The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Traditional ruler

  • Traditional ruler lauds actress for empowerment program

    Traditional ruler lauds actress for empowerment program

    Nollywood actress Fisayo Ajosola has been lauded by the traditional ruler of Onigbongbo community, Oba Munirudin Olatunji Yussuf, for empowering the people of his community through skill acquisition programmes.

    Speaking with newsmen at the opening of the one-week free training exercise tagged: Jewel Empowerment Foundation Skill Acquisition Programme (JEFSAP), at Onigbongbo Town Hall, Maryland, Lagos, Oba Yussuf said the programme would be of benefit, not only to participants, but also to the entire community, as it will boost business activities therein.

    “I really appreciate this initiative because it will certainly be of benefit to the people of my community. I urge participants to take the programme with all seriousness and passion and spread the knowledge gained from the training to others.

    “I also want to charge others to emulate the gesture of the JEF, because this is the only way people, especially the lower class, can be financially independent,” he said.

    In her remarks, the president of the foundation, Ajisola, commended the royal father and the participants for their commitment in being self-employed, adding that, “we are confident that the initiative will impact on people’s lives and the entire community.”

    Speaking on why the NGO chose the community, Ajisola, who is also a producer, stated that the NGO chose the community after the death of a hawker around Maryland, which led to the ban on street hawking by the Lagos State government.

    “The movement has just begun. We are committed to joining hands with the government in taking people, especially the youths, off the streets. This project is in alignment with the short movie, “Road to Ruin” that I produced recently. It is an advocacy film against child labour and the effective way to achieve this is to get children off the streets and have them focus on education and train unemployed parents, young and adults with skills that will make them financially independent. We are ready to spread this campaign across and beyond this state so as to eradicate poverty in Nigeria,” she added.

    The skill acquisition programmes include; baking/confectionery, make-up artistry, ICT/graphics/web design and bead making through her NGO, the JEF.

     

  • Gunmen kidnap Monarch, demand N20m ransom

    Gunmen kidnap Monarch, demand N20m ransom

    Gunmen have kidnapped a traditional ruler at Ibeju-Lekki, Baale Salino Kareem.

    The 75-year-old Baale was whisked away around 2am on Sunday when the gunmen invaded his palace through the waterways.

    The gunmen were said to have shot sporadically before taking the man away in their speedboats.

    According to residents, the kidnappers established contact after 48 hours and demanded N20 million as ransom.

    This is just as five persons kidnapped in the area in March have regained their freedom. It was gathered that the victims were released after paying N3million ransom each.

    The Baale’s kidnap was said to have thrown the community into panic, with residents fleeing for safety.

    It was gathered that the development prompted the Police Commissioner Fatai Owoseni to visit the area and assure the residents of security.

    During the interactive session with Owoseni, another monarch, Oba

    Muyiwa Ogunbekun appealed for proper monitoring of the waterways.

    He said: “We cannot sleep with our eyes closed anymore. Kidnappers have taken over Ibeju-Lekki. We want proper monitoring of the waterways by providing us with marine police and gun boats.

    “We know police are doing their best but the best is not enough. We want adequate security of our waterways.”

    Tosin Oshinuga said: “The kidnappers are not ghosts and live in our mist. Some of our youths should work with the security agencies to contain kidnapping and other vices.”

     

  • Gombe traditional ruler advises subjects on farm produce

    Paramount ruler of Tangale tribesmen in Billiri Local Government of Gombe State, Abdu-buba Maisheru, has cautioned his people against the indiscriminate sales of their farm produce.

    Maisheru, who gave the word of caution on Saturday in Billiri at the annual Tangle Cultural Festival, said the advice became necessary in view of the current economic recession.

    He advised them to save enough food items that would sustain them till the next harvest.

    He commended the state government for supporting his people, especially in promoting their cultural heritage.

    In his remarks, Vice Chancellor of Federal University, Gashua, in Yobe , Prof. Andrew Haruna, called on tangle community to live in peace with one another for the development of the area and to sustain their mother tongue.

