By Dayo Johnson

IT would have been disastrous if not for the ingenuity and dexterity of some crack detectives in the Ondo state police command. The detectives foiled a plan by some  robbers who dug a tunnel into the premises of one of the old generation banks in Akure, the Ondo State capital with the intention to bomb and subsequently rob the bank located along  Ado/ Owo road.

Observers said if the plan had succeeded, the  perpetrators would have hit a life time jackpot as it would have passed as the biggest robbery incident in the state. The tunnel, according to Police sources, could contain three persons at a time. Consequent upon the foiling of the plan no fewer than 15 suspects have been quizzed by detectives.

Those quizzed include farmers and construction workers  within the vicinity of the bank. It was gathered that detectives after the discovery of the tunnel rounded up the suspects and whisked them to the police command for questioning, The state Police authorities confirmed that some person have been invited for interrogation.

Spokesman of the Command, Femi Joseph, said those invited were not arrested but were called to help in the investigation as regards the foiled robbery attempt. Joseph assured that the Police Command would apprehend the perpetrators soon. Meanwhile, reports had it that following last week’s discovery, banks across the state have stepped up their security  and have reportedly given quit notices to shop owners and removed barriers within  meters to the bank’s buildings.

Also, a visit to some banks in the Akure metropolis showed that some their security guards now monitor the surroundings of the banks instead of the usual concentration on the main entrance of the banks. Some security guards were even seen manning strategic  positions around the bank buildings and car parks.

The weekend discovery was said to have sent jitters down the spines of management of banks in the state. The managers of banks in the state reportedly held an emergency meeting where some security hints from the state Police authorities were deliberated upon to guard against being caught napping by the hoodlums.

Vanguard gathered that the introduction of this new trend  by men of the underworld shocked the bankers. Meanwhile, the bank surveillance squad who discovered the tunnel were reportedly tipped off by some informants who noticed  strange movement of people on the footpath  leading to a farm behind the bank.

Vanguard also gathered that the perpetrators did the digging at weekends (Saturdays and Sundays) when traffic in  the area was thin and there would not be any banking activities.

Following the tip off, the surveillance squad reportedly laid an ambush on  the perpetrators but after a week and they failed to show up, the police authorities informed the bank management before going public on its findings. Police source said that the perpetrators may have been informed by their collaborators within the bank or any of those been quizzed by the police.

The source was certain that there was an inside collaborator hence the reason the culprits absconded when detectives laid ambush for them. A top police source said that it would have been a matter of days before the robbers blow up the bank if the tunnel had not been discovered by the police detectives.

According to him; “After another digging for 48hour s, the robbers would have gotten to the banking hall and blow it open and walk straight to the vault which will also be blown open. “ While this is happening the bank security operatives  would still be busy keeping watch over the bank from the front entrance not aware of happenings at the back of the fence.

“ They would have escaped the same way they came if the tunnel was not discovered by the surveillance squad . Vanguard learnt from a top security source that  the perpetrators only needed to dig the tunnel which is about 15 meters already for another two days for them to get to the banking hall

Giving the blow by blow account of how the state police command foiled the  robbery attempt, the State Police Commissioner, Mike Ogbodu, said that the tunnel was discovered by his detectives around 9.30am on the 14th of October. “ Our bank surveillance squad discovered a long tunnel dug by suspected armed robbers behind the Ado/ Owo road branch of the United Bank for Africa (UBA).

“The length of the  tunnel dug from the perimeter fence of the bank into the premises was about 10 to 15 meters. “ The tunnel was apparently prepared to serve as a passage to the bank premises to carry out their nefarious acts without being noticed. “Shovel, diggers and other tools used for the digging were recovered from the scene.

“This is a new trend being employed by men of the underworld these days,” he disclosed Ogbodu  has however advised bank management to be conscious of the happenings in their environment and also to endeavour to always remove any barrier that could serve as cover for criminals.

Dependable Police source informed Vanguard that the gang that planned the robbery would have operated at the weekend when bankers would not be at work. Sources said that the bankers would have resumed one morning to discover that the banks vault have been blown off and all the money carted away. Meanwhile, two members of a syndicate that  specializes in stealing vehicle brain boxes have been arrested with over 70 brain boxes.

South West Voice learnt that one Abdulahi Matt of Kirikiri road, Masamasa, mile 2, Lagos state was arrested with 30 vehicle brain boxes and 30 vehicle glass control gadgets  from where they were parked. The Police Commissioner, Ogbodu, said that the suspects  mentioned one Emmanuel Ezekwe at Ladipo Spare Parts, Market, Mushin Lagos state, as the receiver of the stolen goods.

Ogbodu  added that; “Over 70 vehicle brain boxes were recovered from him. In another development, a six man armed robbery gang have been arrested for hijacking a truck loaded with biscuits. The truck which was coming from Lagos was snatched by the hoodlums and driven to an unknown destination. Acting on tip off the stolen goods were traced to Ore town in Ondo state where they were about to be sold.

Consequently two suspects Celestine Okafor and Arinze Orji were arrested and they led detectives to the hideouts of other members of the gang. Others picked up include Uche Sunday, Chibueze Waribe, Obi Ikechukwu and Kolawole Ipindemi. The truck according to the Police Commissioner was also recovered with the the loot.

