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Tag: Oyo State

  • Oyo Govt. uncovers 41 ghost workers

    Oyo Govt. uncovers 41 ghost workers

    The Oyo State Government says it has uncovered 41 employees classified as “No Show”, a euphemism for ghost workers.

    A statement issued on Wednesday in Ibadan by Mr Taiwo Adisa, the Chief Press Secretary to Gov. Seyi Makinde, said the discovery was made by the consultants engaged to verify its workforce.

    According to the statement, the Implementation Committee of the Oyo State 2019/2020 Civil/Public Servants Audit and Payroll Re-engineering/Validation Exercise confirmed the ghost workers.

    The consultants also indicted 602 officers and recommended them for removal from the payrolls but the Implementation Committee affirmed 41 ghost workers.

    “The consultants cleared 40 others of any infraction; uncovered 10 deaths, 170 systematic retirements and affirmed the option of voluntary retirement by 341 others, with irregular records of service.

    The statement said that, “the Implementation Committee had examined the report submitted by the consultants and also interacted with the affected officers before finalizing the implementation model.

    “Messrs Sally Tilbot Consulting was in 2019 engaged by the Oyo State Government to undertake employees and pensioners’ verification/validation and payroll re-engineering tagged “2019/2020 Staff Audit.

    “Following a series of reconciliations, the report of the consultants was received by the government on April 30 after which an Implementation Committee was put in place to fashion out the final implementation model.

    “The committee recommended that an administrative investigation be undertaken by the government to determine where the salaries of the “No Show” officers had been going, the report said.”

    The statement added that of the 341, who opted for voluntary retirement, 290 officers had turned in their voluntary retirement letters.

    The Implementation Committee, however, recommended that the government should accept the retirement of the 341 officers following the discovery of irregular records of service in their files.

    The affected officers, the committee recommended, are to be helped to port into the pension payroll not later than two months after their respective notices of retirement.

  • Makinde mourns Oyo-born rapper, Sound Sultan

    Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, on Sunday, described the death of an Iseyin. Oyo State-born singer, Lanre Fasasi, popularly known as Sound Sultan, as a huge loss to the state and the entertainment world.

    Makinde, in a statement issued in Ibadan by his Special Assistant on Print Media – Mr Moses Alao, described the incident as the demise of a great ambassador of the state.

    He commiserated with the immediate family of the deceased, the Iseyin community and the entertainment industry.

    The statement quoted the governor as describing Sound Sultan as a ‘humble, great talent and a shining light’ who has positively impacted the society with his act.

    “Sound Sultan left the world at a young age of 44, but he made his mark and left strong messages for the Nigerian society through various songs with thematic preoccupations that centre on politics, commitment and service to fatherland, among others”, the statement read.

    The governor charged youths in the state to borrow a leaf from the pages of Sound Sultan’s books.

    According to him, the late singer showed great example on how to manage fame as a young person.

    “The news of the death of popular singer and producer, Lanre Fasasi, popularly known as Sound Sultan, unsettled me greatly.

    “From afar, Sound Sultan cuts the figure of a well-bred young man, who achieved stardom by a dint of hard work and managed to remain relevant without falling to the entrapments of fame and youthful exuberance.

    “In him, Oyo State lost a great and humble artiste and ambassador.

    “We lost an individual who tried his best to positively impact on his society through entertainment.

    “I pray to God to grant everyone related to him, the fortitude to bear the loss”, the governor stated.

  • Popular radio presenter murdered in Ibadan

    The Police Command in Oyo State, on Sunday, confirmed the murder of a popular Ibadan Radio Presenter, Mr Titus Badejo, by unknown gunmen.

    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the State, DSP Adewale Osifeso, confirmed the incident in a text message in Ibadan.

    It was gathered that Badejo, a former presenter with Naija FM Ibadan, was murdered by unknown gunmen on Saturday, outside Club 407 in the Oluyole area of Ibadan at about 11:30 pm.

    The PPRO said that investigations were ongoing to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident and apprehend the assailants.

    “At about 0730hrs, Sunday 20th June 2021, One Damilola Afolabi ‘m’, Manager, at Club 407,Oluyole Ibadan, reported at the Oluyole Divisional Police Headquarters that on Saturday, 19th June, 2021, one Titus Badejo, Journalist and freelance disc jockey with the club, was shot outside the club’s premises by unknown assailants.

    “However, comprehensive investigations are in top gear to unravel circumstances surrounding the incident and to apprehend the assailants. Verifiable updates would be provided soonest,” Osifeso said, in the text.

    A source, who pleaded anonymity, told NAN that the deceased, popularly called ‘Ejanla”, meaning ”Big fish” in English, had been at the club with friends since 9.00pm.

    “When he was leaving with his friends in his car around 11:30pm, two masked men on a motorcycle suddenly stopped his car, wielding a gun and asked all of them to lie down.

