By JOHNSON EBIGIDE
Eugene Azuka Uzum has felicitated the senator representing Delta North at the Nigerian Senate, Senator Ned Nwoko, as he clocks 64 years.
Uzum, a lawyer, Policy Analyst and Consultant, spoke in a podcast made available for the press.
He said the birth anniversary of Senator Ned Nwoko was not only a great moment for Delta North, the state and Nigeria, but for humanity, adding that the senator had made life meaningful for many through his philanthropist gestures.
Soldiers reportedly acting on the orders of an army general, name withheld on Wednesday attacked development control officials who were in Sabon Lugbe, Abuja, to remove some illegal structures in the area.
Delta state is centrally located in the core South South region. Endowed beyond its contemporaries in the committee of states. Delta state has the highest production/output of crude oil in Nigeria “onshore” and second only to Akwa Ibom in offshore production.
The above accounts for Delta state being the highest in FAAC monthly allocations in the last ten years. Delta state is the major entry land port to the South West into Edo state through Alifikede in Ika south axis. It is the main entrance to the South East through Asaba the state capital.
Patrick Gbuchanye
Residents of New Heaven, Area 2 axis of Dfrri Road in Boji-Boji Owa, Ika North East Local Government Area have cried out to concerned authorities over the incessant toxic smoke from an unnamed palm kernel shell powder harvesters in the area.
Report from our news desk has it that Dangote Petroleum Refinery has slashed the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as Petrol to N900 per litre, to provide much-needed relief for Nigerians ahead of the holiday season.
Farotimi, who has been detained since early December, insists he is innocent.
This was confirmed when Temokun visited Mr. Dele Farotimi, stating he never authorised Peter Obi to pursue an out-of-court settlement or apology.
Attorney Tope Temokun has clarified that his client, Dele Farotimi, did not instruct a former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, to apologise to Afe Babalola (SAN), regarding the ongoing defamation case between Farotimi and Babalola.
Temokun appeared on Channels Television’s “Inside Sources with Laolu Akande” Sunday edition. Temokun addressed Farotimi’s arrest and prosecution over his book, “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System,” alleging judicial corruption involving Afe Babalola.
Farotimi, detained since early December, maintains innocence. Temokun confirmed visiting Farotimi, stating he never authorised Peter Obi to pursue an out-of-court settlement or apology.
He said, “I visited Mr Dele Farotimi in a correctional service in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State yesterday afternoon for one purpose.
“One, we have been involved in this matter since his arrest. We have been in court; we have been following events and we also have our own stake as citizens of the country based on the fact that what is beyond persons. It is not just about persons; the country is bigger that Afe Babalola, it is bigger than Farotimi.
“The events of the recent days; the visit of Mr Peter Obi, the (2023) presidential candidate of the Labour Party to Ado-Ekiti, his visit to Aare Afe Babalola, his visit to Mr Dele Farotimi in the prison actually created some kind of unclarities.
“People are not so clear about the state of things, people are not clear about what is going on and where we are on the matter so it is on the basis of this that I had to visit him yesterday in prison, and we sat together and had a friendly discussion.
“After Peter Obi left Ekiti, the news that filtered to town was to the effect that issues of the conditions for release, the issue of apology, the issue of whether Mr Dele Farotimi is able to do this or that to come out.
“And for some of us who are involved, who have also taken a principled side on this matter, who believe that there should be justice for everyone who is involved. And that there is justice for anybody who is alleged to have been defamed and there also should be justice for Mr Dele Farotimi and there should be justice for society.
“The meeting was very productive; I told him that the reason why I was there was to confirm from you what is your state of mind, what are you thinking about this whole matter? What do you think should be done? The visit of Mr Peter Obi to you in prison and the subsequent visit to Aare Afe Babalola, what do you know about it? What is your message to Aare Afe Babalola? What is your message to the people outside? What is your message to me who is part of your legal team?
“He (Farotimi) said if anybody who is very familiar with his antecedents, with his principles, with his philosophy overtime should join anybody to believe that in a matter where he had written a book that he had published and had been in circulation, that if anybody, somebody who has a brain should join others to believe that he has sent anybody to beg anybody, he said he will be so disappointed in that person.
