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Tag: ONDO

  • Man to die by hanging for killing girlfriend in Ondo

    An Ondo State High Court sitting in Akure has sentenced a man, Chukwudi Onweniwe, to death by hanging for killing his undergraduate girlfriend two years ago.

    Onweniwe, had strangulated his girlfriend, Nifemi Adeyeoye, an HND student of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic to death in Owo, Ondo State.

    After reviewing the case, the presiding judge, Justice Ademola Bola, found Onweniwe guilty of murder and sentenced him to death by hanging.

    The convict was charged on four-count charge bordering on endangering life, abduction, rape and murder.

    The prosecutor, Jumoke Ogunjebi, who filed the charge on February 20, 2017, called five witnesses, including the mother of the deceased, to testify against the convict.

    The convict abducted Nifemi and took her to a farm near Alayere, Ogbese, raped her and then snuffed life out of her by strangulating her to death.

    Nifemi’s mother, who testified before the court, said her daughter had told her she was going to visit her friend on the fateful day.

    According to her, she did not know the convict though he was said to be her daughter’s boyfriend.

    Besides, the bereaved mother said she did not see her daughter again until policemen invited her to come to the mortuary to identify a corpse whether it was her daughter.

    Two motorcyclists who saw the duo together on that day also testified in the case and one of them told the court that he carried them to a spot in town.

    Delivering his judgement, Bola said Onweniwe was arraigned before the court on May 22, 2017 and he had entered a “not guilty” plea when the four-count charge preferred against him was read to him.

    The judge said that an autopsy was carried out by Dr. Pelemo of Ondo State Specialist Hospital, Akure.

    Pelemo, which revealed abnormal state of the deceased’s neck and fracture of the skull.

    He explained that it suggested that the deceased had been attacked by an object with a blunt edge which led to her death.

    The police witness, Inspector John Aderibigbe, said one of the motorcyclists who testified in the case had come to report the suspicious movement of the convict and the deceased at the police station.

    He explained that the case was later transferred to the Special Anti-Cultism Squad in Akure.

    The judge said the convict had confessed to the officers of the squad according to the testimony of one Ayoola Famoriyo and had taken his team to the spot where he hid the corpse of the deceased.

  • Ondo records 1,606 tuberculosis cases in 2018

    The Ondo State Government has said that no fewer than 1,606 tuberculosis cases were recorded in 2018 in the state.

    The Desk Officer on Tuberculosis and Leprosy in Ondo State Primary Healthcare Development Board, Mrs Olufunke Adeniyi, said this yesterday during World Tuberculosis Day in Akure.

    The theme is: “It is Time”.

    Adeniyi noted that many members of the public were still walking around with tuberculosis infection despite the fact that the treatment is free.

    She added that the test and treatment of the disease are free in all public health facilities in the state.

    Adeniyi said an infected person should be a concern to those around him because they could get infected as well, hence the need to support the fight against the disease.

    According to her, the state government is doing a lot to sensitise residents to the disease because it is highly contagious and deadly if not cured.

    “The state government is motivating the health workers across the 18 local government areas of the state. Every public healthcare facility is equipped to adequately treat tuberculosis in the state.

    “The government has engaged the health workers to be more responsive and it carries out community outreaches and aggressive awareness,” she said.

    Adeniyi enjoined members of the public to join hands with the government to fight the disease.

    According to her, anyone coughing for two weeks with heavy sweat and inability to sleep with chest pain should report at nearest public health facility.

    The Coordinator of Tuberculosis Networks in the state, Mr Martin-Mary Falana, said it was high time to end the disease, hence the need for everyone to play their impactful roles in achieving this.

    “We all have a responsibility in joining hands to end tuberculosis in our society by referring anyone coughing for two weeks to health facility for treatment which is totally free,” he urged.

    He, however, decried poor funding in nipping the disease in the bud despite being the second deadliest disease in the world.

    “Tuberculosis is the second deadliest in the world, yet it has cure but people could not access healthcare because there is limited funds to create awareness.

    “Even, only 12 per cent out of the money released by Global Funds is given to tackle the disease. We need more political will and impactful responses and resources for motivation like HIV activities are given good attention,” he said.

