Author: The Nation

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has cautioned motorists to keep off alcohol while driving to prevent crashes before, during and after the Eld-el-Kabir celebration.

Mrs Modupe Ojogbenga, the FRSC Commander in Okitipupa, gave the warning while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Okitipupa, Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State.

NAN reports that the Federal Government has declared June 28 and June 29 as public holiday for the Eld-el-Kabir celebration.

Ojogbenga also warned motorists and motorcyclists against speeding and overloading of goods and passengers which are attributes common to festivities.

She also advised passengers to always caution their drivers and motorcyclists when they go above the normal speed limit in order to save lives and property.

Read Also: FRSC recovers 28 stolen vehicles in Kaduna, sensitises drivers on safety

According to her, we are in the mood of festivity, motorists and motorcyclists are advised against drinking alcohol while driving and when they want to drink, it must be only water.

“Because of the celebration, drivers will always want to go for more trips and because of this, they go above the speed limit as well  as overloading of goods and passengers. This is dangerous and can result into crashes,” Ojogbenga said.

She said that the command had deployed no fewer than 60 special marshals, FRSC officers and patrol vehicles for its special patrol, which began on Monday until July 1 across Okitipupa, Irele, Ilaje and Ese-Odo LGA’s.

Ojogbenga noted that the special patrol was to check excesses of motorists and motorcyclists across the LGA’s.

She, however, urged all road users to always abide by traffic rules and regulations, saying that offenders would be punished in accordance with the law.

(NAN)

The Federal Government has suspended ongoing construction works at the Lagos-Ibadan expressway. 

It said the suspension will take effect from Tuesday-Sunday. 

Construction works, it said, will resume next Monday. 

Read Also: FRSC announces fresh traffic diversion on Lagos-Ibadan expressway

A statement on Monday by Federal Controller of Works Lagos, Engr.(Mrs) O. I. Kesha on Monday, reads: “Due to the recent  heavy traffic flow  being experienced on the Lagos Shagamu route in the last couple of days ,the inclement weather conditions, the forthcoming Eid Kabir & the advice of the traffic management team deployed to manage traffic related issues on the project,  Construction activities on this ever busy & very important highway will be suspended from Tuesday, 27th of June to Sunday,2nd of July,2023. 

“This is to allow travellers easy passage during the Eid  holiday & minimise the discomfort during this very important period.

“Travelers are advised to cooperate with Traffic Management Team deployed on the highway to manage traffic.”

Gov. Ademola Adeleke of Osun has said that the government has no plans to grant state pardon to Dr Rahman Adedoyin, who was sentenced to death for murder of Timothy Adegoke.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Osun High Court of Justice sitting in Osogbo  had on May 30  sentenced Adedoyin, owner of Hilton Hotels,  to death by hanging for the murder of Adegoke, a postgraduate student of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU ), Ile-Ife.

A statement issued on Monday in Osogbo by Malam Olawale Rasheed, the governor’s  media aide, denied reports on social media that Adeleke was plotting to subvert the judgement  by granting state pardon to Adedoyin.

The statement quoted the governor as saying that his administration had never and would never subvert justice.

It  said  those behind the fake news were enemies of the public.

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” Those who concocted the fake news are evil minded political operatives, who are merely grasping at straws in their desperation to blackmail the state governor.

” Governor Adeleke has not and will never contemplate exercising the prerogative of mercy or whatever the report calls it, on a matter under adjudication,  which has generated deep interest among local and global communities.

” It is important to clarify that neither the governor  nor his political party has any hidden plot on the said murder case other than a public interest agenda to see culprits in the dastardly act face the full wrath of the law.

” That explains why no PDP member was involved as counsel for any of the convicted individuals and why the state judiciary enjoys and exercises its full independence in the hearing and jugdement of the case.

“It is uncharitable for political enemies and their paid agents to attempt any link between the convicted businessman and the governor.

” We affirm with all sense of responsibility that Gov. Adeleke was not at any material time a friend or partner of the owner of Oduduwa University and did not interfere, intervene or manifest any untoward agenda in the arraignment, hearing and sentencing of the accused, Rasheed said.

He therefore urged the members of the public to ignore the rumors of  Gov. Adeleke granting a state pardon to the convict and the watery push to link service records of a state judicial official to a popular verdict on the gruesome murder of a postgraduate student.

“Those peddling such lies are agents of darkness acting on behalf of disgruntled, dark political elements. They are better ignored.

“We convey appreciation to men and women of goodwill who have put up spirited defense for the governor in the face of this orchestrated falsehood.

“The undiluted truth is that neither the state government  nor the state governor  is interested in the subversion of the wheel of justice” Rasheed said.

(NAN)