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  • Violence in Akure over stoppage of carnival

    Violence in Akure over stoppage of carnival

    Uneasy calm pervaded Akure,the Ondo State Capital on Friday as Youths and indigenes of Akure went on rampage to protest the refusal of the state government to allow them hold their much publicised”Akure Youth Carnival celebration”.

    The irate youths stalled commercial activities and  barricaded the popular Oba Adesida road and vandalised many facilities in the capital city.

    It took the intervention of the men of the riot policemen to disperse the angry youths who made bon fires to show their grievances against the ban. Earlier, at the Akure city hall the youths had been addressed by the President, Akure Youth Coalition(AYC) Comrade Adekanbi Oluwatuyi who expressed his disappointment over the refusal of the state government and the heavy presence of the security men at the improvised venue of the carnival.

    Oluwatuyi who described the development as a slap on the face of Akure and its people  said they would  not resort to violence to show their grievances. It was learnt that the carnival which was slated for Friday had been announced  for over two months.

    Popular musician, Saheed Osupa was billed to perform at the carnival with thousands of Akure in diaspora already invited and dressed in Uniform ‘Ankara fabric’ Trouble started when the youths got to the venue of the carnival only to realize that it  had been condoned off by men of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

    The expectation of the jubilant youths were however cut short as security authorities ordered them to vacate the venue of the event.

    While narrating his ordeal, the AYC President, Oluwatuyi who wept over the disappointment said the event was initially scheduled to hold last year but shifted to the  April 17 this year because of the death of the late Deji, Oba Adebiyi Adesida, Afunbiowo.

    He said a letter had been written to the state government alongside security agents intimating them of the event and also to formally request for the use of Democracy park. Oluwatuyi said on  April 1, a letter of approval was sent to him, approving the use of the Democracy park for the carnival.

    He said despite the fact that letters of security coverage had been sent to the Nigeria Police Force, Ondo state command, the State Security Service (SSS) and other security agents, the event was cancelled at the last minute.

    Oluwatuyi said three days to the event, he was called that a letter was awaiting him from the Ministry of Transport. He said the letter was meant to terminate the approval of the Democracy park to use for the carnival on the ground that the place was under construction.

    Oluwatuyi said ” a rational mind would know that that place is not under construction, the government and other bodies have been using that place for over two years.

    “We went to Kabiyesi, and told the king, our “Oba” in my presence called concern authorities, ranging from the Commissioner for Transport, Nicholas Tofowomo, the Secretary to the state government, (SSG) and others we don’t want to mention their names and to my utmost surprise they did not pick the Kabiyesi’s call.

    ” After many steps have been taken, the Regent concluded that we should make use of the Akure City hall, since it was built by Indigines of Akure.

    “We were surprised when we were told again by the state government through the SSS that we can not hold the carnival because the rival cult groups were coming to strike, I told them we are no cults but only Akure indigenes that want progress for our town.

    ” We explained to them that we are no cult group, we explain to them that we are only out to give post human award to our dead heros and bring Akure people together.

    “Infact I personally went to the SSS and told them that they should have given us the security report that cult groups are coming to strike instead of telling the government, but I was shocked when the SSS said they did not issue any report of such

    ” Oluwatuyi added. Oluwatuyi said himself and his colleagues were at the Akure City hall- improvised venue of the carnival all through the nite to prepare the stage for the musician and preparing ground for the event.

    “We were surprised this morning when we came here (Akure city hall) and saw heavily armed security agents barricading the venue of the event,” Oluwatuyi said.

    He said it was funny and shocking when the security agents said there was a standing order that the event could no longer hold because Boko Haram members are in town. Oluwatuyi said the Police Area Commander of Akure personally told him that members of Boko Haram are in Akure and the event was subsequently cancelled.

    Enraged by the development, the youths went to “Baba Omolaree” house to rain curses on whoever was instrumental to the cancellation of the carnival.