    Haruna, a linguist, said that there were about 7,000 languages in the world, out of which over 500 were in Nigeria.

    He noted that due to lack of effort at sustaining them and passing same to the younger generation, some of the tribes were almost extinct.

    In his speech, Gov. Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State also called on the people to live in peace and assist security agents by reporting any suspicious character.

    He said living in peace, unity and understanding, would accelerate the progress and development of their community, the state and the country at large.

    Dankwambo urged the Tangle community to sustain the cultural festival, adding that the state government would soon organize the state cultural festival.

     

  • Gunmen abduct Kogi traditional ruler, demand N20m ransom

    Some unknown gunmen have abducted a traditional ruler in Kogi, a family source said in Lokoja on Sunday.

    The monarch, whose name was given as Alhaji Isah Achuja, the Ohi of Ajaokuta, was returning from Lokoja, the state capital, on Saturday when his vehicle was intercepted on the Lokoja-Ajaokuta road at gunpoint and the ruler taken to an unknown destination.

    A member of the royal family, who did not want his name in print, told newsmen that an aide to the traditional ruler and his driver narrowly escaped being hit by the bullets of the abductors.

    He said the abductors had already contacted the family and demanded a N20 million ransom.

    Contacted by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the State Police Command’s spokesman, ASP Williams Aya, said the incident had not been reported to the command.

    He, however, promised that police would swing into action in a bid to to rescue the monarch as soon as the details of the abduction were available.(NAN)

  • Two brothers, traditional ruler’s son to die for murder

    Two brothers, traditional ruler’s son to die for murder

    Three persons, including two brothers, Shola and Kayode Oni were yesterday at an Ikeja High Court sentenced to death by hanging for murder.
    Justice Kudirat Jose condemmed the Oni’s and Ibrahim Omilade for the murder of Suleiman Afolabi during a fight on December 25, 2012.
    Omilade is the son of the traditional ruler of Mafoluku, Oshodi, Chief Bashiru Omilade.
    The incident happened at Eyin Ogun Street, Mafoluku, Oshodi.
    “I pronounce the defendants guilty as charged in respect of the offence of murder and conspiracy and are hereby sentenced to death by hanging by the neck until their death, the judge said.”
    The judge advised youths to learn from the convicts’ ordeal, urging them to be careful of attacking people to settle scores.
    The convicts went to celebrate the 2012 Christmas in a neighbour’s apartment when a boy came and informed them that the late Afolabi’s brother, Akeem, had threatened to deal with them.
    The convicts told the court that they went to see Akeem over the threat, but he told them to get away.
    Akeem, they claimed, went inside the house to get a machete with which to attack one of them. The attack, they said, was blocked by another person who was injured in the hand.
    The convicts claimed that while they were running away from Akeem, who was wielding a machete, he mistakenly hit his brother in the waist with it.
    They said they knew days later that a doctor had pronounced him dead.
    Justice Jose faulted their testimony, pointing out that it sounded rehearsed and polished.
    The judge said she found, the prosecution witnesses evidence credible.

  • Two brothers, son of traditional ruler to die by hanging for murder

    Two brothers, Shola and Kayode Oni and one other person, are to die by hanging for the murder of one Suleiman Afolabi during a fight on  Christmas day in 2012.

    Also to be hanged to death alongside the two siblings is Ibrahim Omilade, the son of a traditional ruler in Mafoluku, Oshodi, Lagos State, Chief Bashiru Omilade.

    The incident happened at Eyin Ogun Street, Mafoluku, Oshodi, in Lagos State when Suleiman received several machete cut which led to his death.

    The accused person were found guilty for the death of the deceased by Justice Kudirat Jose of  a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja.

    Justice Jose found the condemned persons guilty of the charges conspiracy and murder preferred against them by the prosecution team,  Mr. Babatunde Oguntemowo and Mr. Olarewaju Ajanaku.

    Justice Jose said in her judgment,  “I pronounce the defendants guilty as charged in respect of the offence of murder and conspiracy and are hereby sentenced to death by hanging by the neck until their death.”

