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Tag: Ogun State

Ogun State

  • OOU student commits suicide inside hotel room in Ogun

    OOU student commits suicide inside hotel room in Ogun

    The Police Command in Ogun says a 400-level female student of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) in Ago-Iwoye, Adaeze Jaja, has allegedly committed suicide in a hotel room.

    The command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Omolola Odutola, confirmed the incident to newsmen on Tuesday in Abeokuta.

    She said the 31-year-old was reported to have been found lying unconscious in the room and foaming in the mouth with an empty bottle of Sniper beside her.

    Odutola explained that the incident was reported to the Divisional Police Officer, Ago-Iwoye Division, on Jan. 27 at 7:30 a.m.

    “The Director of Be-Happy Hotel in Ago-Iwoye, Oduniyi Adelaja, came to the police station and reported that at about 6 a. m. on the day, he received information from one Adebayo Israel, a staff member of the hotel.

    “Israel said that Adaeze was found lying unconscious and foaming in the mouth on a freezer.

    “An empty bottle of Sniper was found beside her, and she was immediately rushed to Best Care Hospital and later transferred to Love and Care Hospital in Ago-Iwoye, where she was confirmed dead,” the PPRO said.

    Odutola said that the scene of the crime was visited and the empty sniper bottle was recovered.

    She stated further that the body of the student had been taken to the OOU Teaching Hospital mortuary for an autopsy.

    The PPRO added that the police Divisional Crime Branch (DCB) had begun an investigation into the case while the institution’s authorities had been notified.

  • Vote buying: FG amends charges against Ogun PDP guber candidate

    Vote buying: FG amends charges against Ogun PDP guber candidate

    Ladi Adebutu, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the 2023 general election in Ogun, was, on Tuesday, arraigned before a state High Court sitting in Abeokuta.

    Adebutu was arraigned, alongside nine others, even as the Federal Government amended the charges filed against them.

    The charges were amended in the case instituted in July 2023 over allegations of financial inducement of voters during the March 18, 2023 governorship election in the state.

    The other nine defendants had, in July 2023, been arraigned, with the exception of Adebutu who was reportedly out of the country then.

    At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, Counsel to the federal government, Rotimi Jacobs, told the court that the charge had been amended, having served Adebutu who is a major defendant in the suit.

    Jacobs, thereafter, prayed the court to accept the amended charges, with counsel to the defendants, Gordy Uche not objecting to it.

    Justice Abiodun Akinyemi granted the application and subsequently took the pleas of Adebutu and the six other defendants who were present in court.

    Adebutu and the six other defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges preferred against them.

    In the suit, marked: AB/10c/2023 (FRNvsAdebutu &Ors), the federal government alleged that Adebutu ordered, through his bank, the issuance of 200,000 preloaded ATM verve cards with N10,000.

    The cards were said to have been distributed on the day of election across the state, with the intent to induce voters.

    Counsel to Adebutu, however, prayed the court to grant Adebutu bail on self-recognisance, saying that he (Adebutu) was only served on Tuesday morning and he still presented himself in court.

    Jacobs did not object to the bail application. Consequently, the judge granted Adebutu bail in the sum of N1 million, with one surety in like sum and adjourned the case till Feb. 7 for trial.

    Speaking with newsmen after the court sitting, the federal government’s counsel confirmed that Adebutu was served on Tuesday.

    “Yes, he was served this morning (Tuesday). We filed this morning also. He came and just got his statement,” Jacobs said.

    On his part, Adebutu’s counsel, Uche, said: “You know that before now, there had been news all over that our client was at large.

    “I’m happy that today, he is here in person. In fact, he presented himself to court voluntarily and it was inside the court that he signed for the charge sheet.

    “He had taken his plea; he had pleaded not guilty to the seven-count charge.

    “We are happy that we are here and we are ready for the trial. Hopefully, we will come tomorrow and continue with the trial.

    “The important thing is that he has put to rest all the speculations that he ran away; he was outside the country. Within this time, he was taking his treatment and he is back to face the trial.

    “There’s nothing that has gone wrong. He has come here voluntarily and he has taken his plea. We are ready for the trial.”

    Uche, however, maintained that the charges against his client had nothing to do with money laundering.

