The Legislative arm of Egor Local Government Area in Edo State has impeached the council’s chairman, Hon. Eghe Ogbemudia, over alleged padding of the council’s supplementary budget and other allegations of corruption.
The impeachment was consequent upon a vote of no confidence against the chairman during a session of the legislative arm of the council on Tuesday.
The impeachment sitting was presided over by the Leader of the House and Councillor representing Ward 3, Godwin Uwadiae Edigin.
Shortly after the legislative house roll call, the Councillor representing Ward 2, Rt. Hon. Stella Ogida, moved a motion for a no-confidence vote against the chairman over allegations of gross misconduct.
“This is the 10th month since our inauguration and we, the Councillors of Egor Legislative Arm do not have our offices. We have also uncovered the padding of the council’s supplementary budget to the tune of ₦1.7 billion. The Chairman did not involve the councillors in the preparation and approval the council’s supplementary budget. After reviewing these actions and many other acts of gross misconduct, I want to pass a vote of no confidence on the chairman,” Ogida said.
Seconding the motion, Hon. Ambassador Elliot Inneh, Councillor representing Ward 9, said: “We have tried to reach out to the Honourable Chairman to no avail. Before us today, we have budget proposal amounting to N6.054bn that was passed through this hallowed chambers. To our greatest surprise, we found out that the Chairman in connivance with erstwhile Leader of the House, went behind our back and padded the budget to the tune of N7.896bn.”
The leader called for a voice vote, with the majority of \councillors conceding to the motion.
Five suspected cultists have been arrested at the Kogi State Polytechnic, the school’s management said on Wednesday.
The suspects were nabbed on Tuesday during the ongoing second semester examination for the 2023/2024 academic session.
Disclosing this in a statement, the polytechnic’s spokesman, Uredo Omale, said three students of the institution were also apprehended by the school’s security team, for allegedly peddling hard drugs among other offences.
He identified the suspects as HND II students in the Department of Business Administration, giving their details as Ajayi Oluwaseun Oladipo (Matric No.2022/HND/BUS/275), Isenre Elijah Ayomide (Matric No.2022/HND/BUS/146) and Omonijo Sunday (Matric. No2022/HND/BUS/181).
“The arrested five (5) non-students who are all from Ekiti State but based in Abuja are Otitoju Christopher, Babatope Ayomide, Isaiah Babatunde, Shina Ayodeji, and Makinde Olalekan,” the statement read.
“The arrest of the suspects was a result of proactive measures put in place by the Management of the institution to checkmate infiltration of cultists and other outlawed groups and individuals who were reported to be planning to enter the campus with guns and other dangerous weapons in connivance with some cyber-crime suspects popularly known as yahoo.
“Their intent, it was gathered, was to cause harm to their targets and commotion on the campus during the ongoing second-semester examination.”
See the full statement below:
KOGI POLY SECURITY TEAM APPREHENDS SUSPECTED CULTISTS, DRUG PEDDLERS DURING ONGOING SECOND SEMESTER EXAMINATION
— HANDS OVER SUSPECTS TO THE POLICE
The joint security team of Kogi State Polytechnic Lokoja, on Tuesday, 16th July, 2024, arrested three (3) students of the institution and five (5) others suspected to be members of secret society and hard drug peddlers during the ongoing second-semester examination for 2023/2024 academic session.
The apprehended students who are all of HND II in the Department of Business Administration include:
Ajayi Oluwaseun Oladipo (Matric No.2022/HND/BUS/275), Isenre Elijah Ayomide (Matric No.2022/HND/BUS/146) and Omonijo Sunday (Matric. No2022/HND/BUS/181).
The arrested five (5) non-students who are all from Ekiti State but based in Abuja are: Otitoju Christopher, Babatope Ayomide, Isaiah Babatunde, Shina Ayodeji and Makinde Olalekan.
The arrest of the suspects was as a result of proactive measures put in place by the Management of the institution to checkmate infiltration of cultists and other outlawed groups and individuals who were reported to be planning to enter the campus with guns and other dangerous weapons in connivance with some cyber-crime suspects popularly known as yahoo.
Their intent, it was gathered, was to cause harms to their targets and commotion on the campus during the ongoing second-semester examination.
