Author: Lekan Adeyeye

MANY soldiers having their physical drills at the Myoung Barracks in Yaba, Lagos, have been feared dead after a drunken driven rammed into them. The incident occurred on Friday morning causing panic within the Nigerian Army Community in the Yaba and Ojuelegba areas. It was gathered a vehicle with three occupants, all suspected to be intoxicated, lost control and drove into the soldiers doing their routine physical exercise at the Army Sports Camp. This newspaper gathered that a lot of the soldiers sustained serious injuries with blood splashed all over the place. It was gathered that as soon as the…

FIVE farmers have been reportedly murdered by armed men in the Ajegunle Powerline community in the Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State. The victims were said to be labourers from Plateau and Kaduna states working on the farmlands. An eyewitness account narrated that the attack occurred around 3:00 pm on Wednesday, adding that the herdsmen had engaged in destroying their crops and disrupting their livelihood in the community. According to the source who is also a farmer, the attacks have become a daily occurrence, and many farmers have fled their farms for fear of being killed. He lamented…

TWO people have been confirmed dead, while five others were rescued alive after a two-storey building collapsed at Mega Mall Estate, Mobile Road, Inikpa, Ikota, Ajah, Lagos State. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) reported that the building, which was under construction, collapsed on Tuesday. According to NEMA’s Southwest Coordinator, Ibrahim Farinloye, the immediate cause of the incident is unknown, and further investigations will be conducted. “So far, the bodies of an adult male and a young boy have been recovered, while five adult males with serious injuries have been rescued and taken to the hospital. Information suggests that more…

THE quest by the Oyo state government to get justice for the 35 minors who lost their lives in last December’s unfortunate stampede in Ibadan continues as the three accused persons – estranged wife of the Ooni of Ife, Naomi Silekunola, Oriyomi Hamzat and Abdulahi Fasasi still face litigation despite their bail. The former wife of the Ooni of Ife, Naomi Silekunola; an Ibadan-based broadcaster and Chairman of a radio station, Oriyomi Hamzat; and the Principal of Islamic High School, Basorun, Abdulahib Fasasi, appeared before the Chief Magistrate Court in Ibadan, Oyo State. The defendants face four charges related to…

THE DEPARTMENT of State Service (DSS) official, Mr Stephen Okolo, has said that the deployment of technology aided the arrest of three security personnel facing charges of kidnapping and banditry in Oyo State. Okolo said this in his testimony before Justice N.E. Maha of the Federal High Court in Ibadan, on Monday. He was giving evidence as first prosecution witness (PW1) in the trial against the three officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) and one other. The three NSCDC’s officers are, Olamide Okesola, Adedeji Adewale and Asmau Omar while the fourth defendant, Emmanuel Olatunji, is an…

IMPEACHED Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa has described the corruption allegations against him as “fictitious and unsubstantiated”. Speaking during a welcome rally at his residence in GRA, Ikeja on Saturday, Obasa maintained that he was not afraid of being impeached but emphasised that due process was not followed. The former speaker alleged that his removal was orchestrated while he was away, and accused the state commissioner of police of aiding the process. He claimed security agents, led by the police commissioner, invaded the assembly complex and his homes in Agege and Ikeja, locking his family…

THE Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has put a hold on all access gate fees at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. A statement by its management on Saturday said the move was to alleviate the traffic burden on airport road users. The suspension will take effect from January 24 2025 to February 7, 2025. It said “The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) wishes to inform the general public that, all access gates at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International International Airport are suspended to alleviate the traffic burden on our airport road users. “We deeply emphasise for the inconvenience caused…

OPERATIVES of the Nigeria Police Force have rescued Folashade Odumosu, the wife of A former Assistant Inspector General of Police, Hakeem Odumosu. The victim regained her freedom on Wednesday. It was gathered that the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo, led the operation that saw to the rescue of the retired AIG’s wife. Force spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi, disclosed Folashade’s rescue to Channels Television in a telephone conversation on Thursday. During the operation, the kidnappers were neutralised. Adejobi said the operatives equally recovered the ransom paid to the kidnappers as bait. However, he refused to disclose the amount paid to…

THE ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has won 16 out of the 18 chairmanship seats in the local government elections in Ondo State. The Chairman of the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC), Joseph Aeemo, declared this at the headquarters of the commission in Akure on Sunday. He noted that while the rescheduled election is being held in Ondo West LGA, results are being expected from Owo LGA. Only twelve political parties contested for the chairmanship and councillorship offices in the elections held on Saturday. Ahead of the poll, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) announced its decision to withdraw from…

MEN of the Ondo State Police Command have apprehended a couple, Lukman Isiaka, 42, and his wife, Abosede Olanipekun, 23, for allegedly stealing children across Ondo and Osun states. The police have recovered 10 of the stolen children, but some distraught parents who thronged the command’s headquarters lamented that their children were still missing. The couple reportedly used various methods to abduct the children, selling each one for ₦1 million to Sabina Izuorah, a 62-year-old resident of Ihiala in Anambra State. Police investigators disclosed that the suspects may have been involved in similar crimes in Edo State before extending their…

FORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo has described ‘The Catalyst: Nigerian Tech Evolution through a Journalist’s Lens,’ authored by the immediate past Editor of The PUNCH, Mr Dayo Oketola, as an essential educational resource material. Speaking during a courtesy visit by the author to his Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library residence in Oke Mosan, Abeokuta, the former President praised the book as a comprehensive contribution to the body of knowledge in the Nigerian tech ecosystem. Obasanjo unveiled the book on September 17, 2024, during an exaugural lecture in honour of Oketola following his successful run as Editor of PUNCH Weekend Titles and later…

OPERATIVES of the Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested 10 suspected members of Boko Haram in Ilesa, Osun State. Mallam Olawale Rasheed, the spokesperson for the state Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, said the suspects were members of Boko Haram and Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP). He said the state government would continue to cooperate with security agencies and support their operations to ensure maximum protection of lives and property of Osun people. He charged residents of Osun to continue to be watchful, and report any suspicious activity in their neighborhoods to relevant security agencies. He said, “Governor Adeleke…

A FEDERAL High Court, sitting in Lagos has restrained the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) from arresting vehicles with faded number plates. Justice Akintayo Aluko made the order on Friday and also restricted the FRSC from imposing any fine or punishment on any drivers for driving with a faded vehicle plate number. The court made the orders while delivering judgment in a suit filed by a legal practitioner, Chinwike Chamberlain Ezebube against the FRSC. Ezebube in his Originating Summons filed on February 13, 2024, had asked the court to determine among other things: “Whether the Defendant, pursuant to Section 5…

ONDO State Police Command has announced restriction of movement ahead of next Saturday’s local government elections in the state. In a statement made available to journalists by the Spokesperson of the Command, CSP Funmilayo Odunlami, on Thursday, the Commissioner of Police, Wilfred Afolabi, noted that there will be restriction of vehicle and motorcycle movements within the period of 0600hrs – 1600hrs on the said date for security reasons. According to the statement, “Commuters who may have a reason to use the state as a passage are pre informed of the restrictions to help adjust their plans ahead of the D-day.…

PROTESTING students of the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, Ogun State on Wednesday, attacked the convoy of the Deputy Governor, Noimot Salako-Oyedele. It was gathered that the angry students attacked the convoy of Salako-Oyedele, who was on her way to the 35 Artillery Brigade Alabama, Abeokuta, to represent the state governor, Dapo Abiodun, at the reception marking the 2025 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebrations. This newspaper also gathered that the students damaged some of the security vehicles of the deputy governor while some of her security operatives, were also hurt in the process of maintaining law and order. The Special Adviser…

ONDO State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has dissolved the State Executive Council with immediate effect. Governor Aiyedatiwa, however, exempted two members of the cabinet from the dissolution “due to the critical nature of their duties.” The governor, however, retained the state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Kayode Ajulo, SAN and the Commissioner for Finance, Mrs. Omowunmi Isaac. Aiyedatiwa hinged the decision exempting the two commissioners on the critical nature of their duties. “The Governor of Ondo State, Hon Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa has approved the dissolution of the State Executive Council, with immediate effect. “However, the Governor has exempted two…

IN a dramatic turn of events, the Lagos State House of Assembly yesterday impeached Speaker Mudashiru Obasa over alleged gross misconduct. His removal while he was in the United States followed allegations of misappropriation of funds, high-handedness and lack of transparency in the management of the Assembly’s affairs. The impeachment sparked jubilation among lawmakers. Obasa, in his third term as Speaker since 2015, represents Agege Constituency I. Femi Saheed, who represents Kosofe Constituency II, moved the motion for the impeachment. Citing Section 92(2) (C) of the 1999 Constitution, Saheed accused Obasa of gross misconduct and poor leadership. He accused the…

JUSTICE Kamorudeen Olawoyin of a High Court sitting in Ibadan has granted bail to three suspects remanded over a food queue stampede that claimed the lives of 35 minors in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, last December. The three suspects are ex-Queen Naomi Silekunola, Ibadan-based broadcaster Oriyomi Hamzat and a school principal Abdullahi Fasasi. The trio spent Christmas and New Year in detention after they were arrested and remanded over the tragic incident. The accused are facing four counts of conspiracy, acceleration of death, negligent acts causing harm, and failure to provide adequate security and medical facilities. The Judge gave…

GOVERNOR Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has presented the staff of office to the new Alaafin of Oyo, Abimbola Akeem Owoade. The governor presented the official instrument legitimising the reign of a king to the new monarch on Monday morning at the Exco Chamber of the Governor’s Office in Ibadan, the state capital. The symbolic event was performed nearly three years after the death of the former Alaafin, Lamidi Adeyemi III. The presentation of the staff of office was done amid controversy concerning the choice of the new Alaafin announced by the governor last week. Last Friday, the state Commissioner…

THE Oyo State Government has filed eight counts, bordering on murder and manslaughter against the ex-queen of the Ooni of Ife, Naomi Silekunola, the proprietor of an Ibadan-based radio station, Oriyomi Hamzat, and the Principal of Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan, Abdulahi Fasasi, over the December 18, 2024 funfair stampede, during which 35 children died. The charge sheet, marked I/05C/2025, sighted by our correspondent on Sunday, was filed on Friday, January 10, 2025 before the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan. The Oyo State Government was listed as the complainant while Silekunola, Hamzat abd and Babatunde were named as defendants.…