The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Traditional ruler

  • Traditional ruler commends Tinubu over Opeifa’ s appointment

    Traditional ruler commends Tinubu over Opeifa’ s appointment

    The Baale of the Dopemu community in the Agege area of Lagos State, Shuaib Ajani Afogunlowo, has lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing Mr. Kayode Opeifa as a Managing Director of Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC).

    Afogunlowo also lauded a former governor of Lagos state and Minister of Works, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola under whom Opeifa served as a Commissioner for Transportation.

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    He also expressed gratitude to Governor Babajide Sanwo Olu on ongoing projects and urged Awori people at home and in the diaspora as well as all the Nigerians to support the present government to achieve more meaningful.

  • Lady accuses traditional ruler of attack during failed bid to take over palace

    Lady accuses traditional ruler of attack during failed bid to take over palace

    A resident of Imoke-Idioyin community in Ibeju-Lekki area of Lagos State, Ms. Adedayo Adeboye, has accused a traditional ruler, Chief Moruf Apena, of unprovoked assault and brutality during a failed attempt to take over the community’s palace.

    Adedayo said the incident which left her with swollen lips and wounds happened on Saturday November 16, 2024 when Chief Apena attempted to take over the palace belonging to her family, where she visited on the day of the incident.

    She explained that she was beaten by the traditional ruler when she prevented him from taking over the palace with his boys.

    Adedayo said: ”I was in the palace when Chief Apena, who was not the Baale (traditional ruler) of our community, and his boys stormed the palace.

    “They were armed with guns and shot sporadically in a bid to forcibly eject us from the palace.

    “I told him that he had no right to come to the palace because he was not the Baale appointed by the authorities  Ibeju-Lekki Local Government and that one of our family members is the traditional ruler.

    “It was when they started damaging the doors and windows that I resisted them and Apena pushed me down, dealt blows on my head and face and resulting in my wounded lips and bruises.

    “He then went outside and led the boys to come into the palace to further brutalise me.”

    She alleged that it was not the first time Apena would launch such an attack on the family,  recalling that he launched a similar attack on the family last year.

    Adedayo said: “This was not his first time of attacking my family. Last year, he went to our family house and brutalised my brothers and other relatives despite the fact that the Ibeju-Lekki Local Government did not appoint him as the Baale, he has continued to parade himself as the Baale of our community.

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    “He took my family members to the Area J Police Command. He told his boys to brutalise me and decapitate me until bystanders rushed in and rescued me from him, and I locked the palace.

    “Afterwards, I went to the Area J Police Command at Elemoro, and Apena came to the station too. But my complaints were not recorded because he came there with money which he shared at the station.

    ”Instead of reprimanding him, the policemen at the station said we should go home and settle the matter.

    “I left the station for a public health centre for treatment, from where I was taken to a private hospital and admitted for a few days. However, I was still bleeding from the mouth and my wounded body.

    “My request for a medical report at the health centre was rejected because I did not present a police report.

    “Sadly, my request for a police report from the Area J Command in Elemoro was declined and I was asked to approach a police station at Akodo for a police report.”

    She urged the state authorities to intervene in what she described as incessant harassment by Apena, who she described as an impostor, saying: “I want to urge the Lagos State Government to intervene in this matter and caution Moruf Apena against sustaining his continuous harassment of my family in bid to forcibly impose himself as the Baale of our community.”

    Speaking with our correspondent on the phone on Wednesday, Apena explained that he visited the palace following an outcry by the residents that some persons were using it to engage in unlawful ritual activities and procession thereby causing fear in the village.

  • Traditional ruler turbans chiefs in 17 states

    Traditional ruler turbans chiefs in 17 states

    • Gives daughter’s hand in marriage

    The Sarkin Zabarmawa Zarmakwai Chieftaincy Council of 17 Southern States in Nigeria, Alhaji Aliyu Abubakar, has decorated 64 Zabarmawa chiefs across the 17 southern states.

    The event, held at his Idi-Araba, Mushin palace, coincided with the wedding Fatiah between the Sarkin’s daughter, Nuratu Aliyu Abubakar and Ahmodu Maigari.

