Tag: OSUN

In response to the ongoing conflict between the Osun State Government and Segilola Mining Gold Limited, a magistrate court in Osogbo has ordered the immediate shutdown of the company until further notice.

The closure stemmed from allegations of a ₦60 billion in tax evasion, violations of environmental regulations, and other infractions.

Under the court’s supervision, the Osun Government has sealed off the company’s entrance, with the assistance of armed security personnel, including members of the Police Joint Task Force and Amotekun operatives.

The Nation reports that the Osun State government is determined to take action against Segilola for the alleged tax evasion and non-compliance with environmental rules.

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Segilola Mining, however, denied the allegations, asserting that it has consistently acted as a law-abiding and transparent corporate entity, fulfilling all tax obligations.

Meanwhile, a copy of motion ex-parte dated September 27th 2024 filled by the Osun State Government through the Attorney-General of Osun State against Segilola Resources Operating Limited in suit number MOS/M.531/2024 contained an order of sealing off the gold mining activities in Osun State.

The Chief Magistrate, Dr Olusegun Ayilara gave the order of the closure after the prayer of the Osun State government to the court.

The Attorney General sought for court order to seal up and lock up all the business premises of Segilola Gold Firm for violation of Tax Audit on Payee, Withholding Taxes and Development Levy, from 2019 to 2023 until the due sum is fully liquidated into Osun State Government Account.

Dr Ayilara ordered that “The Attorney-General, Osun State is hereby permitted to seal up and lock up all the business premises of Segilola Resources Operating Limited in Osun State for violating of Tax Audit on Payee, withholding Taxes and Development Levy from 2019 to 2023 until the due sum is fully liquidated into Osun State Government Account.”

Osun State Government says the devaluation of the Naira is responsible for the state’s high debt service payment.

Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr Kolapo Alimi, in a statement yesterday in Osogbo, said the clarification became necessary due to the report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) listing Osun as number 10 among states with high debt service payments.

He said the apparent rise in the monthly loan repayment on the state’s foreign loan was not as a result of any new borrowing, but a consequence of the nation’s weak currency, following the devaluation of the Naira.

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The commissioner noted that the repayment on foreign loans was usually done based on the prevailing exchange rate of the local currency, that is Naira to the United States dollar.

“It is also important to put on record that Osun State was plunged into high local and foreign indebtedness in the 12 years of the last administration in the state.

“As the repayment is done in line with prevailing rate, there is an increase in the Naira value of monthly loan repayment on foreign loans portfolio of all the states of the federation.”

No fewer than 200 students from five states, including Osun, Ogun, Ekiti, Anambra, and Benue, have benefited from the Ilerioluwa Education Support Scheme, led by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola.

The beneficiaries, who achieved scores above 200 in their Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) results, received their cheques over the weekend at the Tinubu/Shettima campaign office in Osogbo, Osun State.

The presentation was conducted by Engr Olalekan Badmus, Executive Director of Marine and Operations at the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) and facilitator of the initiative.

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Engr Badmus said: “The programme aims to give back to society by engaging the youths. I am also a beneficiary of this engagement, with my leader and mentor, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, he has built a lot of us, and the only way we can spread this goodwill he has done is by giving back to the society through Ilerioluwa Education Support Scheme which started four years ago for admission seekers.

“This is the fourth edition. We started by paying for JAMB for beneficiaries. We have gone further by also giving grants to admission seekers who scored over 200 in JAMB.”

He added: “Over 200 admission seekers from majority from Osun while others from Ogun, Ekiti, Anambra, and Benue states benefited from this programme.”

National Coordinator of Southwest Tinubu Renewed Hope Agenda Advocacy Group, Chief Oladosu Oladipo (GCCF) has recalled with nostalgia creation of Osun State more than three decades ago.

The APC chief spoke  during celebration of Osun State at 33.

He said: “I recall the struggle for creation of Osun State as far back as 1948 when Kabiyesi Alaiyeluwa Adenle, the late Ataoja of Osogbo as chair of Osun elite, with the late Chief Ladoke Akintola as secretary petitioned the colonial Governor-General in Lagos demanding creation of Osun Division from Ibadan imperial rule under Olubadan-in-Council.

