The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ogun state

  • Lonely woman abducts two-year-old girl in Lagos

    A 35-year-old woman, Jumoke Adesida, has been arrested for allegedly kidnapping a two-year-old girl in Lagos.

    The incident occurred on June 22 at 12, Kazeem Adeboye Street, Jerry Farm, Odogunyan, Ikorodu, Lagos.

    It was gathered that Adesida, a resident of Odo-Kekere village in Ogun State, allegedly stole the child because she was lonely and needed someone to play with.

    The woman kidnapped the kid, Rokibat Raji, at her mother’s shop.

    The police said the victim’s mother, Aminat Abidoye, 38, had reported the disappearance of her child at Shagamu-Road Division, prompting the state Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal, to direct the Anti-Kidnapping unit to handle the matter.

    Confirming the incident, Edgal told journalists that the unit tapped into the robust community policing structure to look for the victim.

    He said: “Their efforts paid off as the missing child was traced to Jumoke Adesida, 35, in Odo-Kekere Village, Ogun State. During interrogation, Adesida confessed to the crime. She explained that she needed the child to play with as her husband has taken her only child away from her.

    “The suspect would be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded.”

    Similarly, five suspects – Owen Onazurulike (21), Patrick Modupe (41), Chika Amadi (31), Kabiru Azeez (31) and Jamiu Jimoh (41) were arrested at Iju for allegedly kidnapping one Murtala Babarabe.

    They reportedly whisked the victim from Shoprite, Alausa to Iju-Ishaga, where men suspected to be members of the Oodua Peoples’ Congress (OPC), subjected him to trial by ordeal and extortion.

    It was gathered that policemen attached to Iju Division were alerted and they rescued the victim.

    According to Edgal, an unregistered Toyota Camry was recovered from the suspects.

  • Woman dumps 12-day-old baby in latrine

    The Ogun State Police Command has arrested a woman, Amudalat Taiwo, 21, for dumping her 12-day-old baby inside a pit toilet.

    The incident occurred on June 20, at 28, Isheri Street Ilaro.

    Taiwo was said to have thrown the baby into the pit because she could not cater for the newborn.

    It was gathered that Taiwo was apprehended following reports from her landlord, Oshunshina Olawale, who went to urinate at the wee hours of the day only to hear cries of a baby inside the latrine.

    Olawale was said to have made an entry at the Ilaro Police Station, prompting the Divisional Officer, Sunday Opebiyi, a Chief Superintendent (CSP), to lead a team to the scene.

    Read Also: Woman murdered in Anambra

    According to the command’s spokesman, Abimbola Oyeyemi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), the toilet was broken and the baby rescued.

    He said: “Investigation revealed that the suspect gave birth to the baby. She was arrested and she claimed that she was an orphan married to one Taiwo Owolabi, a married man with five children.

    “She said the husband was not taking care of her and the baby. That she has no mean of catering for the new born and decided to discard the child.

    “The said husband has been arrested for failure to provide necessary welfare, while the case has been transferred to Anti-Human Trafficking and Child Labour Unit of State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID).

    “The baby is in a stable condition at Stella Obansanjo Orphanage.”

  • Death toll from Ogun pipeline explosion hits three

    The lone survivor, Animashaun Abiodun, of the pipeline explosion from a vandalised pipeline of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), has died following a severe burn.

    Abiodun, 28, died on Saturday at an undisclosed public hospital in Ogun State where he was receiving treatment.

    He was rescued alive  last June 8 along with corpses of two others by the Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSDC) while writhing in pains at the  scene of a fire outbreak from a ruptured NNPC pipeline in Ogere Express way area of the state.

    He was taken to the intensive care unit of the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu and later moved to another hospital in Abeokuta, the state capital, for security reason but died on Saturday.

    Read Also:Pipeline explosion in Ogun, policemen missing

    His alleged accomplices – Lateef Ayoola and another identified as Biano, had died earlier at the scene of the pipeline fire.

    Before his death, Abiodun confessed to the Operatives of the NSCDC  that most weekends, he would take six or seven jerry cans to steal fuel from vandalised NNPC pipelines and that the money realised from selling the product was being used to “do ajo (contribution) and also give himself a treat.”

