Category: South West

By Taiwo Alimi

The International Press Centre (IPC) has condemned in strong terms the gruesome killing of Chukwu Odiahu, a member of staff of Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), in Okene, Kogi State.

In a press statement released by IPC in Abeokuta, the late Odiahu who works at the engineering department of the NTA booster station in Okene, was allegedly stoned to death by some yet-to-be identified persons on Tuesday.

The cause of the alleged attack is unknown and as at the time of the report, some staff of NTA on duty have been reportedly arrested and are currently under interrogation at the Divisional Office of the Nigeria Police Force in Okene.

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In a statement by the Executive Director of IPC, Lanre Arogundade: “the increased and continued attacks against journalists and media workers is of worrisome concern.”

“Media workers and their rights must be respected and protected, crimes and attacks against journalists should not be condoned, the perpetrators of these horrifying brutalities must be prosecuted and face the consequences for their actions”, the statement read.

The former Lagos NUJ president calls on the authorities to ensure an immediate and thorough investigation to avoid the violation of the human and professional rights of those who may have been wrongfully arrested.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has urged marketing communications practitioners in the country to help in telling the story of Lagos through the brands they manage.

Sanwo-Olu made appeal at the Marketing Edge Brands and Advertising  Awards of Excellence held recently in Ikeja, Lagos, where he was proclaimed the “Outstanding Political Brand Icon of the Year”.

The elated Governor, who described himself as the Chief Marketing Officer of Lagos State while giving a resounding keynote address, expressed special gratitude to the veterans of the marketing profession whom he acknowledged have toiled to build and give relevance to reputable trade.

He said: “Today is for celebrating ourselves, our craft, and achievements as marketing communications professionals. Over the last 5 decades, the marketing communications profession has evolved remarkably to become a window for the world to see the creativity that resides within us.

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“Our readiness to support marketing-related initiatives is not limited to the Advertising sub-sector of the industry. It is open to various specialist areas that make up marketing. At the centre of what we do as marketing professionals is creativity. And that is what our government is committed to promoting and encouraging.”

Speaking further, he said: “I am not unaware that there was a time many of you needed to fly to Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg before you could shoot a good TV commercial for your clients. Today, the story has changed. Let me assure you, it can only get better from here. The infrastructure we are creating are gradually giving you the scenic settings you require for great television commercials that can earn more prestigious laurels from across the world.”

After receiving the award, Mr. Sanwo-Olu said: “It was with deep sense of humility that I receive the “Outstanding Political Brand Icon of the Year” this prestigious MARKETING EDGE Brands and Advertising Awards of Excellence.

“Let me remind you that every year, at the annual Cannes Festival, the winning campaigns are not the ones that tell the stories of the commercial brands. Rather the winners are the ones who tell stories of people, places, and the triumph of the human will and spirit above adversity.”

In his speech, the Marketing Edge MD/CEO Mr. John Ajayi said: “Indeed, this year’s award event has become more significant and historic as we journey a bit into the political space by identifying a political brand personality. As a brand-centric publication and media group, we have over the years remained apolitical, setting agenda for all players and gladiators in all sectors of national life.

“Our governor was spotted to have been a shining light in the current political space in Nigeria with his giant strides in all aspects and ramifications. The governor left no one in doubt that he was going to change the narrative in political leadership when during his political campaign launched the most celebrated, dynamic, result-oriented political campaign across media channels.’’

The Federal Government has recommenced the Conditional Cash Transfer to vulnerable persons in Osun State and also assured them that the backlog would also be paid without delay.

The beneficiaries were issued Debit cards to enable them to withdraw money from their accounts through automated teller machines or from POS agents nearest to them.

The beneficiaries confirmed that they received the money in their various bank accounts and that were were able to withdraw their money.

They lauded President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajia Sadiya Umar Farouq for the gesture.

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The National Project Coordinator for the programme, Hajia Halima Sheu said the initial delay in the payment was because of the digitalisation of the payment process to strengthen..

Addressing the beneficiaries in Osogbo, the state capital, Sheu said the new digitalised system would be more convenient for the beneficiaries, ensure their safety and ensure transparency.

Also Speaking, Senior Special Assistant to the Osun State Governor, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, on Social Intervention Programmes (SIPs) Mr Lukman Abimbola Bello expressed gratitude to the Federal Government.

