Nelson Ugwuagbo

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, on Thursday presented a N273 billion budget for 2024 to the State House of Assembly.

The budget, christened “Budget of Reconstruction and Recovery,” has an estimate of Two Hundred and Seventy- Three Billion, Nine Hundred and Eight Million, Nine Hundred and Ninety -Seven Thousand, Four Hundred and Ten Naira (N273,908,997,410).

Speaking to lawmakers at the assembly, Adeleke said the figure is made up of recurrent expenditure of One Hundred and Sixty–Five Billion, Six Hundred and Fifty–Four Million, Nine Hundred and Seventy – Six Thousand, Seven Hundred Naira (N165,654,976,700) and capital expenditure of One Hundred and Eight Billion, Two Hundred and Fifty – Four Million, Twenty Thousand, Seven Hundred and Ten Naira (N108,254,020,710).

“The tag for this budget reflects our current focus of rebuilding the battered state we inherited,” Adeleke said. “It is a sign that we are targeting recovery after successfully revamping all sectors of Osun society,” he said.

Adeleke assured lawmakers that the executive arm has the will and determination to ensure the achievement of budgetary goals once the proposal is passed into law.

“Today, I am reassured of our collective partnership for a new Osun of our dream,” he said. “You have in me a governor with firm belief in executive-legislative collaboration for development.”

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Southwest Zone D extends its heartfelt congratulations to Asefon Sunday Dayo, the former NANS National President, on his recent appointment as the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Students’ Affairs to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This appointment stands as a testament to Asefon Sunday Dayo’s dedication, leadership, and unwavering commitment to the welfare of Nigerian students.

NANS Southwest Zone D applauds the decision of the President of Nigeria in recognizing Asefon Sunday Dayo’s exemplary service and entrusting him with this significant role. We believe that his wealth of experience and deep understanding of students’ issues will contribute immensely to the formulation of student-friendly policies and initiatives at the national level.

Asefon Sunday Dayo, hailing from the Southwest, has always been a staunch advocate for the rights and well-being of Nigerian students. His appointment brings pride not only to our region but to the entire student community across the nation. We are confident that he will continue to champion the cause of students and work tirelessly to improve the educational sector in Nigeria.

NANS Southwest Zone D pledges its support to Asefon Sunday Dayo in his new role and expresses optimism that under his guidance, students’ concerns will be effectively addressed, leading to a brighter future for education in our country. We look forward to collaborating closely with him to ensure that the voice of the students is heard and their needs are met on a national level.

Once again, we congratulate Asefon Sunday Dayo on this well-deserved appointment and wish him success in his endeavors as the SSA Students to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The nationwide industrial strike called by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Wednesday has left passengers stranded at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja,

Passengers who arrived at the airport on Thursday morning, some unaware of the impending strike, found themselves stranded as the NLC shut down both the entrance and exit gates of the airport, thereby disrupting flight operations.

An eyewitness captured the scene in a video shared with Leading Reporters, revealing the plight of passengers who were forced to trek on the road leading to the airport.

Some even resorted to using a path through the bush in order to access the airport.

The eyewitness, who gave his name simply as Alex, said: “When I came this morning, I saw that the road leading to the airport was blocked. Initially, I thought it was the typical traffic jam that passengers sometimes experience at the airport. However, about 10 minutes later, more than 30 vehicles had queued behind me.

“I had come to pick up someone from the private jet wing of the airport. When I eventually managed to exit the traffic congestion, I and some other people had to follow a path through the bush to access the airport,” the eyewitness added.

Leading Reporters had earlier reported that the leaderships of the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) declared a total nationwide strike over the brutalisation of NLC National President, Joe Ajaero, by the police in Imo State last week.

Consequently, the NLC handed the Federal Government a five-day ultimatum to replace the Imo State police commissioner as well as the arrest and prosecution of some of the aides of Governor Hope Uzodimma said to be linked with the alleged assault on Ajaero.

The unions also demanded the arrest and prosecution of the Special Adviser to the Imo State governor on Special Duties.

While the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, had ordered the redeployment of the Imo police commissioner, the unions said their other demands have yet to be met, hence the strike action.

The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has approves the posting and redeployment of 40 Senior Police Officers comprising 14 Assistant Inspectors General of Police and 26 Commissioners of Police to various Commands and Formations in the country with immediate effect.