    The Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps(NSDC) Ogun State Command, Ayodele  Philip, who disclosed this to reporters in Abeokuta, on Monday, said some personnel of a private security firm contracted to secure the Ogere stretch of the NNPC pipeline spotted Abiodun and two others and called the attention of the Operatives of the NSCDC to it.

    Ayodele said the until his death, the suspect through confession, was helping the Command with valid information about the criminal activities of the pipeline vandals in the state

    “Abiodun had been victim of fire explosion (in the past) during some of his illicit acts and nemesis only taught him a bitter lesson having refused to learn in a hard way.

    “He also confessed to have been involved in series of pipeline vandalism alongside his deceased friends to the extent of getting burnt on some occasions yet they were not deterred until this their untimely death.

    “Abiodun before his demise also confessed to have started his nefarious acts as a teenager and that the whole stuff seems more of a conscription into a cultic group from which it is almost near impossible to withdraw from it once one is taken in,” Ayodele said.

    The NSCDC Commandant who also disclosed a dozen of people have been arrested in connection with vandalisation electric cables in parts of the state, appealed to the public to provide vital information that could assist the Operatives secure critical infrastructure in Ogun State.

     

  • Court strikes out sexual abuse case against Director of Children home

    A magistrate court sitting in Odeda, in Odeda Local Government Area, Ogun State, on Friday dismissed the sexual abuse case against the Director of Stephens Children Home, Abeokuta, Rev. Isaac Newton – Wusu, for lack of merit.

    Two ex-female inmates of the home had alleged that while their stay there lasted, Newton – Wusu severally abused them sexually after he had carefully drugged them to sleep. The alleged offences were said to have been committed between 2010 and 2013.

    And following complaint to the Police in respect of the allegations by Concerned Past Students of Stephens Children Home (COPASSTECH), the Ogun State Police Command charged the Director to a magistrate court in Odeda where an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Austin Ozimini was the Police prosecution while Mr. Samuel Nwaji, served as counsel for the accused Director (Isaac Newton – Wusu).

    Read Also:Lagos urges men to lead fight against sexual abuse

    But delivering his judgment in the case that lasted about a year, Magistrate B.O Ilo, struck out the suit on the advice of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) which stated that the case was borne out of “power tussle” within the management of the Home.

    Also, the Magistrate added that the DPP found out that the account of the two principal witnesses in the case in respect of the allegations, were contradictory hence the need to resolve the matter in favour of the accused.

  • Amosun: Ogun govt grateful

    The Ogun State Government expressed its “profound gratitude to President Mohammadu Buhari.”

    A statement by Secretary to the State Government Taiwo Adeoluwa said “We are grateful to President Mohammadu Buhari for this recognition of an illustrious son of Ogun State and an icon of our democratic struggle, Chief M. K. O Abiola.

    “President Buhari has shown with this action that he is a man that believes in justice and giving to every person his or her dues.

    “Although this posthumous award may appear to some people to have come late, we thank the President. We urge all lovers of democracy and goodwill to continue to support the ideals for which Chief M. K. O Abiola lived and died for.

    “For us in Ogun State, we shall not forget Bashorun M. K. O Abiola”.

  • We’ve attracted over $200billion investments to Ogun – Amosun

    Governor Ibikunle Amosun on Friday disclosed that his administration’s has attracted over $200bn investments to Ogun State in the last couple of years.

    Amosun said the administration would continue to create an enabling environment, improve upon the infrastructural facilities and security to attract more  investors.

    The Governor made this known while presenting new Executive 18 – Seater bus to the National Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), at the Governor’s Office, Abeokuta, the State capital.

    Amosun who spoke through the Secretary to the state Government (SSG), Taiwo Adeoluwa, said Ogun State has emerged the industrial hub of Nigeria, having beaten Lagos and Kano States respectively, to it to become the investors’ first destination of choice.

    Read Also: Pray for me to hand over better Ogun State – Amosun

    He noted that the administration would not have been able to turn the fortune of the state around for good without the active support of NACCIMA, the organised private sector and other stakeholders, saying the bus donation was meant to further acknowledge the contributions of the body to the state’s success story.

    And receiving the key of the bus, the National President of NACCIMA, Iyalode Alaba Lawson, said since her emergence as head of NACCIMA, it has brought tremendous improvement as  investors continued to invest in the state, pledging that more investors would soon come to further boost its socioeconomic status.