    Investigation revealed that the “Omolaree” house is a revered traditional place which means a lot to Akure people The youth leader explained that millions of Naira had been expended on the carnival including payment of the popular musician, Osupa who had been paid and also checked into a hotel in the town.

    Reacting to the development, the state police command said they are not involved in the cancellation process.

    Speaking on behalf of the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Mr Yemi Lawal said the police authority had approved the event to hold and had also prepared to provide security.

    The Police however said after all arrangements have been made, the state government made an observation and cancelled the event. But in a swift reaction, the Commissioner of Information, Mr. Kayode Akinmade said the state government cancelled the carnival in view of the insecurity in the country.

  • Osun, Oyo, Ondo on list of Abuja blast victims

    Osun, Oyo, Ondo on list of Abuja blast victims

    After the initial shock, officials have settled down to find out the identities of the victims of the Nyanya suicide bombing in which no fewer than 75 people died and 164 injured.

    Imo, Katsina and Benue indigenes top the list of the injured.

    The police released yesterday security advisory to Nigerians for the Easter holiday.

    According to the figures released by the National Emergency Agency (NEMA), 126 are in nine hospitals.

     The clinics  are Nyanya General Hospital(11); Asokoro District (26); Maitama District Hospital (22); PAN-RAF Hospital(nine); National Hospital (31); Mararaba General Hospital (eight); Customs Hospital (14); Abuja Clinic, Karu (four); and Garki Hospital (one).

    The victims are from 26 of the 36 states.

    The states of 48 victims were unknown as at press time. Imo, Katsina and Benue top the list of the injured ones.

    The highlights are as follows: 48 (no states); Imo (eight); Katsina (eight); Benue (eight); Edo (six); Kaduna (six); Enugu (five); Kogi (five); Sokoto(five); Cross River (one); Ebonyi (three); Plateau (two); Kebbi (one); Kwara (two); Adamawa (one); Kano (two); Osun (one); Oyo (two); Delta(two); Nasarawa (two); Ondo (one); Abia (two); FCT (one); Rivers (one) Akwa Ibom (two); Anambra (one) and Jigawa(one).

    The police advisory urges Nigerians to be vigilant at motor parks, shopping malls and recreational centres.

    The police specifically cautioned those who will worship in mosques and churches to take precautionary measures.

    A statement by police spokesman Frank Mba, said: “Against the backdrop of recent security challenges in the country and the general preparation for the forthcoming Easter celebrations, the Nigeria Police High Command has urged worshippers both at Jumat and church services to take adequate measures to reduce the number of vehicles around these hallowed worship centres so as to make the tasks of keeping surveillance on the area easier.

    “ The police apex authority also advises that abandoned and disused vehicles should not be parked within or close to places of worship and residential areas. It further highlights the need for vehicles parked overnight in those premises to be properly vetted and identified.

    “While emphasising that empty containers and other forms of receptacles (including dustbins) not in use should be properly disposed or stored far away from the reach of unauthorised persons, the Police High Command highlights the need for flower pots and flower edges around residential buildings, offices and worship centres to be kept clear and regularly checked for foreign or suspicious objects.

    “The Police High Command also enjoins worshippers to make conscious effort to know fellow members of their congregation, as this will make it easier to know who is a stranger in their midst. It reiterates the need for worshippers to be security alert and report all suspicious characters and observations to the Police.

    “The worship centres are enjoined to discourage hawking and clustering/loitering around the worship centres after service. Worshippers are equally advised to refrain from entering the worship centres with hand bags, brief-cases and other related items.

    “The Force equally advises operators of motor parks, shopping malls and recreational centres to work very closely with the police and other security agencies as they strive to strengthen general security in their respective facilities.

    “While assuring the public of his administration’s readiness and commitment towards ensuring a safe and secure environment, the Inspector-General Police, MD Abubakar also wishes Nigerians a very peaceful and happy Easter celebrations.”

