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Tag: Abeokuta

  • Judge to soldier: You’re shameless for sleeping with mother, daughter

    Judge to soldier: You’re shameless for sleeping with mother, daughter

    An Ogun State High Court sitting in Abeokuta, on Thursday chastised a retired soldier, Alabi Ibrahim for habitually sleeping with mother and daughter, saying he is “shameless” and undeserving of membership of the society.

    The court which described Alabi’s conduct as an “abomination,” sentenced him to life imprisonment not only for defiling his10-year-old stepdaughter, but also for infecting her with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

    Alabi was said to have committed the crime in 2012 in his Abeokuta home where both the little girl  and her mother reside.

    The sexual assault on the girl drew the attention of the Ogun State Chapter of the Child Protection Network (CPN), a Non-Governmental Organisations that fights for children’s rights which pushed for the arrest and prosecution of the suspect.

    A medical report from the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abeokuta, and tendered in court during trial by Dr Seyi Adejobi, indicated that the convict had sexually assaulted the girl and also infected her with HIV while the convict’s blood sample also tested positive to HIV.

    The girl in her oral evidence told the court that the assault was routine and had since lost count of number of times she was raped by her step – father.

    According to the girl, she was always threatened with death by the convict if she ever told anybody about it.

    The convict’s Counsel, Adebola Okudoro, in pleading for clemency for his client, argued that the allegation was hearsay, and appealed to the court to temper justice with mercy.

    Okudoro said: “the accused person is a first offender. The health of the accused should be put into consideration. He is infected with HIV, and will need access to medical attention, which is very expensive, and there are no such facilities in prisons custody.

    “The accused person is the breadwinner of the family. He has several dependants. We pray the court to temper justice with mercy.”

    But delivering his judgement, Justice Abiodun Akinyemi held that the victim’s testimony during cross examination and the medical report have convinced the court that the accused defiled the girl and also infected her.

    Akinyemi added that the convict’s action has brought a permanent stigma on the innocent girl while medical report does not suggest that the girl had earlier been sexually assaulted as been made to believe by the convict.

    “I am fully convinced that the accused had repeatedly had sex with the girl. I found the accused guilty as charged. I find it not in my mind to show any mercy.

    “The man is shameless, sleeping with mother and child, what an abomination. People like him need not to be in the society. I therefore sentenced him to life imprisonment, he should however be given access to reasonable treatment,” Justice Akinyemi held.

     

  • Abeokuta…Beyond the rocks for launch

    Abeokuta…Beyond the rocks for launch

    book

    Ever been to Abeokuta the Ogun State capital? If you have, you would not miss the imposing rocky hill of Olumo, one of the famous tourist sites in the country. But, there’s more to the ancient city of rusty-brown rooftops and hilly terrain.

    It occupies a prime position in the nation’s socio-political development for its many firsts. Abeokuta boasts of the first newspaper-Iwe Irohin, first church, first hospital and first psychiatric hospital in the country and many more ancient sites that define the city.

    But, these historical firsts are unknown to many visitors and tourists to the country. Unfortunately, the state government, which ought to derive maximum benefits from promoting these tourism potentials the city possesses, has done little or nothing to push the sector. The result has been a wasting tourism corridor, with just a little light shed on the Olumo Rock, when the Gbenga Daniel-led administration gave the rock a face-lift by developing it and building an elevator that rides to its top from where the city’s breathtaking view can be assessed with stunning effect.

    Determined to record history and put everything about the ancient city in a book format, Hakeem Adenekan has published a new standard coffee table book entitled Abeokuta… Beyond the Rocks. The book, which is laced with a vast pictorial layout that puts the city in proper perspective, will be launched on July 4 at June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta. The launch is  a deel between Ogun State Government and Nigeria’s foremost culture centre, Terra Kulture Lagos.

    Adenekan took up the project because he felt saddened that there was no literature to capture the rich cultural attractions of Abeokuta to outsiders who might wish to visit and help boost the local economy.

