A governorship aspirant in All Progressives Congress (APC) April 20 primary in Ondo State, Olugbenga Edema, has said the party should avoid what befell the party in Bayelsa State in 2019 from repeating itself in Ondo.
He said with the challenge hanging on the academic credentials of Governor Lucky Ayiedatiwa, the party vetting committee should critically look at the credentials submitted by the governor.
Ayiedatiwa and 15 aspirants, including Edema, are jostling for APC ticket in the primary ahead of the November 16 governorship election.
Addressing reporters in Abuja yesterday, Edema, former member of House of Assembly, said his action was not borne out of animosity but to save the party and members from the perdition that befell APC in Bayelsa State.
Edema said he wrote to Prof. Abdulkarim Kana, national legal adviser, on the need to act and save the party.
Referring to a similar incident, Edema said: “The Supreme Court in 2019 annulled the election of David Lyon and his running mate as the elected governor and deputy on the grounds of eligibility. The Supreme Court found that the running mate, Senator Degi-Eremienyo, presented a forged document to Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“Against this background, I wrote a letter to the chairman of the credentials/document vetting committee of All Progressives Congress, which the party set up, to look at the credentials which Ayedatiwa submitted to it.
“The reason for my information to the committee is not borne out of any animosity to Lucky Ayedatiwa or any person but to save the party and members in Ondo State from the perdition that befell our members in Bayelsa State.
“It is a fact the issue surrounding the WAEC ordinary level (O’level) No. 15592/019 submitted by Lucky Ayedatiwa to INEC in 2020 when he contested with the late governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has been generating controversies in the last two months.
“The certificate was said to have been investigated by the police and a report signed by DCP Tahir Usman, indicting Lucky Ayedatiwa of certificate forgery, misrepresentation and perjury was issued.”
The aspirant warned: “It would be suicidal to field a candidate that carries so much baggage and lose to the opposition party through the court.
“I have it on good authority, that PDP aspirants, knowing these facts, are praying that APC fields Ayedatiwa in the governorship election.”
The said the driver of the truck ran away and reported himself to the police at Ore.
Ondo Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Ezekiel Son Allah, who confirmed the incident, warned drivers to avoid dangerous overtaking.
He said the remains of the deceased persons had been deposited in the morgue at the General Hospital Mortuary, Ore.
Ondo Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Ezekiel Son Allah, who confirmed the incident warned drivers to avoid dangerous overtaking.
He said remains of the deceased have been deposited at the morgue at the General Hospital Mortuary, Ore.
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is to conduct the April 20 Ondo governorship shadow election through a direct primary.
A letter to this effect jointly signed by the National Chairman, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and National Secretary, Sen. Ajibola Basiru was sent to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the party primary.
Deputy National Organising Secretary, Nze Chidi Duru confirmed the mode of election to The Nation correspondent in Abuja on Wednesday night.
Asked what mode of election will be used for the party’s April 20 Ondo governorship election, the former House of Representatives member said, “We are using the direct primary mode of election for Ondo State governorship primary election.
“This decision has equally been conveyed in a letter duly signed by the National Chairman and the National Secretary to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that the party has adopted direct mode of election for Ondo State governorship election,” Duru stated.
The Ondo State Police Command has arrested an Islamic cleric, Oluwafemi Idris, for being in possession of human parts.
A statement by the police spokesperson, Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, said Idris was arrested after a raid of his house. Parts found with him were hands, three kidneys, three hearts, spine and tongue.
According to the statement, Idris claimed the parts were supplied by another Islamic cleric simply identified as Alhaji and one Samuel Kutelu. It said Idris, in turn, supplied one Babatunde Kayode three human heads.
Idris and Kayode have been arrested while efforts are on to arrest the other fleeing cleric, Odunlami-Omisanya added.
A serial thief, identified as Babalola Dolapo Daniel has killed his childhood friend, Evangelist Opeyemi Oyelakin, dumped his body in a pit and stole the deceased motorcycle.
Babalola sold the motorcycle for N130,000 to his dealer in Ibadan.