“He told me categorically that even you, Tope, if you join anybody to believe that I could beg anybody or that I have sent anybody to beg anybody, I will be so disappointed in you.
“He said, ‘You know it is not possible.’ He said, ‘You know I have been in here, I don’t know what is going on outside. You are the one who knows what is going on outside and if you have come to this place, what I need from you is information.’”
He said he had no idea if Peter Obi visited Babalola or not and had no control over who he planned to visit.
“He (Obi) is an elder statesman too, a former presidential candidate.
‘So I don’t know his movement, I can’t predict who he is going to visit but I didn’t send him to beg anybody. And having not done that, you as a lawyer, and for those who still believe in me out there, their line of thinking should be along the line that justice should be served to all parties’.
According to the lawyer, Farotimi said there is no falsehood in his book and “that people that are fighting him are fighting the truth”.
“He said he is going to have the last laugh and I felt relieved,” Temokun said.
The People’s Democratic Party, PDP has expressed concern that the chairmen and their deputies who were recently suspended by the State Govt. were not given a chance to defend themselves
The PDP State Chapter through the Majority Leader insisted that being suspended on unfounded charges without due process,
was an act that violates constitutional rights.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State has strongly condemned what it described as illegal suspension of the Chairmen of the 18 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the state.
This platform had earlier reported that a petition from the state Governor Monday Okpebholo led to the suspension of all the 18 local government chairmen and their vice for two months.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, said Adeleke directed the state’s Attorney General to investigate the case and ensure the man is considered for the prerogative of mercy before the year’s end.
Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has intervened in the case of a 17-year-old reportedly sentenced to death by hanging for stealing a fowl, ordering swift action for his pardon.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, said Adeleke directed the state’s Attorney General to investigate the case and ensure the man is considered for the prerogative of mercy before the year’s end.
In a post on his X handle, he noted that he had ordered a review following reports that the said victim was sentenced to death by hanging.
“I have received the report of a case of a young man reportedly sentenced to death by hanging in Osun State for stealing a fowl.”
“Consequently, I have directed the Attorney- General and Commissioner for Justice, Osun State to commence full investigation into the matter and initiate processes to grant the prerogative of mercy to the young man.”
“Osun is a land of justice and equity and must ensure fairness and protection of the sanctity of lives.
I assure members of the public that this matter is receiving my direct attention with every sense of urgency also attached to our response to the matter.”the post by the governor read
Earlier, Segun Olowookere, an indigene of Osun State was convicted and sentenced to death and currently in Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison.
The parents begged the governor to grant their son amnesty.
The parents also appealed to the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, to intervene in the matter.
Segun is the only son of his parents.
An Osun State High Court, sitting in Ikirun, sentenced Olowookere, who was 17 years old at that time, for robbing a poultry farm in Oyan, Odo-Otin local government.
He was said to have stolen a fowl and eggs.
His parents had pleaded with Adeleke for amnesty and pardon for the boy.
The suspects identified as Monday Ogunniyi and Oladeyo Idowu, were arrested following a report of an alleged abduction that led to a shocking discovery of human remains.
The Ogun State Police Command has apprehended two suspected ritualists in Oja Odan, Yewa North Local Government Area of the state.
I am pleased to present the communique from our 2024 Convention and Lecture Series, themed “Security Challenges: Finding Implementable Local Solutions.”
The event brought together stakeholders from diverse sectors and featured ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, MNIPR, MIPRA, FCAI, the Force Public Relations Officer of the Nigerian Police Force, as the Guest Speaker. His insightful contributions, alongside a panel of seasoned discussants on security and social issues, provided valuable perspectives on addressing security challenges. The esteemed panel included Amb. (Past) Edewor Egedegbe, Founding Executive Director of Value Rebirth Initiative; Bridget Dominion Foh Affiah, Executive Director of The Ideal Women Advancement Initiative; Odita Sunday-Udemaguna, Head of Defense/Security Affairs at The Guardian Newspaper; and Prof. Emmanus Odikaeseme, Chairman of the Association of Licensed Private Security Practitioners of Nigeria (ALPSPN), Delta State.