    In a chat in Lagos, Adenekan said he is happy that through the book he has been able to keep some aspects of Abeokuta history as many old building have given way to renewed urbanization. He noted that apathy among Nigerians towards record keeping is one great disservice. “Unfortunately, Nigerians don’t have their own history. In order to complete the book, I had to travel UK to get some of the history,” he said.

    Adenekan wondered, like most ordinary Nigerians, what the country’s leaders usually bring back as real value from their numerous and wasteful trips abroad when they can’t execute a mere coffee table book to showcase the different attractions in their states, if only for its ego-trip. Having gone abroad for study and other sundry trips and seen firsthand how small things like a coffee table book about cities help boost cities of little consequence, he felt compelled to produce one, as a wakeup call on those whose statutory duty it is to do so back home.

    “Like I usually ask people, especially those in government, why don’t you bring something new back to Nigeria among the many good things you see abroad to enrich the stock of what we have here?

    “We talk about tourism and all that. What we do in Nigeria is scratch the surface. To realise this book, we went into the archives. The title is from a small survey we did in Lagos on what people want to see if they were to go to Abeokuta as tourism destination. People said they wanted to come to Abeokuta to see Olumo Rock. But there’s more to the city than Olumo Rock. We had to create this compendium that is internationally acceptable.

    “The idea came to me while in the United Kingdom studying. We just want to document and keep our history. It’s better for us to start our own documentation and not allow it to be done for us by foreigners. It took five and a half years to put this together. We took aerial photographs of Abeokuta landmarks using a helicopter.”

    Adenekan said the challenges he faced while producing the book ranged from Nigeria’s perennial apathy about record-keeping, which is near zero to ‘area boys’ wanting their own share and weather conditions so the photographing could be right. He lamented Nigeria’s poor archiving, adding that on occasion, he had to resort to the British Museum to get certain facts about his own country. Abeokuta… Beyond the rocks will be useful for the general public and those who believe in history.

     

  • Gunmen assassinate Egba Chief, leaves note on motive of killing

    An Egba Chief,  Moses Oyebade, has been killed in a gun attack on his home at the Ikanna compound in Ago-Oba area of Abeokuta south Local Government Area of Ogun state.

    Oyebade who until being cut down, was the Oluwo of Ikanna, was shot dead while lying on a bed by gunmen who stormed his home about 12 am on Wednesday.

    The Nation gathered that the broke the glass window pane of his bed room and shot Chief Oyebade, who recently marked his 75th birthday in Lagos, at close range.

    It was gathered the slain chief was the lone occupant of the building at the time his assailants struck while the police had also evacuated his remains after the killing was reported at the Ibara Police Station.

    The victim’s  first son, Oluyemi Oyebade, told reporters that attempts were made in the past  by unknown persons  to eliminate his father.

    “My father was sleeping in his bedroom. The bed is close to the window. As the glass was broken, he woke up to see what happened. He took his torch to see who was there. That was how he was shot.

    “The first gunshot was in his hand which was seriously damaged. Maybe when he was still struggling, they shot him again. I guess they shot him three times.” he said.

    Reacting, the Police Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the killer of the Egba chief left a note after the attack.

    “We have a case of murder at hand concerning Apena of Ikanna Chief Moses Oyebade.  Some men went to his residence, broke his window and shot him  at 12: am .

    “We have examined the place and recovered assassination note which contained a message written in both English and Yoruba languages.

    “The content read useless man, Oni dokudo (promiscuous ). In our  preliminary  investigation,  it could be a case of assassination. We will invite some people for interrogation.

    “The state Police Commissioner,  Valentine Ntomchukwu has directed that the case be transfered to department of  criminal investigation.

    “The perpetrators would not go Scot  free. The commissioner of Police sympathises with the family,  even,  the Kabiyesi,  the Alake of Egbaland.”