  • Four arrested over killing of Ondo APC man

    Four persons suspected to be political hoodlums have been arrested for allegedly killing an All Progressives Congress (APC) member simply identified as Bosun during a ward congress at Ajipowo Isikan ward 11 in Akure South local government area of Ondo State.

    Bosun, who is at his early 30s, was said to have allegedly shot dead by the gunmen, who were invited to the congress by a factional group in the party led by one Alaba Ogundele

    Former State Commissioner for Information, Prince Olu Adegboro, who is a leader in the ward described the incident as sad.

    According to him, “hoodlums of one of the chairmanship aspirants invaded the ward congress venue and they started shooting sporadically into the air.

    “There was dispute between two chairmanship aspirants in the ward. Each insisting on contesting and I waded into the problem, I called the two groups and urged them to find a common ground.

    “I then asked them to go out and come back to brief me after settling their differences. I was still awaiting their response when I discovered there was pandemonium”.

    Already the remains of the late Bosun have been removed and deposited in an undisclosed mortuary.

    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Wole Ogodo confirmed the arrested of the suspected hoodlum, saying security operatives were in control of the situation.

    However, at Southern senatorial district of the State which comprises of six local governments, Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo, Ilaje, Okitipupa, Irele, Ese-Odo and Odigbo, ward congresses were conducted peacefully.

    Also, in the Northern senatorial district of the State, which includes Owo, the four local government in Akokoland and Ose local government, enjoyed peaceful congresses.

    Only two wards, Oyinmo and Orun wards all in Ikare-Akoko, the headquarters of Akoko North East did not participate in the congresses.

    In Ondo central senatorial district, which include Akure Noth/South, Idanre, Ifedore and  Ondo West/East local governments, congresses were held peacefully in some parts, while others were marred with irregularities.

    For instance, in Ondo East/West, as at 3pm, voting was yet to start due to non availability of voting materials.

    In Akure North, voting started around 1pm, but was peaceful. As at 6pm, no voting had taken place in Atosin/Alade ward in Idanre local government.

    Speaking with reporters, a member of APC State Congress Committee, Sule Alao said the delegates have been in the state for one week preparing to the party congress.

    Alao said the national leaders of APC have given a directive that option “A4” should be used at ward congress level, while at the local government level they will used open secret ballot.

    Meanwhile, chieftains of the merged parties, the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) disassociated themselves from the ward congresses.

    Their decision was based on what they described as marginalization of their members, by leaders of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

    In a statement signed by a member, Board of Trustees of the defunct ANPP, Capt Demola Ariyo; State Chairman of defunct ANPP, Chief Yemisi Aladesaye; State Chairman of the defunct CPC, Barr. Olalekan Obolo and Governorship candidate of defunct CPC, Prince Soji Ehinlanwo, they called for “a more credible congress which will accommodate all shades of interest in Ondo State APC”.

    They urged their members to remain calm, stressing that “APC belongs to all of us and not only to a small group of egocentric politicians”.

    The statement reads: “Having consulted widely with our members and supporters across Ondo State, we wish to disassociate ourselves from the ongoing congresses organized by a faction of the All Progressives Congress in the state.

    “We wish to state for the avoidance of doubt that this decision is predicated on the fact that our members across Ondo State have been marginalized not only during the last membership registration exercise but also in the process leading up to this sham congresses.

    “We therefore wish to assure all our members and supporters that the party APC belongs to all of us and not only to a small group of egocentric politicians.

    “As a result, we enjoin them to remain calm even in the face of the usurpation of their rights and privileges, while they are advised to await directives very soon for a more credible congress which will accommodate all shades of interests in Ondo State APC.”

    But in a swift reaction, Interim APC Secretary, Prince Olu Adegboro, described them as ‘jokers’, stressing that the congresses would go on as scheduled.

    Prince Adegboro pointed out that no attempt made at sabotaging the congresses would succeed, adding that Chairman of the Congress Committee in the state and former Lagos Deputy Governor, Mr Femi Pedro was already in town to conduct the exercises.