    The trial judge however cautioned youths to learn from the ordeal that befell the convicts emphasizing that young ones should be careful of going about to attack people to settle scores.

    Trouble began for the convicts when four years ago they were invited by a neighbor to celebrate the Christmas with him.

    They said they were in the apartment of their host when a young boy came in and informed them that a brother to the deceased, Akeem Afolabi, had threatened to deal with them.

    During trial, the convicts had told the court that they went to inquire the reason for the threat but that while discussing, Akeem ordered them to get away.

    They claimed in their defence that Akeem had gone inside the house to get a machete with which he tried to attack one of them but that the attack was blocked  by another person whose hand was injured in the process.

    The convicts claimed that it was while they were trying to dodge Akeem who was wielding a machete and coming after them that the deceased received  machete cuts in the waist region.

    They said they got to know some days later that a doctor had pronounced the deceased dead.

    But the trial judge faulted their testimony pointing out that it sounded rehearsed and polished.

    The judge said she found the evidence presented by the prosecution witnesses led by their counsels, Messrs. Oguntemowo and Ajanaku more credible.

    She subsequently jailed the convicts 12 years for the offence of conspiracy, starting from the day of arrest, and death by hanging for the offence of murder.

  • Court convicts Ogun traditional ruler, two others for assault

    Court convicts Ogun traditional ruler, two others for assault

    A traditional ruler, Ikanrede Akeem, has been convicted by a magistrate court sitting in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, for an assault resulting in harm and conduct likely to cause breach of peace.

    Ikanarede who is the Baale of Olobi Itoko – Titun, Abeokuta, was also found guilty of leading people suspected to be thugs to eject workers who were working on the property of one Nurudeen Ayorinde, an accountant.

    Also, convicted for the same offences along with the Baale, are Sakiru Olamilekan, a professional driver, and Odebiyi Nofiu.

    In the suit marked MA/377C/2015 and titled:  Commissioner of Police vs Ikanrede Akeem, Sakiru Olamilekan, Odebiyi Nofiu and another still on the run,  were accused of the committing the offences  on August 22, 2015 at Olobi Village, Abeokuta.

    During their trials that lasted for a year before Magistrate E. A. Adekunte, many witnesses, including, Dr. Badmus Tajudeen, a medical doctor at the state Hospital, Sokenu, Abeokuta, who treated one of the victims of the assault by accused persons, took turn to give evidence in respect of the case.

    In a copy of the judgement obtained by The Nation, despite the argument of the accused’s counsel that the prosecution failed to prove his case against the accused, the Magistrate court found them guilty of the offences for which they were charged and also convicted them.

    And following plea for leniency, the court sentenced  Baale Akeem Ikanrede, Sakiru Olamilekan  and Odebiyi Nofiu to one year imprisonment or N20,000 fine last July 19.

  • Assault: Oshiomhole suspends Onojie of Uromi

    Assault: Oshiomhole suspends Onojie of Uromi

     …Suspension is unconstitutional, Esama of Uromi

     

     

    Traditional ruler of Uromi, His Royal Highness Anselm Okojie, Aidenojie II, the Onojie of Uromi, has been suspended for seven days by the Edo State Government.

     

    The Onojie of Uromi was suspended for allegedly assaulting a married woman, one Mrs. Betty Okoebor and traveling outside the country without getting appropriate permission.

     

    This was contained in a letter signed by Secretary to the State Government, Prof Julius Ihonvbere and dated October 26, 2016.

     

    It said the refusal of the Onojie to respond to a query issued by the appropriate authority within the stipulated 72 hours demonstrating total disregard and disrespect for constituted authority.

     

    The letter said the suspended Onojie demonstrated disregard for extant regulations and laws by travelling outside the country without appropriate permission.

     

    It reads in parts, “Your unprovoked attack, inflicting grievous bodily harm on one Mrs Betty Okoebor on September 28, 2016 in full public glare to the embarrassment of those present and causing disgrace to your otherwise esteemed office

     

    “In the circumstances, the State Executive Council has arrived at a conclusion that these and other acts of misconduct of Your Royal Highness, the Onojie of Uromi are not only distasteful but also unbecoming of a traditional ruler of your status.

