Citybuzznews

VICTOR OLAWALE ARAOLUWA AKOMOLAFE 1956 – 2023

by

  A year ago you left us without saying goodbye.The tragedy behind your death on the 4th of December 2023 is what we can’t still believe.But Allah knows best. Daddy,your kindness,love,wisdom and kind expression of sympathy and patience to all will be forever appreciated. Your legacies lives on in our hearts,always cherish the memories of laughter, stories, and time spent together. We express our gratitude to all friends,community, groups who stood by us during and after the burial.Your prayers and support in kind,gifts is highly appreciated. You’re fondly remembered by your wife children,Sisters,brothers Uncles and all AKOMOLAFE Dynasty home and abroad. Esther Omonike Akomolafe-Wife CHILDREN OLUWASEUN ㅐOLUWADAMILOLAㅐ OLUWATOBILOBAㅐ OLUWANIFEMI

Two Rivers Doctors Granted N2m Bail Over Alleged Manslaughter

by

  Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has granted bail of N2m to two doctors in the state standing trial for alleged manslaughter. The doctors, Dr Jude Okpani, a gyneacologist (1st defendant) and Dr Isaiah-Tunde Akinlade, an anesthesiologist (2nd defendant), were arraigned by the Rivers State Government through the Ministry of Justice on two counts bordering on manslaughter and negligence. According to the charge, the two doctors are alleged to have on February 2, 2024, at a clinic in Port Harcourt, did cause the death of one Rebekah Tamunotorukubu-Sekidika, an offence contrary to Section 325 of the Criminal Code of Law of Rivers State 1999. The accused are also alleged to have neglected to administer the required dose of local spinal anesthesia to Rebekah Tamunotorukubu-Sekidika, which recklessly ruptured her uterus while carrying out a medical procedure on her leading to her death. When the charges were read to them in court, the doctors pleaded not guilty. Their counsel, C.T. Walter, orally applied for bail which was not opposed by the prosecution counsel, Christiana Tombari Bodo, a Senior State Council in the Ministry of Justice, but requested stringent conditions from the court on the grounds that the matter is sensitive. The trial judge, Justice Jumbo Stephens, after listening to the defence and prosecution counsels, granted bail to the two accused in the sum N1m each and two sureties who must be the Chairman and Secretary of Nigeria Medical Association, Rivers State Chapter. Justice Stephens also directed that the sureties must provide two passport photographs and their addresses must be verified by an official of the court and photocopies of either a valid driving licence, passport or voter card must be deposited in court. For the accused persons, Justice Stephens said, “The 1st and 2nd defendants who have just been admitted to bail are also to deposit to the registrar of this court two copies of their passport photographs. These are the bail conditions.” Justice Stephens thereafter adjourned the matter to January 20 and 27, 2025, for ‘definite’ hearing. Our correspondent recalls that Miss Rebekah Tamunotorukubu-Sekidika, (24-year-old at the time), a first class graduate of Microbiology from the Benson Idahosa University, Benin in Edo State was preparing for a trip to the United Kingdom for a Masters degree when the incident occurred.  

