News
Akeredolu’s Widow Slams Critics As Ex-governor Is Buried In Ondo
Published
1 year agoon
By
Editor
The ancient town of Owo, Ondo State on Friday, played host to people from all walks of life who stormed the town to grace the final burial of the late former governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu.
Akeredolu, who passed away on Wednesday, December 27, 2023, during a protracted illness in a German hospital, at the age of 67, was laid to rest at the burial site in the community.
In line with the burial programme, the body of the former governor arrived in the state on Wednesday where a special court session was held in his honour after which the remains were taken to the Akure Township Stadium for a lying-in-state and commendation service.
On Friday, a funeral service was held at the St. Andrew’s Cathedral Anglican Church, Imola, Owo. The Vice President, Mallan Kashim Shettima and many dignitaries were in attendance.
READ ALSO: Aiyedatiwa Declares Public Holidays In Ondo To Honour Late Akeredolu
The wife of the late Akeredolu, Betty, in her tribute, hit hard on the critics of her relationship with her late husband.
The former first lady said “It’s me, your adorable Betty. You just left me. Just like that! It hurts. Badly it hurts. Now alone to face all manners of mockery from the so-called friends and adversaries alike. Now alone. A beg o! Can an Amotekun generalissimo be a weakling? Mbanuu! It doesn’t add up nau. Haba!”
“Not a few lashed out that you (Akeredolu) were a weakling because you loved me. I don’t think so in their homes while growing up they saw their mothers trampled upon as doormats. By the way, do they know what love is?
“They copied the template and treated their wives as pieces of furniture that can be easily discarded as trash. In many instances, the subjugation was garnished with beatings while the community looked the other way and remained unperturbed by gender-based violence. Beaten up like punch bags.”
READ ALSO: Ekiti Declares Three Days Of Mourning For Akeredolu
Speaking at the service, President Bola Tinubu, who was represented by the Vice President, described the deceased former governor as a fearless man who always stood by the truth.
“We are gathered here today to bid farewell to a remarkable soul, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu SAN, CON,” the President began, reflecting on the transience of life and the enduring impact of our choices. He is a fearless soldier for his people.”
“There was no point in life where his voice shook in telling his truth. He was a vastly intelligent man whose passion has created quite a wide vacuum beyond this community,” the President eulogised.
READ ALSO: Aiyedatiwa Replaces Five Akeredolu’s Aides
Similarly, the state Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa said his former boss always stood for good governance and the rule of law.
He stated, “You are all here because he stood for something: good governance and the rule of law. He means a lot to different people, and that is why he has been described in different words. He was a courageous leader, a fighter, and a warrior. How can we forget him so soon? It is not possible because he lives on.
“He used the instrument of governance to intervene in different sectors of the state, including education, health services, and infrastructural development and security, among others.”
Dignitaries at the burial ceremony include the Ondo State Governor Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the Governors of Oyo, Ogun, Lagos, Osun, Ekiti, Edo, Delta, Anambra and Benue States, Engnr Seyi Makinde, Dapo Abiodun, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Abiodun Oyebanji, Godwin Obaseki, Sheriff Oborevwori, Charles Soludo and Hyacinth Alia respectively and the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje and host of others.
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News
Over Thirty Young Ladies Accuse Edo Migration Agency Of Raid, Extortion, Agency Denies Allegation
Published
2 hours agoon
August 6, 2025By
Editor
Young ladies numbering over thirty have accused the Edo State Migration Agency of forcefully picking them along the Ihama Street, GRA, Benin to the agency’s office where the officials of the agency allegedly filmed, extorted them ranging from ₦15,000 to ₦50,000.
The young ladies in voicenote made available to journalists in Benin on Wednesday alleged that after reaching agreement with the officials of the agency that their videos should not be shared to a third party after the payment of an agreed amount, the agency violated the agreement and shared their visuals on social media.
The young ladies showed evidence of receipts of payment to one Uyinmwen Uyigue, who happens to be the Coordinator GRA Hospitality Forum
According to one of the voice notes, they were picked at Ihama Street, drove to the agency’s office where they were asked to cooperate by paying the sum of ₦50,000 and that after that they (agency) will not share their video, which they did, yet they were shown on social media.