     

    “Based on the above and convinced that your Highness has denied yourself of the opportunity of entering a plea against the charges against you that were duly conveyed in writing to you, and therefore in exercise of the powers conferred on the State Executive Council by virtue of Section 28(1) of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Law (1979) and all other Laws enabling it in that behalf, has approved your suspension from office as the Onojie of Uromi with immediate effect for a period of seven (7) days, that is, from the 26th of October 2016 to the 1st of November, 2016.

     

    “Consequently, within the suspension period, you shall cease to be recognized and treated as traditional ruler or as the Onojie of Uromi in Edo State and you shall not exercise any powers or function or enjoy any privileges provided for under the Traditional Rulers and Chief Law (1979) and all other relevant provisions under the said law.

     

    “Within the 7-day suspension period, you are required to tender unreserved apologies to your victim, Mrs Betty Okoebor and the Government of Edo State. However, if within the said 7 days no public apology in tendered by your very self, you will stand deposed as the Onojie of Uromi.”

     

    It was would be recalled that the embattled Onojie was quizzed in April by officials of the Directorate of State Security over a petition sent to it by one Prince Ernest Okojie over alleged threat to life.

     

    Also, former Edo Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Louis Odion, had raised alarm that the Onojie of Uromi threatened to deal with him over an article he (Odion) wrote criticizing the conferment of Adolor of Uromi on Mike Onolememen.

     

    The People’s Democratic Party described the suspension as “senseless, unconstitutional and anti-people”.

     

    State Chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih who is also the Esama of Uromi, said, “This recent action of the governor is a clear manifestation of what I said at that time. 

     

    “What Oshiomhole must come to terms with is that he has no power, under our constitution and law to take the actions he has just taken.

     

    “If anybody for any reason was accosted by the Onojie, the rightful place to report is the police station and the rightful thing for the police as an institution to do if they found any truth, is to take it to a court of law.”

  • Police confirms killing of traditional ruler in Benue

    Police confirms killing of traditional ruler in Benue

    The police in Benue have confirmed the killing of Chief Awuhe Alev, the traditional ruler of Mabayongo district, in Katsina Ala local government council of the state

    Confirming the incidence on Monday to the News Agency of Nigeria, in Makurdi, the police public relations officer, ASP Moses Yamu, said unknown gunmen invaded the traditional ruler’s house in Vingir village on Sunday night and shot him dead.

    He said the police had yet to discover the motive for the killing but added that investigations into the murder were in top gear and assured that the culprits would soon be arrested.

    The police spokesman said additional policemen had been deployed to the area to maintain law and order and appealed to members of the public with useful information that might lead to the arrest of the culprits to volunteer them to security agencies.

    NAN reports that a village in Mbayongo had recently been under siege by security operatives in search of Mr Terwase Akwaza, the former Aide of Gov. Samuel Ortom, who had been accused of killing, kidnaping and cattle rustling.

  • Traditional ruler to indigenes: develop Ikere Ekiti

    The Ogoga of Ikere Ekiti, Oba Samuel Adejimi Adu, has called on the community’s indigenes to come together and work for its socio-economic growth.

    The monarch, who made the call on Friday during this year’s celebration of New Yam Festival (Odun Ijesu) at his palace, prayed for peace, tranquility and overall progress of the town.

    The event was attended by Deputy Governor Kolapo Olusola, Ikere Local Government Chairman Ola Alonge; Provost, College of Education Dr. Mojisola Oyarekua; the two House of Assembly members from the community, Wale Ayeni and Sunday Akinniyi.

    The Ogoga received homage from traditional chiefs, age-grade groups, market women, local hunters, the oloris, artisan associations, non-indigenes resident in the town and other guests.

    The royal father acknowledged the support of Governor Ayo Fayose and his deputy in bringing growth to the town through the execution of key capital projects, which, he said, has made life easier for residents.

    He called on well-meaning Ikere indigenes within and outside the community to think of what they can do for their hometown, especially in the area of creating jobs for the younger generation.