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5 Worshippers Died, Others Hospitalised For Eating ‘Feast’ In Ibadan Church

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  Five worshippers have been confirmed dead, while others are on admission at the Infectious Disease Centre, Olodo area of Ibadan, Oyo State, after they took part in a feast known in Yoruba parlance as ipese organised by an Ibadan-based white-garment church. However, as of the time of filing this report on Saturday, about 50 of the worshippers had been discharged from the centre Sunday Tribune gathered that the incident happened during a service held in the church last Sunday. The feast otherwise known as ipese, as reliably informed, is part of the traditional events in conformity with the church’s doctrine. A source in the church said that it has not been established medically whether the ipese was responsible for the death of the affected victims. According to him, “I ate the prepared beans like every other member, including the victims and nothing happened to me. “The incident was not all about ‘ipese’ as made to believe. “The various organs of government, including the police, Directorate of State Services, (DSS), media organisations, World Health Organisation (WHO) have been to this place on a fact-finding mission “Their findings are yet to be made public, but I can tell you that it is not about ipese as being insinuated. “It is true that some victims are still undergoing treatment at IDC Olodo. “Also, there is no iota of truth in the rumour that the church premises have been put under lock and key. “The Shepherd-in-Charge has been attending to visitors since morning. He is taking his test. You (our correspondent) can’t see him now unless you come tomorrow during the service.” Also, a senior medical staff at IDC Olodo, who preferred anonymity, confirmed the incident. He said 50 of the victims that were rushed to the IDC have been treated and discharged. According to him, “Some of the affected persons were brought to the centre for treatment. As of today (Saturday), 50 of them have been discharged while others are still on admission. “The state commissioner for health is likely to address the press on the incident next week. When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adewale Osifeso, confirmed the incident. According to him, “Investigation is ongoing on the matter.”

School Resumption: Oke-Ogun Group Donates Uniforms To 83 Indigent Students

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  According to the Coordinator of the forum, Surveyor Eegundiran Abiodun, during the presentation of the uniforms to students at Iseyin District Grammar School (IDGS), Iseyin, on Friday, said the forum has contributed towards the educational growth of the State in the past, which was recorded in the distribution of ten thousand exercise books to primary and secondary schools, provision of nose masks during the Covid-19 pandemic, supply of whiteboards and markers to schools, payment of Joint Admission And Matriculation Board (JAMB), National Examination Council (NECO) and West African Examination Council (WAEC) fees for indigent students. A socioeconomic development group, named Oke-Ogun Dynamic Forum (OODF) has distributed new uniforms to eighty-three indigent students of various public schools across the region. The gesture which was part of the group’s contribution towards the reduction of out-of-school children in the State and contribute towards stamping out societal vices among youths. According to the Coordinator of the forum, Surveyor Eegundiran Abiodun, during the presentation of the uniforms to students at Iseyin District Grammar School (IDGS), Iseyin, on Friday, said the forum has contributed towards the educational growth of the State in the past, which was recorded in the distribution of ten thousand exercise books to primary and secondary schools, provision of nose masks during the Covid-19 pandemic, supply of whiteboards and markers to schools, payment of Joint Admission And Matriculation Board (JAMB), National Examination Council (NECO) and West African Examination Council (WAEC) fees for indigent students. Among the schools where the uniforms were distributed on Thursday and Friday are Baptist Secondary School, Koso, Iseyin, Muslim Grammar School, Iseyin, Ekunle High School, Iseyin, Iseyin District Grammar School, Iseyin and Anwar-Ul- Islam High School, Iseyin. Others are Baptist High School, Ilero, Ilua Community Grammar School, Ilua, at Kajola Local Government while they visited Baptist Grammar School, Otu, Ipapo Grammar School, Ipapo, Oke-Amu Community High School, Oke Amu and Komu Baba Ode High School, School at Komu in Itesiwaju local government for the same mission. Abiodun called on people of means in the society to wake up and assist those in need, especially in the present economic situation of the country that might worsen the rate of school enrollment, as most parents may not be able to afford basic materials like uniforms for their wards. “The Okeogun Dynamic Forums, originally inaugurated in December 2018 as the Okeogun Community Development Forum, has grown significantly since its inception. “The organization, which encompasses members from 10 local governments in the Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State, was founded with the cardinal objectives of fostering socio-economic development, promoting peaceful coexistence, enhancing educational and welfare opportunities, supporting cultural activities, campaigning against societal vices, and promoting a culture of excellence and moral values. “Since 2019, the forum has carried out several impactful initiatives, including distributing over 10,000 exercise books to primary and secondary school students, providing nose masks during the COVID-19 pandemic, supplying whiteboards and markers to schools, paying JAMB, NECO, and WAEC fees for selected students, and organizing career talks and entrepreneurship programs. “Today marks the last day in which the forum has been distributing school uniforms to selected students in Iseyin, Itesiwaju and Kajola local governments. “We plan to extend these efforts by visiting five selected secondary schools in Iwajowa Local Government in the coming week apart to capture the envisaged eighty-three beneficiaries. “We are using this opportunity to call on people that have opportunities that these children don’t have to please assist in whatever way to complement the efforts of government to keep these children in school and thereby curb social vices that arise from their not having education,” he pleaded. Surveyor Eegundiran added that in 2024, the organization officially changed its name from Okeogun Community Development Forum to Okeogun Dynamic Forums following its registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and has since contributed towards achieving an Oke-Ogun region with viable socio-economic development.