Emefiele,Associates Acquired 753-Duplex Estate With Forex kickbacks

by

  Court papers filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have linked the immediate-past Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, to the massive Abuja property with 753 duplexes and other apartments located in the Cadastral Zone area of the capital city. The anti-graft agency on Monday announced the recovery of the property from an unnamed ex-government top brass, describing the property as the biggest single recovery it had made in the course of fighting corruption since its establishment in 2003. The recovery followed a ruling delivered on December 2, 2024 by Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the FCT High Court in Apo. In the court documents obtained by our correspondent on Tuesday, the EFCC ran a narration linking Emefiele to the massive property spanning 150,500 square metre and identified as Plot 109, Cadazral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, Abuja. Emefiele is currently being prosecuted by the EFCC in three separate cases before different judges. Before Justice Hamza Mu’azu, he is being tried for procurement fraud, forgery of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s signature, and other charges. Before Justice Rahman Oshodi at the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, Emefiele is charged with alleged fraud involving $4.5bn and N2.8bn. Additionally, Emefiele is before Justice Maryann Anenih of the FCT High Court in Abuja for allegedly approving the printing of N684.5m notes at the cost of N18.96bn. According to the document, Emefiele allegedly carried out “monumental fraud” as the CBN governor with his cronies to acquire several properties including the estate. “The commission whilst investigating the alleged monumental fraud carried out by the immediate past Governor of the CBN and his cronies traced and discovered several properties reasonably suspected to have been acquired and or developed with proceeds of unlawful activities. “The property highlighted in Schedule A to this application is one of the said properties recovered, having been reasonably suspected to have been acquired/ developed with proceeds of unlawful activities.” The EFCC alleged that “in the cause of this investigation, it was revealed that the erstwhile CBN governor negotiated kickbacks in return for allocation of foreign exchange to some companies who were in desperate need of foreign exchange for their lawful and legitimate businesses. “Our investigation equally revealed that erstwhile CBN Governor received kickbacks from some contractors who were awarded contracts by the Central Bank of Nigeria.” The anti-graft agency also alleged that Emefiele connived with several cronies, including one Ifeanyi Omeke, who “ran several errands for him, which included purchase and perfection of title documents for several properties located in highbrow areas of Lagos and Abuja.” It said the documents for the Abuja property were recovered during a search of Omeke’s office and that investigators located the property on September 17, 2024 “with the assistance of a surveyor from the Abuja Geographical Information Systems, using search results and coordinate.” The EFCC said its investigation “revealed that the said property has been abandoned and deserted with only a guard manning the said property since June 2023 upon the arrest of the erstwhile CBN Governor. “ The PUNCH reported that the Department of State Services arrested Emefiele in Lagos the following day he was suspended by President Bola Tinubu. In October, the EFCC arrested Emefiele in less than an hour he regained his freedom from the DSS. According to the EFCC, the massive property, allegedly acquired by Emefiele, through cronies, was originally meant for a mass housing development. The EFCC said its investigation revealed that Emefiele used three companies to pay a total of N2.2bn to buy the property. It said the seller “received the aggregate sum of N2,200,000,000.00,” adding that “the said three companies used for the payment of the property are enmeshed in criminal maneuvering of layering proceeds of illegal activities of Mr. Godwin Emiefele.” According to the EFCC, one of the companies was used to pay N900m, the second paid N700m, while the third paid N600m, totalling N2.2bn. It said the directors of the companies were arrested “and their statements voluntarily obtained in the course of investigation.” “The funds used in the acquisition of the property highlighted in Schedule A to this application are not legitimate earnings of Godwin Emefiele but funds acquired through illegal and unlawful activities. “That I know as a fact and verily believe that the source/origin of the funds used in the acquisition and/or development of the properties sought to be forfeited are proceeds of unlawful activities to wit: corrupt enrichment, receiving of gratification or kickbacks and abuse of office,” an EFCC investigator stated in the affidavit filed in court. The EFCC noted that the court had on November 1, 2024 made an order for the temporary forfeiture of the property “after evaluating facts placed before it.” It, therefore, urged the judge to order the permanent forfeiture of the property to the Federal Government as no one had come forward to challenge the facts placed before the court, in spite of adverting the interim forfeiture order in The PUNCH edition of November 6, 2024. According to the EFCC, the court acceded to its request and has now permanently forfeited the property to the Federal Government. Efforts to get the reaction of Emefiele’s legal team were unsuccessfuly. One of the lawyers, Matthew Burkaa( SAN), did not pick up calls to his line and had also yet to respond to a text message seeking Emefiele’s side of the story as of the time of filing this report. ‘Why EFCC concealed property owner’s identity’ Meanwhile, EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, defended the decision by the anti-graft agency not to reveal the identity of the owner of the property to the public. He was responding to public criticisms on the motive behind concealing the identity. “The allegation of a cover-up of the identity of the promoters of the estate stands logic on the head in the sense that the proceedings for the forfeiture of the Estate were in line with Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud Act, which is a civil proceeding that allows for action-in-rem rather … Read more