This was in the guise of their end-of-examination graduation “celebration” rituals which the Management had earlier banned due to security concerns.
In the build-up to the ongoing second-semester examination, the Polytechnic Management got intelligence reports that some bad elements suspected to be into cybercrime, cultism and illicit drugs had perfected a plan to import their members from other states and institutions to cause mayhem on the campus.
To prevent the occurrence, Management decided to intensify further security strategies by banning all forms of the end-of-the second-semester examination on the campus in whatever guise.
This decision was duly communicated to the students through a circular issued by the Chief Security Officer, containing the outlawed activities during and after the examination.
The circular was issued after a series of meetings with the Students Union Government (SUG), the National Association of Kogi State Students (NAKOSS) and the Departmental Presidents to sensitise and caution the students to desist from any form of inimical behaviour during the examination for their own good.
The Polytechnic Management also took further steps with meetings and setting up of the Examination Security Management Committee with all Deans, Chief Security Officer (CSO), Students Representatives, the Chief Imam and the Polytechnic Chaplain as members, and mandated to devise security strategies against the planned infiltration by bad elements and ensure orderly conduct of examination.
In addition, the services of the security agencies such as the Nigeria Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp (NSCDC), and the Vigilante Group were sought and their personnel were deployed.
One important additional proactive security strategy adopted by the Committee was to prevent students from using their cars and motorcycles beyond the designated car park on the campus during the examination.
Furthermore, all vehicles were thoroughly searched and more plain clothes security operatives were deployed to monitor movement of those that have no business on the campus during the examination.
These security strategies and efforts paid off with the arrest of the three (3) students and their five (5) imported non – students mercenaries .
The Polytechnic Management started observing a dangerous sign on Monday 15th July, 2024 when the Department of Public Administration HND II students wrote their last paper.
The Management got an intelligence report of the infiltration of some notorious old students of 2018/2019 sets who are suspected to be cultists alongside some imported mercenaries from Edo and Delta states that came that day to cause mayhem using the style of motorcade, spraying of naira notes while seating on their vehicles on the highway.
In the process, there were gunshots from the direction of “Always Petrol station” adjacent the Polytechnic main gate where the imported mercenaries were allegedly camped since the campus was not comfortable for them because of the security measures put in place.
To prevent a repeat of the Monday incident, more security strategies were deployed ahead of Tuesday 16th July, 2024, when the HND II students from the Department of Accountancy, Library and Information Sciences as well as the Business Administration were scheduled to write their final papers.
It was the security arrangement and tip-off that led to the arrest of the three (3) students and their hired mercenaries who claimed to hail from Ekiti State, but based in Abuja.
The suspects were intercepted at the main entrance of the Polytechnic gate while on their motorcade. The driver of the second car, however, jumped out of the vehicle and escaped.
Some suspected hard drugs wrapped in a polythene bag, papers cut to sizes supposedly for wrapping of drugs and one beret cap with a symbol suspected to be that of a cult group were seen in the car and in possession of the occupants of the two (2) intercepted cars.
In all, the items recovered from the apprehended suspects include two cars (2); a light green coloured Mercedes Benz Saloon with Reg. Number: EKITI STATE “MUE – 598 – AE” and a black coloured Toyota Lexus Saloon with Reg. Number from: EBONYI STATE “SKA – 78 – AE”,different types of drugs, remnant of some naira notes amounting to N14000 naira, beret cap with a symbol suspected to be that of a cult and an MP3 player were handed over to the Nigeria Police at the ‘B’ Division in Lokoja.
Prior to the coming on board of the current leadership of the institution under Professor Salisu Ogbo Usman, the Polytechnic was notorious for cult parades at the end of every session, and with cult groups demonstrating their might through gun shots and killing of marked targets to the extent that the past Management, Lecturers and other staff used to abandon the campus for fear of their lives as cultists operated unchallenged during such period.
Within such past period, a Lecturer was stabbed and killed on the campus of the Polytechnic.
All those social vices and unacceptable conduct have stopped in Kogi State Polytechnic in the last four (4) years that the current Rector came on board.
The Rector and his Management team constantly adopted a proactive approach in tackling security challenges effectively.