Court Invites Kemi Alao-Akala Over Late Former Gov’s Estate

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  The wife of the late former Governor of the Oyo State, Kemi Alao-Akala, has been invited by the state High Court to appear before it within 30 days. The court ordered her and her co-defendant in a suit number 1/443/2023 filed before the Court over the alleged illegal obtaining of a letter of administration over the estate of her late husband, Adebayo Alao-Akala without the consent of the claimant. The court gave the order while granting an ex-parte motion on an order of substituted service brought before it by Dipo Olasope, SAN, counsel to the claimant, Toyin Alao-Aderinto, against Kemi Alao-Akala and Olamide Alabi, over alleged mismanagement of the estate of late Adebayo Alao-Akala by the defendants and their privies. The service of a writ of summons, a copy of which was obtained by PUNCH Online on Saturday in Ibadan, said, “You are hereby commanded that within 30 days after the service of this writ on you, inclusive of the day of this service, you do cause an appearance to be entered for you in action at the instance of the claimant.” The suit marked I/443/2024 is challenging the actions of the defendants, Kemi Alao-Akala and Olamide Alabi, who have been accused of illegally obtaining a letter of administration from the state High Court on October 6, 2022, in connection with late Alao-Akala’s estate, mismanaging the deceased’s assets and property and further excluding the claimant/applicant from benefitting from the distribution of the assets of the estate of late Alao-Akala, the claimant’s father. Oluwatoyin Alao-Aderinto, the first daughter of the deceased, is seeking the leave of the court to declare as illegal, null and void a letter of administration illegally obtained by the duo of Kemi Alao-Akala and Olamide Alabi from the registry of the state High Court and to also grant an order of perpetual injunction, restraining the defendants, including Kemi Alao-Akala and Olamide Alabi, by themselves, agents or privies or whomsoever is claiming through them, from continuing to sell or dispose any asset (real or personal), belonging to the late former Governor of the state, Adebayo Alao-Akala.

Hon Olayinka Segelu Losses Elder Brother, Oluwadamilare

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  A Chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon Olayinka Segelu, has announced the death of his elder brother, Oluwadamilare Oladimeji. Olayinka, a Germany-based businessman and ICT consultant aspiring to occupy the governorship seat of Oyo State in 2027, in a statement said his late brother was a cherished and respected member of the family. The statement reads: “It is with profound sadness that I announce the passing of my elder brother, the firstborn of our beloved mother. He was a cherished member of our family and leaves behind a deep void in our hearts. “As one of three men and three women born to my mother, I now stand as the only surviving brother, with both of my siblings Oluwadamilare and Olukunle having left us to join our mother and father. “This loss is particularly heartbreaking, as I dedicated myself to caring for him through many years of illness, including a leg amputation done in the hope of making him live. “Despite my efforts, the challenges he faced became insurmountable. My heart is heavy with sorrow as I reflect on the bond we shared and the memories we created. ‘I am deeply saddened by his passing and will carry his spirit with me always. RIP Oluwadamilare D-Segelu Motors.”