  • ‘Odeda/Obafemi-Owode /Abeokuta North deserves better representation’

    ‘Odeda/Obafemi-Owode /Abeokuta North deserves better representation’

    The people of Odeda, Obafemi-Owode and Abeokuta North Federal Constituency, Ogun State have been urged to vote for credible candidates in next year’s polls. Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain,  Samuel Abiodun-Oni, who is contesting for the House of Representatives in the constituency, said only credible politicians can work for the good of the society.

    He said the need to correct past errors and improve the lives of his people informed his decision to join the race.

    Abiodun-Oni, who has obtained his nomination form, said he has passion for development.

    He said his commitment to the grassroots motivated him to leave his thriving private business for politics.

    Abiodun-Oni, who is the Managing Director of Samfem Construction Company Limited, said he would bring his managerial experience to bear on his legislative duties, if elected as a legislator.

    He said: “We are blessed with sufficient human and material resources in our constituency. What we lack today are good and experienced leaders to initiate the needed policies and legal framework to aid growth and development.

    “That is where I come in. With my experience as a successful player in the private sector, and having been in politics for some time now, I know I could make the difference in assisting the enactment of functional and relevant laws to aid the most needed growth and development.

    “I assure that I will also use my influence when I get to the National Assembly to attract Federal Projects and all other benefits to our people and my constituency.”

    The aspirant attended the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, Reverend Kuti Memorial Grammar School, Abeotuta and Obafemi Owode Local Government School, Oka via Obafemi, Ogun State.

  • 200 register as Glo Xchange agents in Abeokuta

    200 register as Glo Xchange agents in Abeokuta

    Over 200 Nigerians at the weekend thronged the Town Hall meeting and training organised for prospective sales agents for Nigeria’s first super mobile money network, the Glo Xchange at the Spices Event Centre, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

    Addressing participants, Globacom’s Mobile Money Expert, Mr. Tim Mukata, described the Glo Xchange agentship as a veritable avenue for business minded Nigerians to make money on every transaction without losing their initial deposits.

    “Being a Glo Xchange agent is a win-win situation for agents as the floating capital remains the same at any point in time. The agents will get commissions on every transaction, attract clients to purchase other merchandising items in their shops and carry out transfer of money anytime of the day, seven days a week. It is very safe and easy and I implore Nigerians from all parts of the country to join the train,” Mr. Mukata said.

    He informed the participants that a Glo Xchange agent can make up to a monthly profit of fifty thousand naira initially and increase it as more people transfer money through the platform. He said the agent can graduate to the level of recruiting agents, sub dealers and dealers.

    Mr Mukata who said Globacom was facilitating the network in partnership with Ecobank, Stanbic IBTC, Firstmonie and Zenith Bank, noted that the Glo Xchange network would form the foundation for agency banking in Nigeria in the nearest future.

    Since Glo Xchange was launched three weeks ago, thousands of Nigerians have registered as agents of the country’s first super mobile money agent network.

    Commenting on the training, the representative of the Ogun State League of Cooperative Thrift and Credit Societies which has over one hundred thousand branches, Mr. Kunle Akingbogun commended the initiative and urged Globacom to extend the partnership to Skye Bank for their members to benefit from the scheme.

    In a related development, a prospective sales agent Prince Jaiye Adeleke who recently retired from Union Bank said the agentship would be a continuation of his relationship with people in the last thirty years of his banking experience.

    He praised the Management of Globacom for always coming up with innovative products and services, describing the Glo Xchange platform as a means of empowering people and combating the unemployment scourge in the country. He said he had always been a Globacom customer and would always be a Glo subscriber.

  • Four critically injured as students clash in Abeokuta

    Four critically injured as students clash in Abeokuta

    Students of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago – Iwoye, in their thousands seized the entrance to the Oke – Mosan Governor’s Office, demanding 50 percent reduction in their tuition fee.

    They said the reduction should take immediate effect – 2013/2014 academic session and not by next session, lamenting that OOU students remain the highest fees paying students in Nigeria.