Evidently, the notorious elements that were hitherto operating like demigods on the campus have been chased away.
The Rector commended the efforts of the Examination Security Management Committee, the Joint Security team and the Intelligence Team for a job well-done through teamwork for nipping the dangerous intent in the bud.
The Rector also used the opportunity to admonish the ND II students to be vigilant of any bad elements that may infilterate into their group and report same to the Management through the Security Unit.
The Rector further advised parents and guardians to caution their children and wards by paying close attention to their behaviours and material acquisition without known sources of income, the type of companies they keep as well as their movement against involvement in criminal activities as those who are caught within the spheres of the Polytechnic with untoward characters would not be spared.
He also warned non-students who are interested in coming to the campus for cult and other related social vices to keep off or face the full wrath of the law.
Uredo Omale
Director, Public Relations and Protocol.
Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja.
Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu has said that his husband, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has deep love for Nigerians despite the economic hardship the citizens are experiencing.
The first lady made this known when she paid the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu a courtesy visit, according to a statement on Tuesday by her Media Aide, Busola Kukoyi.
She assured that President Tinubu would do well to address the challenges facing the country.
“I assure you that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will do well for this country.
“He loves Nigeria, he loves Nigerians and will do the best for them”.
On his part, Oba Akiolu urged Nigerians to be patient with Tinubu’s administration.
“All that I am saying and appealing is that we should pray for Nigeria and the president. We should be patient. Everything good needs prayers,” he said.
This comes as Nigerians grapple with high headline and food inflation which stood at 34.19 percent and 40.87 respectively.
Consequently, the purchasing power of Nigerians has continued to wane as hunger bites harder.
DAILY POST reports that Nigerians have planned a nationwide protest starting from August 1, 2024.
The police in Kogi has confirmed the arrest and detention of a police officer, Insp Aminu Mohammed, for alleged robbery and car theft.
The spokesman, SP Williams Ovye-Aya, confirmed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday.
”Mohammed, a crime officer with the “C” Division at 200 Unit, Lokoja, is cooling his heels at the A Division of the command.
“Already, the State Commissioner of Police (CP), Bethrand Onuoha, has ordered investigation into the involvement of the inspector in the crimes labelled against him,” Ovye-Aya said.
A reliable source told NAN that Muhammed was in police net for robberies around his duty station in Lokoja metropolis.
“The stolen car was found in the workshop of the policeman’s panel beater, Arome Moses, who was already working on changing the car colour at Ochadamu village.
“Those who know the vehicle and were aware of the robbery incident that occurred in the owner’s house on June 14 quickly raised an alarm upon sighting the car.
“An alarm was raised, and the panel beater was arrested by policemen of the Quick Response Unit (QRU) attached to the Police Area Command, Idah.
“On interrogation, the panel beater spilled the beans, and the officer was invited and apprehended.
“The car plate number had already been changed to an Abuja number just as a car dealer’s receipt was backdated to 2020 and presented by the officer as evidence that he bought it,” the source said. (NAN)
The national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, has revealed why corruption continues to thrive in Nigeria.
Ganduje, who spoke yesterday at a high-level meeting with national executives of political parties and other stakeholders in Abuja, organised by The Kukah Centre (TKC), said corruption thrives in the country because of its weak institutions.
The former Governor of Kano State said until this circle is broken and the institutions, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and political parties, are made strong again; corruption will continue in the country.
Ganduje further attributed political corruption to dishonest poor Nigerians and others.
Ganduje emphasized that pointing fingers at politicians and public officeholders would not resolve the problem of weak institutions in Nigeria.
The APC chieftain, who is embroiled in a series of corruption cases in Kano, said, “The major problem we have in Nigeria is that of weak institutions because we are just going on an atrocious circle. Unless we break that circle and make our institutions strong, we are just blaming the politicians. Political parties are also weak, and because of that weakness, corruption thrives.
“Let us not be blaming the politicians, officeholders, those who win elections. Yes, we blame them but let us look at the security system, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that oversees the election.
“These institutions man the polling booths. So tell me, can you win an election free? Even the poor man is not honest. If we are to go into details of what happens practically, you will see voters saying they cannot vote until they are paid.’’
