Headline

Gunmen kidnap ex-FCE provost, driver in Ogun

Published

2 months ago

July 26, 2023

Suspected gunmen on Tuesday abducted Dr. Ayodele Ajayi, the immediate-past Provost of the Federal College of Education (FCE), Osiele near Abeokuta in the Odeda Local Government Area (LGA) of Ogun.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt that Ajayi was abducted with his wife and driver after 7 p.m. at Ikija village in the Olodo axis of the Abeokuta-Ibadan road.

It was further gathered that Ajayi’s wife was later released by the abductors, while he and his driver were taken away.

A resident of the area, who asked for anonymity, told NAN the gunmen came out of the bush to attack Ajayi and other motorists along the road.

He added that the gunmen after shooting sporadically into the air blocked the road and whisked their victims away.
The source who lamented the increasing rate of abduction in the area claimed that no fewer than five persons have been kidnapped in the last one week in the area.

“Just yesterday (Monday), the gunmen abducted five persons, but two out of them were later released.

“Also, last month, three people were killed. Among those who were killed was a popular businessman who operated a big farm along the axis.

“The Olu of Odeda, Oba David Olorunisola, was almost kidnapped this week while his driver was shot and is still receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Abeokuta.

“We need help, this is getting too much. Our people are no longer safe, we need government’s intervention and the security agencies to wake up to their responsibilities,” he said.

When contacted, SP Omolola Odutola, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) at the Police Command in Abeokuta, confirmed the incident, saying they and other security operatives were on the abductors’ trail.

She added that they received a distress call and a direct message from a staff of FCE Osiele stating that Ajayi was kidnapped.

Odutola assured that the victims would be rescued as the Commissioner of Police, CP Alamutu Abiodun, has ordered a joint operation of all security agencies.

”He has asked them all to start combing the bush and all the surrounding areas in a bid to find them.

“But there is no cause for more panic. The CP has deployed operational teams and detectives of the Ogun Police Command to go after the yet-to-be-identified gunmen.

“They will be rescued as assured by the CP because all the security agencies are on a joint operation combing the bush.
”Several operatives of the Police, as well as those of Amotekun, vigilance groups and hunters have been mobilised into the forest on strict order to apprehend the gunmen and rescue the victims alive,” Odutola said.

Headline

Tribunal upholds Gov. Alia’s election

Published

2 hours ago

September 23, 2023

Alero Danjuma

The Benue State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Makurdi on Saturday upheld the victory of Gov. Hyacinth Alia of the APC in the March 18 Governorship Election.

Delivering the judgment, the Chairman of the panel, Justice Ibrahim Karaye, held that the tribunal lacked jurisdiction to entertain pre election issues raised by the petitioners, Titus Uba and PDP.

Karaye, who read the unanimous judgment, stated that only the Federal High Court had the exclusive jurisdiction to entertain issues bordering on pre-election matters.

He further said the petitioners’ case was also an abuse of court processes because the same case was filed by the petitioners before the Federal High Court Abuja Division and its judgment was not challenged by the petitioners.

He said the petitioners lacked locus standi to challenge the nomination of the 2nd and 3rd respondents by the 4th respondent since they were not members of the 4th respondent.

Justice Karaye further said that the petitioners failed to prove their allegations of forgery against the 3rd respondent before the tribunal.

He said the 2nd and 3rd respondents were qualified to contest the March 18 Governorship Election and therefore, dismissed the case.

The petitioners, Titus Uba and the PDP, had dragged the respondents, INEC, Hyacinth Alia, Dr Sam Ode, and the APC before the tribunal, challenging their declaration by the INEC.

The petitioners argued that the 2nd and 3rd respondents, Gov Alia and Dr Ode, were at the time of contesting the election, not qualified to contest the March 18 Governorship Election.

They averred that the 4th respondent – the APC – did not follow the provisions of the law in the nomination of the governorship and deputy governorship candidates.

They also alleged that the 3rd respondent had presented a forged certificate to the 1st respondent, INEC, therefore, should be disqualified.

They, therefore, prayed among other things, for the nullification of their election and declare the petitioners as winners of the election, having scored second highest lawful votes.

The also contended that having not qualified to contest the election, their votes should be declared invalid and certificates earlier issued to them by INEC be withdrawn.

NAN reports that the petitioners in the suit did not challenge the result of the March 18 Benue Governorship Election but qualifications of the candidates.

However, the respondents in their counter arguments, urged the tribunal to dismiss the suit in its entirety as it was an abuse of court processes.

The respondents stated that the Federal High Court Abuja Division, had before the election, delivered judgment on the same matter which was filed by the petitioners but they did not appeal the judgment till date.

They also said that the issues raised were all pre election matter and only the Federal High Court had the exclusive jurisdiction to entertain same.

The 2nd and 3rd respondents clearly stated that since the prayers sought by the petitioners were all pre-election matters, the petitioners case was status bar and should be struck out.

They said the petitioners lacked locus standi to challenge the nomination of candidates of other political parties as they were mere meddlesome interlopers.

Headline

LASTMA, others combat Ilupeju industrial fire outbreak

Published

2 hours ago

September 23, 2023

Ifunaya Emeka

The operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and other emergency responders at early hour on Saturday combated an industrial fire outbreak at Mega Plastics Company at No.4, Ilupeju Bypass.

Mr Taofiq Adebayo, the Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of LASTMA, made the disclosure in a statement in Lagos on Saturday.

Adebayo stated that the industrial fire outbreak took place at Mega Plastics Company at No.4, Ilupeju Bypass beside Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Ilupeju area of Lagos.

“The Traffic Officer of LASTMA, Mr Ayo Olaosebikan (Falcon) of Zone 21, confirmed that LASTMA rescue team arrived at the scene of the industrial fire outbreak around at 6:30a.m. before other emergency responders were contacted by LASTMA.

“Immediately we arrived at the scene of the industrial fire, we quickly informed other emergency responders particularly the Lagos State Fire, Rescue Services and the Nigerian Police.

“The causes of industrial fire could not be immediately ascertained, he said.
Olaosebikan noted that preliminary investigation revealed that the storage and factory section of the petrochemical company were seriously affected by the fire outbreak.

According to him, emergency responders on ground include Federal and State Fire Services, policemen and LASTMA Response Unit.

Olaosebikan said that neither injury nor death had been recorded.