-Vanguard

About twenty persons sustained injuries during a bloody clash among members of All Progressives Congress (APC), at Oka-Akoko in Akoko South West Local Government area of Ondo State.
Also, an unconfirmed report said two persons were feared dead during the fracas which ensued between the loyalists of a Governorship aspirant, Dr Segun Abraham who were attacked by supporters of another governorship aspirant of the party during a campaign rally organised by Abraham in the town.
Daily Sun reliably gathered that thugs took advantage of the intra-party clash to unleash terror on the town, as the political clash later led to pandemonium.
It was learnt that two Journalists who were in the town to cover the campaign rally narrowly escaped being lynched during the melee, as hoodlums attempted to machete them.
The reporters while narrating their ordeal said they trekked for several hours before they could escaped from the scene.
A resident of the town who spoke with Daily Sun on telephone, Mr Wale Gidado, said the clash was caused by hoodlums who solicited for money from the aspirant.
He said the refusal of the aspirant to give money to the hoodlums led to the bloody clash, adding that others took the advantage of the clash to perpetrate troubles in the town.
It was learnt that properties worth millions of Naira including, two vehicles belonging to the Peace Corps of Nigeria were destroyed.
Witness said that a female supporter of the aspirant was stripped naked by the political thugs, while dangerous weapons were freely used.
The governorship aspirant however, linked the attack to a politician in the area, alleging that the hoodlums were being sponsored by one of his rivals from his area.
“They cannot suppress peoples’ wish because I have large number of supporters in the party. It is too early for an attack and we must stop encouraging violence in politics,” he said.

An investigation by SaharaReporters has revealed that Acting Chief Judge of the Ondo State High Court, Justice Temitayo Olubusola Adefunke Osoba, falsified her age in official documents to enable her to remain in service. As the most senior judge in the state, Justice Osoba took over in acting capacity after the immediate past Chief Judge, Justice Olasehinde Kumuyi, ended his tenure. On Monday January 23, 2017, former Governor Olusegun Mimiko swore in Justice Osoba as the “Acting Chief Judge” of Ondo State. The ceremony took place at the Cocoa Conference Hall in Akure, the state capital.

As Acting Chief Judge, Justice Osoba on Friday, February 24, 2017 administered the oath office on Governor Rotimi Akeredolu at the Ondo State Sports Complex.

Justice Osoba, who had been awaiting formal recommendations from the National Judicial Council (NJC) in order to become the substantive Chief Judge, apparently falsified her age, according to the scrutiny of her records.

Our investigation revealed that Justice Osoba was ultimately sworn in even though Justice Folashade Taiwo Aguda, the pioneer President of the Ondo State Customary Court of Appeal and a close associate of Mr. Mimiko, had been interested in the position. Prior to her elevation, Justice Osoba, who attended schools in Lagos, Ondo and Ekiti states, never headed any division within the state judiciary.

In her curriculum vitae (CV), read at her swearing-in, Justice Osoba claimed that she was born on the 20th of June 1957, which purportedly put her age at 60 years old.

But an independent investigation by SaharaReporters on Justice Osoba’s academic records revealed that she was actually born on June 20, 1950 not 1957. Our investigative team determined that the judge is due to clock 67 years old on June 20, 2017.

If Justice Osoba had declared her true age, she would have been disqualified from the office she currently holds. Section 291 (1&2) of Nigeria’s 1999 Nigeria Constitution (as amended) states: “A judicial officer appointed to the Supreme Court or the Court of Appeal may retire when he attains the age of sixty-five years and he shall cease to hold office when he attains the age of seventy years. A judicial officer appointed to any other court other than those specified in subsection (1) of this section may retire when he attains the age of sixty years and he shall cease to hold office when he attains the age of sixty-five years.”

Justice Osoba’s records show that she was born into the family of Reverend Timothy Omotayo Olufosoye and Mrs. Joan Olaneye Olufosoye in Ondo, Ondo West Local Government Area of Ondo state. According to a listing on Wikipedia, Reverend Olufosoye was the first archbishop and primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) and was consecrated as the first African bishop of Gambia and the Rio Pongas in 1965. In 1971, Reverend Olufosoye was transferred to Ibadan, the current capital of Oyo State.

Our investigation revealed that, between 1963 and 1967, Justice Temitayo Osoba attended Bishop Philips Primary School in Ondo town, which was founded in 1952. However, when our undercover reporter visited the school, located on Surulere Road in Ondo town, he found that the name of Justice Osoba, who used to be known as Temitayo Olubusola Adefunke Olufosoye, was not listed on the list of students registered between the years she presented in her falsified CV.

Our investigators also discovered that Justice Osoba attended Fiwasaye Girls Grammar School in Akure, but she chose to omit the school from her academic record in an apparent effort to conceal her real age.

Some of the judge’s academic record, which is being shielded from public view by the current principal of Fiwasaye Girls Grammar School Akure, Mrs. Olubukola Taiwo Bola, confirmed that the embattled Acting Chief Judge understated her age in order to place herself under the statutory retirement age of 65 years old for judges.

Our undercover reporter visited the girls’ school twice in the course of his investigation. However, he was rebuffed by the school principal, who happens to be married to Justice Ademola Bola of the Ondo State High Court number 6 in Akure.

Our reporter also visited Christ (Girls) School in Ado Ekiti, where Justice Temitayo Osoba claimed she attained secondary education from 1972 to 1974, according to her CV. The administrators and teachers at the school refused to allow our reporter access to the school’s records during the years listed by Justice Osoba. They insisted that the reporter submits a formal letter explaining what he wanted to look for from the school records.

In her CV, the Acting Chief Judge also stated that she attended Gambia High School, in Banjul, the capital of Gambia, between 1967 and 1968. However, a search on the school’s webpage did not yield information about student registrations. The phone contacts provided on the page failed to connect when our correspondent tried to dial.

Justice Osoba’s CV also stated that, between 1963 and 1967, she attended Uplands School in Sandecotes, Dorset in the South of England. Our reporters found that the school was based in the south coastal town of Poole, Dorset on the South coast and was a co-educational independent school that consisted of a junior and senior school, which merged with Wentworth College in 2009. Emails sent by our reporter to the office of the school registrar were not replied as at last Friday.

Our correspondent visited Justice Osoba’s Local Government in Ondo West to ascertain her real date of birth, but staff members at the “records department” balked at providing information about the judge. One staffer, a woman, claimed that it was impossible to see records of births in the library, but also asked our reporter to send an official letter to the chairman of the council on his request.