    Also, Alao, who was the defunct ANPP National Auditor, said he was not aware of the complaints of his members.

  • Complete our bridge, Ondo community pleads

    Complete our bridge, Ondo community pleads

    The Okeigbo community in Ondo State, has appealed to the state government to complete the bridge on River Ooni.

    An indigene of the community Ayodeji Olapade Snr, said since 2010, when contractors of the state government deployed their equipment and materials in building a dam in the area, the bridge was affected.

    He said, “when the people of the community saw the contractor moved to site, they were very happy, because the dam would have brought to an end the problem of water shortage in the area. But their joy was short-lived when the contractor allegedly left later, without completing the work,” he lamented.

    “During the building of the dam on the river, the big structure on which the bridge was built had its foundation dug. Shortly after the contractors and their employees left the site, a petrol tanker slipped off the bridge and plugged into the river with one of the occupants drowned. The driver was fortunate to have escaped death.”

    Olaopade, who is of the Okeigbo Economic Committee (an arm of its Consultative Forum), the community’s economic think tank, said since that incident, many passengers and motorists had either died, or had their vehicles plunged into the river. Also, he said activities in the area had been paralysed because they were cut off from their neighbours.

    Noting that the bridge is “the major link of Okeigbo with our kith and kin in the southwest,” he added: “We, therefore, appeal to the appropriate authorities to come to our aid by ordering the contractors to go back to the site before the rains. The only alternative road is the Ife/Ondo Express road. Unfortunately, the bridge on same river, which serves as boundary of Ondo and Osun states is now a death trap. Many vehicles have fallen into it, especially when the river overflows its bank.”

  • Police parade Pastor, 30 other suspects in Ondo

    Police parade Pastor, 30 other suspects in Ondo

    Nemesis may have caught up with 31 suspected criminals in Ondo State, who were paraded by the police in Akure, the state capital last weekend. DAMISI OJO reports.

    The police in Ondo State have arrested a 28-year-old Pastor, Okpara Emmanuel Chigozie over his alleged involvement in the kidnap of a Two-year-old girl in Akure, the state capital.

    Pastor Chigozie, founder of a Pentecostal church in Owerri, the Imo State capital was one of the 31 suspects paraded by the Ondo State Police Command last weekend at the command headquarters in Akure, during the maiden press briefing of the new police commissioner Isaac Eke.

    The Pastor was arrested in his apartment in Owerri by detectives from the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Akure.

    His arrest followed a report lodged at the Okuta Elerinla Division of the command on March 12, that a two-year-old girl had been kidnapped in the area. Police detectives immediately swung into action and arrested a 25-year male suspect Chinonye Anufor, which eventually led to the arrest of the Pastor.

    According to the Commissioner of Police, socks of the kidnapped girl, her pair of canvass and about 15 SIM cards with eight assorted types of phones were among the items recovered from the Chigozie’s apartment.

    During an interview with reporters, the suspect said, “I was called at the age of 18 to preach the word. I am a graduate of Delta State University. When I finished from school, I was serving under Prophet Elijah Kalu, who later prayed for me and said I should go and open my own ministry.

    “I later opened Believers Prayer Ministry, at No. 36, Umudagu Road, by Veronica Hardel junction, Orji, Owerri.

    “Last week Wednesday, a boy called Lukman came with one brother (Sly) and said a lady gave birth to his child but wants to take the baby away because he could not give her money, He said I should come and talk to the woman to release the child to him.

    “They came to me with a guy in army uniform and we all came (here) together. We were four in number and we came in a Toyota Camry car. When we got to the place they showed us the house.

    “So, in the morning he (Sly) just called us and said the wife was coming out, when we got there we saw her and we collected the baby from her. On our way we stopped, that was when he told us that it was a lie that he is a kidnapper, that the man owed him some money that he was working for the man before. So, we took the child to Yenegoa in Bayelsa State and dropped her there,” the Pastor narrated.

