TheNewsGuru

Tag: Death

  • Sad! 39-year-old man to die by hanging for murdering lover

    Sad! 39-year-old man to die by hanging for murdering lover

    An Abeokuta High Court on Wednesday sentenced a 39-year-old man, Musiliu Owolabi, to death by hanging for killing his lover, Afusat Idowu.

     

    Owolabi, an automobile mechanic was sentenced on one count of murder.

    Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu ,the Chief Judge of Ogun State while delivering her judgment, submitted that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubts that Owolabi was guilty of the offence charged, hence, convicted him.

     

    Dipeolu, said the crime committed breached the provisions of section 319 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ogun 2006.

     

    She held that the evidence presented by the prosecution was tenable and therefore, sentenced Owolabi to death by hanging.

     

    Earlier, the state prosecution counsel, Mr James Mafe, Director of legal Drafting, Planning Research and Statistics, said the convict committed the offence on Feb.1, 2018, at Camp area in Abeokuta.

     

    Mafe said the convict took his lover to a hotel for pleasure after a while she complained of stomachache and later started foaming from her mouth.

     

    Mafe added, “The convict took her to his vehicle, on his way he noticed she was dead, and secretly took the deceased to an uncompleted building, dug a shallow grave and buried her without disclosing to anybody.

     

    “The convict was arrested when the younger brother of the deceased went to the police station to complain that his sister who told him she was going for a naming ceremony at Bode Olude area never returned.

     

    “Upon police investigation, with the help of tracking the deceased phone, it was discovered that the convict was the last person that spoke with the deceased.

     

    “On his arrest, he made a confessional statement to the police and took them to where he buried his lover .”

     

    The offender had earlier been arraigned on Nov. 12, 2019, and had pleaded not guilty to the charges.

  • Prominent professor, Peter Ekeh is dead

    Prominent professor, Peter Ekeh is dead

    The death of foremost Professor of Political Science and Urhobo cultural activist, Professor Peter Ekeh has been announced.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Prof Ekeh, founder of Urhobo Historical Society (UHS) died on Tuesday morning, according to family sources.

    Ekeh, born August 8, 1937, hailed from Okpara Inland of Agbon Kingdom in the Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State.

    Peter P. Ekeh came to the University of Buffalo’s African American Studies as Professor in 1989.

    He was Chair of this department from 1993 to 2001.

    Before coming to Buffalo, Dr. Ekeh taught at the University of California, Riverside (1970-73); Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in northern Nigeria (1973-74); and at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria (1974-1989).

    He was Chair of the Department of Political Science at the University of Ibadan (1978-1983) and Chairman of the Ibadan University Press (1983-1988).

    Peter Ekeh received his undergraduate education at the University of Ibadan (1961-64) and his graduate degrees in sociology from StanfordUniversity (1965-66) and University of California, Berkeley (1966-70).

    Dr. Ekeh’s early research interest was in sociological theory, in which he published Social Exchange Theory: The Two Traditions (1974), and in psychoanalytic theory.

    He has since developed special interests in African politics and history, in which he has some leading publications.

    Dr. Ekeh’s article “Colonialism and the Two Publics in Africa: A Theoretical Statement” (1975) is one of the most cited publications in the field of African studies, inside and outside Africa.

    Peter Ekeh’s publications span several fields and have been particularly influential in African studies.

    Peter Ekeh has held several fellowships in Europe, United States, and Japan. He was a Fellow of the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars, Washington, D.C. (1988-89).

    Dr. Ekeh has received various research and scholarship awards in Nigeria and the United States. He was a Rockefeller Foundation Scholar for his graduate studies. He has received and supervised research grants from Rockefeller Foundation, Ford Foundation, and United States Institute of Peace, Washington, D.C.

    Peter Ekeh is the founder of Urhobo Historical Society whose influential web site URHOBO WAADO he edits. He was also founder of Nigerian Scholars for Dialogue. He is active in the campaign for the protection of the endangered environment of Nigeria’s Niger delta.