Meanwhile, documents obtained from the Ondo State judiciary in Akure revealed that part of Justice Temitayo Osoba’s records had been doctored. Two senior judiciary officials also told our correspondent that the Chief Registrar, Toyin Akinrinsola, was part of a scheme to hide evidence of the judge’s falsifications. One of the sources described

Mr. Akinrinsola as a questionable character, adding that the registrar “also doubles as the Chief Accountant of the High Court and was once implicated in the embezzlement of funds with some senior judiciary staff.” According to the source, “The case was later covered up at the Ondo State High Court of Justice. But by way of a little punishment [Mr. Akinrinsola] was demoted and made a Secretary at the Judicial Service Commission.”

A few sources at the state judiciary stated that the immediate past Chief Judge, Olasehinde Kumuyi, was determined to have Justice Osoba as his successor.

“He [Justice Kumuyi] convinced former Governor Olusegun Mimiko to install Temitayo Osoba as the new Chief Judge,” said one of the sources. According to the source, the former Chief Judge told Mr. Mimiko that Justice Osoba was the most dependable judge “to cover-up some atrocities and illegalities committed during the tenure of the last administration in the state.”

Said another source at the judiciary, “Mimiko called for Justice Osoba’s CV. And before we knew what was going on at the governor’s office, her name was forwarded and she was eventually sworn in as the Acting Chief Judge. And I have no doubt that the mission is to confirm her as substantive.”

A senior official of the Ministry of Justice claimed that agents of Nigeria’s secret police had investigated Justice Osoba’s illicit change of her age. He added that the agency’s final report had been forwarded to the National Judicial Council (NJC). “I can authoritatively tell you that the Directorate of State Security Service (DSS) investigated this age falsification between the months of January and March of this year. And they found that Justice Temitayo Osoba had told so many lies in her records.” He added: “She could have tried to bribe her way out, but it was too late for her as the findings of the DSS report had been submitted to the National Judicial Council (NJC).”

On May 16, 2017, an Akure-based human rights lawyer, Femi Emmanuel-Emodamori, issued a 7-day ultimatum to Governor Akeredolu to remove Justice Temitayo Osoba on account of her age falsification. In making the demand, Mr. Emodamori said that the judge’s academic records at Fiwasaye Grammar School indicated that she was born in 1950, instead of 1957.

In his letter, which was also copied to the National Judicial Council (NJC), the lawyer stated that Justice Osoba had overstayed in office as an Acting Chief Judge, adding that her continued stay in office violated the provisions of the 1999 constitution.

SaharaReporters exclusively obtained a copy of the letter, which was also copied to the Ondo State House of Assembly (ODHSA) and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

Mr. Emodamori’s letter pointed out that section 271 (5) of the Nigerian Constitution does not allow anybody to be in acting capacity as Chief Judge of a state for more than three months. He said it was illegal for Justice Osoba to continue to breach the constitution by occupying the office since the State Assembly and National Judicial Council had not confirmed her appointment after she was sworn in on January 23, 2017.

He added that the failure to remove Justice Temitayo Osoba would amount to an act of illegality since she could not be reappointed after almost four months in acting capacity in office. According to him, it would also bring Ondo State and the country’s judicial system to disrepute.

“I’m personally not unaware of [a] series of rumor of allegation of falsification of age and academic qualification data surrounding your lordship,” the lawyer wrote. He added, “Part of which was that your lordship claimed to have been born in 1957 but was actually born in 1950 and enrolled as a student in Fiwasaye Grammar School in Akure in 1961.

“As a matter of fact, the loud whisper in the public domain is that your lordship was actually a classmate of one Adejisola Adegoke, the wife of one Dr. Laoye Adegoke, a retired Permanent Secretary, in the said Fiwasaye Grammar School.

“The deafening silence from virtually all the stakeholders in this matter is amazing. I would not be part of it.”

A source close to Governor Akeredolu told SaharaReporters that the governor was aware of the controversy surrounding the Acting Chief Judge’s understatement of her age. “Governor Akeredolu is aware of the age saga through the DSS report. A Lagos-based lawyer has also contacted and talked to the governor over the issue. But you know Akeredolu is a very close friend to his predecessor, former Governor Olusegun Mimiko. So he doesn’t want to be labeled to be victimizing Ondo indigenes since the Acting Chief Judge is from Ondo town.” The source added that Governor Akeredolu would prefer that the NJC handle the matter “rather than he being accused of sacking the judge for political reasons.”  Justice Temitayo Olubusola Osoba Sahara Reporters Media Bishop Philips school Sahara Reporters Media Justice Osoba sitting next with Justice Taiwo Aguda at a fucntion in Akure Sahara Reporters Media

The registered lists of students (names of female students written in red pen) as obtained by Sahara Reporters Media Sahara Reporters Media List of registered students in 1967 (female student in red pen) at Bishop Philips Primary School obtained by Sahara Reporters Media Sahara Reporters Media

-Saharareporters.com

Peter Dada, Akure

A woman, Mrs. Omotola Akerele, has alleged that a pastor, Mathew Olakunle, had sex with her when she was undergoing spiritual healing in his church, adding that the intercourse resulted in pregnancy.

Olakunle, who was the head of the Christ Apostolic Church, Oke Itura, in Iju town, in the Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State, was allegedly fond of praying for women in the church without their clothes on.

The 32-year-old woman, who narrated her ordeal on a programme on Adaba FM, Akure, Ondo State, said her mother, who was a member of the church, introduced her to the pastor when she was battling with severe cough.

Omotola, an indigene of the town, said after the intercourse with the pastor, she became pregnant, adding that she aborted the pregnancy without telling her husband about it.

She said, “I had severe cough and my mother took me to Pastor Olakunle Mathew for prayer.

“After praying for me, he said I needed a shaving stick and a handkerchief to perform the spiritual exercise, which I took to him.

“The pastor told me that he wanted to use my pubic hair to perform some spiritual work that would solve my spiritual problem.

“On the night of the first day that we got there, he asked me to put off my clothes in the presence of my mother to pray for me in the mission house.

“After that day, he often asked me to come for deliverance and whenever I got there, he would ask me to remove my clothes and lie on a bed. While also naked, he would lie on me and start praying for me.