All Is A Work In Progress – Bishop Kukah Says
On his part, the founder of The Kukah Centre (TKC), Bishop Mathew Kukah, who led a panel discussion, advocated for the importance of reflecting on past errors and using them as a foundation to strengthen institutions and democracy in Nigeria via various methods.
He said, “Whether it is the judiciary or bureaucracy, all is a work in progress, and the most important thing is for us to learn the mistakes of the past and then develop the mechanism for ensuring that things don’t continue to repeat themselves.
“So, if you ask who built institutions? Institutions are supposed to be a mirror reflecting the aspirations, the fears, the hopes and the anxieties of an entire people. That means that for the police to become an institution and for the bureaucracy to become an institution, Nigerians must collectively and individually learn to say no to things going contrary to the principles of that institution.
“So, I think it is everybody’s business really for Nigeria to have stronger institutions.’’
Bishop Kukah commended the European Union for strengthening democracy in Nigeria, especially in developing the Political Party Management Toolkit (PPMT).
The Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday, dismissed a lawsuit that sought the removal of Arabic inscriptions from naira notes.
Justice Yellin Bogoro ruled against the suit filed by Lagos-based lawyer, Malcolm Omirhobo, who argued that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) used Arabic inscriptions in bad faith.
Omirhobo filed the suit in 2020, arguing that the presence of Arabic inscriptions on naira notes depicted Nigeria as an Islamic state, which contradicted the country’s constitutional status as a secular state.
Omirhobo, who said he could not understand the Arabic inscriptions, had asked the court to direct the CBN to replace them with English or one of Nigeria’s three main indigenous languages: Hausa, Yoruba, or Igbo.
He contended that the Arabic inscriptions violated sections 10 and 55 of the Nigerian Constitution, which established Nigeria as a secular state.
He asked the court to restrain the CBN from “further approving, printing and issuing naira notes with Arabic inscriptions, bearing in mind that Nigeria is a secular state.”
In response, the CBN filed a counter-affidavit, asserting that the Arabic (Ajami) inscriptions on the naira notes did not carry any religious significance or suggest any alignment with Arabian culture.
The CBN clarified that these inscriptions, dating back to the colonial era, were retained to assist those without Western education, particularly in regions where Arabic script was widely understood.
“The inscriptions on the country’s currencies do not and at no time have they threatened the secular statehood of the nation nor have they violated the Constitution of Nigeria, as every design and inscription was finalised with the approval of the relevant government bodies,” the apex bank said.
The CBN explained that the “Ajami inscriptions” on the naira notes dated back to the colonial era “and they do not imply that Arabic is an official language in Nigeria.”
The CBN explained that the naira notes have featured Ajami inscriptions since 1973 when the currency’s name changed from pounds to naira. The bank emphasized that removing these inscriptions would incur significant costs for taxpayers and the Federal Government.
The apex bank said, “The naira notes retained the inscriptions with Ajami since 1973 when the name of the Nigerian currency was changed to naira from pounds.
“The Ajami was inscribed on the country’s currency by the colonialists to aid those without Western education in certain parts of the country, who, back then, constituted a larger part of the populace.
“The Ajami is not a symbol or mark of Islam but an inscription to aid the populace uneducated in Western education in ease of trade.”
In his judgment, Justice Bogoro acknowledged Omirhobo’s legal standing to file the suit but determined that he failed to prove the CBN acted in bad faith by including Arabic inscriptions on the naira notes. Consequently, the court dismissed the suit.
Although the suit was dismissed, Omirhobo noted that the judge advised the CBN to consider removing Arabic inscriptions from the ₦200, ₦500, and ₦1,000 notes, given that they have already been removed from the ₦5, ₦10, ₦50, and ₦100 notes.
The judge highlighted that Nigeria is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country where no religion should be deemed superior.
Omirhobo has also filed a similar suit against the Nigerian Army, seeking the removal of Arabic inscriptions from its logo. The Army, like the CBN, has opposed the suit and requested its dismissal.
MultiChoice Nigeria has officially revealed that the winner of the 2024 Big Brother Naija (BBNaija) reality TV show will take home a grand prize of ₦100 million.
Naija News reports that this announcement was made during a press briefing in Lagos on Tuesday.