    He, however, confessed to the crime, stressing that he was very sad and remorseful.

    Similarly, another gang of kidnappers was arrested by men of the Ondo State Police Command and equally paraded before the public. The gang was led by a University undergraduate, Olanrewaju Adeku-nle, currently on teaching practice at a secondary school in Ibadan

    The gang was intercepted by the police along Ajagba/Agadagba Road, in Ese Odo Local Government, Ondo State.

    One 28-year-old, Gasiakpo Niakpo, a student of Niger Delta University Bayelsa was also apprehended on the spot with one Henry Doye Messiah, while another suspect, Edward Onwei escaped into the bush.

    Items recovered from them included a Toyota Solara car with Reg. No. AKD 731 AR and a case file, which the command said would soon be transferred to Oyo State command for further action.

    Niakpo who confessed to the crime said “we never intended to kidnap anybody, it was a friend that called me that there was a fraudster (Yahoo boy) who has been evading police and EFCC, that we should go and collect money from him, we never intended to kidnap him”

    He said they were arrested by the police while coming to Akure to a new generation bank where the guy was supposed to get money and pay them as ransom.

    Niakpo said their plans were never to kidnap him but to harass him with the police in order to extort money from him.

    Among other suspects paraded were cultists  arrested during police  raids in the State Capital as a follow up to the murder of one Sunday Eniola who was shot dead during a fight between two rival cult groups last week at Tipper garage, Akure.

    The CP said in the course of the exercise, one Taiwo Olamilekan (a.k.a) Olorunwa was apprehended with bullet wound on the left leg.

    According to him, on interrogation, the suspect confessed that he is a member of “Eye” confraternity , saying he sustained the gunshot wound during an encounter with the other cultists

    The police chief said one Sunday Eniola who was earlier shot dead was equally said to be a member of the “Eye” confraternity.

    Other suspects paraded were armed robbers who stole motorcycles and goats.

    However, the new police chief has  assured the people of the command’s readiness to combat crimes and flush out criminals in the state.

    He said the command would create a robust symbiotic relationship with member of the public, corporate bodies and the media through an open door policy.

    The commissioner however solicited maximum cooperation from the  people  on useful information to achieve the desired goal.

  • Don turns crude bitumen to Asphalt for Ondo road repairs

    A lecturer at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU)Ile Ife,Osun State, has refined the untapped crude Bitumen in Agbabu,Irele Local Government of Ondo State to Cold Mix Asphalt (CMA).

    Dr Ademodi, an Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering, Consultant on Bitumen and Heavy Crude Oil is now using the substance to fill the failed portions of roads in Ondo West local government area of the State where he hails.

    For years, federal government has been importing  bitumen from abroad in repairing and constructing roads despite that the nation is naturally endowed with this natural resources which is rated third largest in the world.

    Ademodi, an indigene of Ondo town, who spoke with reporters shortly after demonstrating how he converted the crude bitumen to CMA said he had been using the resources in filling pot holes in the community for the past one month.

    He added that motorists and motorcyclists have been enjoying their riding in some of the streets where these materials have been applied.

    Besides, Ademodi, who is a Chieftain of All Progressives Congress(APC) in Ondo State suggested that a Ministry of Bitumen and Heavy Oil Resources be established, saying such ministry would focus on the meaningful exploitation of the resources for domestic and export markets free of OPEC regulations.

    He lamented that the federal government has refused to utilise the resources due to Nigerian factors, which he said include unnecessary politization of issues, ethnic consideration and the fact that it is not very easy to make easy money from the exploitation.

    The Academic listed some of the benefits of the resources as road repair/road construction, fuel for power plants, creation of employment for the teeming youths among others

    According to him, “Nigeria should take the advantage of the fact that its heavy/extra heavy oil did not fall under the OPEC quota, Venezuela developed the world famous ORIMULSION fuel which has been used for years domestically and exported to energy hungry countries like China, India and Japan as fuel for generating electricity (in thermal power plants), land based diesel engines.