Makinde Appoints Akinwande As Special Adviser, Fire Service Agency Chairman

by

  Oyo State governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has appointed a former member of the House of Representatives, Hon Moruf Akinwande as his Special Adviser on Fire Service Reforms. The governor, in an appointment letter signed by his Chief of Staff, Hon. Segun Ogunwuyi, also designated Akinwande as the Chairman of the Fire Services Agency of Oyo State. The governor’s Special Assistant (Print Media), Moses Alao, said this in a statement on Tuesday, December 3. The appointment takes immediate effect. The governor charged the new appointee to discharge his duties with dedication, commitment and loyalty to the state. Akinwande represented Oyo West/Oyo East/Afijio/Atiba Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives between 2003 and 2007. He equally served as the Chairman of the Oyo State Water Corporation between 2022 and 2023.  

Just In: Sanwo-Olu Approves Lagos Electricity Bill Into Law

by

The Governor of Lagos, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has signed the Lagos Electricity Bill 2024 into law. The law is a comprehensive plan aimed at addressing challenges in the energy sector and is expected to lay the foundation for economic and industrial growth in Lagos. The governor signed the bill on Tuesday at the Lagos House, Ikeja. “The bill is a major step by the state government to ensure a 24-hour electricity supply to every corner of the state, following the Federal Government’s approval for states to generate and distribute energy in 2023,” said the governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile, on X. This move is expected to reduce the state’s dependency on the national grid. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Sanwo-Olu stressed the importance of the bill in transforming Lagos into a global city with a reliable and uninterrupted power supply. In November, the Lagos State Government called on independent power producers and energy solution firms to submit bids for the construction of gas-fired power plants to bridge the state’s persistent electricity gap. The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, in partnership with the Office of Public-Private Partnerships, made the call for the initiative to enhance Lagos’s power supply through the Clean Lagos Electricity Market. The announcement was jointly made by the Commissioner of the Ministry of Energy & Mineral Resources, Biodun Ogunleye, and the Special Adviser of the Office of Public-Private Partnerships, Bukola Odoe.

Oyo Govt Approves Over 70% Budget Increase for Persons With Disabilities

by

  The Oyo State Government has increased the 2025 capital budgetary allocation for Persons with Disabilities by over 70 per cent of what they received in 2024. The Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, disclosed this in Ibadan, during the celebration of the 2024 Stakeholders summit and International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Makinde, represented by his Deputy, Bayo Lawal spoke on how the government has fared with the welfare of the disability community in his over four-year administration. He noted that all the requests of the persons with disabilities for the next year budget plans as submitted during the last Budget Town Hall meetings formed the increase of their capital budget to N877,500,000. The Governor added that their capital budget was initially N492,000,000, while the Oyo State Agency for Persons with Disabilities’ overhead cost has increased from N315,000,000 to N345,000,000. “It is believed that both will take care of their requests which include Transportation empowerment, training of relevant Agency with what their roles will be for the persons with disabilities, training of enforcement Agencies for compliance, purchase of Assistive devices, mobility equipments among others.” The governor added that Oyo State has recruited 510 persons with disabilities into Oyo State Civil Service. He added, “I have also given directive that henceforth, in every ministry the quota of the persons with disabilities must be protected.” Makinde recalled that, as soon as he assumed office on May 29, 2023, he appointed Barrister Ayodele Adekanmbi as the pioneer Director-General of the Oyo State Agency for Persons with Disabilities. Makinde said he equally appointed Mr. Timothy Olufemi as the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Disability Matters to ensure that PWDs are carried along in governance. His words, “And when God granted me the grace of a second term, I reappointed Barrister Adekanmbi again but this time as the Pioneer Director General, Oyo State Agency for Persons with Disabilities and I gave him the mandate to draw a budget line for the Agency, to find a suitable and conducive office environment to use, and to see to the redeployment of staff to kick-start the Agency for persons with Disabilities. I am glad to inform you that all these have been done within 1 year and 6 months of Omituntun 2.0.” He said, “Presently as we speak, disability cluster groups’ grants and subvention have been approved, and in no distant time, three operational vehicles will be delivered for the smooth running of the Agency for Persons with Disabilities.” Speaking further, Makinde said, “It is on the record that I am the first Governor to politically empower persons with disabilities by appointing them as Supervisory Councilors and SAs across the entire Local Governments of Oyo State, which was what made us stand out as an all inclusive government all over the country.” Speaking earlier, the Director-General, Oyo State Agency for Persons with Disabilities, Barr. Ayodele Adekanmbi said the administration of governor Seyi Makinde is truly committed to providing opportunities for People Living with Disabilities (PwDs). “The Agency has continued to receive all the necessary support from the administration to ensure that PwDs are carried along. “Since the coming of Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration, there are some deliberate initiatives the governor has put in place to improve access to governance and quality of service to persons with disabilities,” he said.