President Tinubu To Reintroduce Toll Gates On Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Second Niger Bridge, And Others

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  President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has declared it will toll all major roads in the country upon completion of construction and renovation. Minister of Works, David Umahi disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja at an Inter-Ministerial Press Briefing, part of activities to mark Nigeria’s 64th independence anniversary. “We have the Lagos-Ibadan (Expressway), we are completing it and we are tolling it,” he said. He listed some of the roads as Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Second Niger Bridge, Abuja-Kano Road, and Makurdi-9th Mile, among others. The former Ebonyi State governor said the tolling of federal roads “is going to bring a lot of money to the Federal Government”. Umahi said private sector members have been engaged “to bring in funds, construct these roads, work with the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission and the Ministry of Works to toll these roads”. The minister said the government would start with the Keffi-Makurdi Road that has been completed, stating that his ministry has been engaging with the Ministry of Finance for a paperless mode of payment. He said, “For example, we are completing the Lagos-Ibadan, we are working on Makurdi to 9th Mile in Enugu State, we are working from Abuja to Lagos. These roads are going to be tolled. But we are not just tolling them, we are bringing confidence in the use of these roads. “If people can travel at night because we are bringing security, where the response time will be 10 minutes on the entire corridor, where you have solar light permanently there and then reduce travel time, and through the tolling, the roads are maintained, then, there will be confidence because Nigerians will pay if the roads are good.” He said before now, road developments have not been handled as investments but the administration of President Bola Tinubu has been handling road developments more professionally. Meanwhile, in April, the minister hinted that the government will likely charge an average of N3,000 per toll gate for vehicles using the Lagos-Calabar coastal road upon its completion. Umahi said, “Let me leave out the infrastructure along the corridor. Let me just concentrate on the tolls and I put 50,000 vehicles as an average passage on these toll points per day,” Umahi said on the breakfast show. “I put N3,000 as an average cost. N3,000 because the cars could be like N1,500, and the big trucks could be like N5,000,” he said. “So, we put an average”. “In 15 years, you make back the money,” he said, dismissing calls that the cost budgeted for the road project was high. The minister noted that there will be security at the toll gates and also some facilities like filling stations. He said, “At every point of tolling, we also have toll station where we have a kind of relief activities: the restaurants, filling stations, parking lots, and so on and so forth.’’ “So, people will now have confidence. In these sections, we intend to put CCTV all through.”

Akwa-Ibom First Lady Dies, Gov’t Mourns

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  The Akwa-Ibom State government has announced the passing of the wife of the Executive governor, Mrs. Patience Umo Eno. A statement signed by the Commissioner for Information, Comrade Ini Ememobong, on Friday said the governor’s wife died following an illness. The statement added that Patience Eno passed away peacefully at the hospital, on 26th September, 2024, in the presence of her family. He added that her husband, Governor Umo Eno appreciates all who have stood by the family in the trying period, assuring all the citizens that despite this huge personal loss, his commitment to the service of the state is unwavering. The statement reads: “It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of the Wife of the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Her Excellency, Pastor Mrs. Patience Umo Eno, following an illness. She passed away peacefully at the hospital, on 26th September, 2024, in the presence of her family.” “The family submits to the will of the Almighty and asks for the prayers and support of kind-hearted individuals during this difficult time. Further details will be provided by the family as necessary. In the meantime, the family kindly requests privacy as they mourn their beloved wife, mother and grandmother.” “His Excellency, the Governor, Pastor Umo Eno appreciates all who have stood by the first family in this period and assures all the citizens that despite this huge personal loss, his commitment to the service of the state is unwavering.”