  • BREAKING: Ogun Assembly swears in Elemide as new Speaker

    BREAKING: Ogun Assembly swears in Elemide as new Speaker

    Ogun State House of Assembly, on Tuesday, ratified the impeachment of Olakunle Oluomo (APC-Ifo1) as the Speaker of the House.

    All the 22 lawmakers present at the plenary presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Bolanle Ajayi (APC-Yewa South) voted in support of the impeachment.

    Mr Musefiu Lamidi (APC-Ado Odo Ota II) read the report of the committee set up by the Assembly on Monday to investigate the allegations levelled against the former Speaker.

    Lamidi said that the committee had assured Oluomo that it was not on a witch-hunting mission and that it would be fair in the handling of its assignment.

    “The Speaker said some of the committee members did not have the right to be in the committee to investigate him since they were among the 18 members who originally signed the impeachment notice.

    “Having observed that the committee turned down his request, he walked out on us to avoid responding to further questions from the committee.

    “The committee observed that the attitude of the speaker showed that he had no regards for the committee and by extension the house of assembly.

    “His attitude is a clear admittance of the allegations contained in the impeachment notice served on him, which includes financial impropriety, high handedness and lack of focus, among others,” he said.

    Lamidi said that the committee found Oluomo guilty of all the allegations levelled against him and consequently recommended that he should be impeached.

    The lawmaker, thereafter, moved the motion for the adoption of the report, which was seconded by Oluseun Adesanya (PDP-Ijebu North-East).

    The Deputy Speaker threw the resolution back to the house which was eventually affirmed by the 22 members in attendance, leading to Oluomo’s removal as Speaker through majority vote.

    “With the majority vote of 22 members, I hereby confirm that Oluomo stands impeached and removed as the Speaker of Ogun house of assembly,” she said.

    Another lawmaker, Mr Adegoke Adeyanju (APC-Yewa North I), thereafter, nominated Oludaisi Elemide (APC-Odeda) as the new Speaker, which was seconded by Adeniran Ademola (APC-SagamuII).

    Elemide then took the Oath of Office and was officially sworn-in to replace the impeached Speaker.

    The new Speaker promised an all-inclusive leadership, urging members to see themselves as one and work in unity for the progress of the state.

    Earlier, the Deputy Speaker had read a letter of impeachment notice served on Oluomo, which was signed by 25 out of the 26 members of the assembly.

    Oluomo was impeached on Jan. 23 by 18 out of the 26 lawmakers during the plenary presided over by the deputy speaker.

  • BREAKING: Supreme Court affirms Gov Abiodun election

    BREAKING: Supreme Court affirms Gov Abiodun election

    The Supreme Court on Friday affirmed Dapo Abiodun as duly elected governor of Ogun State in the March 2023 governorship elections.

    Justice Tijjani Abubakar who delivered the judgement dismissed the appeals against Abiodun.

    The appeal was filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and it’s candidate in the March 18, governorship election, Ladi Adebutu.

    Adebutu’s appeal is seeking the nullification of the declaration of Dapo Abiodun as winner of the election.

    Specifically, he is challenging Abiodun’s re-election on the ground that the Electoral Act, 2022 was not adhered to, citing corrupt practices and issue of non-qualification.

    PDP and Adebutu want the Supreme Court to set aside and dismiss the judgement of the Court of Appeal, Lagos, which had on November 23, affirmed the decision of the Tribunal in upholding Adiodun’s victory.

    Recall that two Judges of the court below had dismissed the appeal filed by Adebutu for lacking in merit, while Justice Jane Esienanwan Inyang saw merit in the petition and thereby ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw the certificate of return presented to Abiodun and conduct another election in 99 polling units where elections were disrupted.

    The appellant said that INEC ought to have conducted fresh elections in 99 polling units where elections were cancelled and not declared a winner.

    He said the return of the governor by INEC was unlawful and the election was wrongly concluded because corrupt practices were allegedly manifest during the March 18, governorship poll.

    INEC had declared Abiodun winner of the governorship election after polling 276,298 votes to defeat his closest rival Adebutu, who polled 262,383 votes.

  • Pastor lands in trouble for defiling 16-year-old girl

    Pastor lands in trouble for defiling 16-year-old girl

    The Ogun Police Command says it has arrested a 43-year-old pastor, Clinton John, for allegedly defiling a 16-year-old girl (name withheld) at Agbado area of the State.