The Executive Head of Content and West Africa Channels at MultiChoice, Busola Tejumola, disclosed the details, stating that the new season will premiere on Sunday, July 28, at 7 PM WAT, airing across all Africa Magic channels.
This year’s prize amount is ₦20 million less than the ₦120 million awarded in the previous season. In addition to the cash prize, the winner will also receive a brand new SUV.
“After 71 days of intense competition, on October 6, 2024, a total prize of ₦100 million and a new SUV will be awarded,” Tejumola announced.
The decrease in prize money follows Ilebaye Odiniya’s victory, who won ₦120 million during the all-stars season in October 2023.
“This season will introduce new twists and fresh housemates who are set to become fan favorites.
“Viewers can expect surprising twists, dramatic moments, and unexpected alliances throughout the season,” the organizers stated.
Auditions for the ninth season took place from March 27 to May 4, and the organizers have promised a season filled with “double drama, relationships, and fierce competition,” with participants competing in pairs.
Delta state high court sitting in Asaba has sentenced one Onuwa Olise Ijie to death and another, Nwanozie Uzor to 14 years imprisonment respectively for the murder and conspiracy to commit murder of twin boys, seven-year-old Chidalu and Chigozie Olise Agwunobi.
The court, presided over by Honourable Justice Onome Marshal Umukoro heard from the Prosecution how on March 5, 2020, the twin of the family of Olise Agwunobi of Oko- Ogbele Community in Oshimili south council area of the state were lured by the defendants to a bush and cut off their penis, eyes, tongues and hands which they hurriedly took to a native doctor to Aguleri, Anambra State.
According to the prosecution, one of the defendants had earlier gone to the school of the twin children to take them but was turned down by the school teacher, one Mrs Emelda Ogugua Ezekwude.
The Prosecution conducted by a Deputy Director in the Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Paula Akpoguma in proof of the case called 5 witnesses.
Six witnesses testified in the case.
They include a 15-year-old Iweka Ajie, a younger brother to one of the defendants who came to testify via video link but at the last minute out of fear, refused to adopt his deposition on oath.
However, the testimony of the other five witnesses proved the case against the two defendants beyond reasonable doubt.
Delivering his judgment on Tuesday, Hon. Justice Marshal-Umukoro stated that after a careful evaluation of the evidence before him, the prosecution had discharged the burden of proof as the first defendant from his confessional statement was the person who sowed the seed of committing human rituals in the mind of the second defendant by giving the phone number of one Chukwudi Edemuzor who was alleged to be searching for twins to kill for money.
The court maintained that the law is settled that the testimony of an Investigating police officer is not hearsay evidence and the court can rely on it.
In a chat with journalists soon after the judgment, the Prosecuting counsel Mrs. Paula Akpoguma thanked the Court for upholding the cause of Justice and reaffirming that the Judicial system works.
Appointments: Hold Your Breath, Tinubu Is Still Filling Positions – APC Spokesman To Aggrieved Politicians
Admin
The spokesman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Felix Morka has said that President Bola Tinubu has been fair to all sections of the country regarding appointments into key offices.
Morka asserted that it is too early for detractors of the ruling party to raise disapproving eyebrows against the President’s appointments.
He stated this during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme.
Morka was responding to claims by some northern heavyweights alleging that the region was not properly represented in the president’s government.
He said, “President Tinubu is trying to be fair… We have some fairness in the key offices,”
“And this is a government that has just done one year in office, that has yet to even exhaust all of the opportunities for people to be invited to serve in this government. There are so many offices that are yet to be filled. There is more to come.
“We have the President, we have the Vice President. We have the defence, we have the finance. The defence is mostly staffed by people from the northern side while the minister of finance and the CBN governor are from the southern side.
“It’s always premature to make that assessment. Hold your breath till a lot of the key positions are filled.
“For those who want to make an issue of ethnicity, the President has the country as his constituency. The President is not the President of the South-West, or the North or the South; he is the President of Nigeria and every part of this country deserves to be effectively represented, consistent with the Federal Character flavour of our constitution.”
[NaijaNews]
The detained Binance Holdings Limited’s executive, Tigran Gambaryan, was on Tuesday, whisked into Federal High Court in Abuja in a wheelchair.
