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BREAKING: Ogun King sent to prison for assaulting chief

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The suspended traditional ruler of Orile Ifo, Oba Abdulsemiu Ogunjobi, has been remanded at the Ilaro Correctional Centre in Ogun State after failing to meet his bail conditions.

The spokesperson for the correctional facility, Yinka Odukoya, confirmed this to PUNCH Online on Wednesday, stating that the monarch remained in custody as he had yet to perfect his bail.

Odukoya said, “Yes, he is in our custody, which means he has been unable to meet the bail conditions granted by the court yesterday. However, as soon as he does, he will be released.”

The Ogun State Police Command had on Tuesday arraigned the suspended monarch over a viral video in which he was seen assaulting a 73-year-old man, Abraham Areola.

According to the charge sheet (MH2b8c/2025), the suspended monarch was accused of conspiracy, assault, and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace.

The charge read: “That Abdul-Semiu ‘m’ and others at large, on 21st January 2025, at about 1100 hrs at Sojuolu Street, Ifo Magisterial District, did conspire to commit a misdemeanour, to wit: assault and conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 517 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2006.

“That you, Abdul-Semiu ‘m’, and others now at large, on the same date, time, and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did unlawfully assault one Areola Abraham by slapping him on the face and ear, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 351 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2006.

According to the charge sheet (MH2b8c/2025), the suspended monarch was accused of conspiracy, assault, and conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace.

The charge read: “That Abdul-Semiu ‘m’ and others at large, on 21st January 2025, at about 1100 hrs at Sojuolu Street, Ifo Magisterial District, did conspire to commit a misdemeanour, to wit: assault and conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 517 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2006.

“That you, Abdul-Semiu ‘m’, and others at large, on the same date, time, and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did conduct yourselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace by forcing one Areola Abraham ‘m’ to kneel down and assaulting him in public, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 249 (d) of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2006.”

The accused, who appeared before Magistrate F. A. Iroko, pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.

The court granted him bail with two sureties in the sum of N5m each, who must reside within the court’s jurisdiction.

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Ogun State rejects sharia law

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The Ogun State Government has warned against any attempt to establish a Sharia Court in the state.

The state government, in a statement signed by Governor Dapo Abiodun, on Tuesday, noted that sharia courts cannot be legally constituted by individuals or groups without legal backing.

The government was reacting to a notice announcing the launch of a sharia court in the state.

According to the statement, Ogun State only recognises courts established through the legal framework of the Nigerian Constitution, adding that a sharia court does not form part of the legal framework operating in the state.

The statement read, “The Ogun State Government has noted the circulation of a digital notice announcing the launch of a Shari’ah Court in Ogun State. No Sharia Court is authorised to operate within Ogun State.

“The courts that are legally empowered to adjudicate disputes arising within Ogun State are those established by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or by State Laws, which are: Magistrates’ Courts, High Court, Customary Courts, Customary Court of Appeal, Federal High Court, National Industrial Court, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court.

“No law operating in Ogun State has established a Sharia Court, and Sharia law does not form part of the legal framework by which the Ogun State Government administers and governs society.

“The Ogun State Government upholds and protects the rights of individuals to practise the religion of their choice, or to subscribe to no religion, and recognises the freedom of individuals to apply their faith in their personal and private matters.

“However, this freedom does not extend to the formation of unauthorised assemblies or institutions. No individual or group is legally permitted to constitute a court or present themselves to the public as a court without legal backing. Those behind that notice have no legal backing. They cannot set up a court or administer justice by fiat or public notice.”

The state government directed that all persons involved in the creation or operation of the unauthorised court must immediately cease all related activities and disband the illegal entity and all its apparatus.

“The Ogun State Government also advises members of the public to disregard any summons, documents, or persons associated with the illegal Sharia Court. Such occurrences should be promptly reported to the state.

“The Ogun State Government will uphold the rule of law, ensure respect for the legal and judicial framework within the state, and prevent a breakdown of law and order,” it concluded.

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Gunmen
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Gunmen shot Celestial Prophet Dead During Service in Ogun

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

A tragic scene unfolded on Sunday as gunmen stormed a Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) in Idiroko, Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State, and shot dead a 54-year-old prophet, Yomi Adetula, during a church service.

According to reports, the attackers, numbering three, invaded the CCC Eagle Parish along Baggage Road, Odo Eran, Idiroko, around 10.30am, targeting the prophet in a brutal assault that left worshippers in shock and fear.

According to eyewitnesses, the gunmen opened fire on Adetula before viciously mutilating his head with an axe to confirm his death.

Confirming the incident, Ogun State Police Spokesman, Omolola Odutola, described the harrowing details in a statement issued on Sunday afternoon.

“Police officers raced to the scene and saw on Yomi Adetula, ‘M’, aged 54 years lifeless in the pool of blood which stained his white celestial garment lying face up,” Odutola said.

“On careful observation, his body was riddled with bullets, and his head was not spared… to ensure the victim was really dead, it was mangled with axe.

“On police inquiry, information further gathered that three men came into the church, brought out a long double-barrel gun, aimed at their target, and fired a shot that brought the deceased down,” she added.

The prophet’s remains have been deposited at the General Hospital Morgue in Ilaro, as the police launch an investigation into the killing.

Odutola revealed that the suspects fled toward the border area after the attack.

