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The Management of Cresthills Media Concepts Ltd (Owners of Crest 106.1fm, Akure and Crest 91.1fm, Ibadan has appointed Mr Olaide Abioye as the head of its Ibadan station.  The Group Chief Operating Officer, Mr Adeolu Gboyega made the disclosure in a meeting with members of staff in Akure, the Ondo state capital. Mr Gboyega said the elevation of Olaide Abioye as the General Manager of the Ibadan station is in line with the corporate objective of the media group on succession planning and validates the corporate culture to groom and develop capacity of staff members for leadership roles.  According to him, the appointment is to take effect from May 1, 2024. Prior to his appointment, Mr Abioye was the Head of Programmes department of Crest 106.1 fm, Akure.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Registrar of the Nigerian Institute of Animal Science (NIAS) Professor Eustace Iyayi is due to appear before a Federal High Court on accountability issues.  The Registrar who is said to have been bragging about to be untouchable as he flouts the Law and the Civil Service Rules with impunity may now realise that the present Administration of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s is a clear departure from business as usual.  Before now the Academic has ignored compliance with the law when officially approached on certain remittances suspected to be fraudulent and short-changed the system.   In a suit filed against NIAS and the Registrar, the court has ruled that the Registrar has case to answer and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) has a role to play in the matter.  When responding to an interview the issue before the court of law, a member of the Zero Corruption Coalition who claims anonymity said that with what has seen about t...

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Umar Abdullahi Ganduje, on Monday presented Certificate of Return to the Governor of Ondo State, Hon Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, as the candidate of the APC in the November 16 governorship election in the State. The certificate was presented to the Governor at the National Secretariat of the party in Abuja in the presence of members of the National Working Committee of the party. Presenting the certificate, Ganduje expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the primary and congratulated the Governor for emerging victorious.  Ganduje said he has been fascinated with the trajectory of Aiyedatiwa from Deputy Governor to Acting Governor and to Governor, adding that he will also remain Governor from February 24, 2025. The National Chairman stressed that continuity is crucial and with Aiyedatiwa continuing as Governor, Ondo State will witness unprecedented development.  Responding, Governor Aiyedatiwa thanked the natio...

The NYSC Ondo State Coordinator, Mr. Samuel Amaramiro Pepple has appreciated the camp officials for the commitment to duties exhibited since the commencement of the orientation course. The State Coordinator expressed this heart of gratitude during the second Steering Committee meeting held at the new Orientation Broadcasting Service (OBS) Studio. Pepple, who confessed that the first week of the exercise was challenging, being the first time he would be overseeing such huge assignment as the helmsman said that he was proud of all the camp officials. "The first week was indeed a litmus test for me. I had lots of apprehension being my first major assignment as the State Coordinator but I must say proudly that you all contributed in no small measure to reduce the anxiety. I can now authoritatively confirm that Ondo State has a crop of officers that when you give them assignments, you can go to bed" he proudly said. The NYSC Ondo State boss intimated the meeting that the remaining...

By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko, Ibadan  A 55-year-old man, Adeleye Adeniyi, was on Monday arraigned before a Grade ‘A’ Customary Court, Ibadan, for allegedly damaging cornerpiece worth N600,000, belonging to another person. Adeniyi, whose address was not provided, was charged with conspiracy, threat to life, malicious damage, conduct likely to cause breach of peace, land grabbing and stealing. He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges. The Prosecutor, Mr Philip Amusan, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on Feb. 5 in Ogbomoso area of Oyo State. He said that the defendant wilfully and unlawfully damaged the pillars belonging to one Matthew Okunade after threatening his life. Amusan said that Adeniyi conducted himself in a manner likely to cause breach of peace by preventing Okunade from entering his land at Ogbomoso. He said that the defendant also stole about 200 blocks belonging to the complainant. According to him, the offences contravene Sections 516, 86, 45...