    The students who also blocked the Abeokuta – Kobape – Sagamu expressway for the better part of Thursday, made vehicular movement nightmarish for travellers and motorists going to and fro Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

    They dropped a frightening pot of fetish objects – ebo (sacrifice) bearing egg, eko, feather among others at the Governor’s Office gate with all the items smeared with red palm oil.

    Over two dozen policemen including the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ikemefuna Okoye, had a hectic time labouring to contain the surging crowd lest they pull down the locked entrance gate in a bid to forcefully enter the government Secretariat.

    The protesting OOU students led by their leader, Comrade Ifade Olusegun, rejected the tuition fees reduction earlier announced by the state government and demanded to meet with Governor Ibikunle Amosun who was said to have travelled to Abuja.

    Olusegun said: “even if it’s going to take us one month or more than that, we are not going to leave the governor’s office premises until the governor attend to us. Enough of deceit, why the political school fees, when election is forthcoming, no we shall not accept the dubious offer.

    “It is a political reduction instead of proper reduction. Our demand is simple, we want breakdown of our tuition fees. Also we want the reduction to be implemented this session, it’s simple as ABC. If the governor realized the need for reduction, why must governor say the implementation must be from next session?”

    The students reckoned that any reduction above N50, 000 is unacceptable to them and not in consonance with the present economic reality, adding that the Governor, during the electioneering campaign had promised drastic reduction in the tuition fees.

    The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mr. Segun Odubela, appealed for calm, until the Governor who travelled to Abuja for a meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan on the outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), returns.

    Earlier, another group of students including students from Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta FUNNAB, in their thousands converged at the Arcade ground at the Governor’s office for a solidarity rally in support of the reduction.

    They lauded Amosun for reducing their school fees to lightening the burden of education on them and expressed support for his second term ambition.

    The Chairman of National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, Okikiola Ogunsola, who addressed the Ogun State government officials led by the Chief of Staff, Professor Ganiyu Olatunde, said the reduction was “drastic, unprecedented and commendable.”

    According to him, the present administration was magnanimous enough to have yielded to the yearnings of the students’ populace despite the dwindling allocation from the federation account.

    Ogunsola said: “We are here to appreciate the Governor because our Governor is a listening Governor, first of it is the reduction in the school fees, composition of governing council in Tai Solarin University of Education, the appointment of SA to the governor on students’ affairs and for the peace we have enjoyed in our schools.”

    But by noon, the protest turned violent and bloody, leaving four students critically injured and hospitalised while about a dozen of others received minor injuries as those opposed to reduction and others in support of it clashed.

    The clash occurred when  a bus conveying the Students of the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta (MAPOLY), who were returning from the Amosun thank you rally for tuition fee reduction, ran into a pack of OOU students resulting in a free for all at the  Kuto area of the state capital.
    In what appeared  like a reprisal attack, the MAPOLY students were said to have reinforced and confronted the OOU students, leaving four seriously injured.

    Reacting, the Labour Party in the state described Amosun’s  School fees Reduction as a panicky measure and another greek gift to the students.

    Speaking through its Publicity Secretary in the state, Deji  Kalejaiye, the party said the reduction remains another desperate measure by the government of Ogun State to hoodwink the unsuspecting public, after similar steps taken by the All Progressive Congress (APC) Controlled government of Lagos State reduced school fees of Lagos State owned Institutions to twenty five thousand naira (N25, 000).

  • Federation Cup: Enyimba, Giwa clash in Abeokuta

    Federation Cup: Enyimba, Giwa clash in Abeokuta

    • Dolphins tackle Prime FC in Abuja

    The Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) has moved next Thursday’s Federation Cup semi final clash between holders Enyimba FC and fellow Professional Football League side, Giwa FC to the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta.

    Although there was a desire to ensure both semi final matches are played at the same venue for reason of close monitoring and the probability of Supersport television broadcasting both games live, officials have  decided to move one of the matches to ensure equidistance for both competing sides.

