Governance

Osun Crisis: Adeleke Seeks ₦130bn Intervention

By Web News 263

‎By Funmi Ojo

Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has called for the immediate release of over ₦130 billion in statutory allocations allegedly withheld from the state’s local governments, describing the situation as a major threat to grassroots governance and the welfare of workers and residents.

The governor, who made the demand in a state broadcast, condemned the illegal occupation of local government secretariats across the state by court-sacked chairmen and councillors of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Governor Adeleke said the occupation has persisted for almost a year despite a clear judgment of the Federal High Court, Osogbo, delivered in November 2022, and subsequent affirmations by the Court of Appeal in February and June 2025, which nullified the elections that produced the officials.

He accused the former governor of the state, Mr Gboyega Oyetola, of allegedly backing the continued occupation of the council secretariats with the support of the police, warning that such actions undermine democracy and the rule of law.

The governor further alleged that local government workers attempting to resume duty had been harassed and intimidated by armed police officers and political thugs, creating an atmosphere of fear and disruption at the grassroots level.
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‎He pointed out that the withheld funds are critical for the payment of salaries and entitlements of primary school teachers, nurses, health workers in the state’s 332 primary health care centres, local government staff, traditional councils, and retirees.
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‎The governor said the state government has had to make painful sacrifices to sustain salary payments for almost 12 months, a situation he described as unsustainable.
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‎Appealing for federal intervention, he called on President Bola Tinubu to ensure the immediate release of the withheld funds and to protect democratic institutions at the local government level.
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‎He maintained that the president was not involved in the alleged illegality and urged him to intervene in the interest of constitutional order.
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‎While calling on Nigerians and pro-democracy groups to speak out against the continued occupation of local government secretariats and to demand the release of council funds, Governor Adeleke urged residents of the state to remain peaceful and law-abiding, assuring them of his administration’s commitment to upholding the constitution and safeguarding the welfare of the people.

Edited by Adetutu Adetule/Maxwell Oyekunle

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Crime

Tramadol Lands Man in Jail

By Web News 569

By Mojisola Oladele 

Justice Mashkur Salisu of a Federal High Court Sitting in Osogbo, has sentenced a traveller, Nwoke Ifeanyi to a two-year jail term for illegal possession of 600 grams of tramadol.

Ifeanyi was arraigned on 15th May, and he admitted to the offence of illegal possession of the drug.

Arraigning Ifeanyi, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Prosecutor, Mr Olufemi Ijimakin, said the convict was arrested along the Gbongan-Ibadan expressway with 1,010 capsules weighing 600 grams of tramadol, contrary to the provision of Section 19 of the NDLEA Act, 2004.

The Counsel to the convict, Mr. Alfred Adegoke, pleaded with the court to be merciful with his client, noting that he had promised to turn a new leaf.

In his Judgment, Justice Salisu explained that the confessional statement of Ifeanyi and his admittance of guilt alongside other pieces of evidence tendered by the prosecutor were enough to find him guilty.

Justice Salisu stressed that Section19 of the NDLEA Act, 2004 under which Ifeanyi was convicted provided for a minimum of 15 years sentence, but considering the plea of the counsel, the convict would be sentenced to two years imprisonment with effect from the date of arrest on 4th April, 2024.

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Crime

Police Arraign Accountant, Mother for Alleged N1bn, $975,102 Fraud

By Web News 548

A chartered accountant, Omafume Ayinuola, and her mother, Lydia Ehrievuyere, have been arraigned by the police before the Federal High Court in Lagos for allegedly laundering N1,072,254,411 and  $975,102.58.

The daughter and mother were arraigned alongside their company, Patridia Resources Limited, before Justice Nicholas Oweibo, by the Force Criminal Investigation Department Annex, Alagbon, Ikoyi, Lagos.

They are facing 15 counts, bordering on conspiracy, unlawful conversion of funds, money laundering, and fraud.

