News

Obaseki, Edo CJ Partner To Reduce Number Of Awaiting Trial Inmates

Published

2 years ago

October 4, 2023

L-R: Judge, Edo State High Court, Anthony Erhabor; Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Daniel Okungbowa; Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; Secretary to the Edo State Government, Osarodion Ogie Esq., and Judge, Edo State High Court, Efe Ikponmwonba, during a courtesy visit, at the Government House, in Benin City, on Wednesday, October 4, 2023.

…say devt of new State correctional centres ‘ll help to reform inmates, decongest facilities

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has said his administration will collaborate with the Chief Judge of Edo State and the judiciary to reduce the high numbers of awaiting trial inmates across correctional facilities in Edo State.

The governor said this when he received the leadership of Edo State judiciary led by the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, who was on a courtesy visit at the Government House, Benin City.

Obaseki said, “We are concerned about the large number of awaiting trial inmates in our correctional centres and would like our Chief Judge to do something different and give assurance of comfort to these people and reduce the number of awaiting trial inmates. We are ready to put in resources to support you in achieving this.

“We are ready to work with you in taking advantage of the new constitutional arrangement to build our own correctional facilities in Edo State to support the work you are doing. We have acquired land and are working on the design as the Attorney General of the State will be meeting with you to show you the plan we have in place.”

Commending the judiciary for its role in maintaining law and order in the state, the governor noted, “The executive arm of government in Edo State will ever be grateful to the judiciary. The judiciary has been one key basis for the success we have recorded as they have helped us sustain the rule of law.

“When we came in 2016, this was not the case. It was not uncommon to find non-state actors taking laws into their own hands, becoming laws unto themselves. Sometimes, it’s better for us to reflect on what the situation was less than eight years ago. With the help of the judiciary, we have been able to maintain law and order in Edo State.

“Nobody can challenge this administration or accuse us of taking steps that are extra-judicial in our dealings as we have abided by the law of the land, which is why we enjoy the level of peace and stability today in the State.”

The governor further stated, “We want to thank you for the adoption of technology. In the executive arm, we are enjoying the benefits of technology as our sessions are now virtual and all the memos and approvals I give are now through technology. We will continue to support you to embrace technology.

“Advancement in technology is not restricted to Benin City alone as we have laid 2,000km of fibre optic connections across the State as it will help us deliver high connectivity to all your Courts in Edo State. We are delivering technology to our schools, hospitals, and also consultants in America offering telemedicine services to our people.”

On his part, the Chief Judge, Justice Okungbowa, who commended the governor for his continuous support to the judiciary, said the visit is to invite the governor to the 2023/2024 Legal Year.

He said, “We want to thank you, Your Excellency, for the cooperation in the past year and solicit for more cooperation in the coming years. You have done so well in terms of infrastructural development as new Courts have been built and also support in improving the judiciary technology-wise.”

News

Shock As Adeleke Employs Roadside puff-puff Hawker As Govt House Chef

Published

9 hours ago

August 30, 2025

Editor

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, on Thursday shocked a female puff-puff seller during a rally in Osogbo by buying all her snacks with ₦50,000 and offering her employment as a chef at the Government House.

This happened when Osun public servants trooped out in their thousands in what they called an appreciation solidarity rally in support of the governor for his support and care since he took over state governance.

It was observed that the governor, who sat in the bus, had sighted the woman who was among the crowd cheering him.

He immediately beckoned to the woman carrying a plastic container filled with puff-puff on her head and asked how much it would cost to buy all the snacks.

The female hawker, who was visibly surprised and star-struck at the level of her proximity to the governor, found it difficult to even tell the governor how much she sold the snacks.

Surprisingly, Adeleke handed her a bundle of ₦50,000 to the cheers of the crowd.

The lucky woman knelt down in appreciation of the governor’s generosity.

Excited onlookers quickly rushed to share the snacks in the plastic already purchased by the governor.

The governor invited the vendor inside the vehicle where one of his officials questioned her academic background, and she revealed that she holds a Nigerian Certificate in Education.

Adeleke further asked about the dishes she could prepare and instructed his aides to take her contact details for employment as a chef in the Government House.

Confirming the development, the Commissioner II at the Osun State Civil Service Commission, Olaniyan Taofeek, shared the video on X (formerly Twitter), writing: “The moment Gov. Adeleke turned the life of a puff-puff seller into a Government House chef.”

A Special Assistant to the Governor on Digital Media, Oni Gbenga Lawrence, also corroborated the incident in a post on X, stating: “Moment Governor Ademola Adeleke turned the life of a puff-puff seller to Government Chef… not only ₦50k but he invited her into his car and employed her as chef in the Government House.”

The Guardian correspondent, who was at the scene of the welcome rally, made efforts to interview the lucky vendor, but they did not yield as she was not allowed to alight from the bus throughout the event.
(The Guardian)

News

Katsina Govt Revokes Licenses Of All Private, Community Schools

Published

10 hours ago

August 30, 2025

Editor

The Katsina State Government has withdrawn the operating licenses of all private and community schools in the state, with effect from August 13, 2025.

The announcement came through a circular issued by the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education and signed by Commissioner Hajiya Zainab Musa-Musawa.

The ministry’s Public Relations Officer, Malam Sani Danjuma, released the document in Katsina on Saturday.

According to the circular, the move is part of the government’s effort to strengthen quality assurance and standardization within the education sector.

“The withdrawal of licenses is aimed at ensuring that schools operate in line with approved standards and provide quality education to students,” Danjuma said.

The circular also outlined a review of fees for license application, registration, and annual renewal.

“Owners of affected schools are required to obtain fresh licenses by submitting proof of payment to the ministry on or before September 30, 2025.”

The statement also added that school operators have been warned not to increase tuition or other charges without government approval.

The ministry further promised to issue additional guidelines soon, including categorization of schools and the revised fee structure.

News

JUST IN: Oldest Missionary To Nigeria, Ruth Elton, Is Dead

Published

11 hours ago

August 30, 2025

Editor

British-born Nigerian missionary, Ruth Elton, reputed to be the oldest missionary has passed on at the age of 91.

Ruth Elton, born 7 September 1933, was a British-born Nigerian missionary whose lifelong dedication to faith, healing, and revival left an indelible mark on communities across western and central Nigeria.

It was learnt that Elton died on Saturday at Sharon compound, Alafia Bamin Quarters in Ilesa, Osun State.

She was the only daughter of Pa Elton and her remains have been deposited at the mortuary.

Ruth Elton, daughter of Sydney Granville Elton (Pa Elton), who is referred to as one of the founding fathers of Pentecostalism in Nigeria, had approached a Kaduna court and nationalised as a Nigerian.

At old age and despite the happenings in Nigeria, she still held in high esteem her father’s prophecies that although Nigeria could be known globally for corruption, it would only for a while as new dawn would beckon when the country would be known worldwide for righteousness and prosperity.

Elton moved to Nigeria in 1937 with her parents and served as a Christian missionary across Egbe, Okene, Koton Karfe, and other parts of Kogi, Ondo, Oyo, and Osun States.

A naturalised Nigerian, having renounced her British citizenship in the 1970s, she embraced the country completely and became fluent in Ebira and Yoruba.

Elton, who remained single, believed that she had made a true mark in the country and apart from her missionary work, she saw her efforts in taming infant mortality, especially in Okene, Kogi State as a generational impact.

Relating her experience on infant mortality in the country, Elton recently noted that many newborn babies had passed on due to lack of proper care and hygiene, adding that the practice of force-feeding babies contributed to the challenges, especially in the face of poor awareness.