He committed the offence on March 15th, 2024 in Ondo town.
Police investigation showed that Babalola has been stealing motorcycles since 2021 from various towns such as Akure, Ekiti, Ilesha and Ife town.
Babalola and his accomplice, Sikiru Mutiu asked the deceased to carry them his motorcycle to where they have a farm at Oke-Igbo Area
On getting to the spot, Police said Mutiu gripped Opeyemi from behind while Babalola used stick and stone to hit him on his head until he died.
Police said the corpse was dragged to a shallow pit where it was covered with leaves before the motorcycle was stolen
The corpse of the deceased has been recovered including the stick and stone used for committing the crime.
Babalola, who spoke after he took Police to the spot where the victim was dumped, said he regretted killing his close friend.
He said: “It is the work of the devil. I can’t explain because this person that we are talking about is my close friend. He is a close friend of mine. Truly his bike is not the first bike I will ever snatch but I have never killed before. Even those that are not related to me I snatched bike from them and I did not even do anything harmful to them but this one is just a coincidence.
“I can’t explain how it happened. At least I have snatched about 15 bikes but I have never killed before. His own is the first. My buyer is in Ibadan. The clean of the bike at times determine how much we are going to sell it, but no matter how clean the bike is, my buyer will buy it around N200,000.
“But we sold this one at the rate of N130,000 and we share the money equally because we are two in the business. When we intend to collect the bike from him, he dragged with us and I hit him with stone. I know his mum and younger brother. I can’t really explain why I killed him. I am a trader. I sell oranges but I don’t have a shop. I do go to villages to buy oranges. I am from Oyo state, Ibadan precisely. But, I reside in Ondo town, I’m yet to marry, and this would be the first time I will come to this area.if which I have been in the business since 2021/2022.”
Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, Abayomi Oladipo, said the suspect has a large syndicate and that efforts were on to arrest other members of the gang.
“He has snatched uncountable number of motorcycles. Through technical intelligence, the suspect was arrested and upon interrogation he confessed to how he committed the crime.
“I want to use this opportunity to alert the members of the public, most especially those who ride okada to be careful of the passengers that will engage their services to far areas and taking them to isolated roads.
“Also, I want to say that the residents of this area, especially those who farm here since on the 15th of March, when this incident happened till date, kept mute which is not supposed to be. So what we are saying is that if you see something you must say something.
“At the moment we are still investigating to apprehend all other offenders who are in the run.”
Two days into the sales expression of interest and nomination forms for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Ondo State governorship ticket, no fewer than 10 aspirants have purchased the N50 million forms.
The exercise started on Wednesday and is slated to close by April 3, 2024.
Checks in the party’s Directorate of Organisation at the close of work on Thursday, March 28 showed Governor Lucky Ayiedatiwa and nine others have thrown their hats into the rings for the April 20 primary to pick the flag bearer for the November Ondo Governorship Election.
All the aspirants so far but one are male. The only female aspirant, Engr. Funmilayo Mary Whaeed Adekojo who was the first to pick the form, was also the only aspirant that physically came while others sent heir aides and supporters to procure the forms for them.
Those who have obtained the forms in the last 48 hours include Waheed-Adekojo Funmilayo( Female Olusoji Adewale Ehinlanwo (Male), Hon. Okunjimi Odimayo John, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim Folorunsho (Male) and the National Vice Chairman ( South West) Duerimini Isaacs Kekemeke (male).
Others are Akinfolarin Mayo Samuel (Male) Gov. Lucky Orimisan Aiye Datiwa ( Male), Adewale Okumuyiwa Akinterinwa (Male), Olugbenga Omogbemi Edema (Male) and Chief Olusola Alexander Oke SAN (Male).
Responding to enquiries on the number of nomination forms sold so far, a senior staff of the Directorate told our correspondent: “As of the close of work today only 10 aspirants have picked tbe forms.”
He further said that the sale of forms resumes on Tuesday after the Easter break. “In keeping with the two-day public holiday declared by the federal government, the sale will be on hold from Friday till Tuesday.”