One of the ladies in a sobbing voice noted: “I’m still in shock since on Thursday. Edo State Migration Agency, they video us, but they told us they are not going to post the video if only we could cooperate and pay the ransom they ask for. They told us to pay 50k each person which we did, but they still posted the video online, which is not nice. I was shocked when I saw myself trending online. People called me from different places. They told me they saw me on Tiktok, Instagram, etc. I am in shock because they told us they were not going to post the video if we could cooperate, and we cooperated and paid the money they asked for. I even have proof of the transfer. This is not nice.”
READ ALSO: Bye-Election: Edo Deputy Gov Assures Of 98 Percent Victory For APC
Another lady in a voicenote wept and spoke in broken English, “On Thursday evening, around 8:30, I come come out Ihama. And Before I know, where I for stand for there, na so all those Edo State Migration officers just come. Dey just come hold me and some others of my friends. As dey hold us, I was like ‘oga, why you go hold me nah, him come say make I check time, wetin I dey find for night at dat time, naim I come say oga, 8:30 naim you dey tell me wetin I dey find for night?’ Before I know, these people push me inside bus, carry us go their office, as we reach their office dem come begin dey harass us, dey disgrace us, dey call us names. Dey ask us where we for dey come, dem come dey video is. We sleep for d rooms dem put us, as day come break, dey carry all of us come outside, dem come still video us again. Dem come say na fifty, fifty thousand naim we take bail ourselves. We pay, but before I know, I see myself for internet the next day. My family don dey call me since. My family members don dey say I be disgrace to d family. Dem just dey curse me say see wetin I dey do, me wey be orphan. Dey just disgrace me. My uncle and aunty don dey call me say I am an embarrassment.”
Another lady in a voice noted said: “You know when they took our statement, we were trying to tell them that what happened is that we just came out from the club and dey say no, we must say that they catch us (sic) from the street. We must say that we were standing in the street to do prostitution. We were telling them that is not what happened, they didn’t even allow us to say anything, they were just writing statement for us.”
Another lady in her voice note said she and her friends went to the club but were hungry, went outside to buy Suya but in the were raided: “It was Thursday last week, me and my friends went to club at Ihama. There is one club called ClubQ. So, we went out to get Suya opposite Victorious Kitchen and still ate there because we were hungry. So, on our way coming out, I think they are called Edo Migration Agency, they picked us, we were trying to explain to them we are not doing Street, that we are not prostitutes, that we are just coming out from the club that we came to get Suya and food, but they did not listen. They even picked one girl that was waiting for her boyfriend. The girl was trying to call the guy. So, they took us to Edo Migration Agency, yes that is the name. They took us there, video us, they were asking us questions. We begged them they should not post the video, that we have family members that are on social media, they should not post it. They said they were going to cover our face if they want to post the video. So, I was thinking that after filming us they will just leave us to go, they kept us, delay us till around 6 in the evening. We were more than 30 girls that they carry. They now collected fifty, fifty thousand each of us. We begged them to that fifty thousand. They started with hundred thousand, but we begged that we don’t have that amount. We begged them that we don’t have money that they should let us go that we have not done anything wrong. They said they are going to take us to prison if we don’t pay, so we were scared. We now begged for 20k, they said no, that 50k last, we were more than 30. They collected 50,000 each from us. My sister saw the video, they are calling me, my dad is very angry for me. I don’t even know how to explain to them because I have told them my own side of the story.”
READ ALSO: Edo Assures Pensioners Of Improved Welfare, Universal Health Coverage
Contacted, the Director General of the Migration Agency, Lucky Agazuma, on the allegation of extortion, while absolving his agency and officials said those arrested were profiled and later released to go.
He said the agency was well funded and would not resort to extorting money from sex workers.
Agazuma said the agency never extorted sex workers but worked towards rehabilitating them back to society.
“We have had several engagements with brothel owners. We told them we will not be after their brothel but they should not bring underage into their brothel.