    “Nigeria’s heavy/extra heavy oil is equally amenable for use as power plant fuel and considerable progress has been made in research in this regard. Nigeria’s heavy oil has been used to successfully raise steam in a mini-steam boiler, a precursor stage to electricity generation.

    “The resources is a potential substitute for natural gas, LPFO and coal as process fuel in industries and thermal power plants.

    ” Our work has shown that it can conveniently replace substantial quantities of Low Pour Fuel Oil (LPFO) otherwise known as black oil, the cost of which has skyrocketed astronomically and which, in turn, is responsible for the high cost of goods ranging from cement to sundry consumer products in Nigeria.

    “Similarly, Nigeria’s bitumen exists in the two form of solid tar sands and liquid deposits. Considerable success has been achieved in the utilisation of these two types of bitumen for the manufacture of road asphalt. In this regard, there are two possibilities: Hot Mix Asphalt and Cold Mix Asphalt”

    The University Don said he would continue to mount pressure on the federal government on why the resources must be fully utilised.

  • Suspected cult members arrested in Ondo poly

    Some students of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic Owo (RUGIPO) in Ondo State suspected to be members of a confraternity group were on Friday arrested by men of the State Anti-Robbery Squad.

    This followed an attack on the institution and its environs by the hoodlums.

    The suspects, who numbered eight, were apprehended at their hide outs following intelligence reports by security operatives.

    Eyewitnesses said the confraternity members, armed with different kinds of sophisticated weapons, attempted to enter the main campus of the polytechnic opposite Ikare-Owo-Akure expressway but were prevented by the institution’s security officials.

    They reportedly took over the express road and started shooting sporadically into the main campus.

    The incident, it was gathered, created panic among students and residents.

    One of the polytechnic students’ leaders, who preferred anonymity, said the cultists invaded the institution in search of one student who belonged to another confraternity.

    He said the bandits had earlier invaded one of the off campus hotels of the polytechnic called “Igbo lodu” where majority of the students are living before moving to institution’s gate.

    The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Wole Ogodo, confirmed the arrests, adding that investigations continue.

  • Ondo Govt may shut down FUTA, ACE over tax evasion

    Ondo Govt may shut down FUTA, ACE over tax evasion

    The Ondo State Government may soon shut down the two federal tertiary institutions located in the state, the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) and Adeyemi College of Education (ACE), Ondo over alleged evasion of taxes.

    Already, the state government has directed the Internal Revenue Board to place notice of non-compliance on the gate of the institutions.

    According to the Internal Revenue Board, FUTA was alleged to be owing about N2.7billion, while Adeyemi College also owes the government N346million.

    When The Nation visited ACE, lecturers and some passers-by besieged the school gate having glimpse of the notice.

    The notice placed on the institution’s gates reads, “take notice that the owner/operators the company/business premises have failed to comply with their tax obligation under the relevant federal and state laws. Any officer or agent involved in this contravention is punishable by fine and/ or imprisonment under section of the personal income tax act 1993 as amended by order of the Ondo State Board of Internal Revenue (OSBIR)”.

    A lecturers of ACE, who spoke under anonymity lamented over the recent increase of tax by the state government.

    He wondered why such huge amount of money will be placed on the institution.

    His words: “Thank God, the COEASU is on strike and presently our students are not around because by now they may be planning to stage a protest against the government action and you always know the result of students’ unrest.”

    The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of ACE, Mr. Moses Akinfolarin, when contacted on phone said he could not speak on the matter but referred our correspondent to the Registrar and Provost of the school for comments on the matter.

    However, a senior staff in the Bursary  Department who craved anonymity said the amount claimed by the government to have owed by the school was too outrageous, insisting that the institution had not been evading tax as alleged by the state government.