    Chief (Mrs) Larsson lauded Amosun for his infrastructural development, provision of good roads and adequate security, saying those were the issues investors had first considered before coming to the state.

  • Pray for me to hand over better Ogun State – Amosun 

    Governor Ibikunle Amosun, has urged the people not to relent in their prayers for his administration in order to hand over an Ogun State that would be a pride to everybody in 2019.

    Amosun also urged the people of the state not to despair but to “hope for a new dawn,” saying the modest efforts of his administration are being felt across the state.

    This was contained Governor’s message on Tuesday to mark the 2018 Democracy Day, and assured of the commitment of his administration to make democratic dividends felt in all segments of the state.

    Read Also:Ogun APC: Amosun, Osoba harmonise new excos

    In the massage by the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Otunba Adedayo Adeneye, Amosun expressed optimism that the Mission to rebuild the state embarked upon by his administration, which is marking the 3rd anniversary of its 2nd term, will be a success story; by the time its tenure expires on May 29, next year.

    He noted that the government would have commemorated this year’s Democracy Day with inauguration of some of the over 50 new projects, spread across the three geo-political zones, but the commissioning has been shifted till a later date that will be announced because of the on – going Ramadan.

    “We have kept faith so far, and I hereby restate our commitment to hand over an Ogun State, which will be a pride of all of us.

    “Our modest efforts are being felt by all and we have no doubt that by the time we handover, we will be celebrating a New Dawn in our dear Ogun State,” he stated.

  • Ogun 2019: Isiaka dumps PDP, cites intractable crisis as reason

    The Ogun State People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in 2015, Prince Gboyega Isiaka, has dumped the party, citing intractable and festering crisis as reason for his decision.

    Isiaka who noted that it was quite painful taking the hard decision to quit PDP, said he would be charting a new course to actualise his political aspiration ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    This was contained in a resignation letter dated May 24 and addressed to the state PDP chairman.

    The Ogun State chapter of the PDP has been factionalized into opposing camps between the duo of Senator Buruji Kashamu representing Ogun East at this Senate and Hon. Ladi Adebutu representing Demo Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives.

    Isiaka rued that genuine steps taken by few patriots to arrest the drift with the state PDP, led to no consequence.

    “I am using this medium to convey the decision to resign my membership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), effective from today 24th May, 2018.

    Read Also: Ogun APC: Amosun, Osoba harmonise new excos

    “This has not been an easy one for me as I recall with nostalgia, the opportunities and privileges which the membership of this party conferred on my political career; the peak of which was the kind consideration given me to be the flag bearer of the PDP in the last gubernatorial election in Ogun State.

    “You will recall that the PDP, especially in our state, has been through a rough patch in the last couple of years, and after two successive electoral losses, the search for lasting peace is still elusive.

    “Despite the genuine steps taken by few patriots within the party to close up the fault lines and return the party to glory days, all have been to no avail.

    “With another election on the horizon and the perennial challenges of the party festering and proving to be intractable, I am left with no other choice but to continue my partisan political career by charting a new course where my philosophies and beliefs are aligned with good democratic ethos for the ultimate aim of promoting a better society,” Isiaka stated.

    Reacting when contacted, one of his Isiaka’s media aides, Wale Junaid, said his principal remained committed to contesting and winning the 2019 governorship in the state.

    According to Junaid, the two-time gubernatorial candidate would let his supporters and the good people of Ogun State know at the appropriate time, what political party to join to actualize his dream.

    He restated Isiaka’s commitment to running a welfarist and people-centred administration when he emerges as governor next year.

