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Tag: Ondo state

  • FRSC urges AAUA to revive campus marshall

    The Federal Road Safety Corps, (FRSC) has called on the management of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) in Ondo State, to revive the Campus Marshall– a special unit of the corps for students ­– in the institution.

    The Ikare-Akoko Unit Commander, Mt B.O/ Jimoh, made the call when he visited the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Igbekele Ajibefun.

    Jimoh, who praised the giant strides the institution has achieved, pledged to put a zebra crossing in front of the university to aid students and workers safely crossing the highway that passes by the Uuniversity gate.

    Jimoh also hailed the university for putting in place necessary road signs and road furniture all over the campus, noting that these would aid safe driving within the institution.

    The Vice Chancellor thanked the FRSC team for the visit and assured them of cordial and lasting partnership.

    “The university appreciates the coming of the FRSC team. This is more than a courtesy call; it is also a sensitisation meeting, as a number of issues have been cleared in the course of interacting,” he said.

    Also present were the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olugbenga Ige; Registrar, M. S. Ayeerun; Bursar, Mrs. O. V. Ologun, who was represented by a Chief Accountant, Mr. Abiodun Olukoju; and the University Librarian, Dr. Rotimi Egunjobi, among other officers of the University.

  • Police arrest, hand over Boko Haram commander to Army

    Police arrest, hand over Boko Haram commander to Army

    The Police have arrested a wanted Boko Haram terrorist in Ondo State, Idris Ibrahim Babawo and handed him over to the Army, Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman, army spokesman has confirmed.

    Usman said in a statement on Tuesday that the terrorist, who goes by the name “Idoko’’ and “Nagada’’ was believed to be “on serial number 156 on the wanted Boko Haram terrorist list.

    “He was handed over to the 32 Brigade, 2 Division, Nigerian Army at about 2 p.m. on Monday by the Ondo state Command of the Nigeria Police.”

    The army spokesman said preliminary investigation showed that the suspect, aged 42, hails from Chinade village in Katagum Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

    “He escaped from the North East due to military onslaught on the terrorists with a view to evade arrest and prosecution, but nemesis caught up with him,’’ Usman said.

    In another development, the 1 Division, Nigerian Army, Kaduna, on Monday, successfully raided a bandit camp at Kahiru forest in Bakura Local Government Area of Zamfara and recovered 157 animals.

    Usman listed the recovered animals as 50 cows, 82 goats and 25 sheep which were abandoned by the bandits.

    He explained that the bandits opened fire on the troops when they approached the camp, making the troops to return fire, thereby killing one of the bandits.

    NAN

  • Man commits suicide in Ondo

    Man commits suicide in Ondo

    A middle-aged man was reported to have hanged himself beside a primary school in Ayeyemi street, Ondo at the weekend.

    Police sources said the lifeless body of the man, whose identity was not known as at press time, was reportedly found dangling on a tree beside the school.

    It was learnt that the deceased was not living in the community, while his people have been looking for him after the matter was reported at a police station in the area.

    Residents in the area were said to have just woke up on Saturday morning to see the lifeless body of the man hanging on a tree, while his pair of slippers was seen with his phone intermittently ringing inside his pocket.

    The Public Relations Officer of the state police command, Femi Joseph said the police was yet to commence investigations on the incident.

    He said, “The community asked us not to do anything about the incident yet, they said there are some rituals that have to be performed before anybody can do anything about it. So that is why watching them.”

    It was gathered that the police have been arresting some residents of the area over the incident but the PPRO denied it, saying since the community have asked police to stay off.

  • Ayade lauded for establishing cocoa processing factory

    Ayade lauded for establishing cocoa processing factory

    Cross River State governor, Prof Ben Ayade, has been commended for setting up a cocoa processing factory in Ikom local government area by foremost businessman from the state, Mr Chris Agara.

    Agara, who is the chairman of A.A Universal Agro Industries Limited, told reporters in Calabar that the project which has reached an advanced stage would boost cocoa production in the state when completed.

    According to him, the factory which is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2018 would be processing over 30,000 metric tons of cocoa annually.

    Agara, who said he has been supporting the growth of the project, added that the initiative was borne out his desire to promote cocoa production in the state.