“Normalcy has been restored while possible clues will be revealed in the coming days as investigation has been launched into the very sad occurrence,” she assured.

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BREAKING: Wife of Retired AIG Odumosu, kidnapped in Ogun

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The wife of retired Assistant Inspector General of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, has been kidnapped from her residence in the Arepo area of Ogun State.

Mrs. Odumosu was reportedly abducted in the early hours of Friday by heavily armed men who stormed her home, shooting sporadically.

Confirming the incident to Vanguard in Abeokuta, the spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, CSP Omolola Odutola, said the command acted swiftly by deploying operatives to secure her release.

“Information was received regarding the kidnapping of Mrs. Odumosu, a female resident of Aminu Street, Arepo, Ogun State,” Odutola said.

“Reports indicate that she was about to enter her home when four masked men attacked her, dragged her from her Lexus Jeep, and took her through swampy areas to an unknown location.”

According to Odutola, the Divisional Police Officer has led a team of officers to the scene, where they are currently combing the swampy bush area in search of the victim.

Local security forces in the reverine areas, including Baale Warewa and Baale Maaba, have also been engaged to assist in the rescue efforts.

Odutola added, “The State Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo, has been briefed, and all covert operations have been deployed to assist with digital intelligence to ensure she is rescued unhurt.”

Efforts are ongoing to locate Mrs. Odumosu and apprehend her abductors.

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I mistakenly signed Ogun multibillion-naira trade zone to dubious Chinese investors, Ibikunle Amosun confesses

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Former Governor Ibikunle Amosun on Saturday said he was deceived into handing over a free trade facility in Ogun State to an investment group from China, introducing a disturbing dimension to the ongoing legal battle that threatens the depletion of Nigeria’s assets abroad.

Mr Amosun, governor of the southwestern Nigerian state from 2011 to 2019, admitted in a statement personally signed by him that he didn’t do even a cursory assessment of facts before asking a Chinese team to take over the Ogun-Guandong Free Trade Zone in 2012. His decision marked the onset of a protracted legal crisis that led to aggrieved Chinese investors’ recent targeting of Nigeria’s assets in Europe and the United States.

The free trade zone was conceived in 2007 between Ogun State under Governor Gbenga Daniel and Guangdong Xinguang International China Africa Investment Ltd (or China Africa) to facility seamless trade between Nigeria and China in Igbesa, Ogun State. China Africa, the major investor at 60 per cent of the stake, was developing the 10,000 hectares facility when, in 2012, a year after Mr Amosun assumed office, another firm that identified itself as Zhongfu International Investment Ltd came in with tales about how the place was being poorly administered and thereafter sought to manage it.

Mr Amosun, in his statement, said he subsequently asked Zhongfu investors to take over as the interim managers of the trade zone before his administration could find time to investigate the allegations.

“Zhongfu International Investment FXE, pretending to be a concerned and genuine tenant and Zone stakeholder, volunteered very damaging and destructive information about the official representatives of Guangdong Province, the Joint Venturer and lawful Zone Managers, China Africa Investment FXE and subsequently requested to be appointed as Interim Zone Managers.

“Based on the information at the government’s disposal at the time, Zhongfu International Investment FXE was appointed interim zone manager on March 15, 2012, pending further evaluation. The whole idea was to ensure that someone was in charge and thereby prevent unwholesome and untoward development in the zone pending the completion of our fact-finding exercise.

“It was later discovered that the information and claims volunteered by Zhongfu International Investment FXE against China Africa Investment FXE were tissues of lies.

“Unknown to Ogun government at the time, Zhongfu International Investment FXE merely sought to de-market China Africa Investment FXE and to surreptitiously covert the state-owned assets of Guangdong Province in China together with the zone ownership and management rights of their business rival,” Mr Amosun said.

The former governor said Chinese authorities later directly intervened through several notes from the country’s mission in Nigeria.

“It was further discovered – much later – through the intervention of the Chinese Government via Diplomatic Note 1601, dated March 11, 2016,” Mr Amosun said, saying the Chinese government told him the company he had terminated was the rightful owner of the investment.

Mr Amosun said that after he ousted Zhongfu International Investment, the company approached Nigerian courts in different jurisdictions to ventilate its legal and business rights but lost all four cases filed. He didn’t list out the cases.

Consequently, the former governor urged the federal government and Ogun State to continue desisting from entering into any resolutions that would benefit Zhongfu.

“Nigeria should not give Zhongfu International Investment FXE any listening ear as doing so would amount to indulging and, encouraging an unlawful entity without locus standi to appropriate our common patrimon,” Mr Amosun said. “This matter of Zhongfu International Investment FXE should be treated the way Nigeria treated the P&ID case. There is no basis for negotiation.”

Mr Amosun has recently been criticised as the source of Nigeria’s confrontation with Chinese investors before international arbitration panels. The Chinese have been trying to seize private jets used by President Bola Tinubu in France.

On August 9, an appellate judicial panel in the United States authorised Zhongfu’s parent firm Zhongshan to proceed with its legal efforts to seize Nigeria’s assets in the U.S. Zhongshan had in 2021 obtained a compensation judgment in the United Kingdom to the tune of $60 million, which it has since been trying to enforce in France, the U.S. and other countries where Nigeria’s assets could be targeted.

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