A corps serving with Osun Amotekun, identified as Eluwanda Demilade, was said to have slumped and died on his farmland. It was gathered that the deceased, serving with Amotekun Corps in the Ife-South local government area of Osun state fell while working on his cocoa farm on Saturday. A residents in Ile-Ife, Alabi Adewole disclosed that the deceased was found dead on his farm when some farmers were returning from the farm. It was learnt that the deceased body has been taken to Ajidara in Ile-Ife for burial by his family. Confirming the incident Osun state’s spokesperson of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Kehinde Adeleke said the deceased fell and slumped while working on the farm on Saturday. She said, “the deceased wife who witnessed the incidents told us that he slumped while plucking cocoa and died on the farm”. Meanwhile, Osun Amotekun Corps Commandant, Brigadier-General Bashir Adewimbi, rtd, confirmed the incident, saying the detail of the incident is yet to be made available to him.

  Justice Donatus Okorowo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has restrained the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Department of State Services (DSS) from detaining Senator Abdulaziz Yari pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice. In a ruling on an ex-parte motion moved by Michael Aondoaaa, Justice Okorowo also ordered the anti-graft agencies to show cause in the next adjourned date on why the prayers sought on the motion ex-parte should not be granted. The Justice consequently adjourned the matter until June 8 for the respondents to show cause. The former governor prayed the court for an order, restraining the respondents, and their officials, from arresting or threatening to arrest and detain him in order to prevent him from participating in the Proclamation of the 10th Senate by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on June 13.   Yari, who gave 15 grounds on why the application should be granted, averred that he was desirous of contesting the position of the President of the Senate of the 10th National Assembly in accordance with the 1999 Constitution (as amended), and pursuant to the Senate Standing Orders p2022 as (amended). He said his aspiration to contest the position of President of the Senate had received overwhelming support from the general public and amongst distinguished senators-elect irrespective of party affiliations. He said the support which the applicant has continued to garner across party lines has drawn consternation from some members of his political party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) who have allegedly resorted to using the respondents and their agents to harass, threaten to arrest and detain the applicant on trumped-up charges for the period leading to the First Sitting of the Senate when nominations and election of presiding officers shall be constituted. Yari says if the order was not given, his rights would have been breached by the respondents.

  Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja has discharged and acquitted a former Head of Service of the Federation (HoS), Steve Oronsaye, from the N190m corruption charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Justice Ekwo discharged Oronsaye from the fraud charges due to want of merit in the allegations against him. Delivering judgement on Monday, Justice Ekwo held that EFCC failed to provide enough evidence to warrant Oronsaye’s conviction.   The former Head of Service of the Federation was arraigned alongside one Osarenkhoe Afe, on a 49-count charge that was later reduced to 22. The EFCC alleged that the defendants had between 2010 and 2011 used some firms to divert public funds through procurement fraud. The EFCC equally accused Orosanye and the others of using inflated biometrics enrolment contracts, collective allowances, and other schemes to siphon money from accounts containing pensioners’ funds. But Justice Ekwo held that the anti-graft agency failed to supply the court, with ingredients that could establish the alleged corruption charges against Oronsaye. The judge subsequently dismissed the charges in relation to Oronsaye, discharged and acquitted him.   Justice Olasumbo Goodluck of the Court of Appeal had dismissed similar fraud charges against Oronsaye, discharged and acquitted him on the ground that the charges were frivolous and lacked merit that can lead to a conviction of the defendant.

  It was a drama at the Ondo State Magistrate Court in Odigbo, the headquarters of the Odigbo Local Government Area of the state, as a defendant, Segun Akala, ran out of the court premises after the magistrate ordered his remand. It was gathered that Akala was charged to court over alleged stealing and was arraigned before the court on one count. A source in the court said, “Immediately the magistrate, D. O Ogunfuyi, ordered his remand, the defendant, with handcuffs in his hands, took to his heels, jumped out through the court’s window and fled to a nearby bush. “It took the intervention of policemen within the court area to apprehend him and take him back to the court.” The defendant was alleged to have stolen a motor saw chain and pullover clothes valued at N336,000, belonging to one Akintan Akintade. Earlier, the Police Prosecutor, Usifo James, informed the court that the defendant committed the offence on May 27, 2023, at Aipon Road, Via Odigbo, Ondo State. According to the prosecutor, the offence committed is contrary to Section 390 (9), of the Criminal Code, Cap. 37 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria 2006. The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against him. The prosecutor sought an adjournment to enable him to study the case file and prepare his witnesses for trial, but the defence counsel, Mr Rufus Omotayo, prayed the court to grant the defendant bail. Senior Magistrate Ogunfuyi, in his ruling, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum. He ordered the defendant to be remanded at the Okitipupa Correctional Centre pending the perfection of his bail and adjourned the case till June 23, 2023.

  The Joint Health Sector Unions and Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations have suspended its indefinite strike for 21 days. The suspension was announced after the leadership of the unions held a meeting with President Bola Tinubu on Monday. The Acting National Secretary, Matthew Ajirotu, in a text message sent to our correspondent, said the president promised to approve their demands. He said, “JOHESU has just suspended its strike with a caveat to review it after 21 days. “We met President Tinubu today at a 1-hour parley and he promised to give approval to the demands after further consultations with appropriate quarters in government.” Details later…

  The National Industrial on Monday granted an interim order restraining the Nigerian Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress from embarking on strike on Wednesday. Justice O. Y. Anuwe issued the order and adjourned further hearing till 19 June. More to follow….

  The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) has declared industrial action over the removal of fuel subsidy. The pump price of fuel tripled after President Bola Tinubu declared that fuel subsidy was gone. The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) had directed its retail station to jerk up the price of fuel per litre from N197 to between N488 and N570. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) had subsequently declared nationwide strike, with effect from Wednesday. In a statement, JUSUN’s General Secretary, M.J. Akwashiki, directed all branches and chapters of the union to begin nationwide mobilisation and withdrawal of service from Wednesday. “This followed a decision of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) at her meeting on 2nd June, 2023 over the increase in the pump price of the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) by the Federal Government through the NNPCL,” he said. “All zonal vice presidents are to coordinate their zones by ensuring that branch and chapters chairmen mobilise their members for a total compliance.”

  The immediate past governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has said he would make consultations with his wife and friends to determine whether or not to take up any appointment offer from President Bola Tinubu. Wike, in an interview with BBC Pidgin, insisted that his wife and friends are the set of people he would first reach out to. The Peoples Democratic Party chieftain who clarified that the President had yet to broach any such issue with him, however declared that he is not too big to serve the country. However, Wike said he would want to rest for now, after serving as a governor for eight years. According to him, “I’m going to rest; I have worked for eight years, so I’m going to rest. “Tinubu has not informed me about getting an appointment; I’m not too big to serve my country, but he has never told me that he would give me an appointment. “If he asks me, the first thing I will do is ask my wife and friends what they think about it. “I will also assess myself if I’m prepared. I will never do what I’m not ready for,” he remarked. Wike had ruled out plans to defect to the All Progressives Congress, even after meeting with President Bola Tinubu on Friday. He said he only visited the president to offer him support four days after his inauguration.