Police prosecution counsel, Morufu Animashaun, told the court that the defendants committed the alleged offences between 2017 and 2021 at Trailer Park, in the Agbara area of Lagos State.

He said the defendants allegedly defrauded some companies

Animashaun also told the court that the funds allegedly stolen by the defendants were meant for the purchase and supplies of consumables for the office of the companies listed above.

However, the duo pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them.

Punch/Simeon Ugbodovon

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Politics

No Thaw in Oyo APC Crisis as Court Adjourns Sitting

By Web News 639

The last might not have been heard of the leadership crisis in the All Progressives Congress APC in Oyo State as the Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan adjourned sitting on a case filed before Hon. Justice Uche Nma Agomoh till Tuesday 21st of June.

The case for hearing on a matter brought before it by a chieftain of the party in Oyo state, Alhaji Kayode Adanla was against the national leadership of the party, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Oyo State chapter of the APC, state chairman of the party and five others as co-defendants.

The suit marked FHC/IB/CS/56/2022 is asking the court to among other things look into the controversies surrounding the election, appointment, and composition of executive members of the Oyo State chapter.

Also, the appellant filed an application for an order of injunction restraining the respondents, particularly the 3rd, 6th, 7th & 8th respondents from parading themselves as chairman and members in Oyo State pending the determination of the substantive suit.

In her ruling, Hon. Justice Uche Nma Agomoh said that the court would determine the jurisdiction or otherwise to entertain the matter.

The claimant/applicant, Alhaji Kayode Adanla is approaching the court to determine whether the first defendant along with his officials was right to have removed his name from the list of validly elected officials of the party from the state Congress of APC held at the Liberty Stadium on the 30th of October, 2021, where he claimed to have been unanimously elected and returned as the state organizing secretary of the party in the said election.

Mosope Kehinde

Judiciary

Court Declines Abba Kyari’s bail Request

By Web News 524

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has declined the bail request by the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP, Abba Kyari and his co-defendants. 

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, had on the 7th of this month, arraigned DCP Kyari, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, Sunday Ubua, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, Bawa James and two Inspectors of Police, Simon Agirgba and John Nuhu, were arraigned along with two others on eight count charges.

Mr Kyari and the four Intelligence Response Team members are facing charges bordering on illicit dealing in 21.35kg of cocaine between the 19th and 25th of January this year, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under section 11(c) of the NDLEA Act.

After their arraignment, the defendants sought bail on the grounds that the alleged offences do not attract capital punishment. 

While arguing the bail application, the Prosecution Counsel, Mr Joseph Sunday argued that Mr Kyari was a flight risk due to his involvement in allegations of money laundering in the United States, where an extradition application was pending in court.

In a ruling, the judge, Justice Emeka Nwite agreed with the prosecution that sufficient evidence had been placed before the court to warrant the refusal of bail.

Ifeoma

Politics

Court Sacks 20 Cross River Lawmakers for Defecting to APC

By Web News 508

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Monday, sacked 20 members of the Cross River State House of Assembly that defected from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC.

The court, in a judgement that was delivered by Justice Taiwo Taiwo, held that the lawmakers, having abandoned the political party that sponsored them to power, ought to vacate their seats.

The judgement followed a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/975/2021, which was filed by the PDP.

Details later

Vanguard

Crime

MAPOLY Student Bags Seven Months Jail Term for Impersonation

By Web News 1090

The Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has secured the conviction and sentencing of a 24-year-old student of Computer Science at Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, MAPOLY, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Adebowale Babatunde Ismail, to seven months imprisonment before Justice Uche Agomoh of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, Oyo State for the offence of criminal impersonation.

The offence is contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (ii) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc.) Act, 2015, and punishable under Section 22 (2) (b) of the same Act.

The defendant fraudulently represented himself as Annabel Torrens to one John Dauherty through an email address: [email protected] in order to take advantage of his victim.

Upon his arraignment, he pleaded “guilty” to the one-count charge.