  • Standard Gauge: Work begins on Lagos corridor, June – Amaechi

    In order to meet the December delivery deadline for the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge, work will begin on the Lagos corridor by June, the Minister for Transportation Mr Rotimi Amaechi said today.
    He also acknowledged the efforts of the Lagos State government in finding lasting solutions to the challenges inhibiting the pace of work.
    Amaechi spoke, after the project inspection meeting of the project at Papalanto, in Ogun State.
    He listed gas and petroleum pipeline, water and sewage removal as well as other structures as among the challenges besetting the project.
    Assessing the pace of work, Amaechi concluded that work has moved speedily from Ijoko, to Ibadan, Oyo State capital.
    “We have made appreciable speed between Papalanto and Ibadan and in order not to affect our deadline, we need to resume work in Lagos,” Amaechi said
    He said the contractor has not only made appreciable progress in the kilometre of tracks laid, but has commenced the laying of beams of two bridges at Papalanto.
    Though he could not confirm how many kilometres of tracks have. been laid, Amaechi disclosed that 17 bridges are to be constructed between Papalanto and Ibadan, while two would be coming up in Lagos.
    Before the meeting, Amaechi had hinted of the Federal Government’s readiness to go ahead with the project if Lagos continues to pose a challenge.

    Read More: Amaechi remains leader of APC in Rivers, says Peterside

    “We agreed a long time ago that while we (Federal Government) would take care of the gas and petroleum pipelines, Lagos would taken care of the replacement of the water and sewage removal.
    “If Lagos refuses to come up with their solutions, we would be left with no choice but to use our old, narrow gauge alignment, which can accommodate what we wanted to do and leave Lagos to look for another alignment when they are ready to commence their Red Line light rail project.”
    But after the meeting Amaechi admitted much grounds has been covered and Lagos has come up with a workable solution.
    “We have agreed that Lagos State should come back to the meeting  within  the next two weeks with their solutions so that work can resume as scheduled on the Lagos corridor by June, Amaechi stated.
     Speaking on the threat posed by the rainy season, Amaechi said the engineers have assured the project team that work would continue regardless of the natural elements.
    He said the CCECC has assured that it would keep to terms and deliver the project by December.

  • Education Ministry endorses “Nestle for healthier kids manual” for schools

    The Federal Ministry of Education (FME) has endorsed the “Nestle for Healthier Kids Manual’’ targeted at inculcating a healthy life style in school children from an early age.

    The endorsement was made by the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, on Thursday at the launch of the “Nestle for healthier kids programme” in Abuja.

    The programme, expected to commence in schools in Ogun State and some in the FCT will carter for about 17,000 kids in its pilot stage.

    The minister, represented by Mrs Benedicta Okonkwo of the Dept of Basic and Secondary School, said the manual was endorsed considering the fact that it was only a well fed child that would excel in school.

    Adamu explained that children became stunted when they are malnourished, and as such could be backward in learning.

    The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, who was represented by Dr Chris Isokpunwu, Head of Nutrition, Federal Ministry of Health, said children would live a healthy life when they eat healthy.

    “The major problem in the country is unhealthy life style, which leads to obesity, hypertension and so on. People no longer live to old age.

    “Some of the deaths in the country now occur because people don’t take care of their diet and life style. It is time to go back to the olden days of good life style.

    “But it is necessary to start with children under five years, to inculcate a healthy style of living into them from an early beginning,” Adewole said.

    He said that the school feeding programme of the Federal Government was part of efforts to show the children the right kind of food to eat, even when at home.

    The minister urged Nigerians to reduce their intake of carbonated drinks and drink more of clean water.

    Mrs Victoria Uwadoka, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Manager, Nestle, said their global vision was to help over 50 million children have the right information, enjoy good nutrition and healthy life style.

    Uwadoka said: “This year we want to reach about 17,000 children with this nutrition education.

    “We are going to experiment this programme in Ogun State and in FCT, particularly in the Abaji Area Council.

    “And we will have a monitoring and evaluation team that will be able to give us a monthly, quarterly and annual report on the programme. This will help us to spread the programme to other states.”

    Mrs Gloria Nwabuike, Marketing and Public Affairs Manager of Nestle, said “Nestle for healthier kids programme” was launched globally on May 15, to mark the UN International Day of Families.

    Nwabuike said that it was being launched in Nigeria to increase the awareness of healthy living.

    “Part of what we do is to train the teachers to enable them impact this nutrition education in the children, so that when they grow, they will practice the same healthy living.

    “We also embarked on this school-based initiative having in mind that parents know that every day counts when preparing children for a successful future,” Nwabuike said.

    According to her, the company aims to build, share and apply nutrition knowledge as well as offer tastier food choices and inspire families to raise healthier kids.

    The event featured the unveiling of the Nestle for Healthier kids Manual and the signing of partnership certificate.