Kogi youths who were at the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday to protest the alleged political persecution of the immediate past Governor of the state, Yahaya Bello, were allegedly attacked by operatives of the Commission There were two protests at the EFCC headquarters on Monday. While the other protest, organised by members of the opposition party in the state, in support of the EFCC was allowed to go peacefully, the other, which demanded that rule of law be respected, was attacked, according to the Pro-Yahaya Bello group. Videos of the protesters struggling to make their statements while being harassed and reporters running after them flooded the social media on Monday, with a picture of a badly damaged vehicle. This occurence, the protesters said, had fueled suspicion in many quarters that the purported rally in support of EFCC, staged by the Kogi East group called Kogi Conscience Movement, was sponsored by the Commission.  The pro-Bello pro...

By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko, Ibadan   A 41-year-old mother, Mrs Oluwalani Akintola, and her son, Mofeoluwa Olutayo, 23, on Monday, appeared before a Grade ‘A’ Customary Court, Ibadan, for allegedly stealing a patient’s phone. The duo, whose addresses were not provided, are being tried for alleged charges of conspiracy and stealing. The Prosecutor, Mr Philip Amusan, told the court that the defendants allegedly committed the offence on April 25, at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan. Amusan told the court that Olutayo allegedly stole a Samsung Galaxy phone, worth N65,000 and belonging to a patient, Mr Rasaki Adejumo. According to the prosecutor, Olutayo allegedly gave the stolen phone to his mother, Akintola, who works at the UCH as a contract staff. Amusan alleged that Olutayo was moving around patient's wards, pretending to be one of the relations to a patient as well, but went to steal the phone and left the ward. He told the court that the people around, however, sighted...

UNIVERSITY INTELLIGENTSIA SAY UNIVERSITIES ARE ZOOS  A team of University Administrators and acadamia at the upper echelon have described the Universities in Nigeria as a conglomerate of zoos and organized anarchies with multiple ambiguities and conflicts.  These were the submissions of Intelligentsia who converged at Elizade University for a 2-day Retreat organized for the Leadership of the University as part of its strategic implementation plan. Pro-Chancellor of Elizade University and former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Emeritus Professor Olufemi Bamiro in his paper: “An Overview of University Governance in Today’s Nigerian Economic Climate”  said a lot of internal and external forces impact on the university system as centrifugal forces. He lamented that the Nigeria government had consistently seen Education as a curse rather than an investment which ought to bring about transformation. He drew comparative analysis to situate the expectations on Univer...

By Smart Origbo For unsavoury reasons, the story of the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Mr Yahaya Bello has literally seized the media space in the country, week-in, week-out.  The hide -and seek game between Bello and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), blew open a forthnight ago when the anti-graft agency decided to “catch” Bello right in his house at the Wuse district in Abuja.  The agency had barricaded the street forbidding even residents from entering or exiting the street. The planned arrest turned a fiasco as the sitting Kogi State governor, Governor Usman Ododo was alleged to have nestled Yahaya Bello into his car and driven him out of the vicinity, basking in the immunity that covers him and even his car.   Ever since then, the polity had been agog with the issue of Bello. Opinions have been divided whether or not the former Kogi governor is the sinner or the one sinned against.  The way the EFCC has presented Yahaya Bello to th...

By Smart Origbo For unsavoury reasons, the story of the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Mr Yahaya Bello has literally seized the media space in the country, week-in, week-out.  The hide -and seek game between Bello and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), blew open a forthnight ago when the anti-graft agency decided to “catch” Bello right in his house at the Wuse district in Abuja.  The agency had barricaded the street forbidding even residents from entering or exiting the street. The planned arrest turned a fiasco as the sitting Kogi State governor, Governor Usman Ododo was alleged to have nestled Yahaya Bello into his car and driven him out of the vicinity, basking in the immunity that covers him and even his car.   Ever since then, the polity had been agog with the issue of Bello. Opinions have been divided whether or not the former Kogi governor is the sinner or the one sinned against.  The way the EFCC has presented Yahaya Bello to th...