Gambaryan, who dressed in a black T-shirt with a blue jeans trousers, is facing a money laundering charge alongside the cryptocurrency firm.
When the matter was called, Gambaryan stood up from the wheelchair and walked slowly into the dock.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) lawyer, Ogechi Ujam, told the court that though the matter was scheduled for continuation of trial, the commission’s lead counsel, Ekele Iheanacho was not in court.
Ujam prayed the court to stand down the matter to enable Iheanacho conduct the trial.
Babatunde Fagbohunlu, SAN, who appeared for Binance (1st defendant) and Mark Mordi, SAN, who represented Gambaryan, did not oppose the application.
Justice Emeka Nwite stepped down from the matter until 12pm.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Nwite had on July 5, ordered the management of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) to release the medical certificate of Gambaryan on or before July 16.
The judge gave the order following an application by Gambaryan’s lawyer, Mordi.
Mordi had prayed the court to summon the medical doctor at the health facility of Kuje Correctional Centre, to explain why he had allegedly refused to make available his client’s medical report despite an earlier court order.
NAN reports that Gambaryan had on May 23, collapsed in the open court over alleged ill-health.
The defence law firm, Aluko & Oyebode, had also, on May 27, raised an alarm that the cryptocurrency firm’s executive, might die in Kuje Correctional Centre over his alleged deteriorating health.
(NAN)
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Olakulehin risks removal over implementation of 2023 Olubadan chieftaincy declaration [DOCUMENTS]
Admin![Olakulehin risks removal over implementation of 2023 Olubadan chieftaincy declaration [DOCUMENTS]](/media/k2/items/cache/4e933501f22e6a02caf8b432ef79584a_XS.jpg)
The new Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Akinloye Olakulehin, Ige Olakulehin 1, risks removal from office if the 2023 Olubadan chieftaincy declaration is to be implemented, DAILY POST authoritatively gathered.
It could be recalled that Olakulehin was crowned as the 43rd Olubadan of Ibadanland on Friday, 12th July, 2024.
The event was attended by Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, His Eminence, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (Ojaja II), Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, former Military Administrator of old Oyo State, General Oladayo Popoola and former Governor of the state, Senator Rashidi Ladoja.
Governors of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke was represented by his Deputy, Prince Kola Adewusi, Ondo State Governor, Lucky Ayedatiwa, was represented by his Deputy, Dr Olaide Adelami, while Governor of Lagos State, Babajide SanwoOlu, was represented by the Chief of Staff, Mr Tayo Ayinde, among others.
Our correspondent reports that the newly amended Olubadan chieftaincy declaration 2023 was distributed during the coronation.
DAILY POST, however, observed that the new Olubadan chieftaincy declaration, which was signed by governor Seyi Makinde, is at variance with some sections of the 1957 Olubadan chieftaincy declaration.
The 1957 Olubadan chieftaincy declaration stated that the person who may be proposed as candidate by line whose turn it is to fill a vacancy in the Office of Olubadan shall be the most Senior Chief in that line.
The declaration also stipulated that the line whose turn it is to present a candidate shall nominate a candidate for Chieftaincy at a meeting of the Kingmakers summoned by the most Senior Chief of Chieftaincy line not presenting the candidate.
The 1957 declaration says, “The person who may be proposed as candidate by line whose turn it is to fill a vacancy in the Office of Olubadan shall be the most Senior Chief in that line. Provided that the most Senior Chief in that line may be superseded by a Junior Chief if such senior chief is found to be disqualified as a candidate under the provisions of section 10(2).”
It further provided that:- (a) The field of selection for the purpose of the foregoing provision shall not extend beyond the Ekerin Olubadan on the Olubadan line and the Ekerin Balogun on the Balogun Line.
“The method of selection is as follows: The line whose turn it is to present a Candidate shall nominate a Candidate for Chieftaincy at a meeting of the Kingmakers summoned by the most Senior Chief of Chieftaincy line not presenting the Candidate.”
But, the newly amended Olubadan chieftaincy declaration 2023, which was made public on Friday, recognised the beaded crown Obas instead of High Chiefs which was in the 1957 declaration.