    The 64 chiefs would serve as his cabinet members to represent their constituency or geographical locations.

    The elaborate ceremony featured the presentation of certificates to the cabinet members.

    Alhaji Sarki said the people that were inaugurated are from different states and local governments.

    He urged the appointees to ensure peace in their localities.

    He admonished them to always be good to our neighbours, irrespective of their tribe and religion.

    This, he said, is the way to develop Nigeria.

    According to him, the chiefs must be law-abiding and respects the culture of their host communities.

    Lagos State Commissioner of Police (CP) Fayoade Adegoke felicitated the Sarkin on his daughter’s wedding and inauguration of his council cabinet.

    He enjoined everyone to maintain peace and order.

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    According to the CP, business thrives successfully in a place a where there is peace and order.

    “We want peace, unity, and togetherness. Let us be law abiding and assist the policemen in your domains. Anywhere you see anybody causing trouble, kindly call the attention of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and Area Commander to it,” he said.

    According to Alhaji Ibrahim Waziri, the 64 Zabarmawas were elected based on their good performance, behaviour, capacity and hardwork.

    Waziri said: “The representatives have been thoroughly investigated based on their relations with their communities and they’ve given us assurance to be law-abiding”.

    Waziri noted that reason for the election is to make the work easier for the Sarki who is the head of the Zabarmawa Council to oversee other areas within its jurisprudence.

    “Once you have a representative in each place, it will be very easy to communicate with the people in that area,” he added.

    Alhaji Muhammad Abubakar, who spoke on behalf of chiefs, thanked the Sarki for the appointment. 

    He enjoined his colleagues not to disappoint the Sarkin.

  • Apapa-Iganmu chair, traditional ruler challenge Lagos CP on performance

    Apapa-Iganmu chair, traditional ruler challenge Lagos CP on performance

    Chairman of Apapa/Iganmu Local Council Development Area in Lagos State, Alhaja Funmilayo Akande-Mohammed and the Orangun of Ila Kingdom, Oba Oyedotun Olukayode, have charged the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Mr Adegoke Fayoade, to acquit himself well in the discharge of his duties.

    The duo made the remark during a visit to the police commissioner’s office at the command headquarters, Ikeja, to congratulate him on his promotion.

    Alhaja Akande-Mohammed, who also hails from Ila-Orangun, like Fayoade, said the people   of Ila-Orangun were happy that their son was appointed CP in Lagos state.

    She assured that sons and daughters of Ila-Orangun in Lagos and elsewhere would support the CP to ensure his success in office.

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    Oba Olukayode prayed for the success of the police commissioner.

    The monarch advised him not to forget Ila-Orangun, his hometown, while in office.

    “We were very happy when he was promoted to the rank of Commissioner of Police.There was jubilation in Ila-Orangun.

    “He should know where he comes from and he should be a good ambassador and not disappoint us.

    “We expect him to perform well and bring honour to us, his people,” he said.

    CP Fayoade described the visit as a great honour, saying he was elated about coming of the traditional ruler to congratulate him and pray for him.

    Fayoade noted that the presence of the traditional ruler meant that the entire people of Ila-Orangun were in Lagos to honour him.

    He said the visit would challenged him to perform well as CP.

    The CP assured the traditional ruler and the people of Ila-Orangun that he would do everything to bring honour home.

    He paid glowing tributes to the late I-G Tafa Balogun and Chief Bisi Akande, a former Osun State governor, for the positive impact they made in his life.

    He urges Lagos residents and people of Ila-Orangun,  in the state and elsewhere, to support him to succeed.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that chiefs, prominent sons and daughters of Ila-Orangun in Lagos and Osun at the ceremony.

    Prayers were offered for the success of the police commissioner.

  • Gunmen kidnap traditional ruler, wife in Kaduna

    Gunmen on Friday kidnapped Mr Maiwada Galadima, the Paramount Chief of Adara Chiefdom in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State and his wife along Kaduna/Kachia road.

    Mr Ibrahim Yakubu, a son in-law to the Chief, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), adding that the Police orderly to the paramount ruler was killed in the process.

    Yakubu explained that the Chief and his wife were taken away while returning to Kachia from Kaduna.