    “I am close to the Cross River government. I must not own the whole world before being part of the development of our people. I am impressed with the initiative of the governor and that is why I am supporting him in this project. The business of cocoa in Cross River has not been properly harnessed. Before now, our raw cocoa beans are usually transported to Ondo state where it is mixed with the Ondo cocoa and exported as a brand called `Ondo cocoa’.

    “The governor made it clear during his campaign that he was going to set up a cocoa processing factory and we are happy that the project is going on and it has reached an advanced stage,” he said.

  • Doctors protest non-release of ‘short fall’ salary arrears in Ondo

    Doctors protest non-release of ‘short fall’ salary arrears in Ondo

    Resident Doctors serving at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Owo,Ondo state Wednesday protested the alleged non-payment of their 2016 arrears of salary shortfall released by the federal government since April this year.

    The medical practitioners carried placards with various inscriptions such as “why doctors not paid their 2016 arrears, despite being released by the federal government, Dr Ahmed Liasu, pay workers the money released by the federal government, CMD stop misrepresenting federal government among others.

    The President, Resident Doctors Association (RDA) in the centre, Dr Ibikunle Fakorede told reporters that a sum of over N280m was released to the FMC,Owo management in April to pay their 2016 salary short fall arrears.

    However, he said the acting Chief Medical Director (CMD) Dr Liasu Ahmed allegedly refused to release the money to the Resident Doctors.

    According to him, “we were able to get all relevant documents that mandated the management of the Hospital to pay the arrears to the doctors, but the CMD has not effected the payment.

    “In the documents,it was stated that the shortfall arrears was for the Resident Doctors, we have written to the Federal Ministries of Health, Finance and Labour, and the money was released since April to the management, but not paid to us.

    Fakorede said the federal government had done its own bit by releasing the money to the centre like all others across the country, but wondered why the CMD sat on the fund.

    He said similar funds had been accordingly disbursed to their colleagues in various FMC across the country.

    The medical doctor said they would begin work-to-rule action from 8.00 am to 1p.m daily before going back to their offices until their demands are met.

    According to him, the money had been released five months ago to the FMC management,but not release to them on the claim that the salary arrears was not meant for doctors alone.

    However,the acting CMD, Dr Ahmed Liasu who spoke to reporters on phone confirmed the receipt of over N280m from the federal government, but emphasised that it was meant for all categories of workers in the centre.

    According to him, the development was not peculiar to FMC Owo alone, but all Medical Centres across the nation, stressing that it was meant to settle the 2016 salary short fall of all workers in the hospital and other personnel costs.

    Liasu urged the protesting doctors to exercise patience, assuring that the arrears would be settled.

    He noted that any fund from the federal government must have a schedule.

    The acting CMD said “the present Buhari’s administration has zero tolerance to corruption, the allegation on misappropriation of funds by the management of the institution does not arise as we apply due process to all actions”.

  • Ajasin varsity radio station to go on air

    It was all excitement last Thursday when top management officials of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) in Ondo State, formally took possession of the school’s radio station.

    Named Radio AAUA, the Frequency Modulation (FM) station is on the campus and is licensed to broadcast on 90.3 Megahertz. The station will start full operation when it secures approval from the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).

    Speaking at a brief hand-over ceremony, the Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Igbekele Ajibefun, said the station would offer a quantum leap in the quality of training facilities available to students, adding that it would serve as a medium of information, education and entertainment to members of the university community, and residents of the host communities.

    He recalled previous efforts to get an operating licence for the station before it was finally obtained. He praised employees who played key roles in the actualisation of the dream.

    He expressed delight at the quality of equipment installed in the station’s studio, while applauding the management team for ensuring the speedy completion of the project despite paucity of funds.

    Prof Ajibefun was conducted round the facility and adjourning offices in company of management members.

    Mr Olusola Akinrinlola, managing director of Sound Broadcast Communications Limited, the firm that provided the equipment, assured the school of the quality and durability of the gadgets supplied.

    He said: “I assure the management and students of the university that the quality of the equipment supplied is up to the standard. We have long years of experience executing this kind of project and we deliver. All gadgets will stand the test of time.”

    Akinrinlola said the firm would train operators and staff that would run the station on how to operate the machines. “You only have to call on us for the training and we would gladly do that,” he said.