The new law stipulated that the line whose turn it is to present a candidate shall nominate a candidate for the Chieftaincy at a meeting of the kingmakers to be summoned by the most Senior Beaded Crown Oba of the Chieftaincy line not presenting the Candidate. The kingmakers shall, if satisfied as to the candidate’s right of succession, declare the candidate appointed.
Similarly, the new law stipulated that the person who may be proposed as candidate by line whose turn it is to fill a vacancy in the office of Olubadan shall be the most Senior Beaded Crown Oba in that line among the line presenting the candidate and that majority decision of the kingmakers shall be final.
The new law says that, “The line whose turn it is to present a candidate shall nominate a Candidate for the Chieftaincy at a meeting of the kingmakers to be summoned by the most Senior Beaded Crown Oba of the Chieftaincy line not presenting the Candidate.
“The person who may be proposed as candidate by line whose turn it is to fill a vacancy in the Office of Olubadan shall be the most Senior Beaded Crown Oba in that line among the line presenting the candidate; majority decision of the kingmakers shall be final.”
DAILY POST reports that whereas the new law says that the person proposed to be Olubadan must be nominated at a meeting presided over by the most senior beaded crown Oba, Olakulehin was nominated at a meeting presided over by the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja on Friday, 12th April, 2024.
Ladoja, a former governor of the state is a High Chief and not a beaded crown Oba.
He is the only High Chief in Ibadan that refused to wear the beaded crown.
It follows that what transpired during the meeting where Olakulehin was nominated was at variance with the 2023 Olubadan Chieftaincy declaration.
[DailyPost]
Multinational firms leaving Nigeria due to naira fluctuations - say pharmaceutical manufacturers
AFOLABI
The Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (PMG-MAN) has expressed concerns over the scarcity of foreign exchange (FX) in Nigeria.
PMG-MAN spoke during a news conference in Lagos ahead of the 7th Edition of the Nigeria Pharma Manufacturers Expo (NPME).
According to the association, it is impossible for pharmaceutical companies to cope, adding that the forex scarcity led to the exit of several multinational pharmaceutical companies in the country.
Speaking at the conference, Patrick Ajah, chairman of the local organising committee for NPME 2024, said a stable exchange rate is crucial for the progress of the domestic pharmaceutical industry.
Ajah, the managing director of May & Baker, also highlighted the challenges posed by the fluctuating value of the naira, which has deterred investment and planning within the industry.
“Unless the value of the naira is stabilised, achieving the country’s target of 70 percent local drug manufacturing will remain a mirage,” he said.
“The recent fluctuations in the value of the naira have made it difficult for companies to plan and invest.
“This is one major reason why multinational companies are leaving. It’s not the fear of subsidy removal.
“If we didn’t tamper with the currency, all the multinational companies would be here, and they would still be making more investments.”
Ajah added that the recent fluctuations have made it nearly impossible for companies to cope, forcing many multinationals to withdraw.
“Many companies are not able to cope. So, fixing our exchange rate is going to be the one single thing that will immediately reset where we are,” he added.
Ajah also highlighted the recently signed executive order by President Bola Tinubu, which removes tariffs and value-added tax (VAT) on pharmaceutical imports, which is yet to take effect.
He, however, called for the government to implement additional measures, including fixing the exchange rate, to attract and retain multinational investments.
On May 1, Frank Muonemeh, executive secretary of PMG-MAN, said the country should reduce its dependence on imported drugs.
Muonemeh said Nigeria must prioritise locally produced drugs over imported medicines.
He also said the production of local medicines must be taken as a national security issue.
In 2023, prominent pharmaceutical multinationals, such as GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Sanofi Nigeria Limited stopped operations in the country, citing the forex crisis.
While GSK ended its 51-year presence in Nigeria in August 2023, Sanofi exited in November last year.
The Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, on Monday, said he never knew he would live to be 90.
Soyinka revealed this while answering questions from about 383 students who participated in the 2024 edition of the Wole Soyinka International Cultural Exchange Programme held at Prof. Soyinka’s ARI residence, Ijegba, Abeokuta.
This was as the Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, announced scholarships and gifts of laptops to nine students who emerged best in an essay competition organised to mark Soyinka’s 90th birthday.