    “The Kidnappers stopped the Chief’s vehicle at the military check point at Idon and shot his Police Orderly.

    “Immediately, they took the Chief and his wife into the bush leaving behind two of his drivers, his daughter and a granddaughter,” he said.

    Efforts to get police confirmation proved abortive as Mr Yakubu Sabo, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Kaduna Police Command was yet to pick telephone calls. (NAN)

  • Court sentences Delta traditional ruler to death

    The embattled Unuevworo (community head) of Ekpan, Uvwie Council Area of Delta State, Chief Newton Agbofodo, has been sentenced to death.

    Agbofodoh, one of the highest ranking chiefs of Uvwie Kingdom, was arrested on June 17, 2016, and was later arraigned in court for crimes bordering on murder.

    He  was sentenced by the Delta State High Court 4, in Asaba, after being found guilty of all four count charges  preferred against him. He was sentenced to death by hanging.

Charges preferred against him were conspiracy to commit murder, the substantial offence of murder, conspiracy to commit attempted murder and an attempted murder.

    He was alleged to have been linked to series of killings within Ekpan and its environs, including the murder of one Edigbe Ikpesa sometime in Oc­tober 2012. He was also implicated in the Delta Mall robbery/wanton de­struction in January, 2016.

    Efforts to get some leaders of the community, including the chairman of the Ekpan Community Development Committee, Innocent Adjenughure-Akpotedja, to comment were unsuccessful.

  • Residents flee community as hoodlums kill one, injure others over selection of traditional ruler

    Residents flee community as hoodlums kill one, injure others over selection of traditional ruler

    Residents of Ayila community in Ogun Waterside Local Government, Ogun State, are allegedly fleeing the town after a man identified as Bayo Oluseyi was killed and several others injured during a fracas over selection of new Baale(traditional ruler) of the town.

    It was learnt that the nomination of an unnamed man for the traditional stool by a powerful politician in the community triggered the fight.

    The controversial nominee was said to have been rejected by a section of the community.

    The Nation learnt that a lingering tussle for the stool which started in 1957 had polarised the ruling houses, despite various mediation by community leaders and government.

    One of the ruling houses was said to have declined the offer to present candidate for the stool when it was its turn to ascend the throne a few years ago.

    It was learnt that a candidate from the next ruling house was selected as Baale, following the rejection by the rightful ruling house.

    Trouble however started after the death of the Baale, when the ruling house which initially rejected the offer insisted the vacant stool must be filled by one of its members.

    A source said: ”There is tension in the community as we speak because of the recent killing and violence following the insistence of a ruling house that its candidate should be the next Baale.

    ” A top politician in this area is the one who is backing an unpopular candidate from a rejected ruling house and it has caused serious problem and palpable fear in this community.

    ”Many residents are leaving for neighbouring communities for fear of being hit during reprisal attacks by those contending for the vacant stool. This is the reason why we are calling on government and law enforcement agencies to step into the matter in order to avoid a complete breakdown of law and order.”

    Contacted, the spokesman of Ogun State Police Command, Abimbola Oyeyemi said the suspects had been arrested in connection with the incident.

    He said the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department(SCID) for further investigation.

    He said: ”There was a tussle for the position of Baale of the community involving two factions. One of those contending for the stool was cautioned by the police against imposing himself as the Baale but he ignored the warning. It was while he attempted to install himself as Baale that violence broke out during which one person was killed and others injured.

    ‘’However, some suspects including the man that was carrying out the unlawful coronation have been arrested and they are now in police custody, while the matter has been transferred to SCID.”

  • Traditional ruler, son, charged with murder of EFCC ‘informant’

    A traditional ruler, Nojimu Abioye, and his son, Wahab, were yesterday arraigned before an Ikeja High Court, for the alleged murder of Alhaji Olatunji Rasak in 2015.

    Rasak was said to be an informant for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The duo were charged with  conspiracy to commit murder and murder.

    They pleaded not guilty.

    The prosecutor, Mr M.T Adewoye, told the court that the Baale of Temidire and his son committed the offence at 10.a.m on July 20, 2015 at the Temidire Area of Alagbado, Lagos.