    EDUCATION

    Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, 1970

    M.A.,StanfordUniversity, Palo Alto, 1967

    B.Sc. (Econs.),University of London (at UniversityCollege, Ibadan) 1964.

    GRADUATE COURSES

    Ancient African Civilizations(At UB)

    Africa and the Slave Trade(At UB)

    Sociological Theory (UC.,Riverside)

    Social Exchange Theory (UC, Riverside)

    Psychoanalysis and the Social Sciences. (UC, Riverside)

    Political Sociology (University of Ibadan)

    Comparative Politics (University of Ibadan)

    UNDERGRADUATE COURSES

    A Survey of African Studies (At UB)

    Current African Nations (At UB)

    Colonialism in Africa (At UB)

    Political Sociology of Africa (At UB)

    Ancient African Civilizations. (At UB)

    Political Socialization and Personality (UC, Riverside)

    Social Psychology (UC, Riverside)

    PoliticalSociology. (UC, Riverside)

    Introduction to Politics (University of Ibadan)

    Political Socialization (University of Ibadan)

    Nigerian Politics. (University of Ibadan)

    FIVE SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

    Ekeh, Peter P. (1974) Social Exchange Theory: The Two Traditions. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press.

    Ekeh, Peter P. (1975) “Colonialism and the Two Publics in Africa: A Theoretical Statement.” Comparative Studies in Society and History, 17:91-112.

    Ekeh, Peter P. (1976) “Benin and Thebes: Elementary Forms of Civilization.” Pp. 65-93 in Werner Muensterberger, Aaron H. Esman and L. Bryce Boyer, eds., The Psychoanalytic Study of Society. Vol. VII. New Haven and London: YaleUniv. Press.

    Ekeh, Peter P. (1983) Colonialism and Social Structure. An Inaugural Lecture. Ibadan: Ibadan University Press.

    Ekeh, Peter P. and Eghosa Osaghae, eds., (1989) Federal Character and Federalism in Nigeria. Ibadan: Heinemann Educational Books.

    Ekeh, Peter P. (1990) “Social Anthropology and Two Contrasting Uses of Tribalism in Africa.” Comparative Studies in Society and History, 32(4): 660-700.

  • ALHAJI Balarabe Musa: Tribute to audacity and principles – Issa Aremu

    ALHAJI Balarabe Musa: Tribute to audacity and principles – Issa Aremu

    By Issa Aremu mni

    Yours comradely like other compatriots, received Wednesday morning November 11, the news of the death of Dr. Alh. Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa, the first democratically elected Governor of Kaduna State. Kashim Balarabe Musa, the eldest son and political heir of the iconic conveyed the inevitable news.

    May Allah grant the late progressive statesman eternal grace and mercy than he was generously blessed in his 82 years on earth. May Allah comfort his comradely family to cope with the challenges of death of a loved one like Alhaji Balarabe.

    I have been privileged to engage with Alhaji Balarabe for over forty years as a student, journalist and trade union activist (almost in-that-order).

    He was my political mentor as a budding progressive politician with amazing memory and recollections. Alhaji Balarabe in 2019 in Kaduna was the first to endorse my Labour Party ( LP) candidature for Kwara State governorship (in his words “99%, but would have been 100 % if you are contesting under PRP platform”!).

    He hailed LP-APC alliance under the banner of “O to ge” to put an end to PDP 2-decade dictatorship in Kwara State. For someone who stood for party purity, it was significant that he appreciated that compromised alliance of the progressives was pragmatic and desirable. Just two months ago, Alhaji Balarabe gave me some historic “PRP papers”. He had wished I joined PRP!

    I recall that on the 3rd of July, 2018, compatriots, friends and comrades, nation-wide in celebrated the 81st birthday of the late statesman with a book launch entitled “The Voice of the Masses” in Abuja in honor of Dr. Alh. Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa. The book chronicles the LIFE AND POLITICS of ALhaji (DR) Abdul Kadir Balarabe , as seen by compatriots of both the political Left (which Alhaji Balarabe belonged ) and the political Right).