    Ruth David, Head of Federation Cup unit, stated: “We have now moved the match between Enyimba FC and Giwa FC to Abeokuta. Abuja, the venue picked earlier, is much closer to Jos, home of Giwa FC than it is to Aba, the base of Enyimba FC.”

    However, four –time champions Dolphins FC and Prime FC will still square off at the FIFA Goal Project, Abuja, also on Thursday. Both matches kick off at 4pm.

    There was also a change in the women’s event, with the match between Sunshine Queens and Nasarawa Amazons now to take place in Lokoja, on Friday. Rivers Angels and Delta Queens retain their FIFA Goal Project, Abuja venue for the same day.

     

  • Kwankwaso visits Crescent Varsity students

    Kwankwaso visits Crescent Varsity students

    Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has charged undegraduates who are beneficiaries of the Kano State scholarship at Crescent University, Abeokuta to be good ambassadors of the state. He , expressing satisfaction with the progress of the students in the institution.

    He gave the charge during his visit to the institution as part of his programme to develop education in Kano State. Speaking in Hausa, Kwankwaso praised the noble contributions of the Proprietor, Judge Bola Ajibola in both legal and education sectors, describing it as worthy of emulation.

    Speaking earlier, Ajibola said Nigeria needs more of Governor Kwankwaso, adding: “ This is the product of our effort to bring the North and South of Nigeria together.”

    Ajibola said that Cresent University has been able to propagate educational cohesion between the North and South of Nigeria.

    In his welcome address, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Kehinde Okeleye expressed deep appreciation to Governor Kwankwso for his sponsorship of 200 students into various degree programmes, adding that reports  from the students’ academic performance to date was good.

    Okeleye said “It is praiseworthy to report that all Kano State students have laptops, courtesy of Kano State government’s redemption of its promise to students.”

    He added that it had impacted on students’ performance positively.

  • Mob vandalise police officer’s mansion over alleged ritual cell

    Mob vandalise police officer’s mansion over alleged ritual cell

    A mob stormed a three storey building in Abeokuta the Ogun State capital on Monday and  vandalised the glass window panes as they pelted it with stone, steel and other objects following allegation of the existence of an underground cell  for ritual in the house.

    They were on the verge of battering the high perimeter wall surrounding the building to gain entry and apparently to torch it but for the quick arrival of a security personnel from the State Security Service(SSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps(NSCDC), Special Anti – Robbery Squad(SARS) and Policemen from Eleweran who fought off the mob and saved the building from being set ablaze.

    Two lady – tenants who were the only found inside the house  on Agogo – Ogun compound, Ijaiye area panicked and scampered to safety on sighting the surging youths that besieged the compound.

    They mob were acting on the allegation that the house, believed to be owned by a retired senior police officer, harbor an  underground cell where ritual syndicates go for supply of flesh blood and human parts.

    Not even the sporadic firing of gunshot into the air by the police could make the resolute mob in their hundreds beat a retreat as they said they would not leave the compound until every part of is searched.

    When the tension heightened by noon, the Balogun of Ijaiye and Aare of Egbaland, Alh. Ganiyu Babayedun Alimo, was called in to douse the tension and upon his arrival to the scene, he was said to have instructed that the gate be broken so that a search could be conducted on the building.

    For almost an hour, a search team comprising the Balogun Ijaiye, youth leader, selected natives, SSS, SARS, NSCDC, Police, operative of the Vigilante Service of Ogun State(VSO) combed every room, toilet and enclosure within the expanse house that looked odd in a depressed, dingy and seedy Ijaiye compound and found no underground cell.

    The Balogun appealed to the curious crowd and irate youth – mob who had been spoiling to bring the building down if their suspicion was confirmed, to disperse while the police also fired into the air several times to scare people away.