“On the seventh day, he shaved the hair on my private parts and armpits, and put the hair in the white handkerchief. After that, we had sexual intercourse. After the intercourse, he asked me to go and bury the hair in the handkerchief.”

Omotola added that a month after the incident, she was pregnant and aborted it.

She said when her husband got to know about it, he sent her out of her matrimonial home.

The pastor admitted praying for women in the church naked, adding that God answered the prayer of naked people faster.

He explained that Omotola’s case was a spiritual attack and she agreed to undergo the spiritual exercise performed on her in the church.

Olakunle, who said he had been transferred by the C.A.C. to another branch of the church in Ilorin, Kwara State, however, denied having sexual intercourse with Omotola.

He also denied impregnating her. He, however, admitted to having sexual relationship with her younger sister twice and had prayed for their mother too while naked.

He said, “On the third day of the spiritual programme, I shaved the hair of her private parts and I touched it (her private parts) with my sexual organ. I told her to be using my organ to rub her private parts so that she could discharge.

“After that, I wiped the discharge of her private parts with the white handkerchief and I prayed for her, using Psalm 24.

“After

By Josiah Oluwole
A large number of youth claiming to be former armed militants in the Niger Delta area of Ondo State on Friday protested in Akure, the state capital, over their non-inclusion in the extended amnesty program.

The youth, numbering about 500, also threatened to return to the creeks to bear arms against the government if they were not properly captured and included in the program.

The protesters stormed the office of the State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (OSOPADEC), in Oba-Ile, Akure, set up bonfires and prevented free flow of traffic along the expressway.

They also prevented employees of the commission from entering the office.

-Premium Times

Peter Dada, Akure

Some Fulani herdsmen this morning chased out the workers at the Akure South Local Government Secretariat following a disagreement.

READ ALSO:Herdsmen destroy UNILORIN multi-million naira research farms

It took the intervention of the Ondo State Commissioner of police, Mr. Gbenga Adeyanju, and the Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Mr. Pedro Ideba, who deployed their men in the council, before the situation was brought under control.

One of the workers of the council was allegedly macheted by the herdsmen.

The members of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees are asking the government to act on the matter.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:Police arrest married man for death of lover’s father

Following the incident, the secretariat was deserted by the workers, some of whom returned home after the incident.

-Punch

Peter Dada, Akure

The Ondo State Police Command has arrested five workers of the Ondo State Government for defrauding their employer of a sum of N200m through the issuance of fake receipts.
The suspects are, Oluwatoyin Abiodun, Ojo Ayodeji, David Omoyajowo, Isaac Solomon and Femi Tuki and one Ayadi Orimisan, who allegedly assisted the five suspects to perpetuate the fraud.

It was gathered that all the suspects had already been suspended by the state government before they were handed over to the police.

Parading the suspects at the headquarters of the command, at Alagbaka, Akure, the state capital on Tuesday, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Femi Joseph, said the suspects were allegedly fond of issuing fake tax clearance, certificate of roadworthiness, and fake driver’s licence to the innocent members of the public.
The PPRO said, “They would be charged to court as soon as we conclude our investigations.”

One of the suspects, Oluwatoyin Abiodun, however, denied the allegation but she confirmed that they had earlier been suspended by the Ondo State Civil Service Commission over the allegation.

Commenting on the development, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Special Duties, Dr. Doyin Odebowale, explained that the interim investigation had shown that the state government had been defrauded to the tune of N200m and that was why they were handed over to the police for prosecution.
Similarly, in his reaction, the Head of Service in the state, Mr. Toyin Akinkuotu, who also confirmed the incident said the current administration in the state had zero tolerance for corrupt practices in the civil service.

-Punch

Bamigbola Gbolagunte, Akure

The Police in Ondo State have arrested a 25-year- old man, Ojonugwa Adejoh, for allegedly stealing pants belonging to his brother’s wife.

Adejoh who was alleged to have used the pants for rituals was paraded before newsmen in Akure.

He was arrested alongside a 53-year-old Prophet, Olajide Ogunleye, who is the pastor in charge of the Celestial Church of Christ, ‘Ibanujemidopin’, Uso, in Owo Local Government Area of the state.

While parading the suspects, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the state police command, Mr Femi Joseph, said the suspects were arrested last week following a report made to the police.

But Adejoh while answering reporters’ questions said: “I went to the prophet to pray because of my work and when I got there he asked for the type of work I do and I told him that I learnt panel beating; then he said he wanted to pray for me that I should open my hands and he put something on it and asked me to swallow it.

“But when I got home I did not know what I was doing again. I just started looking for my brother’s wife pants and when I got the pants I, went back to the prophet. I didn’t steal the pants for rituals. “Hours after, my brother’s wife raised the alarm that she didn’t see her pants again and I was arrested,” he added.

He stated further that “when the police arrested me, I was taken to Uso police station before they transferred me to Akure.

“Two pants belonging to my brother’s wife and three belonging to my younger sister were caught with me.”

The prophet who also denied the allegations said he did not ask Adejoh to steal pants.

Meanwhile, the command has also arrested two local security guards for allegedly attempting to rape one woman (name withheld) who was returning from church.

The suspects, Daniel John (25) and Longbap Bongven (25) who hail from Plateau State according to the PPRO, beat the woman before they made attempts to rape her.

-Sun

President Muhammdu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday arrived in Akure, the Ondo State capital, amidst heavy security on a campaign visit to Ondo and Ekiti states for the 2019 general elections.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Buhari and Vice President started their campaign from Ekiti to seek   re-election to their offices as candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Buhari was received by Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, his Deputy, Hon. Agboola Ajayi, and Chief Olusola Oke, Director of Buhari Campaign Organisation in the South West.

READ ALSO: Again suspected herdsmen attack Benue communities

Others include Sen. Tayo Alasoadura, representing Ondo Central Senatorial District, Sen. Ajayi Boroffice, representing Ondo North Senatorial District and Mr Olaide Adelami, State Coordinator, Presidential Support Committee in Ondo State.