A statement by the force says it is in line with the IGPs mandate to have a professionally competent, service driven, rule of law compliant, and people friendly Police Force, and to reflect the new status of senior officers who were recently elevated to their next ranks.

i AIG Ogundele Joshua Ayodeji
– Zone 7 Abuja

ii. AIG Patrick Ogon Edung
Zone 11 Osogbo –

iii. AIG Badru Banji Lawal,
Border Patrol FHQ –

Are Amongst the fourteen AIGs posted to zones, while

CP Disu Olatunji Rilwan- Rivers State,

CP George Chijioke Chuku -Benue State

and CP Ahmed Abdullahi Tijani- Jigawa State are among the 26 CPs posted to commands and formations

The Inspector General of Police enjoins the newly posted/redeployed officers to work in tandem with the Force policy and support the agenda of government for economic recovery and growth the socio-political development of the country.

While stressing the importance of entrenching professionalism and diligent policing services to all officers and men in their commands, the IGP calls on them to partner with all relevant stakeholders to bring policing closer to the people.

The court, in a ruling that was delivered by Justice Olukayode Adeniyi, ordered that he should be released to his lawyers.

“There must be an end to detention without trial” the judge held, stressing that it was the refusal of the Economic and Financial and Crimes Commission, EFCC, to comply with the order the court made on November 2, that led to the ruling.

Besides, the court held that it could not allow Emefiele to remain in custody owing to claim of the Federal Government that he would on November 15, be arraigned on a fresh charge.

It held that the claim was speculative as there was nothing to establish that the planned arraignment would hold as scheduled.

More so, the court noted that a purported remand order that FG’s lawyer tendered before it, which was signed by an Abuja Chief Magistrate, bore conflicting dates.

“A very crucial fact that this court cannot overlook is the Applicant’s claim that he has been incarcerated for a period of upward of 151 days without trial,” Justice Adeniyi added.

He held that section 298(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, 2015, empowered the court to make necessary orders, even when there is a remand order against an Applicant.

Consequently, the court directed that Emefiele should be released to a team of three Senior Advocates of Nigeria, SANs, that represented him in the matter.

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It held that the lawyers should produce him in court on November 15 for his planned arraignment or at any other date that he is required to appear in court.

Justice Adeniyi directed Emefiele to surrender all his international documents to the most senior Registrar of the court, pending his arraignment.

It subsequently adjourned further proceedings in the matter till November 17.

The ruling followed a fundamental right enforcement suit that the erstwhile CBN boss, who has been in detention for about five months, filed through his team of lawyers led by Mr. Matthew Burkaa, SAN.

Cited as Respondents in the suit marked: FCT/HC/CV/040/2023, are; the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, as well as the anti-graft agency itself.

It will be recalled that President Bola Tinubu had on June 9, suspended Emefiele from office as the head of the apex bank.

He was later arrested at his Lagos residence by the Department of State Services, DSS.

Emefiele had since then, faced a two-count charge of illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition before the Federal High Court in Lagos, as well as a 20-count corruption charge that the Federal Government entered against him and two others before an Abuja High Court sitting at Maitama.

However, proceedings in both cases were put on hold, following the decision of the Defendants to explore a plea bargain deal with FG.

The former CBN boss was subsequently transferred to the EFCC detention facility, by the DSS.

FG had in opposition to Emefiele’s request for bail, notified the court that he would on November 15, be arraigned on a fresh charge.

It will be recalled that Justice Adeniyi had on November 2, ordered the anti-graft agency to either release the embattled former CBN Governor, unconditionally, or produce him in court to be granted bail.

In compliance to the directive, the EFCC produced him on court for the hearing of his bail application.

The Bauchi State Police Command has apprehended two suspects in connection with the tragic death of Muhammadu Murtala Ali, a 43-year-old man who lost his life while testing the effectiveness of a bulletproof charm.

The incident occurred on October 30 in Zaki Local Government area of the state.

According to a statement from Ahmed Wakil, the Police Command’s spokesperson, Danladi Ya’u, a native doctor of Damaiwa village, Bursali ward in Zaki LGA, and three other accomplices (currently at large), went into the bush to test a bulletproof charm on the deceased.

Unfortunately, Murtala was shot dead with a locally-made gun by Danladi Ya’u.

Upon receiving the report, a team of detectives, led by the Divisional Police Officer of Zaki, responded and arrived at the crime scene to evacuate the body of the victim to the General Hospital in Jakusko, Yobe State, where he was certified dead.

Wakil disclosed that two suspects were promptly arrested, and efforts are underway to track down and apprehend the remaining accomplices.

“The investigation is ongoing, and the defendants will be brought to court as the case unfolds,” he stated