Toba Adedejisogbo

Loyalists of Interior Minister Rauf Aregbesola in the All Progressives Congress (APC), Osun State have berated the outcome of wards and local governments congress of the party.

The faction named The Osun Progressives (TOP), with the APC in the State chaired by Elder Adelowo Adebiyi, urged the National Caretaker and Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee of the party not to accept the results of the congresses conducted by Hon Gbenga Elegbeleye.

A statement signed by its chairman, Elder Adelowo Adebiyi on Friday stated that the faction was set to inaugurate its members who contested against the consensus executives adopted by the party.

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Adebiyi said: “The ability of the National Caretaker Committee to put a check to the horrendous manipulation of the process by Governor Adegboyega Oyetola in favour of the current party leadership and particularly for the sake of his group, IleriOluwa could bring a serious undoing to APC.

“It would be difficult for any unbiased watchers of Osun political events to do anything other than giving TOP the trophy of success. We will inaugurate our members who emerged as executives during the ward and local governments congresses in a grand ceremony very soon.”

Foremost building materials firm, Qualitik Nigeria Limited has opened an ultramodern office complex  at Cement bus stop alomg Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway in Lagos.

The new corporate head office of the firm was officially inaugurated on Saturday by the Managing Director of GreenLife Pharmaceutical Ltd, Chief Ebele Nwosu.

The inauguration of the office complex, according to the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of the company, Mr. Ikechukwu Simons was to bring the latest innovative products and services of the firm closer to the public through a one-stop shop office complex.

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Simons said: ‘’ Although, we have offices in Abuja and Port Harcourt, Rivers State, but our range of innovative products are unique such that there is the need to bring them closer to the public hence we conceived the idea of this one-stop-shop office building in order to serve our teeming customers better.

‘’Our selected innovative building materials and products include Aluco panels, wood composite panels, sandwich panels, clap leather board, doors and tiles among others. So this building is like our office, our showroom and our shops.

‘’ We are taking on the second leg of the project which is the building of our super showrooms and walk-in warehouses where fittings and electrical materials will be stocked.’’

By Toba Adedeji, Osogbo

The Osun State Ministry of Justice has taken over the case of a the suspected fake lawyer identified as Adebowale Babatunde nabbed after 10 years of practice from the police.

A statement by the Publicity Secretary, NBA, Osogbo, Dawood Ajetunmobi on Friday disclosed that the Attorney General of Osun State, Mr. Akande Oluwafemi has approved the taking over by the Ministry of Justice.

Ajetunmobi explained that “the decision will enable proper prosecution of the case in Charge No: MOS/152C/2021: Commissioner of Police vs Adebowale Adeola Babatunde.

“It was communicated by the Attorney General to the Chairman of NBA, Osogbo Branch, Hassan Agbelekale on Thursday in a reply to a  letter earlier written by the Association to the Ministry requesting the Ministry to take over the case.

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“Adebowale on March 10 2021 appeared before a Magistrate court presided over by A. A. Adeyeba to move a motion. The way and manner in which he announced his appearance and conducted himself in Court gave the defendant out as someone who has not been called to the Nigerian Bar.

“Defendant later confessed to the fact that he has not seen the four walls of Law School before his appearance before His Worship. Immediately, His Worship gave a prompt order for the arrest of the defendant.

“In the course of visiting the defendant’s house for further investigation, Call to Bar certificates were found in his house and it was also discovered that the defendant has been practicing as a fake lawyer for more than 10 years.

While the case was called at the Magistrate’s Court presided over by Mr. Abayomi Ajala, he refused the prosecutor’s prayer and adjourned the matter to September,24,2021 for fresh arraignment sin

By Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

Operatives of the Kwara State Police Command have arrested five suspected ritualists in the state.

The suspects were arrested in connection with the murder of a woman in Patigi, Patigi local government area of the state for alleged ritual purposes.

The remains of the victim said to be a call lady, were also recovered from the suspects.

The suspects’ names are Samuel Peter Tsado; Mohammed Gbara; Abubakar Mohammed a.k.a. Mallam Baba Pati; Mohammed Ahmadu Nma and Bala Karin. Three others are on the run, it was gathered.

A statement by the command’s spokesman Ajayi Okasanmi said the victim was tricked to one of the suspect’s home and beheaded for a money ritual purposes.

The statement read in part: “On June 29, 2021, an unknown young person, later identified as Samuel Peter Tsado of Patigi town in Patigi Local government area of Kwara State went to one Victory Hotel Patigi and requested for the service of a commercial sex worker by the name Abigail ‘f’ (other names unknown).