Born on July 13, 1934, the Nobel Laureate clocked 90 on Saturday.
While answering questions from children on his life experiences for the past 90 years, Soyinka said he did not envisage living up to 90, adding that he decided to be a writer to correct some anomalies from stories he listened to while growing up.
On why he broke into a radio station during the military era, he said: “I never broke into a radio station, but sneaked in. The radio station was holding on to something that belonged to the people, and I decided to retrieve it. If that item had been played, it would have demoralised the people and established the culture of brutality.”
He chided Nigerians for always criticising the state but unwilling to examine themselves.
Soyinka said crimes like kidnapping and robbery, among others, could not be blamed on poverty or inequality, but on selfishness and the desire to live a life of luxury.
He lauded Abiodun for helping to develop the environment around his abode and saving it from degradation, even as he emphasised that this has led to his not abandoning the country.
Speaking during the programme, Abiodun emphasised that the gifts of scholarships and laptops were to encourage the students to keep writing as well as motivate others to participate in the next edition of the competition.
Describing the Noble Laureate as the most celebrated black African, who had excelled in his chosen career, the governor noted that as the key to bringing about change and prosperity in Nigeria and around the world, it was imperative to engage the youth and ensure that their thinking and goals were oriented toward progress for the motherland and humanity.
He said the Wole Soyinka International Cultural Exchange was established to honour the playwright’s legacy and reflect on his lifelong commitment to education, cultural exchange, and nurturing future leaders.
He added that the initiative underscored Soyinka’s values, which include justice, freedom, and the pursuit of excellence in the arts and humanities.
Abiodun said this year’s theme, “Engaging National Interest on Good Governance, Understanding Nation-Building,” perfectly encapsulated Soyinka’s profound commitment to creating a just and equitable world.
The Wole Soyinka International Cultural Exchange focuses on essay competition, advocacy, and performing arts, which include poetry, drama, and Spoken Word.
The governor said: “We celebrate a project that, for over 14 years, has upheld his ideals and vision. There is no doubt that the Nobel Laureate has optimally utilised the inherent values and wisdom of African culture and tradition in his global engagement as a world citizen of African descent.
“The mission and underlying objectives of WSICE are clear and commendable. They seek to create unity among mankind regardless of nationality, culture, or religion by focusing on youth as the future of humanity, in line with the thoughts and guiding principles of Professor Wole Soyinka.”
The 2024 Wole Soyinka International Cultural Exchange Programme drew students from different parts of the country who participated in an essay competition on national and international topics.
About 383 students participated in the competition, 90 were chosen, while nine were selected with Alabi Oluwanifemi emerging as the best essayist, Okoye Collins John coming second, and Adebusi Adeoluwa, coming— third.
The Lagos State Task Force has arrested eight suspects for selling contaminated turkey seized by the Nigeria Customs Service in Lagos State.
This was disclosed in a press statement released by the spokesman of the Lagos State Task Force, Gbadeyan Abdulraheem.
According to Abdulraheem, the suspects were arrested in the Epe area of the state during a raid on Sunday.
The agency discovered that “dozens of cartons filled with contaminated turkey seized by the Nigeria Customs Service and set ablaze at a dumpsite somehow found their way into the hands of unscrupulous elements trying to sell it to members of the public.”
The statement read, “I am glad this menace has been nipped in the bud before it blows out of proportion. The state is currently battling to contain the cholera outbreak in some parts of the metropolis, so we need not compound the issues. Rather, it’s our responsibility to the citizenry to ensure sinister forces do not plunge the state into crisis for their selfish gains.”
“The Chairman of the Agency, CSP Adetayo Akerele, who led the operation, said goods confiscated by the Nigeria Customs Service must have failed at some point to meet the required health and safety standards before being deemed unfit for human consumption, which led to them being set ablaze at a dedicated dumpsite.
“We cannot allow some ignorant individuals to reintroduce products which have been condemned by a federal agency to find their way back into the market. Contaminated foods like this could cause cancer, lung or liver disease, and so on. Consumption is highly dangerous, and we are here to ensure that Lagosians are protected at all costs,” he said.
“Akerele noted that all contaminated goods were recovered and brought to the headquarters of the agency while the arrested suspects would be charged in court.”