    My encounter with Comr. Alh. Balarabe Musa dated back to late 70s. Like many of my mates, I got admission into Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) to do my preliminary studies at the School of Basic Studies 1977/1978 session.

    It was a bipolar world of the battle of ideas between global capitalism and international socialism. In Nigeria, the context was the struggle for good governance, democratization and demilitarization.

    In 1977, we had our baptism of the brutality of military dictatorship when Obasanjo/Yar Adua junta sent troops to the campus to suppress nation-wide/students protest against increase in feeding fees. Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) was the citadel of progressive ideas for change and development. Nigeria was on the threshold of transition from military to democratic civilian rule in 1979.

    There were five registered political parties, namely, Greater Nigerian People’s Party (GNPP), National Party of Nigeria (NPN), Nigeria Advance Party(NAP), Nigerian People’s Party (NPP), People’s Redemption Party (PRP) and Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). Fela’s Movement of the People Party (MPP) was denied registration but audaciously remained a movement of the people nonetheless!

    The most radical in terms of programme of transformation of social relations among the class of the oppressed and the oppressor was Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) followed by welfarist UPN (Unity Party of Nigeria). PRP was led by late Malam Aminu Kano, a great African revolutionary and UPN by the late, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, a well acknowledged Nationalist and social democrat. PRP won the two big states of Kano and Kaduna States made up of the present day Jigawa and Katsina states respectively.

    As Marxist-Leninists, we were unapologetically far left of PRP but fascinated by its popular policies of abolition of Haraji and Jagali, tax, declaration of May Day as public holiday and commitment to national minimum wage among others. There was once an ideologically driven politics in Nigeria! Alhaji Balarabe emerged as the first democratic elected Governor of Kaduna State in that second Republic dispensation.

    There was a nexus between the government in power then in Kaduna State, and the radical community in ABU. Late Dr. Bala Usman, an African revolutionary, Historian and prominent PRP intellectual ( he became Secretary to Kaduna State Government) fired our imagination.

    Ideologically we got connected to PRP. Alhaji Balarabe Musa, was not allowed to form a cabinet by NPN dominated legislature.

    Eventually he got impeached, after 18 months into his tenure, June, 1981. Naturally the broad Left gave solidarity.

    Of course, as political faith had it, the same year he was impeached, was also a turbulent period in Ahmadu Bello University; I was in my final year, reading economics. There was a massive demonstration organized by the students union. It is now, history that the then Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, went on full scale politically inspired mass repression on all the progressive students. Ango was a visible member of the ruling (ruining) party (NPN).

    As one of the visible victims of the repression, my direct encounter with PRP Government came through remarkable solidarity. PRP government condemned the mass expulsion of student activists, offered solidarity which started with my working media carrier first with Kaduna state broadcasting corporation and later Triumph NewsPaper in Kano set up by the late Abubakar Rimi, the PRP governor in Kano.

    I bear posthumous witness that Nigeria, Africa and progressive world had lost an audacious principled selfless statesman.

    He commendably stood for good principles in governance. He never cheaply fell for corruption. On the contrary, he stood for all that was good, integrity and service to the downtrodden, the talakawa in public service. Balarabe has not sermonized against corruption, he lived incorruptibility and integrity. His house was ever wide open to all 24/7! He was also an educated philosopher statesman, an avid reader and intellectual debater.

    Alhaji Balarabe’s “weakness” was too much of principles NOT political opportunism.

    He was a member of the Northern Elements Progressive Union (NEPU) , the first political party in Northern Nigeria, founded in Kano on the 8 August 1950.

    He died a NEPU ( later transformed to PRP during the Second Republic ), member, unlike present day butter fly politicians who moved from one party to the other in search of cheap power and unearned money. Alhaji Balarabe Musa, was not allowed to form a cabinet by NPN dominated legislature because of his commitment to party principles.

    The struggle of Alhaji Balarabe and many of his compatriots, is for an inclusive better Nigeria, Africa and progressive world. Alh. Balarabe Musa undoubtedly epitomized the best of values that you can get among the best of the past (and contemporary?) African leaders, that include late Late Aminu Kano, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Nelson Mandela, Patrice Lumumba, Kwame Nkrumah and Sekou Tuore.