Rotimi Amaechi, the Minister of Transport, Chief Bola Tinubu, the Head of the Presidential Campaign and Adams Oshiomhole, the party’s National Chairman, also arrived after the president and vice president

NAN also reports that the men of the Nigerian Police were led by Mr Gbenga Adeyanju, Commissioner of Police in the state.

Other security agencies include men of the Nigerian Immigration Services, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), among others.

NAN

APC National Leader, Sen. BolaTinubu, former APC Interim Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande and Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State during a condolence visit to Pa. Reuben Fasoranti in Ondo.

• Be mindful of your utterances, Presidency warns leaders
• Nigerians may resort to self-help – Deji of Akure, Oyinlola, others

By Dayo Johnson, Johnbosco Agbakwuru & Shina Abubakar

OLICE authorities in Ondo State, yesterday, confirmed the arrest of some suspects connected with last Friday’s killing of Mrs Funke Olakunri, daughter of Afenifere leader, Pa Rueben Fasoranti.

This came as the Presidency, yesterday, warned Nigerian leaders to be mindful of the consequences of their utterances on the death of Mrs Olakunri before setting the country on fire.

But the Deji of Akureland, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi, and former Governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, yesterday, called on the Federal and State Governments to quickly nip the killings, perpetrated by marauding herdsmen, in the bud to prevent people from resorting to self-help.

We’re screening suspects -Police

In a chat with newsmen, spokesperson of the Ondo Police Command, Femi Joseph, however, declined to give the actual number of those apprehended by police detectives deployed to comb the forest along the Lagos/Ore axis, for security reasons.

He said: “We have made a lot of arrests on this matter but we are screening those arrestedto identify who among them the culprits are. By the time we finish the screening, we will let the world know the perpetrators. As I said, a number of people have been arrested and, when it is time, we shall parade the suspects.”

Be mindful of your utterances, Presidency warns

Describing Mrs Olakunri’s death as a tragedy, the Presidency, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, in Abuja, urged leaders to “consider their language and its potential consequences.”

The statement read: “The Presidency has noted the public concerns on the unfortunate attack leading to the death of the daughter of the Afenifere leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti.

“The President has already issued a statement expressing its heartfelt condolences to the family of Mrs Funke Olakunri and followed up with a telephone call.

“Her death is a tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family.

“It is incumbent on all leaders across the country to consider their language and its potential consequences.

“Insecurity is an issue that Nigeria must face together as one nation – united.

“Times of a tragedy like these are not the time for politics. It reveals only disrespect for the departed and her family. And we hope that those who stand in positions of influence recognise and understand this.”

Southwest Governors

By Dayo Johnson, Akure

OUTH West governors yesterday described the statement credited to the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), asking all Fulani residing in Southern parts of the country to return to the north as most unfortunate, divisive and retrogressive.

The governors in a statement personally signed by their Chairman and Ondo state Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu in Akure condemned the call by the NEF.

Akeredolu said “With no intention to engage anyone, it is incumbent on us, as elected representatives of our people in the South West Region of the country, to denounce this divisive and retrogressive statement in the strongest terms possible.

“The South West Governors’ Forum views, with palpable trepidation and outrage, the sustained attempts to fan the ember of discord, seizing every opportunity offered by the current security challenge to undermine the unity and peaceful co-existence among Nigerians.

“It is appalling, to assert the least, that the tragic incident, which claimed the life of Mrs. Funke Olakunrin, the daughter of Pa Fasoranti, the leader of Afenifere, would be used by certain persons to advance the cause of parochial politics.

“We intend to get to the root of the sad occurrence as we await the findings of security agencies on the unfortunate incident.

“The Governors and the people of the South West are working assiduously at the current security challenges with a view to finding lasting solutions to curtail the nefarious activities of undesirable elements bent on wrecking our collective peace.

“We are not unaware of the antics of certain elements, who hope to garner political mileage from the contrived crises in virtually all parts of the country.

The governor said “We are equally convinced that this confusion serves the narrow interests of some persons.

“The country has a rich history; she has had to encounter adversities in the course of her transition to nationhood. She has overcome them all.

“This distraction will also pass. We look up to the security agencies to take cohesive steps to curtail this major challenge of insecurity which engenders hopelessness.

“We can only enjoin all citizens, on our part, to be patient and continue to cooperate with them as they combat the festering crises. We on our part have taken great strides with the hope that great success will be achieved.

“We are, through this medium, reiterating the commitment of the Governors and the people of the South West to the nationhood project, as we continue to address the challenges confronting our people.

The governors promised that they “will promote, with renewed vigour, all activities which encourage amity among our people.

They therefore called “on all persons of Fulani extraction, and indeed all Nigerians from other parts of the country, resident in the South West Region, to discountenance the unpatriotic outburst of the Northern Elders Forum and other self-serving organisations of opportunists.

VANGUARD

Men of the Ondo State Police Command have invaded the Promised Land Prophetic Ministry (formerly Christ Apostolic Church, Promised Land) located in the Shasha area of Akure and dug the altar.

Gov. Akeredolu

Dayo Johnson, Akure

The opposition Peoples Democratic Party in Ondo state yesterday said the conduct of the wedding of the daughter of governor Rotimi Akeredolu in Mauritius was a vexatious display of insensitivity by the governor towards the difficult challenges currently being faced by citizens of the state.

It alleged that ” almost 100 people attended the wedding in Mauritius adding that ” such a visit is not only needless but irresponsible and shows clearly what the priorities of this government are”.

A statement issued by the state Director of Media and Publicity , Zadok Akintoye in Akure said “Within the last two years, the governor has celebrated weddings of his children across the world from Canada to the United States and now Mauritius at the expense of citizens of this state without any sense of respect to the people he leads.

“How else can one explain the present display of affluence and disdain for the people?

The governor, family members, members of the State Executive Council, wives of traditional rulers, Speaker Bamidele Oloyelogun, Deputy Speaker lroju Ogundeji and other principal officers of the State House of Assembly amongst others aides of the governor and his wife Betty travelled to Mauritius for the wedding.

