The Pacesetter News reported that the Oyo NUJ directed its members not to attend any media parley called by Fani Kayode. According to the State Chairman, Comrade Ademola Babalola, the directive was in solidarity with a Daily Trust journalist in Cross Rivers state who the ex minister called “stupid” for asking him who is bankrolling his trips.

In a communique issued at the end of her special  executive council meeting held on Monday at its State Secretariat – Iyaganku, the Oyo NUJ described the appearance of some of her members at the media parley as very unfortunate.

The communique which was jointly signed by the state council chairman, Ademola Babalola; secretary, Sola Oladapo; treasurer, Akeem Abas; financial secretary, Abiodun Atilola; ex-officio, Bunmi Elegbede and ex-officio, Dare Adekanmbi, reads:

“following the reported Media Parley attended by some members of the NUJ, against the prevailing fouled up atmosphere by a former Aviation Minister, Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode by his recent unguarded statement on a Daily Trust Newspaper Correspondent in Calabar, Eyo Charles, the executive of the Union met on Monday in Ibadan and resolved as follows:-

“That the union viewed the parley FFK had with with some of our colleagues at Agodi Government House as unfortunate

“That the members concerned have been chastised by the Chairman, Ademola Babalola who expressed serious misgivings on their attitude during a live Radio programme on Monday morning.

” That the executive commended the Chairman for rising to the occasion to save the image of the union from ruins by his conduct so far.

“The Council agreed that the concerned members be referred to the NUJ Ethics and Disciplinary Committee.

” The Union commended the over 90% of members who shunned the event for being great compatriots

“The Union appealed to members to always solidarise with their colleagues and be their brother’s keeper because ‘our union makes us strong’.”

The Cybercrime Unit of the Nigeria Police Force, INTERPOL, National Central Bureau, Abuja has arrested two (2) suspects for their complicity in a major multi-million Euro scam touching on procurement of COVID-19 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). 

The suspects, Babatunde Adesanya a.k.a Teddy, 50years old Master degree holder in Cell Biology and Akinpelu Hassan Abass, 41years old, the M.D Musterpoint Investment Nig. Ltd, who are members of a sophisticated transnational criminal network, cloned the corporate website of ILBN Holdings BV, Holland to transact with and defraud one Freiherr Fredrick Von Hahn, a representative of the German State of North Rhine-Westphalia.

According to the police, the arrest of the suspects was sequel to a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) received by the Bureau from the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice conveying a request from the German Government for investigations into a fraudulent transaction on the procurement of COVID-19 Personal Protective Equipment linked to a Nigerian-based Bank Account.

Discrete investigations by INTERPOL Nigeria revealed that the suspects and their Holland-based cohorts, one Eduardus Boomstra and Geradius Maulder specialized in identity theft, cyber-stalking, cloning of corporate websites amongst other cyber mischiefs to defraud unsuspecting members of the public across the world. In this instance, the suspects fraudulently obtained from Mr Freiherr Fredrick Von Hahn the sum of 1.5m Euro and another 880,000 Euro as advanced payment for the supply of COVID-19 PPEs valued at 14.7million Euros. Disturbed by the non-arrival of the PPEs, Mr Freiherr Fredrick Von Hahn eventually visited the corporate office of ILBN Holdings BV in Holland to inquire reasons for the delay in supplying the items only to find out that the company never did business with him and that the transaction was a scam.

“The fraudsters merely cloned the company’s website and falsely presented themselves as representatives of the company before subsequently executing the fraudulent transaction”

“Consequently, he reported the case of fraud to the Police in Holland and this led to the arrest of Eduardus Boomstra and Geradius Maulder in Holland and investigations extended to Nigeria. Investigation by INTERPOL Nigeria further revealed that Babatunde Adesanya received 498,000 Euro from Eduardus Boomstra and Geradius Maulder through his Citibank London account and transferred same to an account number domiciled with a Lagos branch of a leading commercial bank in Nigeria belonging to Musterpoint Investment Nig. Ltd”.

While commending the Commissioner of Police, INTERPOL, CP Garba Baba Umar and operatives of INTERPOL Nigeria, Cybercrime Unit for a job well done, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP M.A Adamu, NPM, mni assures members of the public and the international community of the commitment of the Force to tackling cybercrimes and other transnational crimes. He reiterates that there will be no hiding place for internet fraudsters in the country.

The police said that the suspects will be arraigned before a competent court of law soon.

In order to effectively contain the spread of the Coronavirus disease across the globe, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said ”Vaccine distribution should be accessible to all, not on the basis of highest bidder”

The Vice president said this while speaking at the virtual 2020 EURAFRICAN Forum themed “Towards a realistic Euro-African partnership during and beyond the COVID-19 era”

“This is a matter that should not be taken for granted. We saw during the height of
the COVID-19 pandemic, in richer parts of the world, that orders for test kits and reagents by African countries were deemed too small and tended to be ignored,” he added.

The  National Coordinator of the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19,  Dr. Sani Aliyu had on Thursday announced  the reopening of sports without fans under the close supervision of the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development and the National  Agency for Disease  Control.

