General
Alleged Assault: Oshiomhole Suspends Ojuromi For One Year
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Ojuromi of Uromi land in Esan North-East Local Government Area of Edo State, His Royal Highness, Zaiki Edenojie II, has been suspended for one year for failing to apologise within the stipulated period to one Ms Betty Okoebor, whom he allegedly assaulted.
The state government had earlier suspended the monarch for seven days and was directed to apologise to the woman and the government, but he reportedly ignored the warning.
Miffed by this, the state Governor, Mr Adams Oshiomhole, approved the suspension of the traditional ruler for one year and stripped him all the privileges and rights of the Ojuromi of Uromi in accordance with Section 28(1) of the Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Law (1979) and.
A statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Peter Okhiria, on Friday night, also announced that the Edenojie II’s remuneration from the five percent monthly allocation to the local government “shall be appropriated and donated to orphanages” during the period.
The statement, signed by by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, noted that the traditional ruler’s suspension will take effect from Monday.
Trouble started for the Ujuromi, according to the state government in a letter, when he allegedly left his palace during the last governorship election, moving from one polling booth to another, campaigning and trying to coerce voters to vote for his preferred party and candidate.
It was alleged that the traditional ruler assaulted the woman when she refused to yield to his “threats,” adding that the matter, which was reported at the Uromi police station, was under investigation by the police as a criminal act.
It was also noted that Mr Oshiomhole had observed that his (Edenojie II) activities since he was initially suspended from office as Ojuromi of Uromi had raised “issues that require further determination”.
The letter read in part, “You went to a polling booth which was not where you registered to vote and tried to compel others to vote for your preferred candidate. When one of the voters, Ms Betty Okoebor, refused to yield to your threats, you assaulted her causing grievous bodily harm.
“Following from this, the government, viewing your conduct as utterly embarrassing, disgraceful and unbecoming of a traditional ruler, issued you with a query and directed that you reply within 72 hours.”
The state government alleged that Edenojie II “trivialised” the gravity of his misconduct in his apology letter dated October 28 by describing the September 28 incident as an “altercation” and a “family affair,” adding that he also organised a “forgiveness session” for the victim of the said assault to “ridicule” the government.
It explained, “To ridicule the Edo State Government and deride the directive that you apologised to Ms Okoebor, you proceeded to organise a ‘forgiveness session’ in your palace, in your capacity as Ojuromi, wearing a crown even when you were still suspended from office, purporting to be ‘forgiving’ Ms Okoebor.
“At the said ‘forgiveness session,’ you compelled the victim of your assault to apologise to you for the assault against her person, while on her knees and made to remain in same position while being interviewed by journalists.
“You had the embarrassing session videoed and aired repeatedly on television, subjecting Ms Okoebor to double jeopardy and double disgrace by expanding the frontiers of her embarrassment to a global level, through the electronic and social media. This represents nothing short of a deliberate effort to further aggravate the pain and humiliation of your victim.
It continued, “You claimed in your letter that Ms Okoebor had ‘reconciled herself to the throne,’ which conveys the impression that you still represented the throne from which you had been suspended, and further stated that she is your ‘subject’ and you had ‘forgiven’ her.
“This was in gross violation of the terms of your suspension from office as provided for in extant laws. The government of Edo State does not accept that there are ‘subjects’ in Nigeria but citizens of the federal republic.”
The state government further noted that it had received official security of alleged high-handedness against the Onojie, in addressing relations with operators of a cattle market in Uromi.
It listed the offences to include “unilaterally dissolving their association, appointing your preferred person to head the association, banishing their elected leader from Uromi” and “illegally taking over the cattle market and stalls that they built themselves”.
Others allegations, according to the state government, are “banning about eight butchers from doing business in the Uromi market and assigning the responsibility for collecting revenue for the local government council to your own preferred person, even without authority from the council” and laying “claim to ownership of the land, which was legally allocated to the cattle marketers in the year 2000, among other infractions”.
The statement added, “The government of Edo State has high regards for traditional institutions and for the values and customs of our people. However, the government, shall under no condition tolerate indiscipline, reckless abuse of traditional privileges, disrespect for its pronouncements, and flagrant humiliation of law-abiding citizens of the state.
“In view of the facts established above, taking cognisance of your letter of apology that falls short of the public apology expected from you within the stipulated time, and the earlier suspension letter which had specified dethronement after seven days, in exercise of its powers, the government of Edo State hereby commutes your dethronement to a one-year suspension from office as Ojuromi of Uromi, in accordance with Section 28(1) of the Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Law (1979), with effect from November 7, 2016.
“During this period of suspension under extant laws, you are hereby stripped of all the privileges and rights of the Ojuromi of Uromi and barred from performing any duties whatsoever in that regard. By virtue of this suspension from office, your remuneration from the five per cent monthly FAC allocation to the local government shall be appropriated and donated to orphanages during this period.”
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Governor of Oyo State, Mr Seyi Makinde, has approved the declaration of a 16-hour curfew in 10 local government areas of the state, as part of measures targeted at tackling insecurity.
According to a memo issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Musibau Babatunde, the curfew takes effect from Wednesday, June 24, 2026.
The movement restriction, between 4 pm and 8 am, lasts for 48 hours in the first instance and affects local government areas bordering the Old Oyo National Park.