“Then, the Ajele administered Osogbo, Ogbomoso, Iwo, Ede, Ikirun, Ejigbo, Ikire, Odo-Otin, Iragbiji areas. This culminated in the April 1, 1954, grant of autonomy to the areas, with headquarters at Osogbo.

“The struggle continued, with Kolawole Balogun-led Osun State Creation Group. The council for Creation of Osun State from Oyo State, led by Oba William Ayeni, Orangun of Ila as chair and Tunji Abolade as secretary.

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“In the Second Republic, the legislature from Osun Division (Osun Senatorial Districts One and Two) presented a request for creation of Osun from Oyo State to National Assembly.

“Senator Raji Adeleke, Tunji Abolade, Kunle Odueyingbo, Aiyelagbe Laogun, Deji Dairo and Fadeyi from Ila Orangun were among signatories of the request for the creation in 1980 to the National Assembly.

“As part of the Military President Babangida’s Transition, there was an election to 1988/89 Constituent Assembly. I was elected to represent Ifelodun Local Government in 1988-89 Constituent Assembly.

“I moved the motion for Creation of Osun State. We from Osun Division, with those from Ife, Ijesa and Ila signed the request to create Osun State out of Oyo State. We submitted the same through the Constituent Assembly chair to President Ibrahim Babangida in November 1988.”

No fewer than four travellers died while 20 others sustained various degrees of injuries in a multiple accident that occurred in Osun State.

The Nation gathered that the accident occurred at Ikeji-Arakeji along Osun/Ondo Road in Ori-Ade Local Government Area of Osun State.

A viral video obtained by The Nation revealed that three vehicles including two buses and one truck were involved in the multiple crashes.

One of the buses caught fire as passengers including two corps members were seen lying down on the floor. Residents and commuters around the area were wailing.

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Confirming the incident, the Osun State Commandant of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Taofeek Sokunbi, blamed the accident on over-speeding and careless driving.

He said: “The accident occurred three days ago. Four people died and 20 people were injured. The accident occurred where there was a speed breaker.

“I want to urge drivers to drive carefully on the road because the accident was caused by over-speeding and carelessness on the path of the driver.”

Two cases of Mpox have been confirmed in Ilesa West local government area of Osun State.

Osun State Government urged residents to remain calm as Emergency Operations Centre has been open to tackle the spread.

A bulletin by the Ministry of Information by Segilola Babalola on Monday explained Commissioner for Health, Jola Akintola confirmed the cases during a meeting at the Ministry of Health in Osogbo, Osun State.

It reads: “Akintola disclosed that the cases were recorded in Ilesa west and assured the public that the state government is actively managing the situation.

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“We successfully managed COVID-19 and prevented a cholera outbreak. Now, with two confirmed M-pox cases, the EOC has been activated, and stakeholders will meet every Monday to strategize on preventing the spread of the virus.

“Osun has only seen two cases in the last 34 weeks, compared to hundreds in other states. There is no cause for alarm. Our officers are fully prepared, and just as we prevented cholera, we will also prevent the spread of M-pox.”

Osun Epidemiologist, Dr Omolola Adeagbo, revealed that a total of 47 suspected cases were recorded from EPI Week 1 to Week 34 across 13 Local Government Areas (LGAs).

• Farmers seek Adeleke’s intervention

A farmer in the Irewole local government area of Osun State, Akinade Matthew has raised the alarm after herders destroyed five hectares of maize and cassava.

Akinade told The Nation that the herdsmen invaded the farm located at Ikoyi last week.

 “The headers damaged all the maize on the hectares of land and cassava which were due for harvest. Not one stick of either corn or cassava was standing when I got to the farm.

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“I have expended a lot on this farm from clearing, cutting of trees, planting, workmanship, and others.”

“I doubt if Amotekun operatives are still in place in Osun State because they it will take hours before they perpetrated the heinous act.”

The farmer pleaded with the Osun State Government especially Governor Ademola Adeleke and the commissioner of Agriculture to come to the aid of farmers in the farm settlement.