After the monetary negotiation of N5,000 both Peter and Abigail left the hotel premises to an unknown place, ever since then both of them were not seen again.

On the receipt of the report of the missing person, the commissioner of police, who suspected foul play directed the case be taken over by the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for a discreet investigation.

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“Investigation, however, led to the arrest of one Samuel Peter Tsado, who confessed that he actually contracted the deceased for sex.

“He also confirmed that himself and one Mohammed Agbara ‘m’ a.k.a. Madi, both agreed and planned how to make money ritual and in furtherance of their desires, they planned on how to source for the human head that would be needed for the money rituals which prompted him to leave his house at Patigi for Victory hotel with his motorcycle where he approached the late Abigail, a sex worker, who agreed to follow him home after agreeing on N5,000:00 for the night.

“At Samuel Peters’ home, where Mohammed Gbara, an accomplice was already waiting, Abigail was strangulated by the duo of Samuel Peter Tsado and Mohammed Gbara.

“The head of late Abigail was severed with a knife. The headless body of the deceased was conveyed by the suspects on Samuel Peter Tsado’s motorcycle and dumped in the bush along Patigi/Rifun road.

“Both Samuel and Mohammed went separately away to reassemble in Bida, Niger state on June 30, 2021. While in Bida, the deceased head was kept in Mohammed Abubakar’s home, awaiting the arrival of the ritualist from Maiduguri in Borno state for the money ritual exercise.’’

The statement added: “Investigation took detectives to Bida and Minna in Niger State where three other suspects were arrested. They confessed to the offence and also confessed to have been involved in an earlier ritual attempt using the hand of one victim yet to be identified.

“The suspects took detectives to the bush where the carcass of the deceased was recovered. The effort to recover the head of the deceased was still in progress as the custodian of the head is still at large. But he will certainly be arrested and brought to justice. Suspects will be charged to court at the conclusion of the investigation.”

By Yetunde Oladeinde

Experts has raised concern on the high rate of suicide among the youth which is a serious issue in the country. The Suicide Research and Prevention Initiative (SURPIN), a not-for-profit organisation, with presence in over 34 states of the country and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has engaged secondary school students in the campaign.

Suicide Research Prevention Initiative (SURPIN), set up in 2017 for suicide prevention through research, crisis intervention, health education and early treatment of depression and drug abuse. Over the years, SURPIN has seen the alarming rate of youth suicide in Nigeria which is worrisome. Experts calls for more attention to be paid to suicide  prevention awareness to checkmate this ugly tide.

At the 2021 E-conference on “The Youth Connecting and Strengthening Future Mental Wellbeing,”  National coordinator and consultant psychiatrist, SURPIN, Dr. Raphael Ogblou said the purpose for this conference is to create awareness on suicide prevention. The event will feature a powerful keynote lecture from a versatile mental health specialist and psychiatrist in line with the new normal imposed by COVID-19.

He disclosed that in Nigeria, SURPIN has discovered that one-fifth of suicide cases seen at its affiliated institution are those aged 13-19 years, and that over 50 per cent of the crisis calls received through its hotlines are majorly people of productive age.

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The psychiatrist informed that SURPIN is the flag-bearer when it comes to suicide prevention in Nigeria. “This year, SURPIN is focused on the young people, and the highlight of the conference, will be the finale of a national secondary schools’ debate where six finalist schools will debate the topic: “Can the mental health bill reduce suicide among young Nigerians?”.

He added that there was a first round of debates where secondary schools across the country sent in videos of students debating on the topic, “COVID-19 has increased suicide among young Nigerians.

Ogbolu said that the entries were invited from the six geopolitical zones of the country and Lagos as a zone, which is how SURPIN is zonally structured. “Experts screened the first round entries and one school emerged from each of the zones, except the North-East, which did not send any entries.

“The six finalists’ debate entries will be played live on the day of the conference and based on scores from a panel of judges and online votes, 1st, 2nd and 3rd places will be awarded with prize monies (250,000, 150,000 and 100,000 respectively). The event will hold virtually and physically on Saturday, September 11, at the Old Great Hall, College of Medicine University of Lagos, Surulere, while registration details to join virtually are available on the website www.surpinng.com.

Ogbolu assured that the event will be a very informative one and that through their hotlines and ingenious programmes, SURPIN hope to save more lives.