Yoruba monarchs in Benin Republic have resolved to write the president of the country, Patrice Talon, over the arrest and detention of Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly called Sunday Igboho, in the country. The traditional rulers made this known after meeting at the Ajohoun Palace in Adjohoun, Benin on Sunday. The Beninese court adjourned Igboho’s case till Monday (tomorrow) after his five lawyers failed to convince the prosecutor that he had no case to answer. The Beninese authorities released Ropo, the agitator’s wife, who was arrested with the 48-year-old activist on Monday, July 19, 2021, by the International Criminal Police Organisation at the Cadjèhoun Airport in Cotonou, Republic of Benin on their way to Germany. On his part, Igboho was returned to police custody. The lawyers had said that during the hearing, prosecutors claimed Igboho was on a watchlist for alleged trafficking in arms, inciting violence that could result in social disturbance and causing disunity in Nigeria. The PUNCH had reported that Yoruba leaders, including monarchs, are rallying support for the Yoruba rights activist. After their meeting which ended at 2 pm, the monarchs told BBC News Yoruba that the meeting was aimed at finding a solution and the steps they would take on Sunday Igboho’s issue. They said that it was agreed upon that a letter should be written to the president of Benin Republic, the Minister of Justice, the Minister of Interior, and the Head of the country’s parliament. Though the monarchs refused to state what would be the content of their letter, they promised to discuss the outcome with journalists. They said discussing their demands in the media could jeopardise their chances of getting them approved. King Siyan Aladjohoun of Adjohoun added that said the monarchs also considered visiting the country’s President and other government officials.

Saliu Adetunji, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, says he has sent a delegation to Cotonou, Benin Republic, to observe court proceedings in the trial of Sunday Adeyemo, a Yoruba nation agitator, also known as Sunday Igboho. Igboho is standing extradition trial in Cotonou after he was arrested with his wife at Cotonou airport on their way to Germany and placed in custody. The court on Thursday freed the wife while Igboho will appear in court again on Monday. A statement signed by Adeola Oloko, personal assistant/director of media and publicity to the monarch, said those selected to be part of the delegation will be at the court in Cotonou, where Igboho’s case will resume on Monday. The statement said, “Oba Adetunji stated this at his Popoyemoja, Ibadan palace on Sunday while exchanging views with some leaders of thought comprising Yemisi Adeaga, the president general of Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes and his executive members. Also at the meeting was senior chief Lekan Alabi, the Ekefa Olubadan. “Olubadan said it has become necessary in order to allay the fears of several people, including protesters who besiege Olubadan palace every now and then that Kabiesi is not folding his arms over the travails of Igboho. “Igboho lives in Ibadan, got married in Ibadan, rear children in Ibadan, built houses in Ibadan and as such he has the rights to be protected by Ibadan traditional institution within the ambit of the law just like any human being in Ibadan.” Olubadan stated that he is in constant touch with Yoruba prominent royal fathers, including Igboho royal crowns to allay public fears of a repeat performance of Yoruba-Fulani coalition of 1814. The statement added, “Students of Nigeria history may wish to be reminded that when some people, during the period under reference, chose to engage in territorial expansion to the sea, it took the Ibadan army under Balogun Oderinlo to repel the attack and stop the incursion near Osogbo.”

It was an accusation and counter-accusation by an Owerri, Imos State, based hotelier and officials of the Owerri Capital Development Authority, OCDA over the alleged vandalisation of a popular hotel in the Imo State capital by the officials of OCDA. This followed the alleged invasion and vandalization of the popular ultra–model hotel complex, Bilton Continental Hotel, by the official of the agency on Thursday, while enforcing structural integrity on the facility. Owners of the hotel, situated on the Yaradua Drive, Roundabout World Bank Road, the axis of the state capital claimed that the Tue facility was invaded by some staff of the establishment. ‌ Conducting newsmen round the vandalised hotel complex, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Joseph Duruaku, said that officials of OCDA on arrival in a commando way began looting and vandalisation of spree of items belonging to the hotel. Duruaku listed the items vandalised and carted away by the officials to include: 5 television sets, a music system, fan, split unit, broken window louvres, 6 seriatos, broken safe, 2 Air conditioners as well as some vital documents tearfully. Duruaku who put the value of the items lost at N9 million said that he had forwarded a petition to the Commissioner of Police in the state and the Director of Department of State Services on the matter and had as well contacted the lawyer to the company for his necessary action. “They claimed to have come from the OCDA but when I got in touch with their officials on my mobile phone, they claimed knowledge of the incident but the leader of the team who carried out the operation – one Hon. Godwin Nwankwo dropped a letter wherein he (Nwankwo) claimed that his mission was to carry out a structural integrity soil notice on the hotel.” Narrating his ordeal in the hands of the OCDA agents, a security guard, Dantata Audu, said that having bulldozed their way into the hotel premises, the officials descended on him, pushed him down and gave him the beating of his life and broke the main entrance glass door of the hotel. Reacting to the incident the General Manager of the Authority, Innocent Ikpamezie, in a telephone chat insisted that the staff are always guided by the provisions of the law in their operations. Ikpamezie blamed some members of the public for their often unwarranted aggression and hostility to the staff of the Authority performing their legitimate duties. He said: “Let them give you whatever information they want and if we visit any hotel and if does not possess the necessary official documents for operation, the law permits us to seal it.”