  • Ruling House demands justice over regency

    Elders and family members of the Akinlalu Ruling House in Ode-Erinje, Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State have kicked against the state government’s choice of regent for Ode-Erinje town. The ruling house demands justice from government.

    Addressing reporters in Lagos, a former Supervisor for Works in Okitipupa Local Government Area, Chief Gbenga Akinyode, said the selection of the regent for the town was hijacked, noting that the person announced was different from the choice presented to government.

    He said: “It is very unfortunate that some elements have misled the Ondo State government in the choice of a regent for Ode-Erinje town. The state government had announced somebody whose candidacy does not agree with the consensus opinion of the 13 segments making up the Akinlalu Ruling House.

    “Chief Akindele Omosule is our choice, and he is the one we recommended as the regent for Ode –Erinje but unfortunately, the state government had announced a name that is not our choice. We had expected the state government to respect the choice of the family in this regard.

    “What the state government has done is a clear and complete violation of the laid down tradition and procedure for the appointment of regent for Ode-Erinje Kingdom.”

    Akinyode, who was a contender for the regency stool, said he was asked to step down as 11 out of the 13 families making up the extant ruling house built a consensus selection around the candidacy of Omosule.

    “It is the custom and tradition of Erinje that when an Oba or Oloja dies, his brother from the same lineage is enthroned as the regent and this was the case upon the death of Akinlalu 1, whose brother, Lisa Koko succeeded as a regent. The same was the case when Oloja Akinyemohun whose brother, Ifatola Obaterun succeeded as a regent after his death at Ode-Erinje.”

    Akinyode maintained that shortly after the death of His Royal Majesty, Oba Akinlalu II all the family segments constituting Akinlalu Ruling House met and decided to present Omosule as the ruling house’s choice of candidate to occupy the regency stool of Ode-Erinje Kingdom.

    He urged the local government committee set up on the Erinje regency matter and Ondo State government to do the right thing by recognising the candidate that has the consensus of the majority of segments of the Akinlalu Ruling House.

    In his appeal, Omosule said it will amount to injustice if his choice as the regent which was supported by the majority is not honoured and approved by Ondo State government.

     

  • ‘5m benefitted from amnesty programme since 2009’

    ‘5m benefitted from amnesty programme since 2009’

    Retired  Brig.-Gen. Paul Boroh, the Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme,  says more than  five million people in the Niger Delta  region have benefited from the initiative   since 2009.

    Boroh, who is also the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, disclosed this in Akure  shortly after receiving an award as Niger Delta Peace Ambassador from the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ondo State Council.

    He said that the  amnesty programme was initiated  in 2009 due to the conflict in the Niger delta region.

    Boroh said that it  was difficult to be specific on the amount that Federal Government had  so far spent  in restoring  peace in the area.

    “For all I know,  the programme has impacted  on well over five  million people in the entire region  and also aided efforts to achieve peace in the Niger Delta,’’ he said.

    He commended President Muhammadu Buhari for sustaining the amnesty programme, saying this demonstrated  his concern  for the people of Niger Delta region.

    The presidential aide also commended the response and efforts of the Federal Government in restoring  peace across  the country.

    “I, as a Niger Deltan, I’m very concerned  about what is happening in the region.

    “It is because of  the performance of the programme that our crude oil output has increased  to 2.3 million  barrels  per day as we speak.

    “This was achieved  by the efforts  of the government through the presidential amnesty programme,’’ he said.

    Boroh pleaded with the Niger Delta people to hasten their desired development of the area  and embrace peace.

    He also reiterated the government’s  warning  on  anyone promoting   hate speeches capable of disrupting the peace of the country.

    “Basically,  peace resolution is  a collective effort and responsibility of all Nigerians,  particularly in our region, Niger Delta.

    “It is all our responsibility to achieve this, let us not be tired, don’t allow negative forces to weigh you down and be positive even in your pronouncement,’’ he said.

  • Police arrest three ritualists, 11 others in Ondo

    Police arrest three ritualists, 11 others in Ondo

    The Police in Ondo State have arrested three men for allegedly killing a student of Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo, for money ritual.

    The suspects are: 20 year-old barber, John Adenitire; 30-year-old herbalist, Abdulrafiu Tijani, and Alfa Jamiu Kilani.

    The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Gbenga Adeyanju, disclosed this while presenting the suspects to newsmen in Akure on Thursday.