CBN To retire 1,000 Employees With N50bn Severance Package

by

  The Central Bank of Nigeria is reported to be preparing to retire approximately 1,000 employees as part of a strategic workforce realignment. A severance package worth over N50 billion was said to have been allocated as the payoff for the exercise. According to an insider, the retirement initiative is driven by the need to streamline operations and reduce staff numbers under the leadership of the apex bank’s Governor, Olayemi Cardoso. Daily Trust reported on Monday that a circular released three weeks ago by the CBN noted that the application for Early Exit Package (EPP) was open to all cadres of staff and will close by Saturday, December 7. Exempted are those yet to be confirmed or who have served less than one year “as of the date of publication with the effective date of exit set at 31 December 2024.” Officials told Daily Trust that the apex bank was targeting the retirement of over 1,000 staff members. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, were quoted as saying that at least 860 staff from the various departments have already applied for the EPP. The management described the EEP as a voluntary programme offering eligible employees an incentive to exit the CBN early, “while providing employees seeking other career options a great opportunity for early exit.” It cautioned that the staffers could not change their minds after applying, saying that all completed and submitted applications are final. The EEP stated that financial incentives for senior supervisors to deputy managers shall be for the remaining period in service, up to a maximum of 60 months of the current grade’s gross annual emoluments. It also noted that financial incentives for managers shall be for the remaining period in service, up to a maximum of 36 months of the current grade’s gross annual emoluments. “Financial incentives for all other cadres of staff shall be for the remaining period in service, up to a maximum of 18 months of current grade gross annual emoluments,” it added. A staff member, who spoke to the Daily Trust, said, “The way they dated the offer, you’ll know that the target is actually from senior supervisors to deputy managers. If you look at it, they’re mostly those that came in within the nine years of Governor Emefiele. “For instance, I’ve worked for four years in the bank; the package they’re giving me is between N92 million to N97 million. “Some others have worked up to a manager level and are only entitled to N64.5 million. So, the more time you have to go, the more money they pay you because you know, for them, you don’t have gratuity”, the staff said. Another staff member told Daily Trust that during a webinar held on Friday, the Human Resources Department of the bank expressed the apex bank’s decision to get the number it was targeting for the EEP. “There is serious tension, serious apprehension. You can imagine the atmosphere. It is terrible. “As of Friday, there were 860 people so far that have indicated interest in the EEP,” the staff member said. When contacted by Daily Trust for comments on the decision to send about 1,000 staff on early retirement, the CBN’s Director of Corporate Communication, Hakama Sidi Ali, neither answered calls nor replied to a text message sent to her.