Akeredolu’s daughter, Dr Teniola was joined in holy wedlock with Engineer Olatunde Mike Oyeyiola at the Long Beach Sun Resort, Mauritius on the 30th of November.

Akintoye said “The recent outcry of citizens of this state against the vexatious display of insensitivity by the Governor of Ondo state, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu SAN, remains another testament of the lack of empathy by the APC-led government towards the difficult challenges currently being faced by citizens.

“Considering very carefully the deplorable condition of public infrastructure in the state, the high number of students in public universities who have been forced to either suspend or fully abandon their academic pursuits, the inability of this government to provide basic and affordable healthcare.

” One would have expected the governor to show some minimal level of empathy expected of a public servant superintending over a government that has increased taxes and levies paid by citizens and forced many to seek survival through pain.

” lt is on record that this APC-led government, remains the most anti-people government in the history of Ondo state and one that has glorified crony capitalism, nepotism, tribalism and wanton disregard for the welfare of the people.

“We therefore ask this government to face the serious issues of providing good governance rather than turning the administration of public wealth and resources into an opportunity for grandiose parties and jamboree.

“The indefensible response from the Honorable Commissioner for Information, Mr. Donald Ojogo that only five cabinet members graced the occasion, can at best be seen as a deliberate attempt misinform the citizens.

” Its on record that members of the Cabinet, the Speaker and Members of the state House of Assembly, Aides and Assistants of this Governor, numbering almost 100 attended the wedding in Mauritius.

“For a government that has not been able to mobilize its aides to deal with the deplorable state of public infrastructure in the state, such a visit is not only needless but irresponsible and shows clearly what the priorities of this government are.

” We put this government on notice that its’ reckless abandonment of the good of the people will be remembered when this government is replaced by a more people friendly PDP government in 2020.

However, in a swift reaction, the information and Orientation commissioner Donald Ojogo has denied the ” needless insinuations surrounding the wedding ceremony of the daughter of the governor in Mauritius.

Ojogo said that “the baleful narratives deliberately churned out to the public were not in unexpected.

“This is more so that the quality of those who attended the event has the capacity to draw such carousal inspirations that state funds were spent on the travel and other expenditures of those who were at the ceremony.

” lt is perhaps, pertinent to state that the erroneous impression being created by those behind the unsavoury perspectives that the entire members of the State Executive Council attended the event is not just puerile but pernicious.

“For the records, not more than five of the 30-member Cabinet graced the event at their personal expense.

He added that “We therefore plead with sponsors of such unholy narratives to be kind enough to provide evidence of State Government’s funds spent on those who attended the wedding ceremony.

VANGUARD

Peter Dada, Akure

The Ondo State Governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, has granted amnesty to 16 inmates of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Akure, the state capital.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Segun Ajiboye, on Monday.

According to the statement, the governor’s gesture was in line with exercising the powers conferred on him by paragraph (d) of sub-section (1) Section 212 of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

The statement said the governor Akeredolu, wrote a letter to the state Controller of Nigerian Correctional Service in Akure and ordered that 16 of the inmates be discharged out of the custodian centre accordingly and forthwith.

READ ALSO: BREAKING: Lagos Assembly passes N1.168tn budget for 2020

It also stated that the governor ordered that the beneficiaries should be inmates who had been duly convicted of various terms of imprisonment and had served portions of the said sentences.

The statement read, “Following a recommendation made to the governor by the state Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy, Governor Akeredolu consequently, exercises the power in relation to the said inmates to mark the 2020 New Year Celebrations.

“The 16 inmates were also confirmed to have been of good conduct before they were ordered to be released by the governor.

“In the same vein, the governor also exercises the power conferred on him by paragraphs (a)(c) and (d) of Sub-section (1) of Section 212 of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) extends grace and mercy to three condemned inmates.

“The governor commutes to life imprisonment, the three condemned inmates, who have been awaiting execution.”

-Punch

The controversy about the launch of the Western Nigeria Security Network (WNSN) codenamed Operation Amotekun by the six governors of the South West was not unexpected.

The initiative is novel and has attracted different interpretations from different tendencies and cultures. Reason: No geo-political zone has had such security arrangement, where local security initiatives would complement the Police and other paramilitary organisations to fight crime.

When the South West Governors, namely, Dr. Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Engr. Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Prince Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Chief Oyetola (Oyo) and Mr. Babajide Sanwoolu (Lagos) in June, last year met in Ibadan and decided to put aside their political differences to curb rising insecurity in the region, many discarded their pronouncement as another political statement.

But they were not deterred by the skepticisms of many. The governors went ahead to instruct its intellectual organ,Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) to organise a security summit and later charged it to work on how to make the region safe.

Indeed, all these efforts were reactions to the public outcry over the security challenges facing the region. The region woke up to unprecedentedcases of killings, kidnapping, raping and other life-threatening incidents that made the roads and forests unsafe for travelers and residents.

Many will not forget in a hurry how Mrs. Funke Olakunrin, daughter of the national leader of pan Yoruba Social-political organisation, Afenifere, Pa Rueben Fasonranti was brutally murdered at Kajola, along Ore-Shagamu Expressway.

Also, suspected killer herdsmen on Akure-Ilesa Expressway, Otan-Ile and Imesi in Obokun, Osun State, kidnapped many travelers. It took theefforts of local hunters, vigilantes and O’odua People’s Congress (OPC) members and later the police and State Security Service to secure freedom of less than half of the passengers.

On the same expressway, daredevil bandits attacked the convoy of Ondo Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, in June, last year. The bandits bared their fangs in May, when they abducted a Professor of Medicine at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Olayinka Adegbehingbe, on the Ibadan-Ife Expressway. The surgeon said he paid ransom of over N5m to regain his freedom.

Similarly, three people traveling between Lagos and Ibadan suffered the same fate in July, last year. It took days for them to regain their freedom. In Ondo and Ogun states, high profile kidnapping incidents, particularly on the Sagamu-Benin Expressway, made the headlines.

Curiously, the mere announcement of the proposal had given residents some rest of mind, who have heaved a sigh of relief as noticeable drop in the activities of criminals could be felt. In fact, the perennial clash between farmers and herders has seen a drop.