  • Nigerians pay tribute to late Pius Adesanmi at candlelight procession

    Tributes and encomiums overwhelmed in Akure, the Ondo State capital at the weekend in memory of Prof. Pius Adesanmi who died in the ill-fated Ethiopian airline 302 penultimate week.

    Sympathisers and admirers gathered at the NUJ Press Centre in Adegbemile,Akure to honour the departed scholar from Kogi state.

    In attendance were the Special Adviser to the Governor of Ondo State on Public Utilities, Engr. Tunji Light Ariyomo, former Ondo state Head of Service( HoS) Bar Ajose Kudehinbu, Rev. Fr. Joseph Ogodo of Ondo Catholic Diocese who is the Director, Domus Pacis Pastoral Institute,Igoba, Akure, Tope Famuti, President of the 83/88 set of the St. Thomas Aquinas College Akure Old Students’ Association among others.

    Speaking on the life and times of the late erudite scholar, Ariyomo said Adesanmi was an intrepid revolutionary fought with superior ideas for the emancipation of the black race.

    According to him, late Adesanmi had seen that education and leadership are the two principal keys to the liberation of Nigeria and the rest of Africa.

    He said “Pius knew long ago that our future as a people would be affected by the depth and quality of our education as well as the quality of minds that constitute our leadership”.

    Ariyomo added that “there are many works of Pius that many have described as the best. For me, however, due to its central significance to the leadership ascension theme of most African democracies, my best of Pius’ works is an essay titled ‘2015: I endorse you, spectocrat!’

    “This work ministered directly to the theme of pseudo-democracy in Africa and the ultimate need of ensuring that leadership becomes beholding to the ordinary masses rather than as boons from garrison commanders of Nigerian politics”.

    Ariyomo, who could not hold back tears described Adesanmi as brilliance-personified.

    Kudehinbu, in his tribute, described the late Professor as someone who was focused on seeing Africa become a safe haven for her people.

    He said the late erudite professor was never tired of promoting knowledge that could lead to bridging the gap between the poor and the rich.

    The former HoS said: “I met Pius on Facebook. He was a writer and therefore a citizen of the world. His works are towards building a good nation. He promoted the interest of the people through his works and with his sterling talents. Although he could come across as very critical at times, his criticisms were well directed. He was a prophet who appeared to have seen his death coming. He saw into the future.”

    Rev. Fr. Joseph Ogodo while delivering his exhortation on Life and the Place of God offered words of consolation to the family, associates and friends left behind by the late professor.

    The cleric described the late Professor as an Afro-dynamic Laureate because in all his works, he promoted excellence and Africanness.

    He delivered a special greeting from the Bishop of the Home Parish of the late Prof. Adesanmi as well as the Bishop of Yagba Catholic Dioceses who were also on their way to attend the programme at Isanlu.

    Ogodo also left admonition while quoting several verses in the Holy Bible to prove that death is a mystery.

    He also said that it is not in the length of the years that matters but the good in the years.

    Sympathisers later moved from the venue in procession to the popular Oba Adesida Road in Akure donning T-shirts and Fez caps with images and inscriptions of late Adesanmi.

  • FG to dualise Akure-Ikere road – Akeredolu

    Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State on Friday said the Federal Government would dualise the Akure-Ikere carriage way.

    According to Akeredolu, the Federal Government has already completed the design for the dual carriageway project.

    Akeredolu made the revelation during a thank-you visit to Ifedore, Akure North and Akure South Local Government Areas in Ondo Central Senatorial District.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the All Progressives Congress (APC) won 23 of the 26 seats in the recently concluded House of Assembly election.

    The governor explained that the road contract would be awarded as soon as the 2019 budget was approved.

    He added that the Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, had given his assurance that the contract would be awarded before the end of the first term.

    “The work we are interested in embarking on is the Akure-Ikere dual carriageway, but we cannot because it is a federal project.

    “Earlier, we made several efforts to get the road done; even Fashola intervened and suggested that since Ikere was a dual carriageway, then Akure to Ikere should also be a dual carriageway.

    “I accepted the suggestion, hence the rehabilitation of the deplorable portions of the road.

    ” By the time this is done, you can leave here and work in Akure conveniently and this will decongest Akure and everybody can come and live here.