In view of the guilty plea, prosecution counsel, Oluwatoyin Owodunni reviewed the facts of the case and prayed the court to convict and sentence Adebowale as charged.

Justice Agomoh, after listening to both parties convicted and sentenced the defendant to seven months imprisonment.

He also ordered that the convict pay the sum of one million, four hundred thousand Naira in restitution and forfeit one Toyota Rav 4 SUV and an iPhone 11pro mobile phone to the Federal Government.

Oluwakayode Banjo

Crime

Court Convicts Seven for Cyber-Fraud in Ibadan

By Web News 1263

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibadan Zonal Command, on November 15, 2021, secured the conviction of seven internet fraudsters before Justice Uche Agomoh of the Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, Ogun State.

The convicts are Williams Ikechukwu Williams, Aizoba Opeyemi Stephen, Damilare Godwin Asore, Basit Oladeji Bamidele, Babajide Oluwapelumi Bolaji, Abayomi Stephen Aderohunmu and Oladokun Tobi Oladimeji.

They were all convicted after pleading guilty to one count separate charge of fraudulently impersonating some foreigners, contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (i) and punishable under Section 22 (2) (b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015.

Justice Agomoh sentenced Asore to ten months imprisonment; Oladokun and Babajide were jailed nine months each; Aderohunmu seven months; Williams and Aizoba bagged five months each, while Basit received one-month prison term.

In addition to the jail terms, Oladokun was ordered to restitute his victim, Darlene Miller, the sums of $2,350USD (Two Thousand Three Hundred and Fifty United States Dollars) and N565, 369.97(Five Hundred and Sixty-five Thousand Three Hundred and Sixty-nine Naira Ninety-seven kobo) domiciled in his bank account.

Aderohunmu was ordered by the court to pay the sums of $700USD (Seven Hundred United States Dollars), N350, 058:52 (Three Hundred and Fifty Thousand, Fifty-eight Naira Fifty-two Kobo) domiciled in his Wema Bank account and N4, 860:54 (Four Thousand Eight Hundred and Sixty Naira, Fifty-four Kobo) domiciled in his Polaris Bank account as restitution to his victim, Davida Henderson.

Aizoba was ordered to restitute his victim, Jahneda Thea, the sum of $1,000USD (One Thousand United States Dollars).

Williams and Basit were ordered to return the sums of $1,600USD (One Thousand Six Hundred United States Dollars) and $880USD (Eight Hundred and Eighty United States Dollars) as restitution to their victims through the Federal Government.

Wilson Uwujaren

Head, Media & Publicity 16 November 2021

Crime

Five Jailed For Impersonation In Ibadan

By Web News 738

Justice Uche Agomoh of the Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Thursday, October 28, 2021 convicted five internet fraudsters for criminal impersonation.

The convicts, Ogunbayo Peter Oluwatobiloba (aka Racheal Brinkley), Charles Jude Albert, Kolawole Bankole Opeyemi, Bello Tobiloba Abdullahi and Obitokun Olugbade Solomon were found guilty of impersonation, an offence which contravenes section 22(2)(b)(1) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act 2015 and punishable under section 22(2)(b) of the same Act. 

Bello and Kolawole were convicted and sentenced to ten months imprisonment each; Ogunbayo, nine months; Obitokun, eight months, while Albert was sentenced to five months in prison. 

They had earlier pleaded guilty to their respective charges in line with the conditions of the plea bargain agreement reached with the Commission. 

Justice Agomoh also ordered Kolawole to restitute his victim the sum of $5,100USD (Five Thousand One Hundred United States Dollars). The convict is also to forfeit one iPhone 11 Pro Max and one iPhone 7 plus to the Federal Government.  Bello is also to restitute the sum of $200USD (Two Hundred United States Dollars) to his victim through the Federal government of Nigeria and forfeits one black iPhone 11 to the Federal Government.

Ogunbayo is to restitute the sum of $500USD (Five Hundred United States Dollars) and N145, 000 (One Hundred and Forty-Five Thousand Naira) to his victim through the Federal Government of Nigeria.