    The command’s Spokesperson, SP Omolola Odutola, disclosed this in a statement issued to newsmen in Ota on Saturday.

    Odutola explained that a family at Giwa Agbado reported a case of alleged defilement of their 16-year-old girl by John at the Agbado Divisional Police Station.

    “The family reported that their daughter had been repeatedly treated for recurring infections and exhibited frightful tendencies that made them suspect that she might have been involved in sexual intercourse.

    “But she was concealing the identity of the person as the parents needed to persuade her and she later confessed that one John, a pastor of Mega Healing Ministry, had fiercely been having carnal knowledge of her, since November 2022.

    “Their daughter further stated that the pastor threatened to kill her, if she ever revealed the cagey affair to anyone,” the PPRO added.

    She further stated that the suspect on interrogation confessed to the crime and admitted that he severally had unlawful carnal knowledge of the girl.

    According to Odutola, the rape survivor has been issued with medical forms for treatment and examination, while the suspect will be transfered to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Eleweran, Abeokuta, for discreet investigation.

  • Police detain couple over death of 45-year-old man in Ogun

    Police detain couple over death of 45-year-old man in Ogun

    The police command in Ogun says a couple, Mba Moses and Florence Moses, have allegedly killed one Mark Kalu after the victim sustained injuries from a fight between them.

    This is contained in a statement signed by spokesperson of the command, SP Omolola Odutola, and made available to newsmen in Abeokuta on Saturday.

    Odutola explained that the Divisional Police Officer in Odeda area of the state on Saturday at 7:00am received a report of the death of the 45-year-old man.

    The spokesperson said that the deceased sustained injuries during a fight that occurred on October 8, 2023, at Osiele market.

    “The altercation took place in the market square between the late Mark Kalu and a couple, Mba Moses, aged 50, and his wife, Florence, aged 40, leading to the death of Kalu,” he said.

    “Efforts were initially made by the Babaloja of Osiele and the Igbo Community Leader to mediate and find amicable resolution but these failed.

    “However, the suspects have now been taken into custody for preliminary investigation into the matter,” she said.

    She explained that the body of the deceased had been deposited at the mortuary of the Federal Medical Centre, Idi Aba, for autopsy.

  • Bullion van impounded with N24 million inside returned to owners

    Bullion van impounded with N24 million inside returned to owners

    The Ogun Area Command II of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Friday said it has released a bullion van the Service impounded with the sum of N24.4 million inside.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the bullion van was impounded in April 2022 after it was found loaded with 12 50kg bags of smuggled foreign parboiled rice.

    According to the Customs Area Controller, Olusola Alade, the bullion van was discovered to belong to an Abeokuta branch of Access Bank.

    Speaking with newsmen in Abeokuta, Alade disclosed the money and the van, which has the registration number FKJ 993 BZ, have now been handed over to officials of Bankers Warehouse Ltd. and Access Bank in Abeokuta.

    “The bullion van belongs to Bankers Warehouse and was impounded on April 22, 2022 by a joint border patrol team along the Sokoto-ljoun/Joga road in the Abeokuta axis.

    “The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, has now ordered the release of the bullion van and the money to both the Bankers Warehouse and Access Bank on compassionate ground after investigation,” Alade said.

    The Area Controller added that three suspects were arrested and charged to court in connection with the crime.

    “The seized foreign parboiled rice which were 12 bags of 50kg each were carefully concealed in the said vehicle.

    “Consequently, the said vehicle and the items were conveyed to the Customs House in Abeokuta for safekeeping.

    “After conducting examination on the vehicle, the said amount of money was discovered and deposited at the Abeokuta branch of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for safekeeping.

    “The vehicle was detained while the rice was converted to seizure in line with Section 168 of Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.

    “In connection to the above seizures, three suspects were arrested, detained, granted administrative bail and subsequently charged to court for aiding smuggling,” he explained.

    Alade added that the Bankers Warehouse Ltd and Access Bank later wrote an appeal letter to the Customs’ Comptroller-General for the release of both the van and money on compassionate ground.

    “This was in a bid to retrieve the detained van and the money, and based on the outcome of investigation and recommendations of the Investigation Unit of the NCS, the Comptroller-General granted an approval for the release of the detained van and the money.

    “This is in line with the provision of section 248 (1) and (2) of NCS Act, 2023,” he said.