    “ The drive to Akure will be just 10 minutes,” he said.

    Akeredolu further said his administration would not build any more mega schools, but renovate the existing schools in the state.

    “We will have schools that are accessible and close to pupils’ homes. All those abandoned schools are still schools.

    “We are renovating and building several classrooms and fences of most of them,” he said.

    Earlier, Oba Amos Farukanmi, the Okiti of Iju, thanked the governor for the various life changing projects initiated by government, especially the water scheme in the area.

    Also speaking, Alex Oladimeji, the Chairman of Ifedore Local Government Area, thanked the governor for the laudable projects in the area and promised the continued support of the people.

    He further appealed for the upgrade of the traditional ruler.

    Similarly, Ade Adetimehin, the Chairman of APC in Ondo State, thanked the people for their support during the House of Assembly election.

  • Flood: Ondo, NEMA distribute relief materials to victims

    Ondo State Government in collaboration with National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has distributed relief materials to persons affected by 2018 flood, windstorm and ocean surge in the state.

    Some of the materials shared are fishing nets, water pumping machine, building materials, sewing machines, grinding machines, foodstuffs, soap and beverages, among others.

    The Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Agboola Ajayi thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for leading a responsive government that showed concern about the plight of the people.

    Ajayi appreciated NEMA for always available to help bring relief to those affected by one disaster or the other.

    According to him, fishing nets are for the people in Ilaje and Ese-Odo because fishing is their major occupation, while sewing machines and grinding machines are for the people in Akure and other local governments.

    NEMA Director, Mustapha Maihaja, commiserated with the government of Ondo State over the 2018 flood, windstorm and ocean surge in Ilaje, which affected over seven local governments in the state.

    Maihaja, represented by Head of Operations in charge of Ondo, Osun and Ekiti, Mr Olusegun Afolayan, said that incidents of disasters in the country were not only devastating, but a clog in the wheel of progress and economic development of communities.

    He said “I want to assure you of NEMA’s willingness to sustain the collaboration with Ondo State Government to explore long-term and more sustainable solutions to both natural and human-induced disasters.

    A beneficiary, Mrs Olamide Oluwaniyi, thanked the state government for the gesture, saying it would bring happiness to their homes.

  • We didn’t kill any suspect in Ondo, says NSCDC

    THE Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ondo State Command, has refuted the claim that it killed a suspect, Rasak Ahmed, in its custody.

    The deceased was allegedly arrested for having carnal knowledge of his eight-year-old daughter in Akure, the state capital.

    Its Public Relations Officer (PRO), Samuel Oladapo, said the command decided to react after it was reported in some national dailies that the command allegedly beat Ahmed, a middle-aged man, to death in its custody.

    Oladapo said the suspect was arrested on Sunday following a complaint by his son, Ibrahim, that his father was having intercourse with his sister.

    He said: “The suspect was arrested by our men at our out-post station and brought to the state headquarters on Monday for proper investigations.

    “And during our investigation, Ahmed confessed to the offence and attributed it to devil’s work.

    “Before he was detained in the cell, he was complaining and begging that he should be allowed to put on his ‘buba’ and ‘sokoto’ because he had cold, which we obliged.

    “Meanwhile, he was brought to the headquarters around 6pm and surprisingly, when one of our men approached his cell to deliver food brought by one of his relatives, he was found dangling on iron door of the cell being a short man, having torn his cloth to hang himself.

    “It was unfortunate that he was the only inmate in the cell which made it easy for him to carry out the dastardly act,” he stated.

    He added: “NSCDC is civil and does not torture suspect, let alone killing a suspect. The moto of NSCDC is civil. We do not torture because it has not been our tradition and it is against our mandate.”

    The PRO noted that the corpse had been deposited in a government hospital for autopsy, saying that police had commenced their investigation to confirm the cause of the suspect’s death.

    He, therefore, urged members of the public to disregard the report, stressing that this was not the first time that the command would be handling incest cases.

  • Poll:two killed in Ondo community over alleged ballot box snatching

    Two persons were reportedly killed on Saturday in political mayhem at Oba-Akoko,headquarters of Akoko Southwest local government area of Ondo state.

    Sources alleged that some hoodlums had stormed the community to snatch ballot boxes which led to youths rampage where properties worth millions of naira destroyed including police station and police vehicles.