The State Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps in Ondo State, Mr. Samuel Amaramiro Pepple has advised Corps Members not to misuse their freedom the period of service presented to them . The State Coordinator offered this advice during his interaction with them at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Ikare-Akoko.  Pepple, who addressed the male and female members of the service corps separately, appealed to them to take advantage of mentoring programmes they were exposed to during the orientation course to harness their potentials for greater Nigeria. "My dear children, at this your age, you are very active and agile, and everything is working perfectly well for you, but I need to admonish you to be really careful so that destiny destroyers will not take advantage of your youthful exuberance to truncate your journey of life." He warned them against succumbing to peer pressure, such as engaging in careless ways of life, noting that those who followed the ways of the ...

The NYSC Ondo State Coordinator, Mr.  Samuel Amaramiro Pepple has disclosed that NYSC has been adding values to the nation's entertainment and music industry with the calibre of graduate youths with amazing talents the Scheme produces . The State Coordinator made the disclosure at the Variety Night where corps members on a platoon basis competed for honour to select the most beautiful corps member for Miss NYSC beautiful pageant and pronounced muscular male as Mr. Macho. Pepple, who praised the contestants for their boldness at representing their various platoons, noted that NYSC has become a fertile ground where intelligence is combined with beauty to enhance the industry that is fast breaking fresh grounds.  "My dear children, today is yet another night to unwind and promote excellence among the corps members who are willing to break new frontiers, having a solid academic background, and want to toe the path of Agbani Darego and the likes". He said that NYSC will contin...

A current affairs analyst, Engr. Lawrence Ankpa, rebuked Barrister Halima Alfa for attempting to exploit Senator Natasha Akpoti's name to pursue her waning political relevance in the state. Halima wrote an open letter titled "Open Letter to Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan on her Role in EFCC Persecution of Yahaya Bello by Barrister Halima Alfa Gaya, PhD." Reacting to the letter on Monday morning, Lawrence said it’s unfortunate that Halima is using Natasha's name to seek political relevance after she has faded into political oblivion. He stated that Natasha's name cannot resurrect her dead political career because opportunities were given to her, but she misused them. She abused every opportunity that came her way. According to him, Halima once claimed to be Ahmadu's political daughter and later shifted allegiance to Ali after Jonathan appointed her as the North Central Sure-P Coordinator, where she built her Asokoro mansion and empowered her children. "Th...

Olanrewaju Folusho Olotuah, a distinguished professor of Crop/Pest Management, is set to deliver the 23rd Inaugural Lecture of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria. The lecture, titled “Biodiversity and Resilience: A Shield against Pest”, is scheduled for Tuesday, April 30, 2024 . According to a statement by the Chairman of the University Ceremonies Committee and Deputy Vice Chancellor (Admin.), Prof. Adebisi Daramola, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, will chair the event. The lecture will take place at the University Multipurpose Hall, commencing at 2:00 pm, with guests urged to be seated by 1:30 pm. Prof. Olotuah holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Botany from the then Ondo State University, Ado Ekiti, and a Master of Technology (Crop Entomology), and Doctor of Philosophy (Crop Management) Degrees from Federal University of Technology, Akure. He joined the services of Adekunle Ajasin University in 2001 as an Assistant Lecturer. He subsequently ros...

The NYSC Ondo State Coordinator,  Mr. Samuel Amaramiro Pepple has underscored the importance of corps members, saying that they are indispensable entity in camp administration.  The State Coordinator made this known by the sidelines, while addressing Platoon Leaders and Hostel Governors during a Lunch with them at the Orientation Camp .  Pepple, who charged them on the need to be role models and resist the urge to engage in attitudes unbecoming of someone highly valued and treasured, disclosed that the management of the laudable Scheme placed much premium on them.  "My dear patriotic and compatriots in the national service, NYSC sees the important roles you can play individually and collectively and has made it a point of duty to integrate you into the mainstream of camp administration and the decision had become institutionalised and we are happy for this development but you need to justify the confidence reposed in you and showcase the leadership traits we discover...

The State Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps in Ondo State, Mr. Samuel Amaramiro Pepple has charged the Zonal and Local Government Inspectors to ensure that priority attention is given to corps members under their jurisdiction at all times. The State Coordinator made the charge during the interactive session the administrator had with the field officers at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Ikare-Akoko. Pepple, who lauded the contributions of the NYSC Inspectors in all the eighteen Local Governments and four Zonal Offices averred that corps members should be treated with all forthrightness while insisting that the graduate youths must have something positive to benefit from his or her inspector. "My colleagues, I want to commend your resilience and commitment towards this job you are doing and I want to say that the Almighty God will reward your sacrifice and strengthen you to continue to nurture and mentor the members of the service corps. Be firm, treat them fairl...

