News

Court Jails Former NASS Member 16 Months For Forgery, Threats To Murder In Oyo

Published

1 year ago

March 14, 2024

A former member of the House of Representatives, Dr. Folaranmi Oyebamiji, from Ogbomoso South has been convicted and sentenced to one year and four months imprisonment by Oyo State Chief Magistrate Court for forgery and threat to murder one High Chief Solomon Ojedayo.

The judgment was delivered by Chief Magistrate Muideen Salami in a case marked MOG/190c/2021 which was instituted against the former National Assembly member by the Oyo State Police Command.

Dr Oyebamiji was, however, granted a fine of N500,000 in lieu of the sentence.

While delivering the judgment which lasted 90minutes, the politician was sentenced to six months on count one which borders on conspiracy with an option of N150,000 fine; three months for false publication/defamation with a fine of N150,000; six months for forgery with option of fine worth N100,000; and one month for threatening to murder. The sentence was to run concurrently.

The convict was arraigned in 2021 by the Oyo State Police Command with a 94-year old Oko Town chief, Mathew Wojuade Ademola, and five others.

Mr M.A. Ojei, held brief for Commissioner of Police, while Dr. Olutayo Oyewale stood in for the complainant and Prince Niran Oyekale represented the defendants.

After the prosecution had invited five witnesses against the defendants, the six other defendants except Oyebamji informed the court on December 22, 2023 through their counsel that they had deposed to separate affidavits in Ibadan High Court Registry in which they had settled with the complainant. Their names were then struck out remaining only the ex NASS member.

After the submission of written addresses by both counsel, the court found Oyebamji guilty of all the three counts despite his defence that he was on admission at the UCH, Ibadan on 17th December, 2019 and discharged on January 18, 2020.

The court did not grant his defence describing it as an after-thought. The court said, “The accused person only tendered his photograph with crutches, neck girdle, without vehicle inspection report of the accident.

“There was no photo of the accidental vehicle to support his defence.

“The alibi according to decided authorities must have been promptly and lucidly disclosed to the police during investigation.

“It is the considered opinion of this court that the alibi is an after-thought which cannot avail the accused person”.

The Chief Magistrate Salami held that “the evidence, both oral and written, weighed against the defendant. So, the prosecution had manifestly proved its case against the defendant. The 7th accused person is therefore found guilty and is accordingly convicted”.

The defendant’s counsel pleaded for leniency, saying “I apply to the magnanimity of the court to temper justice with mercy.

“All along the proceedings, the convict had suffered greatly by having to be remanded in police custody.

“He is a family man whose dependents will suffer greatly if he is thrown into the Correctional Centre.

“He has children still schooling, and he is a political figure.

“I shall be praying the court to award an option of fine as there is no record of his being a convict before”.

He was later sentenced to sixteen months imprisonment with an option of N500,000.

News

JUST IN: Tension As Air Peace Flight Veers Off Runway In Port Harcourt

Published

42 minutes ago

July 13, 2025

Editor

An Air Peace flight P47190 veered off the runway on Sunday morning while landing at the Obafemi Jeremiah Awolowo International Airport in Port Harcourt.

Though no clue has yet been disclosed as to the cause of the incident, available information claimed there were no casualties.

The flight which originated at the domestic wing of the Murtala Mohammed Airport in Lagos ran into the incident on touchdown at the destination.

Air Peace management has confirmed in a release signed by its spokesman, Osifo-whiskey Efe, that its “Flight P47190, operating from Lagos to Port Harcourt this morning, (Sunday), had a runway excursion after landing safely at the Port Harcourt International Airport.

“The aircraft veered slightly off the runway without any damage. All passengers disembarked safely and calmly, and no injuries were reported,” it says.

The airline assured the flying public of its commitment to maintaining the highest standards of safety in all operations.

News

Anglican Church Bans Partisan Speeches By Politicians During Services

Published

12 hours ago

July 12, 2025

Editor

File photo for illustration

The Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, has released guidelines on how politicians and government officials should be received during church services and programmes, as part of efforts to maintain the sanctity and neutrality of Christian worship.

The directive was issued by the Primate of the Church, Most Revd Henry Ndukuba, during the Episcopal Consultation held in the Diocese of Nike, Enugu.

According to the Church, via a memo on Friday by the Director of Communication, Korede Akintunde, the guidelines became necessary following growing concerns about the increasing use of church gatherings as platforms for political statements, which risk undermining the core purpose of worship.

“The church remains open to all persons, including politicians and government officials.

“However, the church must not engage in or promote partisanship,” the memo stated.

The church emphasised that any guest expected to address the congregation must first have a prior discussion with church leadership to offer appropriate guidance.

“Guests are to be informed clearly that the church is not a platform for advancing partisan views or political propaganda.

“Church leaders and officiants must refrain from making statements or behaving in ways that could be construed as politically aligned or sectional.

“⁠No church official should eulogise or exalt any guest in a manner that might bring the church into disrepute.

“⁠Where possible, guests should not be permitted to use the church’s lectern when speaking, as it has been consecrated for the reading of God’s Word,” the statement read.

While affirming its responsibility to engage with government authorities on issues affecting the people and the nation, the church reiterated its commitment to being a moral compass for society.

“The church remains committed, under God, to being the light of the world and the salt of the earth.

“We will continue to uphold the nation in prayer and offer godly counsel to those in positions of authority,” Ndukuba stated.

News

Lagos LG Poll: Why We Did Not Shut Border – Immigration

Published

14 hours ago

July 12, 2025

Editor

Comptroller of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Seme Border Command, Absullahi Adamu, says the service did not receive any directive to close the border over the Lagos State Local government election.

Adamu told the News Agency of Nigeria in Seme on Saturday, that the border is an international one, under exclusive list.

“Closing of an international border should come from higher authority.

“There is no information regarding restriction of movement till 3pm, so our status quo remains,” he said.

According to him, the border cannot be closed against people coming into the country but the service can only advise them to wait till 3p.m after stamping them in before leaving the border.

Adamu said that foreigners coming into the country through the border would be urged to hang somewhere, after stamping their passports till 3.p.m before leaving the border.

He, however, said the command would act accordingly if they received order to restrict movement.

(NAN)