According  to a statement issued by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry Mr Gabriel Aduda,  “ We commend President,Mohammadu Buhari, the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 for reopening  football and team sports and the NYSC Orientation which has been  in the cooler  since the outbreak of Covid-19. We are happy that our athletes can now return to action and do what they know how best to do and our youth can return to camp.  The last few months have been very tough for our athletes as well as the Ministry. The Ministry shall ensure full compliance with all necessary protocols and tests before approval is given for resumption or sporting activity or football matches. Approval must be sought and given before any game is played, all protocols must be put in place and guidelines obeyed as directed by PTF and NCDC.” The Ministry has set up a COVID-19 monitoring and approval team for every sport engagement and event.

While assuring that all steps for the resumption of the Nigerian domestic League is ongoing, Aduda warned that the league would not resume until basic conditions are fulfilled. “Indeed, the steps to return our football league to prime position is ongoing. The domestic League will not commence until the regulations and controls in the aspect of financial and licensing control are put in place. The NFF must  put clubs on notice and enforce these regulations and controls  as stipulated, otherwise  the Nigerian Professional and  Amateur  Leagues would not be approved  for resumption”.

Earlier, the Minister had directed the NFF to  communicate with the clubs the need to comply fully with financial controls and regulation as stipulated in the rule book  before a date can be fixed for the resumption of the  league.

By Oluwakemi Ishola 

Leadership crisis is brewing in the Oyo State Chapter of African Democratic Congress (ADC) as the state executives of the party alleged that Engr. Seyi Makinde-led PDP government is collaborating with some of its members to instigate dissolution of its state executive council.

It will be recalled that ADC last week Friday issued a communique, describing Governor Makinde as Ungrateful for his failure to respect the 2019 coalition agreement.

In a press release jointly signed by its Acting Chairman, Rev. Ezekiel Adeniran, Ass Publicity Secretary, Pastor David Orolade and others, Bx made available  to the Pacesetter News on Sunday, the party said that the move is to empanel a kangaroo caretaker committee which will be willing, able and ready to do the bidding of the current ruling party.

Read the detailed press release:

Press Statement

This mercantile approach to politics is sickening – Oyo ADC

The attention of the Oyo State Chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has been drawn to the plans by some members of our party, who, in cahoots with the ruling party and government in Oyo State, have finalised plans, to invite, incite and induce the National Executive Committee of our party to dissolve the current State Executive Committee, and consequently empanel a kangaroo Caretaker Committee, which will be willing, able and ready to do the bidding of the current ruling party.

While we already know the identity of those behind this laughable plan, and aren’t surprised at all as it were, for we know that their stock in trade, (especially now that they have children and allies in the current Oyo State government, while still pretending to remain members of our party, and are themselves defacto members of the Peoples Democratic Party), is to run with the hare and hunt with the hounds, we’re shocked that the National Executive Committee of our party, which played no part in our political campaigns, especially that of our governorship candidate, despite the deluge of funds accruable to it, particularly from aspirants from Oyo State, and failed to make refunds when same was recommended as a basis for reconciliation with aggrieved aspirants, could lend itself to such petty and puerile politics.

Besides, what would even be the excuse of the National Executive Committee to, without recourse to good reasoning, sound judgment or factual evidence, arbitrarily dissolve the Oyo State Executive Committee? Is it to mean that its touted “money for hand, back for ground” style, which got several people disappointed with the National Executive Committee of our party in the build-up to the 2019 polls, is never for once going to end?

It is instructive to add that, the National Executive Committee’s local collaborators here, particularly those in bed with those at helms of the state affairs, being a set of ingrates that they are, would definitely not see anything wrong in such classless and unprincipled position, and would, as available information suggests, heavily fund such undemocratic takeover. After all, the lesser the available opposition, the better it is for their floundering, nonperforming and inexperienced government, we can only put them on notice, that from time immemorial, betrayers have never succeeded, they’re not likely to, this time too.

As a party of principled men and women, committed to the welfare and socioeconomic empowerment of our people, we feel it can only be right, to appeal to Senator Olufemi Lanlehin (SOLAN), our governorship candidate in the last polls, to forthwith, without much ado, begin the processes of forging partnership and negotiations with any other political party, other than this present “cash and carry”, “bread and butter” platform, whose love for filthy lucre, has blinded some of its topshots  to abandon principles, and chase shadows.

Like we rightly opined in our last communique, despite the ungratefulness of those we helped to power, the shameful actions of their local collaborators, and the deceitful stance of our National Executive Committee, we, of the Oyo State Chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), will continue to contribute our quota to the peace, progress and prosperity of not only Oyo State in particular,
but also that of Nigeria in general.

At the end of it all, we shall surely be vindicated.

SIGNED
Rev. Ezekiel Adeniran
Ag. State Chairman

Pastor David Orolade
Asst. Publicity Secretary

Alhaji Muraina Kakako
Financial Secretary

Alhaja Omotunde Lawal 
Oyo Central Woman Leader

Hon. Femi Oke
Treasurer