A Kogi State High Court sitting in Lokoja has ordered the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, to appear in court on May 13, 2024, to show cause why an order of committal should not be made against him for allegedly disobeying court order.  The EFCC boss is facing a contempt charge for carrying out "some acts upon which they (the EFCC) have been restrained" by the Court on February 9, 2024, pending the determination of the substantive Originating Motion.  Justice I. A. Jamil, delivering a ruling in Suit No: HCL/68M/2024 and Motion No: HCL/190M/2024, ordered that "the said act was carried out by the Respondent (EFCC) in violation of the order, which was valid and subsisting when they carried out the act. That same act of the Respondent amounts to Contempt.  EFCC operatives had laid siege on the residence of the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, as early as 8am on April 17, 2024, with a bid to arrest him, despit...

The media office representing the former Governor of Kogi State has countered the assertions made by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) regarding the attendance of the governor's children at the American International School in Abuja.  In a statement released on Friday by Ohiare Michael, the office clarified that Yahaya Bello did not make payments of USD720,000 or USD840,000, as claimed by the EFCC Chairman or circulated on the internet, respectively. The statement partly read, “On Tuesday, 23rd April 2024, Mr. Olanipekun Olukoyede, in a conduct which we view as unbecoming of a Legal Practitioner, organised a press conference where he alleged (amongst other outrightly defamatory statements) that His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, withdrew cash from the Kogi State Government Account, sent same to Bureau De Change Operators and then used same to pay the school fees of his children in advance. According to Olukoyede, the payment was made just about the time the form...

By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko, Ibadan  A Physician at the National Hospital Abuja (NHA), Dr Henry Ewunonu, has urged the government at all levels, Non-Governmental Organisations, well meaning Nigerians and citizens to take the fight for malaria eradication in the country more seriously. Ewunonu, a Health Rights Advocate made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Ibadan. He said that the fight should be led by the Federal Ministry of Health and its partners to enable Nigerians key into their programme to push for the eradication. The Physician emphasised that eradicating malaria as some African countries like Mauritius, Algeria and Cape Verde have, was achievable. “This will also reduce substantially the mortality rate from the current 31.1 per cent to perhaps a single digit. “That our country which is about 2.78 per cent of the world’s population, contributes more than one quarter of the malaria burden and about one third of its mortality, should b...

By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko, Ibadan  Dr Tunde Ajobo, a Clinical Dietician, University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan in Oyo, has advised Nigerians to always eat mangoes with the skin. He gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN ) on Thursday in Ibadan. According to him, this is to ensure that consumers of the fruit get the full nutrients and fibre required for the body. Ajobo, however, said that taking mangoes in excess could lead to diarrhea. The clinical dietician further advised people not to take unripe or fairly ripe mangoes as the acidic content of such fruit would be very high. “It is also not good to take the over riped, but let it be ripe and firm such that when you use knife to cut it, it will be easy and one can eat it with the skin. “Mango is best eaten when the skin (epicarp) is not yet detached from the middle (mesocarp) of the fruit.” He emphasised that mangoes should be eaten at intervals “and not packed and taken at the same time. “Ideally...

By Goke Williams Otunba Charles Alaba Alabi Olabamidele, who is the President of the Real Estate Managers' Association of Ondo State Chapter (REMASSO), following Hon Lucky Aiyedatiwa's success at the recent ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary election in the state, has described Aiyedatiwa’s victory as a clear testament of his effective performance in office. In a statement made available to Gok Communications in Akure, the Ondo State capital, Charles Alaba opined: "Honourable Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, I write to congratulate you on your outstanding success in your party primary elections. I feel a great sense of relief and elated that the first significant election has been done towards the realisation and consummation of a long-awaited dream of yours.  Your victory in the primary elections throughout the 18 local governments of the state is a clear measure of your effective performance, which you so graciously and devotedly executed within the sh...