    The death of Alhaji Balarabe takes place against the backdrop of the clamor for “restructuring” and “reform” of Nigerian Federation. As a socialist, he was unapologetically for transformation of political, social and economic relations.

    The take away from the life and times of Alhaji Balarabe lies in the wisdom that: “The strength of leaders in a federation is as important as the constitutional structures”.

    Balarabe’s leadership example during the second Republic showed that the strength of a state is a function of the strength of the vision, character and integrity of the governor. PRP controlled only two states, namely Kaduna and Kano, but the two governors commendably set the pace in Industrialization, value addition, beneficiation and poverty alleviation such that the then Federal government many times followed as PRP blazed the trail. “He who blazes the trail determines it’s straightness“ goes a received wisdom. Structures undoubtedly are important — Federal, State & Local Governments, Ministries, MDAs ad infinitum.

    But above all, the values, ideologies and motivations of the political actors are far more important. What is missing in Nigeria today are good decent political actors angered by underdevelopment, good leaders, like the late icon. Principled leaders might not be fashionable but without committed leaders, Africa suffers avoidable perceptual underdevelopment.

    The best Honour to the late statesman is for Nigeria’s ruling class to reinvent politics of principles, steer Nigeria from the dangerous path of the kind of slide into chaos and barbarism of the recent shadowy protest to sustainable development and socialism.

    Balarabe indeed lost an office in 1981 through ideologically induced impeachment but nonetheless still won the globally acknowledged integrity and worthy name for prosperity for generations to come.

     

    Issa Aremu mni

  • ‘We agreed to die together’ – 92-year-old man tells court after killing wife of 70 years

    ‘We agreed to die together’ – 92-year-old man tells court after killing wife of 70 years

    A 92-year-old German man – name withheld, on Tuesday in Court admitted to killing his infirm wife after almost 70 years of marriage.

    His defence lawyer argued that he acted out of love, rather than self-interest or ill will.

    “All these years I cared for my wife to the best of my ability,’’ the elderly defendant said in a statement that was read out to the court in Wuerzburg, a city in the German state of Bavaria.

    The husband looked after the 91-year-old woman, who suffered from dementia, essentially round the clock for decades, receiving help just twice a week from a welfare centre, the court heard.

    The man is said to have acted out of desperation, overwhelmed by the burden of care and fearing that his wife will be sent to a care home.

    The couple, who had no children had purportedly agreed to die together. An attempt by the man to commit suicide was unsuccessful.

    According to prosecutors, he smothered his partner with a cover and suffocated her on Nov. 3, 2019.

    Prosecutors also believe that the man had seen no other option due to his determination to live a healthy and independent life together with his wife.

    The defendant must answer to a manslaughter charge “without being a murderer’’, the chief prosecutor said.

    It is assumed that the man was severely depressed when he killed his wife, meaning that his culpability could be reduced in the eyes of the court.

  • #EndSARS crises: Death toll rises to 73 with 205 police stations burnt

    #EndSARS crises: Death toll rises to 73 with 205 police stations burnt

    The death toll nationwide from the violence that erupted during the #EndSARS protests has now been revised to 73, with 22 of them policemen.

    The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, who gave the latest statistics on fatalities in Abuja directed his officers and men to henceforth sturdily defend themselves if attacked by hoodlums again.

    The protests against the now-dissolved police Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), metamorphosed into days of killings and looting across the country.

    Unveiling the gory statistics during a virtual meeting with commissioners of police in the 36 states and FCT, the IG also disclosed that 71 public warehouses and 248 privately owned stores were looted in the course of the protests in 13 states and the FCT.

    The states are Lagos, Edo, Delta, Oyo, Kano, Plateau, Osun, Ondo, Ogun, Rivers, Abia, Imo, and Ekiti states, as well as FCT.

    The statistics were collated between October 11, 2020 when the #EndSARS protest assumed a national dimension and October, 27, 2020.