In the same vein, Albert forfeits one iPhone 12, one iPhone 6, one Access Bank ATM card and one Airpod to the Federal Government. 

He will pay the sum of $400USD (Four Hundred United States Dollars) as restitution to his victim, while Obitokun was ordered to restitute the sum of $25USD (Twenty Five United States Dollars) to his victim, and also forfeit one Techno phone to the Federal Government.

Kayode Banjo

Judiciary

Courts Resume In Ibadan, As JUSUN/PASAN Call Off Strike

By Web News 1119

Following the suspension of the industrial action by members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN and the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, PASAN, judicial activities have resumed in some courts visited in Ibadan.

At the State High Court, Ring Road, courts were opened for cases while other rooms for judicial and administrative events were opened.

At Court Four, sittings were held while three sittings were held in Court Five of the State High Court, Ring Road in Ibadan.

One of the court officials, Mrs Kehinde Olalere said the court sat as expected, adding that complainants were already approaching the courts for new dates on pending cases.

Our correspondent who visited some federal courts along new Adeoyo road, in Ibadan, reports that the situation was not different as some sittings were held on some cases at National Industrial Court as confirmed by the court’s JUSUN representative, Mr Festus Ajiboro.

Mr Ajiboro expressed optimism that the union’s demands would be met as government had already set up a committee to look into them.

JUSUN members began their strike on April 6, demanding for financial autonomy, salary increment among other issues.

Rotimi Famakin

Politics

Ogun Impeached Deputy Speaker Takes Assembly to Court

By Web News 824

Former Deputy Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Mr Dare Kadiri, has taken the Assembly to a Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta, over his removal from office.

The impeached Deputy Speaker, demanded for a sum of five hundred million naira as general damage against the Speaker, Mr Olakunle Oluomo ,first respondent and the Assembly as second respondent.

Mr Kadiri also asked the court for an order of one billion naira exemplary damages against the respondents.

Counsel to the applicant, Mr Idowu Adepeju, in the suit sought for a declaration that his right to a fair hearing under section 36(1) of the Constitution was contravened by the respondents in the process of removing him from office.

The former deputy speaker also asked the court to declare his removal from office and the process that led to it as null, void and of no effect.

He argued that the same was done in violation of fair hearing as stipulated in the Constitution.

He also sought for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the respondents and their agents from taking any further step or doing anything that would deny him his right as the Deputy Speaker of the House.

Oluwatoyin Adegoke 

Crime

Court Convicts Five Internet Fraudsters in Ibadan

By Web News 575

Justice Patricia Ajoku of the Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Wednesday, convicted five internet fraudsters over impersonation.

The convicts are: Omosehin Sina, Yusuf Olajide Bello, Olowosogba Olamilekan Samson, Bakare Omolayo Toheed and Sodiq Oluwasegun Adefila

They pleaded guilty to their respective charges in line with the conditions of the plea bargain agreement with the Commission.

Based on their pleas, prosecution counsel, Ben Ubi and Chidi Okoli invited Umara Uyah, Nafiu Sa’ad and Usman Babangida Mohammed to review facts of the case as witnesses.

The court consequently convicted them as charged and sentenced Omosehin and Olowosogba to four years jail term each, while Yusuf earned eighteen months jail term.

Bakare was sentenced to four months while Adefila bagged three months imprisonment. Their sentence however takes effect from their dates of arrest.

The convicts are to restitute sundry sums to their victims and also forfeit the items recovered from them to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Sunday Ogunyemi

Crime

4 Docked For Defrauding Microfinance of Over 14m Naira

By Web News 676

Osun State Police has dragged four persons before the Federal High Court, sitting in Osogbo for allegedly duping a microfinance bank of over fourteen million naira (14,273,770).

The suspects are Aderinlowo Joseph, Oyinlola Abimbola, Sotomi Abosede and Bello Rasaq.

