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Stolen Jewellery: Patience Jonathan Ex-aides’ Lawyer Laments As Adjournment Hits 42

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A legal practitioner, Funmi Adedoyin, has decried the “delayed trial” of some former domestic workers of ex-First Lady Patience Jonathan, who remain in detention at the Okaka Custodial Centre in Bayelsa State over stolen jewellery.

She said the case was recently adjourned twice—on 25 and 26 June—due to the abduction of Justice Ebiyerin Omukoro of the Bayelsa State High Court on 21 June in front of an eatery in Yenagoa, the state capital.

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The PUNCH reported in April that the case had been adjourned 40 times.

The defendants were arraigned before the court, sitting in Yenagoa, in 2019.

They were accused of stealing seven gold bangles and other pieces of jewellery, five Samsung air conditioners, two sets of upholstered chairs, and six Samsung flat-screen televisions, all valued at N200m.

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They were also accused of conspiracy to commit murder, felony, armed robbery, burglary, and stealing, among other charges.

Those affected are Williams Alami, Vincent Olabiyi, Ebuka Cosmos, John Dashe, Tamunokuro Abaku, Emmanuel Aginwa, Erema Deborah, Precious Kingsley, Tamunosiki Achese, Sunday Reginald, Vivian Golden, Emeka Benson, Boma Oba, Salomi Wareboka, and Sahabi Lima.

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Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, Adedoyin lamented that the defendants had been languishing in prison for six years.

The lawyer expressed disappointment over the ongoing delays in the trial, emphasising the impact on the defendants’ pursuit of justice.

She noted, “We are not happy about these delays, and that is why we have been doing our best to carry on with the legal advocacy to ensure justice is upheld in the matter.

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READ ALSO:Ex-Nigerian President Jonathan Wins 2025 Peace Prize

We want them to get justice on time, as we have had over 40 adjournments already in the matter. We will continue to support them.”

Adedoyin assured that the group would not back down until justice was served.

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She said, “We hope with these advocacies, the case will go on and the people will get justice.”

Speaking about the recent adjournments, Adedoyin stated, “The case has not been going on. The last time it was supposed to come up was 26 and 27 June. The court did not sit because of the matter in Bayelsa State where a judge was kidnapped. It is an act of solidarity. Till now, we have not been able to get a date. In the last two adjournments, the matter did not go on.”

The sister of one of the detainees, Gladys Achese, decried the imprisonment of her sister and the prolonged trial of the defendants.

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She said, “We are sad. The case is just dragging. They didn’t go to court throughout last month. Hopefully, if they go this month, they will not go at all in August because there will be a break.

“So, we do not know when the next court session will open. Time is not waiting. We do not know the next approach to take. It is frustrating.”

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IGP Appoints New Force PRO

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The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has approved the appointment of Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Benjamin Hundeyin as the new Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO).

Hundeyin, a graduate of English Language from Lagos State University, also holds a Master’s degree in Legal Criminology and Security Psychology from the University of Ibadan. He further obtained a Certificate in Civil-Military Coordination from the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Training Centre, Jaji, Kaduna State.

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The new FPRO is an Associate of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), a Member of the International Public Relations Association (IPRA), and an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM).

READ ALSO:Police PRO, Adejobi, Removed , Assigned New Office

A seasoned communicator, Hundeyin previously served as the Police Public Relations Officer at Zone 2 Command, Lagos, and later at the Lagos State Police Command.

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He was also part of Nigeria’s contingent to the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in Darfur, Sudan, in 2020, and at different times worked at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, as Administration Officer in the Public Relations Department.

The IGP urged Hundeyin to deploy his wealth of experience in communications and security to further strengthen the image of the Nigeria Police Force and sustain robust relations with the public.

He takes over from DCP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who served as Force PRO until his redeployment.

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Jonathan In Edo, Says Nigeria’s Politics Full Of Betrayals

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Former President Goodluck Jonathan has decried the level of betrayal and lies in Nigeria’s political atmosphere.

Jonathan spoke in Benin on Thursday at the 70th birthday ceremony of his former Chief of Staff and former deputy governor of Edo State, Chief Mike Ogiadomhe.