    It was during the melee that two persons were shot to death, while the third one with gunshot wounds was on admission at the hospital.

    Read Also: APC in early lead in Ondo

    The Police Area Commander for Ikare-Akoko,Razak Rauf, an Assistant Commissioner of Police(ACP) who led a contingent of police to the town to prevail on the people, described the act of vandalization of police property as barbaric.

    He said investigation has commenced while culprits would be arrested and brought to book.

  • APC in early lead in Ondo

    Contrary to penultimate Saturday Presidential/National Assembly election results in Ondo state in which the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC) had a dismal outing against the opposition Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), results trickling in from the 18 local governments put the APC in early lead to clinch majority seats at the State House of Assembly.

    Although the results were yet to be officially collated and announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), results from units to units signed by various party agents showed that APC was coasting home to victory.

    However, allegations of vote buying and ballot box snatching were more pronounced, while there was poor turn out of voters unlike the previous election.

    There was no governorship election in the state, which assumably made the exercise violent-free, the contestants for the House of Assembly election in the APC, PDP and Social Democratic Party (SDP) across the 18 Local Government Areas of the state were alleged to buy votes openly with impunity.

    Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu had earlier while casting his votes in Owo, decried the apathy shown by the electorate during the polls.

    He mobilised people to come out and exercise their franchise, stressing that the State Assembly was crucial aimed at choosing people at the grassroots that would represent their constituencies to facilitate good governance.

  • Court wades into Ondo APC primary crisis

    The All Progressives Congress ( APC ) lawmaker representing Akoko Southeast/West in the House of Representatives, Kolawole Babatunde has dragged the candidate of the party in the area, Ade Adeogun to the Federal High Court sitting in Akure.

    Babatunde is challenging the inclusion of his name on the result sheet of the party’s primary election held late last year.

    Other defendants are APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, Ondo state Chairman, Ade Adetimehin and INEC.

    Counsel to the plaintiff, John Adanike maintained that there was no reason for his client’s name to be included in the list, alleging that APC held no primary election for the House of Representatives aspirants across the state.

    Speaking with reporters, Babatunde said he was challenging the list to safeguard his reputation and future political career, noting that the score allotted to him in the list was forged.

    Kolawole wondered where the figure emanated from, and described the attempt as a way of rubbishing his name and his future political career.

    Counsels to the defendants, Henry Akingbesote, and Oluwafemi Kuku prayed the court to step down the notice of motion, pointing out that pre-election matter must be raised within only fourteen days.

    In his ruling, the Presiding Judge, Justice Abdul Dogo said objection could be raised based on ‘ statue barred’ as provided by sub-section eight of Nigeria constitution.

    Justice Dogo thereafter adjourned the case to March 14 for ruling and other considerations for the applications.

  • Ondo donates transformer to Akure communities

    FOUR communities in Plaza area of Akure, Ondo State capital, will soon be relieved of four-year power outage.

    This followed Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu’s directive that a new 300kVA transformer substation be installed for the communities.

    He directed the Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Utilities, Tunji Light Ariyomo, an engineer, to ensure that a new transformer was provided for the communities after the necessary engineering assessment.

    The transformer arrived on Sunday to the delight of residents in the communities.

    Ariyomo, who handed over the transformer to the community leaders, explained to them that Akeredolu directed his office to provide it.

    He told residents that Akeredolu was aware that there were serious power issues in Ondo South.

    He added that the governor could not believe that there was any community in total darkness in the state capital.

    The special adviser, therefore, ordered that the power problems should be fixed immediately.

    Read also: Civil servants hail Akeredolu over workers’ welfare

    Ariyomo said a power substation would be built for the four communities to be connected to the power line at Plaza, hence the new transformer.

    Appreciating the governor for the speed at which the problem was fixed, the Chairman of the Communities Association, Goke Adurota, said the Benin Electricity Distribution Company Plc (BEDC) officials had disappointed them several times after the residents had spent so much on fixing the power problem.

    He, however, assured the governor that the residents would pay back by voting for the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates on Saturday for the House of Assembly election.

    Adurota promised to mobilise the youth, women and men in the four communities to appreciate the governor with their votes.