Tag: Oyo

The Central Council Of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), Olubadan-in-Council, Obas, Ibadan elders, Mogajis and Baales have warned O’odua Nation agitators to steer clear of Ibadanland and the entire Oyo state, saying they would not condone any insult again.

The stakeholders condemned the attack on the Oyo state governor’s office and Oyo State House of Assembly by the suspected agitators.

Recalled that some masked men in army camouflage with rifles suspected to be Yoruba Nation Agitators on Saturday stormed the Oyo State Government Secretariat.

A statement by CCII President-General, Chief Niyi Ajewole called for a thorough investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate incident.

According to him, whoever is involved in the act directly or indirectly should be fished out and brought to book.

The statement reads: “We hereby condemn this heinous assault in its entirety, with a strong warning that all these agitators should stay away from Ibadanland and Oyo state as anyone found with any forms of illegal assembly or hoisting of any flags, use of agitators caps, berets, vests, stickers will be considered as the enemy of the Ibadanland and the State will deal with according to the tradition and the law.

“CCII and indeed the entire sons and daughters of Ibadan received with terrible shock, embarrassment and consternation, the audacious invasion of the Oyo State Government seat of power, the State Secretariat, Ibadan.

“Of great and particular concern was the invasion of Ibadan, which has been enviably enjoying the peace that the indigenes and residents generally are happy about. It was said that the invaders actually attempted to take over the Governor’s office and the House of Assembly, the two vital organs of government and instruments of governance.

“It was a deliberate and daring attempt, targeted at seizing power. An attack of preponderance qualified to be described as localized mutiny, perhaps aimed to be expanded to the other parts of the country.

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“It is not even out of place, to suspect that the hoodlums wanted to deliver a diabolical message of taking over Ibadan to be held hostage, or captured and kept in captivity.

“Information at the disposal of CCII was that the invasion was orchestrated and sponsored, by yet-to-be-identified individuals and groups. While the heinous onslaught lasted, there was serious apprehension, consternation and commotion in the whole of Ibadan City.

“All the inhabitants were restless, putting calls across to one another to ensure each other’s safety wherever they were. Economic and other activities were disrupted.

“Indigenes in diaspora too were not left out, calling their loved ones at home, to ascertain their safety. Of particular interest to all the residents of Oyo State, particularly the Ibadan sons and daughters was the whereabouts of His Excellency, the Governor of Oyo State Engineer Seyi Makinde, who ordinarily would be the target of such a barbaric offensive.

“One wondered whether we were at war! One wondered why these disgruntled elements wanted to turn Ibadan into the theatre of war. We even wondered whether the tumultuous banditry being perpetrated in certain parts of the country was to be extended to Ibadan City. What an unprovoked and appalling insult.

“As the confusion was going on, information started filtering in, that the crime was being committed by a certain group called “Oodua Nation Agitators” aiming to actualize the establishment of “Oodua Republic.

“How can that be possible in a manner that caught the people unawares? Was Ibadan part of their sinister motive? As the apprehension persisted, reprieve started to prevail, when it was gathered that personnel of various Security Agencies had moved in, to take control. We thank God that the aim of the urchins failed.

“We were relieved when we got to know that the quelling operation was successfully carried out by our gallant security personnel. It was an appreciable and enviable feat, that the beasts were captured.

“We were joyful that no innocent soul was lost, we thank God for the safety of the governor and government officials. Thank God that Satan was shamed.

“We congratulate and appreciate the governor for being effectively and successfully proactive, we congratulate the governor for being able to surmount the evil machination of the enemies.

“We appreciate, congratulate and thank all the stakeholders in the security architecture of the state, the Military, the Police, Civil Defence, Amotekun and other paramilitary outfits involved are all acknowledged and appreciated.”

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Oyo State Government has argued that local government autonomy can only be sustainable if the Federal Government steps in to take up financial responsibilities for public primary schools and medical institutions to relieve the financial burdens of the State Government 

The Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade spoke in a remarks when he visited his counterpart at the Local Government Ministry, Mr. Segun Olayiwola on a fact finding mission. 

He noted that the salaries and allowances of teachers and local government employees in Oyo state amount to over N5billion every month,  which the State has been managing judiciously to bring dividends of democracy to the grassroots

Acknowledging Governor Makinde’s commitment to traditional institutions, Oyelade said the imminent completion of the palace of Olubadan of Ibadan land is possible largely because of the personal intervention of the government. 

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The commissioner praised the Governor for working closely with traditional institutions towards strengthening security architecture across the state, curbing activities of illegal miners  through community based approach and stopping the menace of land grabbers and herdsmen.

Olayiwola said the Makinde’s administration has enthroned imperial majesties, royal majesties, royal highnesses and Baales running to over 60 in a bid to secure the territorial integrity of Oyo state.

Speaking on the vacant Alaafin of Oyo  stool, the he said government is  committed to the age- long tradition of the selection process, assuring that the administration will ensure the integrity of the selection process and prevent any form of compromises in choosing a new Alaafin of Oyo for the people.