    He said : the said money is too outrageous and the college has been paying but the argument is that the college has not been paying right amount of money , but if the government alleged the college of not paying, on what basis, how do they calculate it to arrive at that money they brought,”

    “As far as I know ACE has never defaulted, if you check through all higher institution in the south west you will discover that we are the one paying the highest amount of  tax, so if the government could come with N347million, they should be able to tell us how they arrived at that amount.”

    In the case of FUTA, the Spokesman of the institution, Mr. Adegbenro Adebanjo when contacted on telephone claimed to be oblivious of the development but promised to meet the school’s Bursar as at the press time.

    “I am not aware of the matter but I will contact the school’s Bursar about it, I will get back to you, “he said.

     

  • Ondo Chief Judge frees 16 inmates

    Ondo State Chief Judge Justice Seinde Kumuyi has freed 16 inmates of the Olokuta Prisons, Akure.

    Those freed had been awaiting trial for years.

    Five of them, who were accused of crimes ranging from murder to armed robbery, had spent seven years without appearing in court.

    Among those freed is Friday Eje, who was arrested in 2007 for a murder allegedly committed by his brother.

    He was released after the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) discovered he had no case file.

    Oladejo Felix, who confessed to killing his apprentice in rage, had spent seven years and six months in jail without trial.

    He was handed over to a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), St. Joseph Halfway House, for rehabilitation.

    Oladapo Oduwale was arrested in 2008 for threatening to deal with his father, who could not pay his Joint Admissions Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination enrolment fee.

    He was freed after the CJ called his father to ascertain if the robbery charge against him had any substance.

    Olorunda Adebowale and Felix Peter, who were accused of murder, also got their freedom after years in jail without trial.

    Also freed were Audu Idris, Kehinde Johnson, Jelili Abduganiyu and Wale Ogidan, who are terminally ill.

    Onigbo James and a man simply identified as Sola, who are mentally ill, were freed and sent to the psychiatric hospital for treatment.

    Five minors, who were arrested for conspiracy to commit felony, were sent to a remand home.

    Justice Kumuyi reviewed the bail conditions of two others to enable them leave the prison.

    He said the DPP and the Police Prosecution Department (PPD) should work together to speed up the trial of awaiting trial inmates, adding: “It is serious to say that a file is missing when the case has gone to court. They should work together to trace misplaced files so that the cases can continue.”

    The CJ said a number of processes were ongoing to ensure the speedy trial of inmates and decongestion prisons.

  • Heavy turnout of members in Ondo

    Heavy turnout of members in Ondo

    As the registration of All Progressives Congress (APC)members in Ondo State entered its fourth day, more supporters trooped out yesterday for the exercise.

    The Nation monitored the exercise in Akure South and North local governments, Oka, Ikun Oba, Akungba and Supare in Akoko South West local government.

    In Akoko South West, people in the rural communities, who are mainly farmers, market women and traders, waited patiently at their polling units for registration.

    One of the supervisors in the local government, Adeyemi Bolarinwa, attributed the large turnout of people to the earlier sensitisation programme organised by APC leaders in the area.

    He said the APC was targeting 50,000 members after the registration exercise in the council area.

    Bolarinwa said: “I can assure you that our members and other residents in this local government love APC, and that is why we have a large crowd at the various units that you have visited. A serving senator is from here and he has been supportive in this exercise.

    “You will recall that we earlier scheduled to hold a rally for sensitization of our members for this registration, but we were stopped by the Commissioner of Police in the state, that was why the plan was changed for meeting at various units in order to ensure that our people embrace APC when the registration exercise commenced.

    “In our local government, we have prominent politicians from other political parties in the council, like the incumbent deputy governor, Ali Olanusi; Deputy Speaker, Dare Emiola among others. But they know our people cherish APC and they will vote for any candidate picked by the party”

    Also, a leader at Supare ward 11, Group Captain, Bola Owoeye, said that party leaders had been directed to return to their units and ensure that people turned out for the registration.

    Owoeye boasted that APC would dominate the State Assembly after the next year elections.