“In our raiding, we discovered that they kept underaged girls. Those persons who were involved in this act are in prison, including the native doctor who took them on oath. They also do organ harvesting. Even as I speak to you now, there’s a husband and a wife who just trafficked a little girl to Mali. They are in prison right now.”
Contacted, Mr. Uyigue confirmed collecting money from four sex workers but he said the money he collected was fine paid by owners of lodge where the sex workers stays.
He said the lodge owners under the auspices of GRA Hospitality Forum agreed on a fine of N50,000 for any of their girls caught in the street hawking sex.
News
Edo Govt Bans Kabaka’s Firm, Others From Collecting Revenue
Published
6 hours agoon
August 6, 2025By
Editor
Edo State Government has banned private firms earlier authorised to collaborate with the Edo State Internal Revenue Service (EIRS) to collect revenue in the state.
The state government said the ban became necessary due to reports of violation of terms of operations given to them earlier.
In a public announcement, Secretary to the State Government, Umar Musa Ikhilor, said the ban also extends to Atalakpa Recovery Concept Ltd, a private consultant earlier engaged to enforce compliance.
Ikhilor, while frowning at the activities of the private firms, noted that the “era of using unions as fronts to harass, intimidate, or extort drivers and road users in the name of revenue collection is over.”
READ ALSO: Six Injured In Edo Multiple Car Crash
The statement partly reads: “The Edo State Government, under the leadership of His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has observed with grave concern the alarming resurgence of illegal revenue collection by certain unions and organizations under various guises across the State.
“It has become clear that some of these groups, previously given limited authorization to collaborate with the Edo State Internal Revenue Service (EIRS) under clearly defined terms, have grossly violated the conditions of their engagement and resorted to cash collections, extortions, social harassment and intimidation.
“Specifically, the activities of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), ANNEWAT, and Drivers on Wheel, are hereby banned with immediate effect.
“These unions are not authorized to collect any form of dues, levies, taxes, or charges from motorists, drivers, traders, or any member of the public in Edo State.
“This ban also extends to Atalakpa Recovery Concept Ltd, a private consultant earlier engaged to enforce compliance.
READ ALSO: By-elections: Edo APC Tackles PDP Over Call For REC, Others Redeployment
“Credible reports reaching the people-loving Governor, indicate that the firm and its workers have become complicit in widespread extortion and abuse of mandate, thereby betraying the trust reposed in them by the State.
“The Government considers these actions as acts of economic sabotage, social oppression and a direct affront to law and order.
“All activities of the aforementioned unions are suspended indefinitely.”
The SSG, while noting that “no individual or group under any of these unions is permitted to collect any form of payment from motorists or road users,” advised “all motorists, drivers, and road users not to pay any cash or comply with any form of illegal levy imposed by these banned entities.”
He disclosed that “the Commissioner of Police and all relevant security agencies have been duly notified and directed to arrest and prosecute any individual or group found violating this directive.”
News
17-year-old Nigerian Named World Best In English At 2025 TeenEagle Finals In London
Published
23 hours agoon
August 5, 2025By
Editor
…Outperforms over 20,000 participants from 69 countries
Nafisa Aminu, a 17-year-old student of Tulip International College, Yobe State, has emerged world’s best in English at the 2025 TeenEagle Global Finals.
The 17-year-old was named the World Best in English Language Skills at the 2025 TeenEagle Global Finals held in London, United Kingdom.
READ ALSO: Fake Labubu Dolls Worth Millions Seized In London Raid Amid Growing Safety Fears
The TeenEagle competition is an internationally recognised contest that tests English proficiency, critical thinking, and communication skills, attracting students from both English-speaking and non-English-speaking nations.
Nafisa’s triumph was confirmed in a statement by the head of her family, Hassan Salifu, who attributed her success to “dedication, discipline, and the enabling support of the state government.”
Representing Nigeria, Nafisa outperformed over 20,000 participants from 69 countries, a historic feat that has thrust her into the global academic spotlight and brought honour to Nigeria.
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