    “The defendants alongside others who are now at large, murdered Rasak by shooting him with a gun and cutting him with a machete and dangerous weapons,” Adewoye said.

    According to the prosecution, the offences contravene Sections 221 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos, 2011.

    Counsel to the defendants, Mr Adebayo Lawanson, requested that the accused be allowed to maintain the bail granted them during their prior arraignments at the Magistrates’ Court.

    “The accused ever since they were granted bail by the magistrates’ court had never jumped bail,” Lawanson said.

    Justice Hakeem Oshodi, upheld their bail request and.adjourned the case till March 19.

  • Traditional ruler, 10 others held for collecting ‘illegal fees, street trading’

    Traditional ruler, 10 others held for collecting ‘illegal fees, street trading’

    A traditional ruler, Chief Amodu Shakiru, popularly called ‘Baba-Oja’ and 10 others have been arrested for allegedly collecting illegal fees from traders.

    The Lagos State Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit (Task force) and the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) also accused them of trading on roads and walkways in Igando area of the state.

    The Task force’s operation followed a directive by Lagos State Acting Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi to its Chairman, Olayinka Egbeyemi, a Superintendent of Police (SP) to dislodge those selling  on roads and walkways, in order to reduce traffic gridlock in markets in the metropolis.

    Imohimi frowned at the activities of the traders who indiscriminately displayed their wares on roads and walkways on a daily basis thereby causing traffic gridlock for motorists and commuters.

    He said activities of the traders does not only hinder free flow of traffic but also gives room for miscreants and hoodlums to attack motorists while in heavy traffic around major markets across the State.

    The culprits who were arrested during interrogation alleged that Shakiru collects money from every trader who sells on the road and walkways every evening at Igando.

    A trader, Mrs Caroline Endurance said it was Baba-Oja who allocates walkways and road setbacks to traders every evening at Igando.

    “If you don’t pay N500 to Baba-Oja you won’t be allocated space to sell goods in the evening at Igando.”

    Egbeyemi advised traders to conform with the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Laws and Lagos State Road Traffic Laws of 2012 in order to have an orderly, hygienic and traffic free society.

    He said that both the Lagos State Task Force and Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) would continue to enforce the law and arrest anyone aiding and abetting illegal traders across the State.

    Egbeyemi vowed that no amount of abuse or propaganda would deter him from carrying out hits legitimate duties in accordance with the law, noting that no one is above the law.

    He said that Imohimi has directed that those arrested be charged to court for prosecution.

  • Navy takes free medical mission to late Alamieyeseigha’s community

    Navy takes free medical mission to late Alamieyeseigha’s community

    The Central Naval Command (CNC) of the Nigerian Navy, at the weekend, embarked on free medical mission to Amassoma, the community of late former Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Bayelsa State.

    The people of the community led by their Traditional Ruler, His Royal Highness, Amananaowei of Amassoma, Maj. Graham Naigba (retd) participated in the medical mission and were freely treated of various ailments.

    The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), CNC, Rear Admiral Mohammed Garba, who led senior officers of the command to Amassoma, said the medical mission was borne out of the desire to tackle the health needs of the people.

    He said the navy since September 2016 has been going to various communities in its Area of Operation (AoR) to offer free medical treatments to the people.

    Garba said such medical missions, as part of civil-military relations, had enabled the navy to move closer to the people and win their confidence.

    He also added that the mission would form part of his handover not to the new FOC, who was expected to take over from him soon.

    He said the communities visited by the navy appreciated the gesture, which had helped to drastically reduce attacks on oil pipelines.

    According to him the people had shown their appreciation by giving timely information of miscreants’ and vandals’ activities to the navy.

    “Such information has given us the intelligence to be more proactive in handling issues of economic sabotage. Out of their appreciation of what we do for them, they come to is and give us information”, he said.

    On his part, the traditional ruler, Naingba, thanked the navy for their gesture describing it as commendable.

    He appealed to them to do more for his community to enable his people overcome the scourge of diseases.

    He said the community had never witnessed such well-organised and big free medical intervention and assured the navy of his community’s cooperation.