Fire Razes 17 Shops In Ibadan Market

by

  A devastating fire destroyed goods worth millions of naira on Monday, as it ravaged 17 shops at the Moniya market in the Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State. The blaze, which began around 12.30am, is believed to have been triggered by a power surge. It was gathered that the fire caused significant damage, with valuable goods and cash destroyed. The Babaloja of Moniya Garage, Kolawole Balogun, and Chairman of the Garage, Saliu Bello, told PUNCH Online that they were alerted by a security guard about the fire at around 12.30am. Both expressed deep concern over the extent of the losses. Balogun said, “I rushed to the market as soon as I got the call. We lost multimillion-naira goods. The prompt arrival of the fire service prevented even greater devastation. “In addition to the goods, cash in millions of naira was also destroyed. Many traders often store their money in their shops when they leave for the night.” Several victims, including Yetunde Musa, Ajetunmobi Idowu, Olaide Badmus, Balogun Sulaimon, and Ajetunmobi Kolawole, called on the government to provide immediate support for those affected. More details to follow…

ICYMI: ‘We Quit Our Jobs To Sell Jollof Rice In UK’

by

A Nigerian food vendor, Azeez Olayide, has said he and his business partner left their jobs to start selling jollof rice in the United Kingdom. Olayide disclosed this during a recent interview on the programme My Tasty Naija. He said the business name, ‘2 Nigerian Boys’ began in February 2019 at London Financial District, Spitalfield market. According to the businessman, the adventure started when he and his friend wanted to satisfy their appetite with ‘smoky’ jollof rice but did not get it. “The story was just about two Nigerian friends who loved Nigerian foods so much,” Olayide said. “One of them just said, ‘Let’s go to the city and bring jollof rice.’” The two men were dumbfounded on the first day they started the business as they sold all that they had in 30 minutes, giving them the confidence that the business would thrive. “Both of us were amazed and looked at each other in the face and said, ‘We need to quit our jobs and start selling Nigerian foods.’” He stressed that the success of the business was based on its acceptance by the customers who loved the food. “Ninety per cent of our customers are non-Africans, while the remaining 10 per cent are Nigerians. They love the beef when they eat it,” Olayide said. “It is a lunchtime business. We open business between 12pm and 2pm. It gets crazy here with lunchtime.” Another peculiarity of the business is that the food is cooked on-site to announce itself to passers-by and people. Meanwhile, he disclosed that a branch of the business has been opened in Briston after feedback from customers in London. Olayide, however, declined to reveal his business partner, whom he called ‘a magician’ and was the brain behind the cooking of the jollof rice. “You can’t see the person performing the magic. The second Nigerian boy is a magician who makes the Nigerian Boys come together for a business,” he added.

Proposed NLC Strike: No Strike In Oyo State – Oyo Govt

by

  The Oyo State Government has assured its citizens that there will be no strike in the State even as the National body called for a nationwide strike from Monday. The State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, gave this assurance in a Press Statement from his office on Saturday. According to him, the on-going negotiations between the State Government and the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) are at an advanced stage and on the verge of implementation. Besides, the Commissioner said that both parties have unfettered confidence in the sincerity of the negotiations and in the track record of the State Government to fulfil its promises. Prince Oyelade said that Governor Seyi Makinde did not negotiate with the Labour leaders before he announced a generous ₦80,000 minimum wage which will be implemented as soon as the Consequential Adjustment negotiations are concluded. He noted that the present administration has not only been worker-friendly with its prompt payment of salaries and pensions on the 25th of every month but has also expanded the workforce with large-scale record recruitment exercises across board. In the meantime, workers are already looking forward to the prompt payment of the December salaries and the 13th month bonus as it has always been since the Inception of the Seyi Makinde administration.

Stay Informed. Stay Ahead

Get breaking news and top stories delivered to your inbox every morning.

You have been successfully Subscribed! Ops! Something went wrong, please try again.

Get the Morning Briefing

Tops stories from Nigeria delivered free to your inbox every day.

You have been successfully Subscribed! Ops! Something went wrong, please try again.

Your No 1 Trusted News Source 

Email info@citybuzz.com 

Web Citybuzznews.com

LEGAL

SECTIONS

©Copyright Citybuzz News. All rights reserved.