    “He was the only one shot by the gunmen, who left immediately without taking anything or touching the other occupants of the car”, the source said.

    The corpse had since been deposited at the morgue of Adeoyo Hospital, Ring road, Ibadan.

  • Police confirm 11 deaths in Igangan Community attack

    Police confirm 11 deaths in Igangan Community attack

    The Police Command in Oyo State has confirmed the death of 11 people in Saturday’s night attack in Igangan Community, a town in Ibarapa North Local Government Area.

    Suspected gunmen invaded the town of Igangan on Saturday around 11:10 p.m on motorcycles, and allegedly opened fire on innocents citizens and burnt some property.

    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, DSP Adewale Osifeso, made this known in a statement on Sunday in Ibadan.

    Osifeso said that a total of 11 people, including some of the assailants were confirmed dead in the incident.

    The PPRO said that a number of vehicles and buildings, including the Palace of the Asigangan of Igangan Town and a filling station were razed.

    According to him, the Commissioner of Police, Ngozi Onadeko, had on Sunday paid an on-the-spot assessment visit to the town to critically assess the level and cause of damage.

    “Intelligence and Tactical apparatuses, consisting of Police Mobile Force personnel, Patrol units and other tactical teams in concert with Local Hunters and Vigilance Group from the community were deployed to forestall further breakdown of law and order in the area,” he said.

    Osifeso added that the commissioner expressed the command’s condolences to the families of the deceased, promising that justice would prevail.

    He then, appealed to Igangan community to trust the system, and shun self help in obtaining justice.

    The commissioner urged them to partner with the police by way of prompt sharing of intelligence reports relevant to the ongoing investigations.

  • Invasion of Igangan: Gov Makinde reacts

    Invasion of Igangan: Gov Makinde reacts

    Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, says he is currently being briefed on the Saturday’s night attack by some unknown gunmen in Igangan Community in Ibarapa area of the state.

    Makinde, in a statement issued in Ibadan, on Sunday, said he received the shocking news of the attacks on residents of the community in the early hours of Sunday.

    “I urge residents to remain calm as security operatives are now in control of the situation,” the governor said.

    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Adewale Osifeso, confirmed the attack in Ibadan.

    Osifeso, however, did not confirm the number of casualties nor the burning of any property.

    He said investigation was ongoing and that an update on the incident would be made available later.

    According to him, on Saturday at about 2310 hour, a yet to be ascertained number of unknown assailants invaded Igangan Town with dangerous weapons in a bid to create unrest in the town.

    “The unscrupulous elements were, however, repelled by a combination of operational and tactical assets deployed to the scene to restore normalcy.

    “The situation is being closely monitored and investigations are ongoing to apprehend the perpetrators,” Osifeso said.

  • Four killed in bloody clash between Customs officers, smugglers in Iseyin, Oyo State

    Four killed in bloody clash between Customs officers, smugglers in Iseyin, Oyo State

    It was a bloody Eid el-Fitr celebration on Thursday after operatives of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) in Iseyin, Oyo state, engaged suspected smugglers in a shootout during which four persons were reportedly killed and property destroyed.

    According to reports, the exchange of gun shots by the customs officials and suspected smugglers threw the rustic town of Iseyin into panic with residents, who were celebrating the Eid-el-fitr, fleeing to safety

    Mr Muftau Abilawon, the former Caretaker Chairman of Iseyin Local Government Council, confirmed the bloody incident on Thursday night.

    “I have been duly informed by a traditional Chief, the Ikolaba of Iseyin, Chief Ismail Tikalosoro, who called me and narrated the incident to me on phone.

    “He advised that I brief the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security about the matter, which I did immediately and he has promised to intervene.

    “ I understand that the four corpses were taken to the palace of the Aseyin of Iseyin, where the chiefs appealed for calm and asked the aggrieved residents to deposit the corpses at Fadoks hospital.

    “The chiefs also begged them not to set the Customs base in Iseyin ablaze, which they yielded to but it was too late for the Toyota Hilux van as it was on fire already before the appeal,’’ he said.

    Abilawon, who had resigned from office to participate in forthcoming council elections, appealed for calm and order in the ancient town.

    Efforts to get the Police Command’s spokesman in Oyo State and the NCS spokesman in the state proved futile as calls and messages put to their phones were not picked not replied.

  • BREAKING: Supreme Court declares dissolution of Oyo councils illegal

    BREAKING: Supreme Court declares dissolution of Oyo councils illegal

    Two years after Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde sacked all the local government chairpersons in the state and appointed caretaker chairmen, the Supreme court, Friday declared the dissolution of the local government councils as illegal.

    The apex court in its ruling on today also declared the replacement of the council chairman with caretaker committees as unlawful.