  • Police corporal kills self, wife, five others

    Police corporal kills self, wife, five others

    Tragedy! Or  call it killings resulting from a maniacal spell, and you won’t be far from the truth. It was like a scene cut from an action movie. Neither the residents of Akingbala – Eleweran  area of Ogun State nor victims  saw it coming.

    It was all confusion and shock at the Ogun State Police Command, Eleweran yesterday  as one its officer, Corporal Sunkanmi Ogunbiyi, ran amok, shot dead his wife, Corporal Oluwatosin Faremi, killed five other persons and injuring three others gravely before killing himself  with his own riffle.

    As if acting on what looked liked a well thought out plan, Ogunbiyi who had just did a night shift last night, rather than return his official AK – 47 riffle to the police armoury, headed home with it.

    And on getting home around 7:05am, he laid an ambush against his wife, a police corporal attached to Obantoko Divisional Police Headquarters, and upon sighting his wife who had dressed up in police uniform preparatory to go to work, he shot her dead, sparing his two kids who were already dressed up for school.

    And a commercial motorcycle operator identified as Kunle who had just come to pick  Ogunbiyi’s wife and kids,  was also shot dead by him right in front of the compound.

    Not done, even as residents panicked, hollered and scampered to safety, Ogunbiyi dashed  to the home of a family of five hosting his wife and two children and stormed into  the six-room uncompleted building where in a Commando style, sprayed  the landlady called Iya Basira gales of bullets while still on her mat sleeping. She died instantly in a pool of her blood.

    The landlady’s two sons, Taofeek, a Senior Secondary School two student of Nawar-u-Deen Grammar School, Obantoko and his elder brother, Sikiru,  were also not spared of Ogunbiyi’s murderous wrath. They too were shot dead by him.

    Basira and her two-year-old daughter, Jesutofunmi, also suffered similar fate  as they fell to bullets of Ogunbiyi’s AK – 47 riffle.

    When the dust finally settled, eight persons, including the attacker; Ogunbiyi, lay dead according to a witness but the police said six persons were dead even the house remained deserted as at yesterday.

    Three lucky survivors who sustained gunshot injuries during the savage attack, were rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Idi-Aba for treatment while the remains of the dead were taken to the morgue of the state hospital, Ijaiye, a witness said.

    According to the witness, corporal Ogunbiyi had in the past warned Iya Basira several times to desist from further accommodating his wife and children whenever they have misunderstanding but the landlady was said to have taken the police man’s warnings with levity.

    The Police Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who described the incident as “unfortunate,” said the officer who carried the shooting to death of the affected persons this morning, has been having “domestic conflicts” with his wife.
    Adejobi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police(DSP) said the Commissioner of Police, Mr Ikemefuna Okoye, had ordered a forensic investigation into the incident.

    Adejobi said: “the Ogun State Police Command has deemed it necessary to react to the killing of six persons by a police Corporal Sunkanmi Ogunbiyi attached to the Ogun State Police Command.

    Adejobi said: “the unfortunate incident occurred this morning Thursday 27th March, 2014 at 0758hrs when the said corporal, who had been having domestic conflicts with his wife, shot and killed six persons, with his rifle, including his wife, Woman Corporal Oluwatosin Faremi, the landlady in the house, a two-year-old baby girl and two males and one female, while another three persons sustained injuries and receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre, Idi Aba, Abeokuta. The said corporal, having killed these persons, shot himself dead immediately.

    “The Commissioner of Police Ogun State, CP Ikemefuna Okoye has described the incident as unfortunate; and has visited the scene with other senior police officers in the command to assess the situation and sympathize with the relations of the deceased and members of the Akingbala Ifelodun Estate, Eleweran Area, Abeokuta, where the incident took place.

    “The Command has therefore commenced thorough forensic investigation into the killing and promised to make sure justice is done in the matter.

    “The commissioner of police however appeals to the general public to perceive the incident as one of the unfortunate social mishaps and not to judge the police with the incident, as the police is committed to protection of lives and property and will not tolerate any act capable of trampling on fundamental human rights of the citizens of Ogun State.”