The 2024 Ondo Auto Rally has announced to feature the newly commissioned X-kart race series in the country in Ilara Mokin, Ondo State between March 29th and 30th .
Adeoye Ojuoko, the President of the Work and Play group said the X-Kart series that started February in Sagamu is a five-prong series that is billed to be concluded later in the year and will feature at the Rally.
; “At this year’s event, we are raising the level of activity with the onboarding of the X-Kart series to the Ondo Auto Race. The race in Ilara-Mokin will be the second in five series of the X-Kart for the year. This is because we are a partner in the series’ development and a frontline promoter of Motorsports,” he said.
The Ilara Mokin racing track is the first off-road track in the country and has hosted three series of off-road races over the years, hence more positioned to feature the growing X-kart racers.
“Most of the set-up of the track in Ilara has been optimized for the demand of the X-Kart Series and we are only waiting to get the races going,“ Ojuoko added.
Participants for this year’s edition have been widened due to the X-Kart inclusion. The regular car races and bike races will still run their course at the Auto Rally.
Racers are expected to turn up from Lagos, Oyo, Edo, Enugu, Nasarawa, Kwara, Osun Kebbi, and Rivers states.
The Ondo Auto Rally is one of the key drivers of tourism to Ondo State with activities that have included on-road races at the state capital in Akure in the past with former governor Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu flagging off races and also test driving some of the race cars.
The organisers have assured that apart from the X Kart series, the usual trappings of vintage car exhibitions, bike races, drifting, food exhibitions, and live music shows will all be served at the event.
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have launched massive raids across Lagos, Edo and Ondo state leading to the seizure of over 44,948.1 kilograms (44.9 tonnes) of illicit drugs and arrests of eight suspects as well as the seizure of 11 vehicles owned by the drug cartels.
Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.
Babafemi said while a total of 7, 687.8kg of cannabis was destroyed in a warehouse in Ala forest, Akure, Ondo state with another 670kg evacuated, on Saturday 23rd March 2024, no less than 14,310.8625kg of same psychoactive substance was razed on 5.7 hectares of farms in Ohosu/Ugbogui forest, Ovia South West LGA, Edo State on Tuesday 19th March.
He said five suspects including 67-year-old Sunday Otulugbu; Agbayeogor Joshua, 39; Kelvin Ofuasia,45; Williams Peter, 37; and Kamaru Onimisi, 44, were arrested.
He said in another operation in Uzebba/Avbiosi forest on Thursday 21st March, over 6,500kg cannabis was destroyed on 2.6 hectares of farms where three suspects: Kabiru Idris, 36;
Alaba Jimoh, 40; and Lekan Asobere, 35, were arrested.
In the same vein, he said 5,000kg of same substance was razed in a warehouse in Okpuje forest, Owan West LGA by NDLEA operatives with support from the military on Friday 22nd March.
According to the statement, in Lagos, a well-coordinated operation on Wednesday 20th March led to the seizure of 10,534 kilograms (10.534 tonnes) of Ghanaian Loud, a strain of cannabis in Ajah area of the state where 11 vehicles were seized from the drug cartel.
Babafemi said the recovered vehicles include: Iveco truck marked KRD 522 YE; Toyota sienna marked AAA 338 GL; Toyota sienna marked AAA 308 EP; Toyota sienna marked FKJ 381 JC; Nissan bus marked EKY 846 YG; Mercedes bus marked EPE 743 XT; an unmarked Iveco J5 bus; Toyota sienna marked LSD 744 GP; Toyota highlander SUV marked KTU 280 FN; Toyota sienna marked AAA 333 GH and Toyota sienna marked FKJ 208 HV.
He said in another raid at Ago Palace Way Area of the state on Friday 22nd March, a suspect, Miracle Obi was arrested with 1,006 ampoules of pentazocine injection; 50 tablets of tramadol 225mg; 89 bottles of codeine syrup and 2,360 ampoules of Diazepam injection.
