Heavy gunshots in Osogbo as army arrests Asiri Eniba

There was heavy gunfire at Old Garage in Osun on Friday as thugs allegedly working for the Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Oroki Branch, Osogbo, Kazeem Oyewale exchanged bullets with the Army.

It was reported that the Oyewale was later arrested after the gun duel with operatives.

Details later…

Court convicts 13 internet fraudsters in Ibadan, Osogbo

At least 13 persons were convicted for internet fraud in Oyo State and Osun States on Wednesday.

The convicts were – Akintokun Olalekan, Sheriff Hadinan, Ayojide Ayomide Ezekiel, Rokeeb Olanrewaju Bashir, Olutekunbi Oluwatoyin Boluwatife, Adigun Martin Oladimeji, Abraham Pelumi Ariyo, and Ajagbe Abdulbasit Temitope.

Others were – Ojelere Stephen Oladimeji, Olaleye Farudeen Abiola, Durosaro Temitope Dickson, Olubanji Remilekun Damilare and Shogamu Lukman Olatunbosun.

The Head of the Media and Publicity for the Economic and Crimes Commission (EFCC), Wilson Uwujaren, who disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, said the convicts were arraigned by the commission on a separate one-count charge of fraudulent representation contrary to Section 22 (2) and punishable under Section 22 (2)(b)(iv) of Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act 2015.

He said: “Justice Uche Agomoh of Federal High Court, Ibadan, Oyo State, sentenced Adigun to 10 months imprisonment; Akintokun, Rokeeb, Olaleye and Shogbamu to nine months jail term each while Hadinan bagged eight months jail term.

Olubanji and Ajagbe were jailed seven months each, Ojelere, Olutekunbi, and Ayojide bagged six months jail term each, while Abraham was sentenced to five months in prison.

“In the same light, Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel of the Federal High Court, Osogbo, Osun State, convicted and sentenced Durosaro to one-month imprisonment.

“The convicts are to repay their various victims and forfeit the items recovered from them to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“The court, however, ordered that all the convicts are to sign an undertaking letter, pledging to be of good behaviour after serving their jail terms.”

One dead, nine injured as masquerade attacks mosque in Osogbo

There was confusion in Osogbo, the Osun State capital when a man identified as Moshood Salawudeen, was shot dead, while nine other worshippers were injured when a masquerade and its followers reportedly attacked a mosque.

It was gathered that the masquerade and its followers were passing through Oluode Aranyin’s compound where the mosque was located, when the worshippers were having prayers under a canopy near the mosque on Sunday.

It was also learnt that the attackers damaged the windows and doors of the mosque.

Speaking to newsmen on Monday, the Chief Imam of the mosque, Alhaji Quoseem Yunus, said there was no former disagreement with the masquerade, noting that the group had initially passed through the area without attacking the worshippers.

He said, “We were outside our mosque, having special prayers on Sunday when the masquerade and his men appeared. Four policemen were with them.

“They passed us by and moved down. They later returned to where we all sat and started pelting us with stones. They later shot at us and used machete on us. One person was killed. We have taken the corpse to UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital Morgue. Nine others are receiving treatment in other hospitals in Osogbo.”

Efforts to reach the Osun Police Command Public Relations Officer, Yemisi Opalola, proved abortive as of the time of this report.

Tension as youths protest EFCC harrassment in Osogbo (Photos/Video)

Tension rocked Osogbo, Osun state capital on Tuesday as youths hit the streets to protest alleged harassment by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Offence Commission (EFCC).

In a video which surfaced online Monday night, the youths were seen shouting and protesting that the operatives of the EFCC raided their Estate and were trying to tow away exotic cars at midnight.

It was gathered that the EFCC operatives carried out a raid within Adetunji Estate around 2.00 a.m. to arrest suspected fraudsters but they were waylaid on their way out after arresting some suspects, seizing about 20 exotic cars.

https://twitter.com/Updateboyx/status/1394518766122323968?s=19

ITF trains 250 youths, empowers them with essential tools in Ibadan, Osogbo

Established solely for the purpose of human capital development and empowerment, Industrial Training Fund, ITF continues to grow strong in its drive to empower youths through various empowerment programmes across the nation.

ITF has over the years made tremendous impact in generating a pool of manpower in different sectors of the economy in Nigeria by designing programmes that equip individuals with new skills, essential tools of trade and empowerment so they can become employers of labour, attain financial stability, drive development and eventually assume leadership of the nation.

The Director General in his keynote address which was delivered by the Area Manager, Mr. Peter Dalyop encouraged participants to ensure they don’t rest on their oars but rather put in more efforts to hone the skills learnt so they can showcase themselves and Nigeria to the world. He further advised them to register their business as soon as possible because business registration has many great benefits which include corporate account opening and access to loans.

He reminded them that jobs are hard to come by in Nigeria at the moment regardless of your qualification and people should start something with what they learnt instead of staying idle and waiting for jobs that are not there.

Participants were further advised by other speakers to be creative and innovative in their vocation so they could stand out.