    Reacting to the ruling, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare hailed the judgment, saying that the judgement was a landmark achievement in the present government’s hard work to deepen democracy at the grassroots.

    Mr. Dare in his immediate response to the judgment, noted that with the “ unsparing , unequivocal and unambiguous’’ judgment by the highest court in the land, it has now become crystal clear that no state government has the power to sack any elected council chairman or councilor, as correctly envisioned by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Dare commended the gallantry of the local government chairmen under the leadership of Prince Abass Ayodeji Alesinloye, stressing that their steadfastness and doggedness eventually paid off not only for themselves but for democracy as an institution at the grassroots. The minister also praised their legal team led by Chief Niyi Akintola for a thorough and painstaking legal battle fought almost gratis for the sake of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the cause of democracy.

    Mr. Dare did not forget the immediate past Governor of the state, late Senator Abiola Ajimobi who he commended for his role in ensuring that due diligence was appropriately done in the conduct of the local government election and the profound leadership given to the local government executives in the institution and pursuit of the case until his death.

    The minister said that he was particularly elated that ‘’ our party, the All Progressives Congress under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, the National Caretaker Chairman, Governor Mai Mala Buni and the Oyo State Caretaker Chairman, Chief Akin Oke was able to finally lay this issue bothering mainly on tyranny of power by state governors to rest. While congratulating the gallant chairmen and councilors, Mr. Dare urged them to remain totally committed and loyal to the party in order to collectively win back Oyo State for APC.

  • Police foil criminal operation, recover AK-47 rifle in Oyo

    Police foil criminal operation, recover AK-47 rifle in Oyo

    The Police Command in Oyo State has foiled a criminal operation at Bakari, a border village between Oyo and Ogun State and recovered an AK-47 rifle while on stop and search operation.

    The command’s Public Relation Officer, DSP Adewale Osifeso, made the disclosed in a statement issued on Monday and made available to newsmen in Ibadan.

    Osifeso said the operatives attached to the command’s Monitoring Unit made the breakthrough on Sunday at about 4:30 pm while on a stop and search duty at Bakari.

    “The suspect spotted the tactical team performing their routine intelligence checks from afar and immediately turned his Bajaj motorcycle to flee.

    “In swift response, the tactical operatives followed in hot pursuit after the fleeing suspect, who turned off the main highway into a pathways leading into a nearby forest, an action that led to a sack falling off the back of his motorcycle.

    “A cursory look into the content of the sack revealed it was an AK-47 riffle with breech number 353913,” Osifeso said.

    The PPRO further said that comprehensive investigations was ongoing to not only to apprehend the suspect but to as well crack down his criminal network and supply chain.

    He said the Commissioner of Police in the state, Ngozi Onadeko, enjoined the good people of the state to partner with the Police in terms of sharing credible and timely information that would stamp out crime in the state.

  • Amotekun apprehends 11 suspected bandits in Oyo

    Amotekun apprehends 11 suspected bandits in Oyo

    Operatives of the Oyo State Security Network Agency, also known as Amotekun, have arrested 11 suspected bandits terrorising residents of the state.

    Amotekum Commandant in the state, retired Col. Olayinka Olayanju, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday in Ibadan.

    Olayanju said that the suspects were arrested during joint routine patrol with members of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) and other vigilance groups in the early hours of Thursday.

    Olayanju said that the suspects were arrested at two illegal check points in different locations.

    The commandant said that while five of them were arrested in Saki East Local Government Area, six others were arrested at Kajola council area of the state.

    The commandant said that the suspects had been handed over to the police.

    “The bandits whose modus operandi is to pretend as herdsmen in the day and violently rob innocent passengers on the highways at night were caught with 183 cows, weapons and a total sum of N268, 470.00.

    “They have been handed over to the police along with the 183 herds, weapons and money found in their possession for further investigation.

    “Those with necessary information that could help the law enforcement agencies in their investigation are enjoined to report to the nearest police authority,’’ he said.

  • Makinde mourns late Permanent Secretary

    Makinde mourns late Permanent Secretary

    Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has described the death of the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, Mr Wasiu Gbadegesin, as a painful blow.

    This is contained in a statement on Tuesday in Ibadan by Mr Taiwo Adisa, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor.

    Makinde said that the late permanent secretary was a hardworking and efficient civil servant, who gave his best to the state.

    He noted that the deceased’s wealth of experience and expertise would be sorely missed.

    The governor commiserated with the family of the late Gbadegesin, the staff of the Ministry of Justice and the judiciary.

    “The passage of the Solicitor-General of Oyo State and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, Prince Wasiu Adetunji Gbadegesin is a great blow to the ministry, the state and the judiciary.

    “It is my prayers that God will grant him Aljanah Firdaus and give his immediate family, the royal family of Oyo, civil servants and members of the judiciary family in the state the fortitude to bear this loss,’’ Makinde said.