He said another suspect, Kareem Mustapha was earlier on Tuesday 19th March nabbed along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway with 25,000 pills of tramadol and 5,900 ampoules of pentazocine injection.
The statement read: “While 58kg cannabis was recovered at Jagindi village, Kafanchan LGA, Kaduna State on Friday 22nd March, Abdulqadir Muhammad, 34, was arrested with 45 kilograms of same substance by NDLEA operatives along Kaduna- Zaria expressway.
“In Borno state, Salisu Yusuf, 20, was nabbed with 30kg Arizona, a strain of cannabis at Njimtilo checkpoint on Saturday 23rd March, while another suspect, Rabiu Husseini, 27, was arrested with 34kg cannabis along Gwagwalada/Abuja highway on his way from Lagos to Katsina state on Wednesday 21st March.
“The following day, 22nd March, NDLEA officers on patrol along Gashua-Baymari road, Busari LGA, Yobe state arrested Haladu Hassan with 160 blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 50kg.
In Kano state, a syndicate dealing in cocaine and heroin was successfully dismantled with the arrest of 42-year-old Onyeka Uba at Sabon Gari area of Kano where 1.805 kilograms and 7grams of the illicit substances were recovered from him on Monday 18th March. Another suspect, Ubale Sani, 49, was also arrested with 51.5kg cannabis at Chiromawa area of Kano.
“Operatives of a special operation unit of NDLEA also disrupted criminal activities of another cocaine syndicate in Abuja at the weekend with the arrest of three leaders of the group. While Nnajiofor Celestine Kenechukwu, 41, and Okoro Chigozie Christian, 35, were arrested.
“On Friday 22nd March at Paint House Hotel, Umar Garba Benna Street, 21 Road, First Avenue, Gwarimpa Abuja with 718 grams of cocaine, a follow up operation at the residence of Okoro Chigozie at House 30, 69B Road 6th Avenue Gwarimpa, led to the recovery of 19 blocks of Arizona, a strain of cannabis weighing 9.823kg and monetary exhibits: N545,500 and $250, as well as property documents. Two vehicles: Toyota Camry 2007 marked BWR 94 BM and Toyota Camry 2012 marked RBC 154 BS were also recovered from them.
“Another follow up operation to the residence of Nnajiofor Celestine Kenechukwu at 49 Mercy Orjiakor street, Becky Estate 11, Karu, Nasarawa state on Saturday 23rd March also led to the recovery of various quantities of Arizona and methamphetamine while his girlfriend and accomplice, Ifemenam Oge was arrested.
“With the same vigour, the various commands of the Agency across the country continued with the War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, advocacy campaign in the past week. Some of them include: WADA sensitisation lecture for students and teachers of Government Day Secondary School, Damaturu, Yobe; Government Secondary School, Afaha Ukwa, Akwa Ibom; Total Child School, Awka, Anambra and Celestial Church of Christ High School Oke-Ado, Ibadan, Oyo state, among others.
“While commending the officers and men of the Lagos, Edo, Ondo, Kano, Borno, Kaduna, and FCT Commands as well as the Special Operations unit of the Agency for their outstanding feats in the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) equally applauded their counterparts in all the commands across the country for intensifying their WADA advocacy lectures in schools, markets, motor parks, worship centres and work places.”
Operatives of the Ondo State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)https://interior.gov.ng/nigeria-security-and-civil-defense-corp/ have arrested notorious kidnapper, Dairu Abdullahi, at Eti Ose River Forest, after a gun duel.
Dairu and his gang have collected N6.2m ransom from their recent victim before he was arrested.
The NSCDC operatives stormed the forest in response to a distress call from Eti Ose in Owo Local government about the activities of kidnappers.
Also arrested inside the forest was one Uyobon Jim who served as informant to the kidnappers as well as engaged in the cultivation of marijuana.
A spokesman for the Ondo NSCDC, DSC Aidamenbor Daniel, said another three suspected kidnappers were arrested at Abusoro camp, Ipele forest Reserve, Owo LGA while attempting to kidnap their victim.