The Ilaje Development Summit Group (IDSG) has Congratulated his Excellency Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa on his victory in securing the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket for the forthcoming governorship election in Ondo State. The Executive Administrator  Ilaje Development Summit Group (IDSG), Rev. Adesola Omogbeminiyi Adebawo in a statement signed and made available to newsmen in Akure the state capital said Governor Aiyedatiwa's nomination as the APC flag bearer is not only a testament to his exceptional leadership qualities, but also indicative of his widespread acceptance among his party faithfuls in Ondo State as well as a historic moment for the Ilaje community.  According to him, "Aiyedatiwa 's achievement highlights the APC's commitment to inclusivity and recognition of the diverse talents and capabilities within our great state. "As a non-partisan organization dedicated to the advancement and development of the Ilaje people, IDSG commends the APC for its...

The acting Director, Legal Unit, NYSC Directorate Headquarters, Abuja, Barrister Christopher Ugar Ogar has disclosed that corps members should not see the NYSC uniform as immunity to commit criminality. The acting Director made this statement of fact in his address to the 2024 Batch 'A' (Stream II) corps members during his visit to the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Ikare-Akoko. Ogar, who advised the corps members to avoid any act that is inimical to promoting and protecting the image of the Scheme declared that NYSC has done much for the country and members of the service corps should not involve in anything that will attract negative criticism to the organisation. The Learned Gentleman said that for the Scheme not to attract severe public criticism, Corps members should maintain official dress code and resist the reckless urge to embark on night journeys but rather engage in sensitisation and advocacy campaign to make the country a better place to be. The foremost Legal Off...

By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko, Ibadan  An Estate Agent, Olaosebian Abdullahi, 43, was on Wednesday docked in a Grade ‘A’ Customary Court, Ibadan, over an alleged N1 million land fraud . The police charged Abdullahi with obtaining money under false pretence, stealing and conduct likely to cause the breach of peace. He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges. The Prosecutor, Mr Philip Amusan, told the court that the defendant allegedly committed the offence on Jan. 25, at about 10.00 a.m, at Apete area of Ibadan. Amusan alleged that the defendant fraudulently obtained the sum of N1 million from one Ishola Usman with the pretext of selling a plot of land to him at Apete Area. He alleged that the defendant instead converted the money to his personal use. Amusan said the defendant committed an offence contrary to Sections 419, 390(9) and 249(d) of the Criminal Laws of Oyo State, 2000. The Court President, Mrs Sukurat Yusuf, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N1 million and two sur...

By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko, Ibadan  A Grade 'A' Customary Court, Ibadan on Wednesday sentenced one Mr Basit Mudashiru, 21, to three months imprisonment in Agodi Correctional facility, Ibadan, for stealing a power generator. Mudashiru, whose address was not provided, was charged with stealing. The Court President, Mrs Sukurat Yusuf sentenced Mudashiru, who pleaded guilty to the charge without an option of fine. The Prosecutor, Mr Philip Amusan told the court that Mudashiru committed the offence on March 17, at about 5.00 a.m., at God Over All Block industry, New Garage, Ibadan. Amusan said the defendant stole one Elepaq generator worth N290, 000 belonging to one Ebenezer Olufowobi. He said that he committed an offence contrary to Section 390(9) of the Criminal Laws of Oyo State, 2000.(NAN)

A philanthropist, Akintayo Akintunde, has congratulated the Ondo state governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, over his victory at the just concluded governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state. Akintayo who recently empowered over 300 women in Ile-oluji area of Ondo State, congratulated Aiyedatiwa in a statement made available to journalists in Akure, the state capital.  The Ile-oluji born Philanthropist also urged Aiyedatiwa to approach the upcoming general election with assurance, emphasizing the importance of fostering connections and unity for the challenges ahead. The statement read, “I extend warmest congratulations to Governor Aiyedatiwa on his emergence as the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate. His dedication and commitment to the welfare of the people have been evident throughout his tenure, and we are confident that he will continue to serve with excellence. “As we look forward to the November 2024 election, I urge Governor Aiyedati...