The affected local councils are Oriire local government (Headquarters: Ikoyi-Ile), Orelope (Headquarters: Igboho), Irepo (Headquarters: Kisi), Saki West (Headquarters: Saki), Saki East (Hq Ago-Amodu), Atisbo (Headquarters: Tede / Ago-Are), Itesiwaju (Headquarters: Otu), Iseyin (Headquarters: Iseyin), Olorunsogo (Headquarters: Igbeti), and Atiba (Headquarters: Offa-Meta, Oyo).
The development followed a series of protests that rocked the state over the abduction of children and teachers in the Orire Local Government Area in May.
The National Coordinator of the movement, Mr Juwon Sanyaolu, who spoke during the latest protest held on Monday, said the demonstration was part of ongoing efforts by the group to push for the freedom of the victims.
According to him, the protest “is a continuation of actions the organisation has embarked upon since the abduction of children and teachers” in the Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State in May.”
“We will continue to protest for the release of all abducted victims until they are free. We believe that government officials are in the comfort of their rooms and offices while innocent 46 students and their teachers are languishing in the kidnappers’ den.
“We are demanding freedom for all captives in the North, South, West, and East of Nigeria,” Mr Sanyaolu said.
He also criticised political leaders for focusing on preparations for the 2027 elections while insecurity continues to threaten the lives of Nigerians.
“We will not be sitting until 2027. By that time, we won’t even know how many will be alive.
“So that is why we are at the heart of Ibadan in Oyo State, where the abduction took place. The state and federal governments must act, or they will continue to witness mass action,” he added.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Department of State Services (DSS) has closed its case against former Kaduna State Governor, Mr Nasir El-Rufai, in the ongoing alleged wiretapping trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
At the resumed sitting on Tuesday, prosecuting counsel, Mr Oluwole Aladedoye, informed the court that the prosecution would not be calling further witnesses in the matter, prompting the formal closure of the DSS case.
Following the development, defence counsel, Mr Paul Erokoro, told the court that the defence intends to file a no-case submission, arguing that the prosecution has failed to establish sufficient evidence against the former governor.
The defence subsequently sought two weeks to file the application, while the prosecution requested two weeks to respond.
The defence also applied for a variation of some of the bail conditions earlier granted to El-Rufai, describing them as stringent and difficult to meet.
They argued that the bail terms were too stringent, particularly the requirements for level 17 civil servants with properties in Maitama or Asokoro, as well as verification and attestation letters from the Kaduna state traditional council.
However, the prosecution opposed the request, insisting that qualified public officers who meet the conditions exist and urging the court to refuse the application.
Delivering the ruling, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik declined the request to vary the bail conditions, ruling that there are civil servants who own properties at the said location.
The court, however, adjourned to September 22 for the filing of the no-case submission and continuation of the trial.
In February, the federal government filed a three-count charge against the former governor of Kaduna State over an alleged interception of communications belonging to Nigeria’s National Security Adviser (NSA), Mr Nuhu Ribadu.
In a television interview, he confessed that he and other unnamed individuals listened to conversations from Mr Ribadu’s phone after it was tapped by a third party. While acknowledging that such interception is technically unlawful, he argued that illegal surveillance was not unusual.
However, the FG, through the secret police, filed charges against Mr El-Rufai at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The I-Fitness Gym centre around Jakande Roundabout, Lekki Peninsula, Eti-Osa, Lagos, has been sealed by the Lagos State government.
The facility was closed on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, by officials of the Lagos State Wastewater Management Office (LSWMO).
The gym centre was accused of indiscriminately discharging raw sewage into public drains via a pipe, thereby causing public nuisance and environmental pollution as well as endangering human health.
Announcing the closure of the premises of the organisation, the Lagos Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, reiterated the need for the public to adhere strictly to proper wastewater management practices.
He emphasised that any individual or organisation found contravening environmental regulations will be meted out with appropriate sanctions and possible prosecution in accordance with the enabling laws.
The Commissioner has come under fire lately because of the poor waste management system in the metropolis, causing the state to look dirty.
A chief of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Mr Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, called for his resignation over the issue.
In a related development, Mr Wahab has clarified that the state government has given members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) the authority to arrest environmental violators.
In a statement, he explained that contrary to the misinformation being circulated by some bloggers and commentators, the recent engagement between the Lagos State Government and transport unions across the State is not intended to replace the statutory responsibilities of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC). LAGESC, in collaboration with the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Task Force, remains the duly empowered environmental enforcement arm of the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources.
“As we are all aware, several environmental challenges persist within parks, garages, and the public transportation ecosystem, including illegal trading activities and the indiscriminate disposal of refuse on road medians and within transport facilities. The State Government’s engagement with transport unions is aimed at fostering collaboration, promoting shared responsibility, and ensuring improved cleanliness and proper waste management within their respective parks and garages.
“This partnership does not in any way diminish, transfer, or replace the enforcement responsibilities of LAGESC and the Task Force. Rather, it is a complementary initiative designed to strengthen environmental compliance, sanitation standards, and stakeholder participation in maintaining a cleaner environment across the State.
“We therefore wish to reassure all Lagosians that environmental cleanliness remains a top priority of the Lagos State Government. We will continue to engage relevant stakeholders and partners in our collective effort to build a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable Lagos,” he stated.
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