The collaboration of the Lagos State Police Command and OPC to flush out the dreaded Badoo cult group in Ikorodu and efforts of the local hunters to make Abeokuta/Ayetoro/Imeko road free of constants attacks by killer herdsmen were reference points of the significance of local initiatives in fighting crimes.

The launch of the regional security outfit did not occur without opposition from powerful quarters that mounted pressure on the Federal Government and Police authority to stop it. Indeed, a day to the launch, there were rumours that it had been cancelled but the meeting between the Inspector General of Police and Governor Fayemi was said to have resolved the grey areas and gave the Police assurance that Operation Amotekun would only complement the efforts of the police and would not be used for politics and to disintegrate the country.

Last Thursday, Fayemi, while allaying fears that Amotekun would work against the corporate existence of the country said: “Most importantly, this is not an agenda to undermine the integrity of the Federal Government Republic of Nigeria. Just like some of us are unapologetic indigenes, we are also very proud Nigerians. And we would do everything to protect the integrity of our country. So, there is no conflict. Our primary interest is the security and safety of our people. We would continue to do all within our power to push the frontiers of this collective security initiative.”

He noted that the security of the region had been so bad that the governors had no choice but to respond by starting the regional security outfit.

“And as elected leaders of our various states, our primary responsibility according to the Section 14(2) of the 1999 Constitution as amended is the security and welfare of our citizens. And that is what informed the coming together of my colleagues and I to fashion a way that we can utilizeto complement the work of our mainstream security agencies that are quite overstressed in their efforts to arrest the menace that afflicted not just our zone but the entire country at a time having being a relatively peaceful zone that started witnessing this problem. Our people became extremely agitated.

“I am pleased that this idea whose time has come has been embraced by the leadership of our securityagencies because the Inspector General of Police, Muhammed Adamu has since gone ahead to announce the Police commitment to community policing strategy.

“And Western Nigeria Security Network, Amotekun is nothing but a Community Policing response to a problem that our people will like to see the back of pending the time that Community Policing Strategy being put together by Nigeria Police Force come to fruition, it is clearly important that we give our people a confidence-boosting strategy,” Fayemi said.

For the Chairman of the South West Governors Forum and Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu, who was the convener of the programme, the essence of Amotekun was to protect people of the region from, “banditries, terrorism, kidnapping, armed robbery, herdsmen/farmers conflicts, ritual killings and cyber crimes.”

Acknowledgingthe efforts of the Federal Government and its agencies in stemming the dangerous tide of insecurity in the polity, Akeredolu said Amoteku is the region’s contribution to “complement to the security architecture that may be put in place by the Federal Government in the future.”

He said: “It is not our intention to erect any antagonistic structure whose operation will be at cross purposes to the existing template. That’s not what we are here for. We want us to work together.”

Oyo State Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde, who expressed joy that the launch was successful described the initiative as a bold step to fight insecurity in the region.

He said: “Sometimes, people throw out revolutionary ideas because people either do not understand it or are not willing to understand it. But, as an African proverb says, ‘the brave man is not he who doesn’t feel afraid, but he that conquers that fear.'”

“Six months ago, we met, right here in Oyo State and decided to set up a regional collaborative security agency. And I am happy that we followed through. As governors of these states, it is our priority to ensure that both indigenes and settlers living within the boundaries of our various states can carry out their legitimate activities in a secured environment. The security of their lives and properties should be of paramount importance.

“When we discuss the development potentials of our states and talk about investment opportunities and growing our Internally Generated Revenue by exploring areas of comparative advantage, we remain keenly aware that we cannot achieve anything in a state of insecurity.

“To those who are afraid, I say, when we assumed office, we all took an Oath of Office and promised to be faithful and bear true allegiance to the Federal Republic of Nigeria; to follow the dictates of the Constitution and protect the sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We have not forgotten our oath.

“Our regional integration, our coming together, should be seen in one light and one light alone: That we are coming together to fight a common enemy. That enemy is not Nigeria; the enemies are the elements among us and their affiliates, who are determined to cause commotion within the borders of our states and threaten our peaceful coexistence,” he said.

The Ooni of Ile-Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi thanked the six state governors for putting aside their political differences to form an initiative to fight insecurity in Yoruba land.

The monarch who spoke for all the traditional rulers in the Southwest said he was particularly happy that Yoruba leaders could speak with one voice and fight crimes in their region.

The Leader of Yoruba World Congress,Professor (Senator) Banji Akintoye, told The Guardian at the event that, “it is a very good day. It is a sign that our governors are now stepping forward to let the Yoruba people defend themselves. To stop the aggression going on in Nigeria in the face of attempts by small ethnic group to violently subjugate other people of Nigeria. We Yoruba people are fighting to defend ourselves. But it a good thing to have our governors step forward to render very significant help. It’s their duty to do it and they are doing that. We’re very happy about that.”

For a former Commissioner in Osun State and son of the late Chief Bola Ige, Architect Muyiwa Ige: “Amotekun is a step in the right direction. It is a new day in the annals of history of Western Nigeria. We are taking the bull by the horns. I must commend the six state governors for coming together and ensuringthat the project becomes a reality. Interestingly, the Amotekun vehicles coming to towngives everyone a sense of security that somebody is taking charge. Yoruba land has to be where it used to be. People should be able to sleep with both eyes closed now knowing full well that security is assured.”

On fears of the operatives of Amotekun becoming high-handed in the future, Ige said: “There is no such thing. It is a fear of unknown. When other groups launched theirs, how come nobody had any apprehension? This will work. It has come to stay. We should galvanize everyone to come and be a part of it to ensure that it succeeds.”

The National PRO and Commander of Planning, Research and Statistics of Vigilante Group of Nigeria, Prof. Nelson Olabamji Fasina, said: “Everything about human existence is about security. We are concerned about the security of the entire nation not just of a region. But then where we find some regions attempting to complement the efforts of formal security agencies, we attempt to cooperate. That’s why the Amotekun initiative is a welcome one to secure this part of Nigeria. We hope other regions will be able to emulate this so that we can have a secured Nigeria.”

