General
Okun Development Association Distances Self From Group

**Backs Amotekun
The national executive of Okun Development Association (ODA) has distanced itself from a group known as Okun Development Association, South West Branch.
The national body of the association, in a communique issued after its quarterly meeting held on January 18, 2020 in Isanlu, Yagba East LG of Kogi State, said it has nothing whatsoever to do with the group, which claimed to be the South West arm of ODA.
ODA is the umbrella body representing the Yoruba people of Kogi State and in the communiqué signed by the National President, Barrister Femi Mokikan; the National Secretary, Pastor Ayo Abereoran; and the National Legal Adviser, Barrister Abimbola, it was resolved that legal actions would be taken against the new group.
Below are the far-reaching decisions taken at the meeting last week:
1) Legal, civil and criminal actions will be taken against anybody or group of persons parading themselves as representing the Association at National or Branch levels in any manner outside the provisions of the constitution of the Association.
2) No organisation or individuals shall henceforth undertake any event or function, for commercial or non-commercial purposes, using the Okun name without the written approval of the National Executive Committee of ODA.
3) That the security situation in Okunland is still of serious concern. We commend the efforts of the State Government, other security agencies in the State, our Hunters and individuals who have collaborated with us in addressing the challenges we are often confronted with.
4) To further enhance the effectiveness of our efforts, we believe the time has come for us to set up our own Okun Security Trust Fund (OSTF). Towards this end, a committee is working on the details and other modalities and the outcome will be announced as soon as their report is approved.
5) We received with excitement the creation of the AMOTEKUN Security outfit at inter-governmental level to address the security challenges of the SW States. This provides us in ODA an opportunity to explore the possibility of raising our security collaboration with the SW Yorubas to another level. We shall not relent.
6) As part of possible measures to reduce unemployment, we appeal to Okun Sons and Daughters with means and the entrepreneurial profile to come home and establish businesses with potentials to absorb people into paid employment.
7) The presence of a Community Radio is a powerful means of social and cultural reengineering in any community. The ODA will explore every opportunity/possibility, through appropriate individuals, to ensure that Okun Radio becomes a reality.
8) To further give teeth to the ODA, the Okun Council of Elders is to be reconstituted within the shortest possible time. We, on behalf of all Okun people thank our fathers and mothers who have served meritoriously on the Council
9) We appeal to our politicians to stop meddling with the affairs of the National Association of Okun Students so as to permanently put an end to the divisive tendencies that continue to plague the body. What we need is unity at all levels.
10) That the Miss Okun Pageant is a proprietary asset of the Okun people.
Therefore, the process of selecting the successful candidate to wear the Miss Okun Crown will henceforth be under the umbrella of ODA. This is without prejudice to any groups or individuals that may wish to initiate, organize and own their own beauty pageants, provided the word Okun is not reflected in the appellation of such pageant.
11) Meanwhile, ODA has announced that election will be held into various offices of the Lagos branch of the association before the end of Februa 2020. The Executive offices to be filled shall be contested by individuals from Ijumu Local Government, Yagba West Local Government, Mopa Amuro Local Government, Yagba East Local Government, Oworo/Lokoja Local Government and Kabba/Bunu Local Government.
12) Ijumu Local Government will produce the Chairman of the Branch, while the Vice-Chairman will be produced by Oworo in Lokoja Local Government, the office of the Secretary has been zoned to Yagba West, while the Financial Secretary will be produced by Mopa Amuro. The post of Public Relation Officer (PRO) and Treasurer will come from Yagba East and Kabba/Bunu Local Government respectively.
Speaking further on the communique, the National President, Barrister Femi Mokikan, appealed to the Federal Government to urgently rebuild all the federal roads in Okunland that are in a deplorable condition. The association President said most Okun communities are now “landlocked”.
General
Dominion City 2025 Camp Meeting Starts April 17

By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The 2025 camp meeting of Dominion City Church will commence from Thursday, April 17 to Monday, April 21 at Golden Heart Place, Km 22, Lekki-Epe Expressway, beside Lagos Business School, Ajah, Lagos.
The Senior Pastor of Dominion City and President of the Dominion Leadership Institute, Pastor David Ogbueli, will lead the event alongside other anointed ministers, including Apostle Michael Orokpo, Pastor Randy Mitchell from the USA, Apostle Ben Noobe from South Africa, Reverend Samson Ajetomobi, and Rev Pade Tokun.
The power-packed spiritual gathering is designed to ignite revival, salvation, deliverance, miracles, and breakthroughs in the lives of attendees.
Every year, the event attracts thousands of worshippers at the venue of the programme and virtually and the church said it would not be different this year.
Attendees will experience an atmosphere of deep worship with renowned gospel ministers such as GUC, Anthony Kani, Sunmisola Agbebi, and David Nkennor and the DC Angels, a statement disclosed.
There will also be specialized training sessions for ministers of the gospel, career professionals, social workers, entrepreneurs, children and teen workers, etc. for exponential growth.
As part of Dominion City’s commitment to ensuring accessibility, free transportation will be provided to and from the venue.
“We believe this Camp Meeting will be a divine appointment where lives are transformed, faith is strengthened, and destinies are realigned.
“We invite everyone seeking spiritual renewal and breakthrough to join us for this life-changing encounter,” the cleric stated.
With sessions at 8 am and 5 pm daily, the event will officially commence with an opening session on Thursday, April 17 at 5 pm.
A key highlight of the program will be the Good Friday Healing and Miracle Night on Friday, April 18, at 5 pm, an extraordinary session dedicated to divine healing and supernatural encounters.
General
Nigeria’s Mining Marshals Arrest 327 Illegal Miners