Regarding the upcoming April 27th Local Government election, the Commissioner assured the public that the Ministry is working tirelessly to ensure that the election is free and fair.

Reiterating the Ministry’s commitment to upholding democracy and good governance in the state, the Commissioner stressed the importance of a peaceful electoral process. He further urged all stakeholders, including political parties, candidates, and voters, to abide by the rules and regulations of the  electoral commission.

An Oyo State Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Ogbomoso has sentenced a former lawmaker Dr. Folaranmi Oyebamiji to one year and four months imprisonment.

Oyebamiji was found guilty of conspiracy, false publication, forgery, threat to murder an Oko Town High Chief and his household as well as conduct likely to cause breach of peace.

Chief Magistrate Muideen Salami, however granted the convict a fine of N500,000 in lieu of the sentence.

In his judgment, Salami sentenced the convict to six months imprisonment on count of conspiracy with option of N150,000.

Three months for count 2 of false publication/defamation with fine of N150,000.

Six months for the offence of forgery with option of fine of N100,000, and one month for the offence of threat to murder with a fine of N100,000.

The sentences are to run concurrently, the Chief Magistrate ordered.

The former House of Representatives member from Ogbomoso South was arraigned in 2021 by the Oyo Police Command with a 94-year old Oko Town traditional title holder, Mathew Wojuade Ademola, and five others.

They include Wojuade Gbemiga, Wojuade Philip, Bello Semiu Opeyemi, Eyolade Joshua Adewumi, and Adeniyi Idowu.

They were charged with alleged conspiracy to murder High Chief Solomon Ojedayo in Oko Town, a suburb of Ogbomoso.

While the prosecutor, Mr M.A. Ojei, represented the Commissioner of Police in the charge marked  MOG/190c/2021,  Dr. Olutayo Oyewale holds the watching brief for the complainant, while Prince Niran Oyekale represented the defendants.

After the prosecution called five witnesses against the defendants, the six other defendants except Oyebamji informed the court on December 22, 2023 through Dr. Tayo Oyewale, that they had deposed to separate affidavits in Ibadan High Court Registry in which they settled with the complainant, High Chief Solomon Ojedayo.

Their names were therefore struck out from the charge, leaving Oyebamji to open his defence in the charge brought against him.

At the conclusion of the trial and submission of written addresses by Ojei and Ojekale, the court on Thursday reviewed the case and found Oyebamji guilty of all the counts.

The convict had given an alibi during trial that at the material time he was said to have committed the offences, he was involved in an accident.

He claimed he was admitted at the UCH, Ibadan on December 17, 2019 and discharged on January 18, 2020 before returning to Oko on the June 27, 2020.

He however said that he did not disclose this information to the Police in Ibadan and Zone 11, Osogbo because he was not asked such question.

The court discountenanced the claim of alibi saying that he only imported such as an excuse during the trial amounting to after-thought.

“The accused person only tendered his photograph with crutches, neck girdle, without vehicle inspection report of the accident. There was no photo of the accidented vehicle to support his defence.

The alibi according to decided authorities must have been promptly and lucidly disclosed to the police during investigation. It is the considered opinion of this court that the alibi is an after-thought which cannot avail the accused person”, the Court said.

The prosecution also alleged that Oyebamji on his Facebook account “threatened the lives of Chief Solomon Ojedayo and his household by sending defamatory and threatening messages to his phone via Facebook that his life will soon be over as it cost him nothing to eliminate him and his household.”

He had also described High Chief Solomon Ojedayo as “Sosoliso Ojedidakuda, Olowo Igbo” on the Facebook, an act considered as defamatory.

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Though he denied referring to the complainant as “Sosoliso Ojedidakuda”, claiming that he is a writer, a poet and author, who could use words figuratively, the Court held that the coincidence of the name simulation with the reference drawn, was meant to disparage the complainant, and therefore the prosecution proved its case against him.

Having reviewed the whole four issues raised from the written addresses of the prosecution and the defence, Chief Magistrate Salami resolved that “the evidence, both oral and written, weighed against the defendant. So, the prosecution had manifestly proved its case against the defendant. The 7th accused person is therefore found guilty and is accordingly convicted”.

In his allocutus, Oyebamiji’s lawyer, Niran Ojekale, pleaded for leniency.

He said:  “I apply to the magnanimity of the court to temper justice with mercy. All along the proceedings, the convict had suffered greatly by having to be remanded in police custody. He is a family man whose dependants will suffer greatly if he is thrown into the Correctional Centre. He has children still schooling, and he is a political figure. I shall be praying the court to award an option of fine as there is no record of his being a convict before”.

In his final judgment, the Chief Magistrate sentenced the former parliamentarian to 16- month imprisonment with an option of N500,000.

The convict was subsequently whisked to the Abolongo Correctional Centre in Oyo Town pending when he could settle the awarded option of fine.