    According to the IG, the affected states recorded major violence leading to attacks on critical national security infrastructure and other corporate and private properties as well as injuries or fatalities to civilians, the police and other security agents.

    Adamu said 205 critical national security assets, corporate facilities and private property were attacked, burnt or vandalised.

    “So far, a total of 10 firearms including eight AK 47 rifles stolen during the attack on police stations and a locally made pistol have been recovered from elements operating under the guise of the #EndSARS protesters”, he said.

    In addition, 1,596 suspects were arrested in connection with the violence and widespread looting by hoodlums, who hijacked the protests across the country.

    The breakdown shows that 520 suspects were arrested in Lagos, 367 in Plateau State, 210 in the FCT and 142 in Kwara State.

    Similarly, 82 suspects were apprehended in Osun State, 60 in Adamawa State and 36 in Kano and Ogun states respectively.

    He said 33 suspects were arrested in Edo State, 20 each in Kaduna and Akwa Ibom states, 15 in Abia and Delta states and 13 in Oyo and Ekiti states respectively.

    Furthermore, 10 suspects were arrested in Rivers State and four in Ondo State.
    “Out of these figures, not less than 1,117 have been charged to court across the country”, Adamu said.

    Meanwhile, IG Adamu yesterday asked all personnel of the force to protect themselves against attacks, saying his officers and men have the right to defend themselves in case of physical danger.

    The IG, who spoke on the attacks on policemen during an assessment tour of the Federal Capital Territory Police Command, also encouraged the operatives, who had abandoned the streets in the past five days following the killing of over 22 policemen during the #EndSARS violence, to return to their beats.

    Adamu alleged that the #EndSARS protesters were out to demoralise the personnel, adding that the government and the Nigeria Police Force would soon roll out packages for the families of the deceased officers.

    He said: “The unity of this country lies in the support that is given to police officers because if you are demoralised, the tendency is for criminals to take over the public space, and the country is relying on us to make sure that the public space is not taken over by the criminals. So, no amount of provocation, no amount of insult would make us shy away from our responsibilities.

    “Inasmuch as we are aware that the government is behind us; so, we would encourage you to keep performing your duties. We would encourage you to be professional, to be civic, but if anybody touches you, if anybody comes to assault you, you can also protect yourself.

    “When we talk of human rights, the police are human; so, the rights of police officers would also be protected. So, we are sending the message that legally, we have the right to protect ourselves but while we are doing that, we make sure that until we are endangered.”

  • #EndSARS campaigners mourn as Abuja protester, Anthony Onome stabbed by thugs dies in hospital

    #EndSARS campaigners mourn as Abuja protester, Anthony Onome stabbed by thugs dies in hospital

    #ENDSARS campaigners were thrown into mourning yesterday, following the death of a protester, Anthony Onome, who was attacked by suspected thugs in Abuja.

    Onome, the victim, was stabbed on Saturday when he and other agitators protesting against police brutality were attacked by suspected hoodlums in the Kubwa area of the nation’s capital.

    Recall there TheNesGuru had earlier reported how suspects hoodlums attacked protesters in Abuja, Lagos, Osun among other states.

    Onome was later taken to the National Hospital, Abuja, where he died while receiving treatment.

    Tayo Haastrup, the hospital spokesperson, confirmed his death to newsmen on Sunday night.

    Haastrup identified the deceased as one of those in the hospital’s morgue but said he could not confirm where he had been brought from.

    Onome was admitted in the hospital and transferred to the intensive care unit before he passed on.

    The internet was awashed with videos of how he was struggling to walk after losing so much blood from a wound on the head.

  • Family honours J.P. Clark’s last wishes, buries him three days after death

    Family honours J.P. Clark’s last wishes, buries him three days after death

    The family of the late renowned emeritus professor of literature and poet, Professor John Pepper Clark on Thursday honoured the final wishes of the literary giant that his body should be interred within three days of his death without any form of fanfare.