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Jonathan, who described Ogiadomhe as an ally that can be trusted all time, added: “One of the few friends that gave up their necks when I became president, is Mike. You know politics in the Nigerian standard is about betrayals.

“You find it difficult to see somebody who will say the same thing in the morning and in the evening. I’ve witnessed a lot of betrayals, especially my 2015 elections, and Mike is somebody who would take a bullet on my behalf.

READ ALSO:APC Mocks Jonathan As ADC Woos Him For 2027 Race

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“He is somebody that you can take his word to the bank; most other politicians, you cannot take their words to the bank. They will tell you something, the next one hour they are saying another”.

On his part, deputy governor of Edo State, Dennis Idahosa, who represented Governor Monday Okpebholo, said the foundation Ogiadomhe laid as deputy is what is still being followed.

Lucky Igbinedion on his part said he had no reservation handing over the affairs of the state to Ogiadomhe as his deputy governor when he needed to travel abroad.

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READ ALSO:2027: Jonathan’s Cousin Tackles Keyamo Over Ex-president Not Qualified Comment

Also speaking former governor of the state and senator representing Edo North, Comrade Adams Oahiomhole said whenever he discussed politics with the celebrant, he always told him that wherever Jonathan is, is where he would be.

He commended his wife, Lousia for being a dependable wife.

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The birthday celebration attracted many dignitaries including former governors Lucky Igbinedion, Professor Osarhiemen Osunbor, Adams Oahiomhole and Ibrahim Dakwambo of Gombe State.

Others included former deputy governors including Rev. Peter Obadan, Pius Odubu, Marvelous Omobayo, Chief Judge of Edo State Daniel Okungbowa, Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon Blessing Agbebaku who led other members of the assembly, traditional rulers among others.

 

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ITF Warns Organisations, Employers Against Rejection Of IT Students

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The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has warned organisations and employers nationwide against rejecting students seeking attachment for their Industrial Training (IT) exercises.

ITF Area Manager in Bauchi, Dr Ashore Paul, issued the warning on Thursday during the orientation exercise for prospective IT students of the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi.

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Represented by Mrs Nanzem Yilshuut, Head of Training at the ITF Bauchi Area Office, Paul said that “the act establishing the Fund mandates every organisation to accept students for industrial attachment.”

He further stated that any employer or organisation found in breach of these provisions was liable to conviction and sanctions.

READ ALSO:ITF Trains 120 Youth In Plumbing, Solar Power Installation, Others In Bauchi State

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Paul also urged the prospective IT students to adhere to the rules and regulations of any organisation they joined and to be willing to learn and fulfill their responsibilities.

When these students come back, we expect that there is a difference.

“They should have learned something new because definitely, what they learned in school, would be expected to be put into practicals.

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“This will help them in their academics and also assist them in their future endeavours.

READ ALSO: JUST IN: Provide Update On Missing N3bn Within 48 Hours, Reps Tells ITF

They must participate 100 per cent, they must be disciplined and they must be willing to learn.

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“We go round to ensure that they are doing what they are expected to do at their places of attachment.

“When we go for supervision, we ensure that what they are learning is in line with their courses,” he said.

The Rector of the institution, Sani Usman, said that the industrial attachment was an activity that enabled polytechnics to fulfill their mandate as technology and skill-driven institutions.

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READ ALSO:Edo Govt Lauds ITF On Training Of 100 Edo Youths On Skills

“Our students are given industrial experience during their first year so as to be registered in their minds that all of them are meant to be skilled class men and women and that is why the industrial attachment is very important.

“It enables them to build on what they have learned in their respective classrooms and practicals during the year,” he said.

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Usman emphasised the importance of proper supervision during industrial training.

READ ALSO: I’m Being Impersonated – Goodluck Jonathan Disowns Social Media Account

According to him, it will ensure students not only attend their placements but also carry out their assigned tasks effectively.

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“The supervision is also to see that the employers or the places they have been sent to do their Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) do not exploit them to the level that is not required by the institution”, he said.

He further revealed that 3,000 students across all departments in the institution were going for this year’s SIWES.

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