News

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

Published

2 years 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

Edo NLC Crisis: Caretaker Committee Drags Rival Exco, Govt To Court

Published

3 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The division in the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), took a new dimension on Wednesday as Prof. Monday Monday Lewis Igbafen-led caretaker committee approached the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Benin Judicial Division, seeking to affirm its authority and restrain a rival executive from parading itself as the council’s leadership.

Joined in the suit are the Edo State Government, the Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

In a suit marked: NICN/BEN/12/2026, and filed before the court in Benin, the claimant, Igbafen, acting for himself and on behalf of the NLC Caretaker Committee in Edo State, is challenging the continued occupation of the union’s secretariat and control of its assets by members of the Bernard Egwakhide-led factional State Executive Council.

The claimants are asking the court to declare that the caretaker committee (Igbafen-led faction), constituted on August 11, 2025, by the NLC national leadership, remains the only lawful authority to administer the affairs of the Edo State Council pending fresh elections.

They further seek a declaration that the continued occupation of the NLC secretariat located at No. 1 Teboga Road, Benin City, as well as the retention of union assets, financial records, and official instruments by the defendants, is illegal and void.

The suit also prays for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from parading themselves as officials of the NLC Edo Council or interfering with the functions of the caretaker committee.

In addition, the claimants are seeking a mandatory order compelling the defendants to immediately hand over the secretariat, vehicles, financial documents, cheque books, and all other properties belonging to the union.

The caretaker committee further urged the court to restrain the state government and its officials from interfering in the internal affairs of the union, alleging undue support for the dissolved executive.

The claimants further demand N50 million as general and exemplary damages against the defendants for alleged unlawful usurpation of office and acts prejudicial to the administration of the council.

According to court documents made available to our correspondent, the crisis followed the dissolution of the Edo State Council by the NLC National Executive Council on February 27, 2025, over allegations of misconduct, anti-union activities, and constitutional violations.

However, the matter has yet to be assigned a hearing date.

News

Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

8 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Lazio midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is a subject of interest from three Premier League clubs, according to Sky Sports.

Lazio reportedly rejected offers from Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth for the Nigeria international in January.

La Biancolesti are bracing for more interest in Dele-Bashiru ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports.

The 24-year-old has two years left on his contract with the Serie A club.

The attacking midfielder joined the Rome-based club from Turkish Super Lig outfit Hatayspor in 2024.

He has been a regular feature for Lazio this season.

News

Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Students To Picket MTN, MultiChoice, Other Businesses

Published

9 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS South-West Zone D, has announced plans to picket South African companies in Nigeria following the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.

DAILY POST reports that some Nigerians were recently killed in South Africa over the violent attacks.

A statement issued to newsmen by Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, Coordinator, NANS South-West, Zone D, said that the association is mobilizing to take decisive and lawful action by organizing peaceful picketing and mass advocacy against South African business interests operating in Nigeria.

“We categorically state that the continued targeting of Nigerians under any guise is unacceptable and must come to an immediate end.

“This will include major corporations such as MTN Group and MultiChoice Group. It is morally indefensible for businesses to thrive in an environment where the lives of Nigerians are protected, while Nigerians are subjected to fear and violence elsewhere.

“This contradiction will no longer be tolerated,” the statement said.