By Adedapo Adesanya
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mr Dele Alake, has announced the arrest of 327 illegal miners across Nigeria since 2024.
Mr Alake disclosed this at a recent news conference to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the operations of the Mining Marshals (MM).
He stressed that while the MM has “arrested 327 suspects for illegal mining,” the ministry, in partnership with other agencies, has prosecuted 143 individuals across the country since the MM began operations in 2024.
Recall that the Mining Marshals was inaugurated on March 21, 2024, to serve as a security outfit tracking illegal mining in the solid minerals sector.
The security personnel are mainly from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). The mines marshal devised to be an inter-agency security outfit also incorporates special operatives from other security agencies like the Nigeria Police, the army, amongst others.
Speaking at the event, Mr Alake stated that the Marshals’ key target for 2025 is to secure the conviction of the 327 individuals already arraigned in court.
According to him, this will enhance deterrence in the mining sector and enforce compliance with the law.
He appreciated the contributions of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigerian Army, highlighting that their efforts have helped in the drive to sanitize the solid minerals sector.
“This month, the Federal High Court in Ilorin, Kwara State, sentenced two foreigners, Yang Chao and Wu Shan Chuan, to prison for illegal mining of solid minerals following a case prosecuted by the EFCC.
“We also commend the EFCC for its diligent prosecution of illegal miners.
“In May last year, the EFCC successfully prosecuted and secured the conviction of two other foreigners, Duan Ya Hong and Xiao Yi, to one year of imprisonment for illegal mining at another Federal High Court, also sitting in Ilorin, Kwara State,” he said.
The Minister stressed that in the last year, the MM has tackled the severity of illegal mining, which, according to him, “has been exacerbated by companies collaborating with individual miners to carry out the act.”
“According to our records, the MM recovered over 98 sites last year. This has enabled many license owners to return to sites and resume operations.
“This will ultimately improve royalties and raise the contribution of solid minerals to the country’s revenue.
“So far, the MM has identified 457 suspected illegal mining sites and has improved intelligence gathering on these sites,” he added.
Mr Alake explained that MM’s major areas of operation have been across 10 states: Niger, Kogi, Nasarawa, Akwa Ibom, Ondo, Kaduna, Enugu, Abia, Kwara, and the Federal Capital Territory.
He added that in 2025, the outfit is expected to increase its engagements in other parts of the nation.
He assured that the number of personnel would be expanded, and more logistics, including vehicles and other equipment, would be made available to the Mining Marshals to strengthen their operations.
On his part, the Commandant of the Mining Marshals, Mr John Attah, thanked the minister for his support and urged the public to see their operations as a national project.
General
Amnesty International Wants Allegations Against Akpabio Probed

By Adedapo Adesanya
The Amnesty International has called for a thorough, independent investigation into the allegation made by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against the Senate President, Mr Goodwill Akpabio.
The human rights watchdog made this demand in a statement on X (formerly Twitter) by the Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Mr Isa Sanusi.
“Amnesty International calls on the Nigerian authorities to immediately institute an independent and impartial investigation into the allegations of sexual harassment by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against the President of the Senate Godswill Akpabio,” he said.
Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan, a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker representing Kogi Central, accused Mr Akpabio of depriving her of her right to represent her people after she rejected sexual advances from Akpabio.
She alleged that Mr Akpabio had been denying her the opportunity to contribute to debates and table matters affecting her constituents on the floor of the Senate.
Mr Akpabio since denied the allegations.
“At no time did I ever harass any woman. I was raised very well by my late single mother, and I have always upheld respect for women. I was even awarded the most gender-friendly governor in Nigeria,” he said at the March 5 plenary.
The Senate later went on to suspend the lawmaker over what it described as her “unruly conduct.”
In response, Amnesty International warned that, “The weight and scale of the allegations of the sexual harassment are one more pressing reason for establishing an independent, resourceful and impartial investigation.
“The National Assembly must not continue to look away while the allegations remain and are being trivialized, unaddressed and ignored.
“Blatant failure of the authorities to investigate the allegations raised by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan will have devastating consequences, that include perpetuating a system that makes it increasingly difficult for survivors of sexual harassment to get justice, while allowing perpetrators to get away with gross human rights violations.
“This is one case that the authorities can use to show that there is zero tolerance for sexual harassment – no matter who is involved.
“The fear of not being believed, or even being blamed, is already creating a dangerous culture of silence that prevents women who faced sexual harassment from seeking justice. The tide of sexual impunity against women and girls must be turned now,” Mr Sanusi stated.
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