GUARDIAN

The Federal Government and Governors of the South West States yesterday agreed that necessary legal instruments will be put in place by each of the States to give legal backing to the initiative and address all issues concerning the regulation of the security structure on the establishment of the regional security outfit, Amotekun.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo met with the South West Governors and the Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami as well as the Inspector General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja after the expanded National Economic Council, NEC, meeting.
Recall that the AGF had declared the regional security initiative of the South West Governors aimed at curbing security challenges in the zone as illegal.
President Muhammadu Buhari recently announced that his administration was coming up with Community Policing policy to fight the insecurity in the polity.
Meanwhile, for the second time in about a week, the Federal Government, through the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, has declared the Southwest Security outfit, Operation Amotekun, as an illegal entity not known to the constitution of Nigeria and which can never be allowed to stand.
Malami, made the declaration in Abuja in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Dr Umar Gwandu and made available to newsmen yesterday.
Malami maintained that no amount of sentiments would make the Federal Government abandon the path of rule of law and trade of illegality in the administration of Nigeria.
The minister, who maintained that the Nigerian constitution makes no room for a regional army, pointed out that the government was not at war with any of the states of the federation.
Malami said: “No amount of effort to hide the truth will work. People could be carried away by sentimental or emotional inclinations, but the truth remains apparently palpable. The bottom line is that the current Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria does not accommodate the formation of regional security architecture.
“This is a fact which is undisputable and undeniable. Mr Falana was prevaricating and circumlocuting using evasive techniques when he was asked by the media to justify the presence of lacuna within the law which could establish or protect the concept of regionalism in any operation in the country.

-Tide

We’re checking our flight log, says NAMA

• We’ve deployed soldiers to community – Ondo govt
• Chopper didn’t supply weapons – Police

By Dayo Johnson & Lawani Mikairu

AKURE-RESIDENTS of Arimogija community in Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State, yesterday, raised an alarm of how a helicopter supplied weapons to herdsmen to unleash terror on them.

The helicopter was alleged to have landed in the bush where the weapons were said to have been supplied to the herdsmen.

A rice farmer, Jacob Oduche, his son, Adura and one Victor Ejeh were murdered in their farm by suspected herdsmen last week.

Consequently, residents of the community have fled their houses following the attack by the herdsmen and the alleged nonchalant attitude of the Ondo Police Command.

A leader in the town, who spoke in confidence alleged that the helicopter that came that same day that the family members were killed came to airlift substances suspected to be Indian hemp and

“not to supply weapons to herdsmen.”

Also, the Olumoru of Imoru, Oba Oluwarotimi Obamuwagun, said though the chopper came to the area that same day, it was not true that it came to drop weapons.

Obamuwagun said: “It is an allegation that was yet to be proven. I learned that the helicopter came and was seen at the boundary between Ondo and Edo States.

“There is a river that is a boundary between the two states close to the forest reserve in Ondo State.

“This is the second time this year that residents of the community would be killed, some residents have equally been killed in Ijagba, Ute and others kidnapped in Arimogija by suspected herdsmen.

“We have been having problems with the herdsmen in the forest and we have always reported them to the appropriate authorities and you know it is a national problem but the state government has been doing its best to protect our people.

But the chairman of Ose council area, Dennis Adekunle appealed to “the relevant security agencies to urgently look into the report of a series of coordinated attacks on residents of Arimogija by the herdsmen.”

Adekunle, in a statement, said: “We want them to especially look into the allegation of a helicopter that reportedly landed in the bush to drop sophisticated weapons to the herders to further unleash terror on the people.

“This has led to apprehension and mass exodus of traders and farmers from the once peaceful Arimogija community.”

The council chairman commended the timely intervention of the state government on the latest crisis aimed at returning normalcy to the community.

He, however, urged residents of Arimogija to remain law-abiding, peaceful, and more vigilant and beef up their internal security to ward off any external aggression.

We’ve deployed soldiers to the community- Ondo govt

When contacted, the Ondo State Government said it has waded into the matter by deploying military personnel to the community.

The Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Security Matters, Alhaji Jimoh Dojumo, said some security agents have been deployed to maintain law and order in the community.

Dojumo said: “I have been to Arimogija with some people; the people are so embittered about the man and his son that were killed. As they saw us, they started protesting but I was able to calm them down.

“They were apprehensive of the fact that they said they saw a particular helicopter that came to the bush and they were suspecting that the helicopter brought some herdsmen to the place to come and attack them probably at night.

“But Mr. Governor has sent some soldiers there, as I am talking to you, soldiers were patrolling the community.”

Chopper didn’t supply weapons-Ondo Police

In its response, the Ondo Police Command dismissed the allegations by the community.

Spokesperson of the Command, Mr. Leo Tee Ikoro said: “It is not true. The helicopter they saw that day was that of the family members that were murdered and on their way to Edo State not Arimigija in Ondo State.

“The helicopter didn’t drop or supplied weapons to anyone or anywhere as they are speculating. Both the police and soldiers were promptly deployed to the community after unknown gunmen

killed a father and his son.

“The report that weapons were dropped to unleash terror on the residents of that community is baseless and untrue. We are still on the trail of the killers and would soon get them.”

We’re checking our flight clearance-NAMA

Also when contacted, a top official of the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, yesterday said it was checking flight clearance and control for last week to enable the agency to know if any helicopter was cleared to go to Ondo State.

Responding to Vanguard inquiry if any Helicopter was cleared to go to Ondo State by the Air Traffic controllers, a senior official for NAMA, sought time from Vanguard for the agency to go through the flight logbook for the week

The official said: “I have contacted the Air Traffic controllers and they are going through their books to know if any Helicopter flight was cleared to go to Ondo State on the said date.

“We have to also ascertain from the control tower in Akure to know if there was any Helicopter flight in Ondo State on the said date.”

As at the time of filing this report, the agency was yet to send its official response.

-Vanguard