FG Begins Payment Of New Minimum Wage

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    The federal government of Nigeria has commenced the payment of the new minimum wage to the civil servants under its payroll. The civil servants according to the federal government will start receiving the new minimum wage from Thursday, 26th of September. The Spokesperson of the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, Bawa Mokwa, disclosed this in an exclusive interview on Thursday. He assured that workers will begin to get alert of their new minimum wage salary payment starting from Thursday. However, Mokwa did not state if the minimum wage would be paid alongside its arrears. He said: “Federal Government civil servants will start getting the new minimum wage from today (Thursday) this September 2024. What I can tell you is that the minimum wage salary payment is today I am not sure of the arrears.”

Jill Biden Bids Farewell To Visiting First Ladies At UNGA

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  The Wife of the US President Jill Biden has bid farewell to visiting First Ladies from other nations including the First Lady of Nigeria Senator Oluremi Tinubu at the 79th United Nations General Assembly. Jill Biden who hosted the First Ladies to a lunch described her interactions with the First Ladies as impactful as the lunch will be the last she will be hosting as the First Lady of the US. She says the bond they have forged over the years in their struggle to promote peace in the world and attract development to their respective countries will continue beyond next year January when she is expected to vacate as the First Lady of the United States. “I appreciate you all for always coming for this gathering, I have a great feeling that I will be seeing more of you in my next chapter of life. I wish you all the best as you all return to your various countries as it has come to my notice that many of you have a long way back home”. Lunch events are common on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, serving as platforms for world leaders and their delegations to hold bilateral talks, forge partnership and strengthen diplomatic ties. Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu attended the lunch, held at Pier 57, New York, as one of the events marking the end of her engagements and participation at the 79th session of UNGA .

PDP Accuses INEC, Security Agencies Of Making Edo Election A Must Win For APC

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    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security agencies of aiding and abetting the irregularities that bedeviled the last Saturday Edo state governorship election, just as the party described the election as the worst poll ever conducted by the electoral umpire. Rev. Olu Martins, the Deputy Director-General, Media and Publicity, of the Asue/Ogie Campaign Council Management made the accusation while addressing newsmen in Benin. Martins said that the INEC made the election a must win for the APC following its actions and inactions. He berated the electoral body and the security agencies for providing the cover for the massive irregularities that took place at the collation process at the INEC State collation centre. Martins noted that the election was going on free, fair, and credible at the ward and Local government levels until INEC and the security agencies became interested parties in the election when it moved collation to the INEC State collation office. He added that President Ahmed Bola Tinubu body language and comments ahead of the Edo governorship election were not unconnected with the rape of democracy perpetuated during the September 21st governorship election, which he described as a sham and shame. He disclosed that the party was already consulting and putting things together to know the next line of action.   Independent NG

Conference Of Speakers Chairman, Ogundoyin Harps On Continuous Legislative Reforms For Effective Governance

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  By Adeleke Maria   Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin has emphasized the need for continuous legislative reforms to achieve and sustain effective governance in Nigeria. The Chairman spoke on Tuesday at the Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learn (PERL) programme closeout and dissemination event in Abuja. Rt. Hon. Ogundoyin highlighted the successes of the PERL program, which has fostered a culture of collaboration, accountability, and transparency in governance over its 8-year journey [1). “The PERL program has achieved remarkable milestones, including strengthening the capacity of State Houses of Assembly, supporting landmark legislation, enhancing public participation, and promoting transparency and accountability.” He noted that building on PERL’s successes, Nigeria is poised to make significant strides in governance reforms, focusing on sustaining and scaling up the program’s achievements. Speaking on some of the key reforms, Rt. Hon. Ogundoyin stressed that autonomy was vital for promoting federalism and ensuring representative democracy. According to him, when State Houses of Assembly are autonomous, they will perform oversight functions effectively, represent their constituents rightly, and ensure power devolution to grassroots levels. He emphasized that further legislative reforms are crucial for strengthening democratic institutions, addressing emerging challenges, promoting transparency, and accountability. While calling for full financial autonomy for all State Assemblies, the Conference Chairman noted that many countries have successfully implemented autonomy for their sub-national legislatures. Rt. Hon.Ogundoyin assured that negotiation and consultation will continue to ensure more states comply with the constitutional provision on financial autonomy for State Legislatures in Nigeria. He expressed gratitude to the PERL team and staff for their dedication and expertise in driving governance reforms in Nigeria.

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