The empowerment programme cuts across various sectors including fashion designing, crop production and cosmetology.

Talking points at the event include how to start a business, expanding a business, managing people and much more.

INSECURITY: Oyetola, Alaafin meet in Osogbo

The Osun State governor, Gboyega Oyetola, on Sunday held a closed-door meeting with the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, at the Government House in Osogbo.

The duo discussed the current security situation in Nigeria and other major national issues at the meeting.

The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Ismail Omipidan, disclosed this on his Twitter handle.

He wrote: “The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, on Sunday visited Governor Adegboyega Oyetola to confer with him on emerging national issues.

“On hand to receive him at the Government House, Osogbo, were the First Lady, Mrs. Kafayat Oyetola, and the Aragbiji of Iragbiji, Oba Abdulrasheed Ayotunde Olabomi.”

Oyetola was one of the 10 All Progressives Congress (APC) governors that accompanied President Muhammadu Buhari to the party’s registration centre for his revalidation of the party’s membership in Daura, Katsina, on Saturday.

Policeman dies after beating by DSS operatives in Osogbo

A police Corporal, Fawale Rauf, said to have been beaten by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, is dead.

Rauf, who until his death served with Dada Estate, Osogbo Police Post, was said to have been invited to a bar by the DSS operatives somewhere in town, where he was reportedly beaten to a state of coma and left unattended to.

Sources say the policeman was later rushed to Osun State Teaching Hospital, Osogbo for medical attention where he gave up the ghost on Sunday.

According to an eyewitness, Rauf was beaten by the DSS operatives with objects like rods and sticks.

When contacted, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs Yemisi Opalola, confirmed the death of the officer, but declined to provide further details.

Man Jailed 14 Months In Osogbo for Defrauding American of N19.6m.

According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibadan zonal office, has secured the conviction of one Oteyowo Akinkunmi Samuel over internet-related fraud.

Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel of the Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, Osun State pronounced the 32-year-old, who claimed to be a graduate of civil engineering, guilty of a one-count amended charge of criminal impersonation on Monday, January 18, 2021 and handed him fourteen months custodial sentence.

The crime offends Section 22(2) (b) (ii) of the Cyber Crimes (Prohibition, Prevention Etc) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22 (2) of the same Act.

He was charged for defrauding one Warren Doht, an American, of a total sum of N19,664,128.50 (Nineteen Million, Six Hundred and Sixty Four Thousand, One Hundred and Twenty Eight Naira, Fifty Kobo).

The convict had, however, approached the Commission for a plea bargain agreement which formed the basis for the amended charge with which he was arraigned and convicted of on Monday.

After pleading guilty to the amended charge, prosecution counsel Murtala Usman urged the court to convict him accordingly.

Apart from the jail term, the court also ordered Oteyowo to restitute the N19,664,128.50 to the victim of his crime.

Mourners weep uncontrollably as hundreds throng Senator Salami’s residence in Osogbo

Hundreds of sympathizers on Friday thronged the residence of late Senator Bayo Salami who died of COVID- 19 at New York on Thursday afternoon.

Many of the sympathizers who had arrived at the residence located at the GRA of the government House area of Osogbo, Osun State were drenchedwith tears after weeping uncontrollably to mourn the departed soul.

Personalities from all walks of life also paid their last homages to the residence of the deceased to associate and commiserate with the bereaved family.

Some of the personalities sighted at the home of the deceased that once represented Osun Central Senatorial District were the former Secretary to the Osun State government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, an Osogbo based business mogul, Chief Tunde Badmos; Former National Vice Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Southwest, Alhaji Tajudeen Oladipo and his wife; former Osun State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Lanre Afolabi among others.

Also present at the mourning home were the Oloris of Ataoja of Osogbo land, representatives of Oludo of Ido- Osun, Alayemore, Oba Adeen Adedapo.

Speaking with Tribune Online, the former Secretary to the state government, described the departed soul as a never to be forgotten personality whose lifetime preached humility humanity and simplicity.

Adeoti stated that the deceased would always be remembered for his outstanding contributions to the development of humanities.

He, however, disclosed that late Salami died around 3.00 pm on Thursday at New York and that, Senator Sola Adeyeye was in his company when he died.

He further described the deceased as a person whose major preoccupation was the problem of the common man and prayed to God to forgive the deceased sin and grant his Aljanai.

“His death was sudden, his departure was a great loss but I will always remember him for the legacies he left behind. He was a gentleman and highly religious and has contributed immensely to the development of his state and this country at large”.

The former SSG who reechoed the vanity of life, charged all and sundry to always get themselves prepared for death saying, if anybody tells him, Hon. Bayo Salami would die in twenty years time, he would contest it.

The firstborn of the deceased, Toyin Salami who received those who paid condolences to visit his late father’s house, described his father as a perfect gentleman and easy-going person while on the surface of Earth.

While speaking on one of his late father’s values, Toyin stressed that his father was a value adder person who always put smiles on the faces of people.

However, one of the family members who simply identified himself as Adebisi said, the deceased was 69 years of age before he finally went with the wind.