The prosecutor, Mr. Francis Osei, told the court that the defendants committed the alleged crime between 2016 and December 2019.

He alleged that the defendants who were workers of Otan-Ayegbaju Microfinance Bank, collected the money from customers with intent to deposit same and converted the money to their personal use. 

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the four-count charges of conspiracy, stealing and cybercrime preferred against them. 

Their counsel, Mr. Bola Abimbola-Ige, urged the court to allow the 1st to the 3rd defendants continue with the bail earlier granted them, and prayed the court to admit the 4th defendant to bail in the most liberal term. 

Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Osogbo thereby granted the fourth defendant bail in the sum of 10 million naira with two sureties in like sum. 

The judge ordered that the defendant be remanded in Ile-Ife Correctional Center pending the perfection of his bail.

He adjourned the case to November 3, 2020 for trial. 

Adenitan Akinola

Crime

Abeokuta Court Jails Fraudster, Forfeits Assets

By Web News 879

Justice Ibrahim Watilat of the Federal High Court, Abeokuta, Ogun State has sentenced one Festus Gbenga Ajayi, to one-year imprisonment for internet fraud.

The convict was prosecuted by the Ibadan Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on one-count charge of criminal impersonation, having been arrested on October, 2019 in a raid conducted on his hideout in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

Investigations conducted by the Commission linked him to series of internet-related frauds which formed the ground for his initial arraignment on eight-count charges, bordering on criminal impersonation and obtaining money by false pretence before the charges were amended to lone-count, to which he pleaded guilty.

Apart from the jail term which takes effect from the day of conviction, the judge ordered that the convict forfeits his uncompleted one-storey building, located in Ado-Ekiti, a Toyota Corolla car, one gold-colour iPhone, among other proceeds of and tools of crime to the Federal Government.

He had earlier refunded N1,400,000 (One Million, Four Hundred Thousand Naira) to the government, through the EFCC.

Sunday Ogunyemi

Crime

Court Sentences Two to Jail for Fraud

By Web News 765

Two middle aged men, Rasak Olayinka Balogun and Ayodeji Oliwaseun Olatona have been sentenced to jail for internet fraud.

The suspects, who were arraigned separately, pleaded guilty to the one count charge bothering on impersonation preferred against them.

Rasak Olayinka Balogun was sentenced to seven months in jail by Justice Mohammed Abubakar of Federal High Court, Abeokuta.

Aside the jail term, Balogun was also ordered to restitute Four Thousand United States Dollars to his victim, one Mantonia Duncan, and also forfeit his laptop, Samsung Galaxy S8 phone and iPhone 11 Pro Max to the Federal Government.

While Ayodeji Oluwsaeun Olatona, who appeared before Justice Patricia Ajoku of the Federal High Court Ibadan, was sentenced to six months in prison.

He will also restitute Five Hundred United State Dollars to his victim and forfeit his iPhone 7 to the Federal Government.

In a similar development, Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Osogbo, has found one Timilehin Awojoodu guilty of criminal impersonation, but reserved his sentence till July 21, 2020.

 Besides the conviction, the judge ordered Awojoodu to restitute the sum of Two Thousand, Five Hundred United States Dollars to his victim and forfeit his iPhone 7 and Infinix Hot 7 phone to the government. 

Sunday Ogunyemi

Lifestyle News Politics

Muhammadu Sanusi II Regains Freedom

By Web News 1614 Post a comment

Justice Anwuli Chikere of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has granted an interim order releasing the deposed Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II from detention.

The order also restored his right to human dignity, personal liberty, freedom of association and movement in Nigeria apart from Kano State, pending the hearing and determination of the originating summons.

In Court were the Lead Counsel to the former Emir, Abubakar Mahmoud, the daughter of the former Emir, Khadija Yusra Sanusi and his sister Zainab Sanusi.

The applicant had approached the court praying for an order releasing him from detention, restoring his right to human dignity, personal liberty.

The court adjourned to 26th of March 2020.