    As the late Clark would want it, his body was committed to mother earth at exactly 11.30p.m., on Thursday in his island country home in Kiagbodo town, Delta State, after a brief lying in state for few family members.

    Clark was buried after few words of prayers by Pastor Ituah Ighodalo represented by Pastor Jolomi Guoti and Pastor Ken Okochu of Trinity House, while surrounded by his widow, children and few family members at the graveside near his parlour, which he had long prepared.

    According to family sources, the late Clark had specifically stated before death that he should be buried within three days of his transition and should not be kept in mortuary or taken to any place of worship for funeral service.

    The reknown late literary giant was given a peaceful burial also in accordance to his last wish, as only few family members were allowed into the house during the lying in state.

    Late JP Clark’s corpse earlier landed Kiagbodo main town at about 8:48 pm, before it was conveyed in a wooden boat to his house at JP Clark Creek Island in the outskirt of the community.

    The casket was carried by community youths from Delta State Government Ambulance that brought the literary icon from the Asaba International Airport.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that the that Clark died on Tuesday in the comforting arms of his wife, children and siblings. He was younger brother to former Federal Commissioner for Information and South-South Leader, Chief Edwin Clark.

     

  • Bus driver escapes death on Third Mainland Bridge [PHOTOS]

    Bus driver escapes death on Third Mainland Bridge [PHOTOS]

    An unidentified bus driver on Sunday escaped death on Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos State after the bus he was driving went up in flames.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports a technical fault resulted to the fire that engulfed the bus, but the driver was able to leave before it burnt completely, according to an eye witness.

    The incident resulted to traffic congestion on the ever-busy Third Mainland Bridge as there was no official from any of the government agencies to take control.

    See photos below:

  • GORY! Woman stabs her 2 children to death in Kano

    GORY! Woman stabs her 2 children to death in Kano

    The police command in Kano State has arrested a 26-year-old woman, Hauwa Habibu, for allegedly stabbing her two children to death in Kano State.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the incident happened at Diso Quarters in Gwale Local Government Area (LGA) of the State.

    DSP Abdullahi Haruna, spokesman for the command, who made this known in a statement on Sunday, said that on October 3, the police received information that the suspect allegedly stabbed her two children to death with a cutlass.

    Haruna said that the victims were identified as Yusuf Ibrahim, 6, and Zuhra Ibrahim, 3.

    “On receiving the information, we quickly sent our men to the scene and found the victims stabbed,” he said.

    Haruna said that the victims were rushed to the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, Kano and were confirmed dead by doctors on duty.

    He said that the suspect also stabbed one Aisha Abdullahi, 10, who was her younger sister and was rushed to the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano for treatment.

    He said that the State Commissioner of Police, Mr Habu Ahmad has ordered the case to be transferred to the Homicide Section, State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for discrete investigation.

  • How Davido’s mum died

    How Davido’s mum died

    Nigerian singer, Davido has revealed that his dear mother, Veronica Adeleke, died of cardiac arrest on his father’s birthday.

    Davido brought this revelation to light during a recent chat with Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, popular media personality.

    TheNewsGuru recalls that Veronica had passed away on March 6, 2003 at 39 .

    According to Davido: “I was about 10 to 11 years old when she died. She died on my father’s birthday. Honestly, it was just cardiac arrest. Even if it was going to happen, I would not have known,” he stated.

    Speaking further, the ‘Fem’ sensation said:“I was about 10 or 11 years old. She was not really sick. She used to get sick once in a while.

    “But it was nothing serious. I often say that I see my mother in Chioma. I did not grow up with my mother. I can hardly remember what happened when I was that young.

    “One thing I always wish for is that she should have been alive. I would have bought her a lot of diamonds and houses but she knew that I was going to be great.

    “My mother was from Benin. I think I’m like her; I inherited her agility. She helped so many people to date, I go to some places and people would tell me what my mother did for them.

    “Before my mother died, I was a mummy’s boy because my father was always busy. He was working and always traveling to places like China.

    “I was a mummy’s boy; so, imagine her just being taken from me, my best friend, the only person in the world I loved being taken from me without caution.”