    Adeyanju said the suspects were arrested by a team of Special Anti-Robbery Squad dispatched to Ondo town following a tip-off.

    He said that the suspects were giving relevant information to the police on how they carried out the operation.

    Adeyanju, who said that the command had declared total war on criminals in the state, urged the people to always give adequate information to the police to enable them to rid the state of crime.

    Speaking to newsmen, Adenitire said that his job was to stay on the road to watch if anyone was coming, saying that he was promised N3 million by Tijani’s younger brother.

    “I was in my house when Tijani’s younger brother, Sile, came with his friend, and said that they needed a girl for money ritual and I told them that what they wanted to do was powerful and Sile said there was no problem.

    “On the second day, Sile and his friend came to my house when I was smoking Indian hemp at the back of our house and said we should go and look for a girl, and  I followed them.

    “On our way going, we saw a girl with school bag on her back; we took her to the bush where Sile and his friend killed the girl while they asked me to be watching if anybody was coming.

    “I don’t know what they took from the girl’s body that day but on the second day, I was told that they only cut her left breast and the left hand.

    “The two guys said that the person that sent them is a rich man and has promised them N10 million.

    “They promised to give me N3 million out of the money for the first operation while I was promised another big sum for the second operation but none of the money was given to me before I was arrested,” he said.

    Tijani said that he was promised N1 million to help them to take the breast and the hand to the person that wanted to use it for the ritual.

    “I am a herbalist and specialist on rheumatism and many other things but I don’t know how to do ritual money. I just helped Sile and Adenitire to take it to where they wanted to use it,” Tijani said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the police also presented 11 other suspects for various offences such as armed robbery, cultism, murder and unlawful possession of firearms.

    They also displayed a 64-year-old ex-convict driver, Ajibola Aliu (a.k.a Mokan) among the suspects, who had served a 21-year jail term and was granted amnesty at Ilesa Maximum Prison recently.

  • Police arrest 3 ritualists,11 others in Ondo State

    Police arrest 3 ritualists,11 others in Ondo State

    The Police in Ondo State have arrested three men for allegedly killing a student of Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo, for money ritual.

    The suspects are: 20 year-old barber, John Adenitire; 30-year-old herbalist, Abdulrafiu Tijani, and Alfa Jamiu Kilani.

    The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Gbenga Adeyanju, disclosed this while presenting the suspects to newsmen in Akure on Thursday.

    Adeyanju said the suspects were arrested by a team of Special Anti-Robbery Squad dispatched to Ondo town following a tip-off.

    He said that the suspects were giving relevant information to the police on how they carried out the operation.

    Adeyanju, who said that the command had declared total war on criminals in the state, urged the people to always give adequate information to the police to enable them to rid the state of crime.

    Speaking to newsmen, Adenitire said that his job was to stay on the road to watch if anyone was coming, saying that he was promised N3 million by Tijani’s younger brother.

    “I was in my house when Tijani’s younger brother, Sile, came with his friend, and said that they needed a girl for money ritual and I told them that what they wanted to do was powerful and Sile said there was no problem.

    “On the second day, Sile and his friend came to my house when I was smoking Indian hemp at the back of our house and said we should go and look for a girl, and  I followed them.

    “On our way going, we saw a girl with school bag on her back; we took her to the bush where Sile and his friend killed the girl while they asked me to be watching if anybody was coming.

    “I don’t know what they took from the girl’s body that day but on the second day, I was told that they only cut her left breast and the left hand.

    “The two guys said that the person that sent them is a rich man and has promised them N10 million.

    “They promised to give me N3 million out of the money for the first operation while I was promised another big sum for the second operation but none of the money was given to me before I was arrested,” he said.

    Tijani said that he was promised N1 million to help them to take the breast and the hand to the person that wanted to use it for the ritual.

    “I am a herbalist and specialist on rheumatism and many other things but I don’t know how to do ritual money. I just helped Sile and Adenitire to take it to where they wanted to use it,” Tijani said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the police also presented 11 other suspects for various offences such as armed robbery, cultism, murder and unlawful possession of firearms.

    They also displayed a 64-year-old ex-convict driver, Ajibola Aliu (a.k.a Mokan) among the suspects, who had served a 21-year jail term and was granted amnesty at Ilesa Maximum Prison recently.