  • Truck crushes motorcycle passenger to death in Ogun

    Truck crushes motorcycle passenger to death in Ogun

    Ogun Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE) on Friday said a commercial motorcycle passenger was crushed to death at Hamadiyah Junction, Oju-Ore, Ogun.

    Mr Adekunle Ajibade, the South-West Area Commander of TRACE, confirmed the incident in Ota.

    Ajibade explained that the unfortunate incident, which involved a truck and a commercial motorcyclist, occurred at about 3.20 p.m. on Oje-Ore road, Ota, inbound.

    He said the passenger was crushed to death when she suddenly fell under the truck, upon collision with the motorcycle.

    “The corpse of the female victim has been deposited at the morgue in Ifo General Hospital, Ogun,” he said.

    Ajibade said the truck had been towed away from road to ease traffic in the area.

    He advised commercial motorcyclists and truck drivers to always obey traffic rules and regulations and desist from dangerous driving to reduce mishaps during festive season.

  • Native doctor sent to jail for killing neighbour’s cow

    Native doctor sent to jail for killing neighbour’s cow

    An Abeokuta Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, sentenced a 45- year-old native doctor, Micheal Oyewole, to 12 months imprisonment for killing his neighbour’s cow.

    The convict, who resides at Araromi Alakaloko Olomore area in Abeokuta,  pleaded not guilty to the  three-count charge of conspiracy, theft and willfully and unlawfully killing of a cow.

    However, Magistrate  O.O. Odumosu held that the prosecution, had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt that the convict was guilty of the offence.

    She sentenced  Oyewole, to 12 calender months imprisonment with an option of fine of N10,000 for the stealing and six months for willing and unlawfully killing the cow.

    The magistrate ordered  that the convict can only exercise the option of payments of fine, only if he pays N400,000 to the complainant, being the cost of the cow he killed.

    She added that the sentence should run concurrently.

    Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel,  ASP Olakunle Shonibare told the court that the convict  committed the offence on June 3, at about 11:00pm at Alakoloko Unique Estate Olomore area in Abeokuta.

    Shonibare, said  that the convict conspired with others at large and stole a cow valued N400,000 property of one Mr Hakeem Ominrinde

    He said  offence contravened the provisions of sections 516, 383 and 450 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun 2006.

  • Armed robbers kill accountant in Ogun government money heist

    Armed robbers kill accountant in Ogun government money heist

    Suspected armed robbers on Wednesday in Abeokuta shot dead an accountant of the Ogun State Government, Mr Taiwo Oyekanmi, and escaped with the money he just withdrew from the bank.

    Oyekanmi, who was the Director of Finance and Accounts at the Governor’s Office, had picked up an undisclosed amount of money.

    After leaving the bank, a branch of Fidelity Bank in Abeokuta, and was heading back to the office, he was stopped by the gunmen.

    It was gathered that the gunmen, about five, shot the accountant dead under the Kuto bridge and made away with the money in his possession.

    It was gathered that Oyekanmi and other assistants who sustained gunshot injuries during the attack were then rushed to the State General Hospital at Ijaiye, where the accountant later died.

    The Commissioner of Police in the state, Abiodun Alamutu, said the accountant was with a driver and one other person and they were with  a home-made bullion van.

    “They were supposed to have a police escort, but for certain reasons, the person was permitted to travel to attend to some issues. So, consequently he was not part of the movement.

    “According to the report, after making the withdrawal, and on their way back to the office, they were accosted.

    “A vehicle blocked them on top of the bridge, five occupants of the vehicle came down, shot at the director and from their vehicle brought out a sledge hammer to force the receptacle where the money was kept open and they left with the money.

    “As at that time there was no information, the police escort was not with the team and they sped off.

    “The driver claimed to have trailed them to a point near Conference Hotel where he lost contact with them,” he said.

    Alamutu said further that he had directed the Area Commander to get to the bank and request for the CCTV footage which would give the police an insight into the vehicle in question.

    “There is a possibility of identifying the culprits if they ever ventured to step out of the vehicle or may be they just maintained their position in the vehicle.

    “I have reached out to Lagos and everywhere in the command to block all the exits out of the state, while we are trying to identify them because they said they were five and they used hood,” he said.

    The Secretary to the State Government, Mr Tokunbo Talabi, has already visited the late accountant’s residence to commiserate with the family.