adeyemi has served as Alaafin of Oyo for 52 years.
The monarch who is said to be the third from the Alowodu Ruling House passed on on Friday night at the Afe Babalola University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State.
An insider from the palace had told Premium Times that Alaafin’s corpse was brought to Oyo town, the Oyo State capital, very early on Saturday and that traditional rites have since begun.
Alaafin is said to have been seriously sick and a plan had been made to fly him abroad before he gave up the ghost last night.
A source who confided in the news platform revealed on Saturday morning that Oba Lamidi’s travel tickets and those of some of his few wives were already procured before the monarch suddenly went to meet his ancestors.
Naija News understands that Alaafin’s death is coming a few months after the two other senior Oyo State monarchs – the Olubadan of Ibadan, Saliu Adetunji, and the Soun of Ogbomoso, Jimoh Oyewumi had died.
The State has witnessed the death of its top monarchs just in less than five months.
The Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, is, however, yet to make an official statement on Alaafin of Oyo’s demise, Naija News reports.
As it stands, the Bashorun of Oyo, Yusuf Akinade, the head of the ‘Oyo Mesi’ is expected to now assume the leadership of Oyo town prior to when a new Alaafin would be installed.
The Minister of Women Affairs Dame Pauline Tallen has visited the force headquarters with the children of late gospel singer Osinachi Nwachukwu to seek clarification on the rumored release of her husband, Peter Nwachukwu.
In a statement released by Director Press and Public Relations of the Ministry, Olujimi Oyetomi, Tallen demanded that adequate punishment be meted on the suspect to serve as a lesson for men who are in the habit of constantly assaulting women.
She also stated that she would be enlisting the support of the Governor of Abia state as well as the representatives of the constituency where the late Osinachi hails from, and the assistance of the governor of Enugu state and his wife to give psycho-social support to the children.
She said: “We would pursue justice for the late singer and her family. The alleged killer must not go unpunished to serve as deterrence to other men who are in the habit of beating women.
“The four children of the deceased singer are on second term holiday from their school in Abuja and may be relocating to Enugu to join their grandmother until the present travail is sorted
“I strongly rebuke those who were in the know of the suffering of the late Osinachi without coming out with what they know. Although we are crying over spilled milk, we will pursue this matter to ensure that justice is done to that late singer’s family and to ensure deterrence to others, so that nothing like this will ever happen.”
Responding, IGP Usman Alkali, ordered that the suspect be brought in and paraded before the minister, children and others to assure that he was still in the custody of the police.
He said: “Police will investigate this matter with all alacrity and responsibility. In all cases such as this, expert opinions on cause of death are sought. We have enlisted National Hospital, Abuja and as soon as the outcome is received, we will charge the suspect to Court. It will be swift as much as possible. We just want to assure the public that the suspect is in our custody.”
The visiting family includes the twin sister of the late Osinachi, Eze Grace Amarachi, the brother, the late singer’s children (Three boys and a girl) as well as two other females which include Deborah Rukop who was simply described as a close friend to the family.