Meanwhile, condolence messages have been sent to the bereaved family.

In his condolence message, Osun state governor, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, expressed sadness over the death of Senator Adebayo Salami, the Baba Adinni of Osogbo and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the State, who passed on Thursday.

Reacting to the news of the Senator’s death, Oyetola in a post on his official Facebook page, commiserated with the family of the deceased and the Muslim community in Osun.

The governor wrote: “Sad to learn of the passing of Baba Adinni of Osogbo and chieftain of our party, APC, Senator Adebayo Hamzat Salami. This is a huge loss, not only to his family and friends but to the people of Osogbo and Osun at large.

“My prayers and thoughts are with his family and the Muslim community in Osun. As we mourn Baba Adinni’s demise, I pray Almighty Allah to overlook his shortcomings, grant him a place in Aljannah Firdaus, and give the family and all those who mourn his demise the strength to bear this loss”.

Also, the Speaker, Osun State House of Assembly, Hon Timothy Owoeye has described the death of Senator Adebayo Salami as a big blow to the progressive family in Osun and Nigeria.

Owoeye in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Alabi to commiserate with the people of Osogbo stated that the death of the politician would definitely leave a temporary vacuum for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osogbo federal constituency.

Senator Adebayo Salami was elected Senator for the Osun Central constituency of Osun at the start of Nigerian Fourth Republic, running on the Alliance for Democracy (AD) platform in 1999.

He stated that Senator Salami’s wise counsels will be sorely missed by the people and government of the state as he regularly and willingly listened to leaders and always had good advice to move the progressive family forward in the state of Osun.

Owoeye also described the late Senator as a strong campaigner of progressive ideologies aimed at promoting a society that will make life meaningful for the masses.

The Speaker admonished that supporters and people of the state should take solace in the admonition of the scriptures that held that God is sovereign over life and death, “God holds the power of life and death in each one of us. It is appointed unto man once to die but after this judgement.”

“The death of Senator Salami is a big loss to Osogbo, the State of Osun as well as the entire progressive family. Salami’s contributions to the growth of Osogbo and Osun will be missed.

“Baba Salami’s death is sudden and shocking but with submission to the will of God which can not be questioned by we mortals.

“I commiserate with the Salami family, Osun Central senatorial district and Osun at large. I pray that God Almighty will receive the soul of the departed leader and comfort his family”. The Speaker stated.

Also, Senator Ajibola Basiru representing Osun Central Senatorial District described his death as shocking and devastating.

Dr Ajibola Basiru stated this in a condolence message to the family of the deceased politician.

According to the Statement, Senator Bayo Salami was one of the pivots on which the progressives in Osun rested at the return of democracy in 1999.

“Senator Salami joined forces with the likes of Chief Bisi Akande, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and others to entrench progressives politics in the Southwest and particularly, Osun.”

“He was a mercurial politician whose period in the Senate laid a foundation for subsequent senators from Osun Central. We have lost a political icon,” Senator Basiru lamented.”

“Senator Bayo Hamzat Salami, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, was chairman, Olorunda Local Government and Governorship candidate on the platform of the National Republican Convention in the aborted third Republic before he got elected into the Senate in 1999 on the platform of the Alliance for Democracy.”

“He was member, Senate Committee on Public accounts, Power, Mines and Steel and Water Resources. He was reported to have breathed his last in a US hospital during a brief illness.

Sympathising with the immediate and extended families of Senator Bayo Salami and the Ataoja of Osogbo, Senator Ajibola Basiru prayed Allaah to accept the return of the deceased and give the family the fortitude to bear the loss”.

In his own message, the State Caretaker Chairman of the All Progressives Congress(APC), Prince Gboyega Famodun, has condoled with the Ataoja of Osogboland, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun and the entire sons and daughters of the city on the recently reported death of their illustrious and an iconic-political-figure son, Senator Bayo Salami.

Famodun said the reported sudden death of the senator was one demise, too many.

The Igbajo-born Prince hinted that he wished the information was not true as it was tragic and sudden.

The state APC boss described the departed senator as an illustrious son of Osogbo who had used his God-given endowments for the progress of the city and its environs.

He enjoined the Ataoja, sons and daughters of Osogbo to take heart and find solace in the religious saying that: “It’s

God who giveth that also taketh.”

Famodun who described the death as a necessary end of all mortals stated that he was fascinated and convinced that the fallen senator successfully finished his own race in life.

In his words: “This evening news of the death of Senator Bayo Salami was too sudden and unexpected to believe. How I wished it was false! My heart ached when I heard the sad news.

“Death is a necessary end of all living things. It will come at God-appointed time.

“On behalf of my family and the entire members and leaders of our party in Osun State under my watch, I am extending my condolences to the deceased family, the Ataoja, friends, well-wishers, sons and daughters of Osogbo on the death of one of their illustrious sons, Senator Bayo Salami, in far away from the United States of America.

“May God grant you the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss and forgive the departed his inadequacies”, the Osun State APC boss prayed.