Special Counsel to Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Aloy Ejimakor, on Sunday said security agents should not molest supporters of his client coming to show solidarity as his trial resumes in Abuja on Monday. Ejimakor, in a statement on his Facebook page on Sunday, said the call was necessitated by media reports indicating those coming to Abuja to show solidarity with Kanu will be harassed or arrested by security agents. The statement reads: “This press statement is prompted by media reports indicating that those coming to Abuja to show solidarity with Mazi Nnamdi Kanu will be harassed or even arrested by security agents. “Let me make it clear that while I am not calling on people or Kanu’s supporters to throng Abuja for the hearing on Monday, it’s important to state that anybody who wishes to come is not doing anything illegal, provided such a person comes in peace. “Kanu’s trial is an open trial, not a secret trial and he’s presumed innocent until proven guilty. “Therefore, anybody wishing to be associated with his trial by being present in Abuja is protected by his Constitutional right to freedom of association and movement. “So, my message to all supporters of Kanu and even to Nigerian government is simple and that is: Everybody should be strictly guided by the rule of law pertinent to why Nnamdi Kanu is facing these tribulations and trials. “That pertinent rule of law is clearly codified by CAP A9, Laws of Federation of Nigeria, where it is stated at Article 20 that: “All peoples shall have the right to existence. They shall have the unquestionable and inalienable right to self-determination. “They shall freely determine their political status and shall pursue their economic and social development according to the policy they have freely chosen. “Above is the fulcrum of every other crime the Nigerian government is alleging against Kanu. “Therefore, once government recognizes that the enterprise upon which Kanu is engaged is expressly recognized or protected by laws, it will see that dialogue, not trials and violence, is the only legal pathway to containing it. “I am saying this because the same Law that protects self determination also requires the government to accommodate it. Article 1 of that Law provides that Nigeria ‘shall recognise the rights, duties and freedoms enshrined in the Charter and shall undertake to adopt legislative or other measures to give effect to them’. “Further, subjecting Kanu to any trial under the circumstances of his extraordinary rendition will face lots of legal challenges. Where the government missed its way is believing that it can suppress the desire for self determination by means of punishment of some sort. History teaches that taking such a path ultimately proves fruitless, “So, what is expected on Monday is not a trial in terms of taking evidence but a procedural routine Lawyers call ‘taking a plea’ or a re-arraignment on the amended Charges that might be brought. “Should that happen, the procedure permits taking an adjournment to study the new Charges for the purpose of advising the defendant on the next steps. “So, there’s nothing significant that will happen on Monday that warrants anybody, including the government, to be jittery.”

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), in Kano State, has confirmed the death of 18 commuters involved in a ghastly car accident along Gadar Shiburu Riruwai-Doguwa road in Doguwa Local Government Area of Kano State as a result of a broken bridge. According to the Sector Commander, Zubairu Mato, the accident occurred on Friday when a bridge linking Riruwai and Doguwa broke down as a result of the heavy rainfall. He explained that the vehicle, a blue Volkswagen Sharon station wagon, plunged into the water, killing all the 18 passengers on board. It was also reported that five passengers who died during the accident were from the same family going to the Dambatta Local Government Area of the State. An eye witness had told Daily Trust that the accident was a result of a broken bridge due to the heavy downpour as the driver wasn’t aware that the bridge had broken down. He added that before the driver could manoeuvre the vehicle it was too late and he plunged into the water, killing the passengers on board. The FRSC added that all the dead have been buried according to Islamic rites.

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has declared that his Government is not allergic to constructive criticism and would also welcome great ideas that would add impetus towards the building of Imo collectively. Addressing Imolites over the weekend in Owerri at an enlarged stakeholders meeting, Governor Uzodimma said that his administration was poised at providing a good environment where every stakeholder, such as Board members in a corporate organisation, would find a space to contribute towards the development of our state. Uzodimma pointed out that constructive criticism should be the weapon of opposition politics adding that political party differences should not be an alibi for setting the state on fire. ‌ The governor reminded the people that the absence of justice and rule of law is an open invitational to anarchy with the corollary effect of self-help, loss of faith in government and a regime of survival of the fittest. He assured of his government’s resolve and responsibility towards ensuring that the rights of citizens as guaranteed by the constitution and other unwritten laws were preserved and protected. ​ “Under my watch, I make a solemn commitment to ensure that this government would work for all irrespective of local government, political party affiliation, religion or situation of birth. There would at all times be level playing ground for everybody and no one would be discriminated against or opportunities selectively created to favour anyone or group,” he reassured. While admonishing the people of the state to be their brothers’ keeper and think Imo first in whatever they do or say, Uzodimma advised opposition politics to be devoid of blackmail, trading on lies or engaging in acts capable of creating security challenges. He said: “We are first and foremost, Imo State citizens with equal rights and obligations to grow the state for the benefit of all. If the state is destroyed through propaganda and rumour mongering, it would amount to shooting ourselves on the foot, albeit, self destruct”. ​ The Governor stressed the need for people to work collectively to make Imo state a home of peace and grow the economy from that driven by federal allocation to the one that would run on Internally Generated Revenue, accruing from improved business activities of the citizens. Uzodimma warned that the political party which remained a vehicle should not be an instrument to destabilise the system, rather a veritable tool to keep the government in check by providing robust opposition. The Governor disclosed that a total of 42 roads across the state had been constructed and rehabilitated in the state since the assumption of office. He said that the government had changed the landscape of Fire Service and Warehouse Roundabout Junction in the capital city of Owerri through remodelling to ease transportation. According to the Governor, before January 2020, roads in Imo State were death traps, adding that road revolution in the state by the present government resulting in the discovery of Chukwuma Nwoha and Relief Market road had changed the ugly past.