National
Ondo 2024: I’m in Race to Return Power to Masses— Ohunyeye
An All Progressive Congress governorship aspirant in Ondo State, Dr Olumide Ohunyeye, has said he was in the race to become the governor of the state to take power from the strongholds and give it back to the people for the benefit of the masses.
Ohunyeye said this on Thursday while holding parleys with leaders and members of the ruling APC in the four local governments of Akoko North-East, Akoko North-West, Akoko South-East and Akoko South-West.
The retired military officer while seeking the support of party stakeholders in the zone lamented that the state could not be placed on the same level with her counterparts in the Southwest geopolitical zone and oil producing states in terms of development due to inappropriate leadership succession in the state.
He noted that despite the huge resources in the state, people remained poor as it’s industries had become moribund.
“All the companies that were bringing in foreign exchange, like the Okitipupa Oil Palm Company, Oluwa Glass and Nigeria-Romania Wood Industry (NIROWI) among others, have all died. Why did they die? Because your leaders are not interested in your affairs. Government do not take interest in your affairs because they get monthly allocation. They also get “free money” from oil. Therefore, for you to see development anywhere, communities have to rely on their illustrious sons and daughters. What is government doing for the people? But the critical question is, who puts the government in power?” he asked
He added; “We have to think now. This is the time for us to take care of today, tomorrow and indeed, the future.
Certainly, the time has come that Ondo needs to think. We need leaders that will be passionate, ready to help us and will not make fake promises. Somebody that will not come and bribe you with money. When they get to Alagbaka government house they will recoup their investment for the next eight years if elected twice and might even pass it on to their cronies.”
“Go to Rivers and Akwa Ibom States, can we compare them with Ondo State in terms developmental projects? My dear people, l am sure we all have the same answer. This is not to blame our leaders because they have done what they could do within their capability. To me, l believe they have put in their best. However, this is the time to tell you that where they stopped, we are ready to improve the situation. Hence, we have to do more,” Ohunyeye stressed.
Ohunyeye further assured that he would create employment for the people of the state through agriculture and industrialisation. The government hopeful concluded that if elected, promised to revitalise the security, education, health and all other sectors that are critical to the overall progress and development of the Sunshine State.
Gunmen have abducted some female students of Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University in Makurdi, Benue state.
The students, reportedly numbering up to four, were abducted on Tuesday evening at the university’s North Core campus.
The students were said to have been headed for “night class”, a practice of late-night studying in Nigerian campuses.
The gunmen were said to have invaded the hotel area of the campus before abducting the four students.
Some moments after the incident, operatives of the Nigerian army arrived at the school.
Sewuese Anene, Benue police spokesperson, told TheCable on Wednesday that a report received by the police indicated that only two students were kidnapped during the incident.
Anene added that the police have launched an investigation into the matter.
The Markurdi incident is the latest in a series of abductions targeted at Nigeria’s tertiary school students in recent years.
In August 2024, at least 20 medical and dental students were kidnapped in Benue State while travelling to a convention in Enugu.
In September 2023, gunmen abducted approximately 20 students from a university in Zamfara state.
At Greenfield University in Kaduna State, at least 20 students and two staff members were kidnapped in April 2021.
Tragically, five students were killed during captivity before the remaining hostages were released after a month.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Jude Okoye, the elder brother and former manager of Paul and Peter Okoye of the defunct music group, P-Square, on charges of laundering ₦1.38billion, $ 1 million and £34,537.59.
Jude was arraigned alongside his company, Northside Music Ltd, before Justice Alexander Owoeye of the Federal High Court, Lagos, on a seven-count charge
One of the counts read: “That you, Jude Okoye Chigozie and Northside Music Ltd sometime in 2022, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did directly acquire a landed property known as No 5, Tony Eromosele Street Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos worth ₦850,000,000.00 (Eight hundred and fifty million naira) only, which money you knew or reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of unlawful act and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (2) (d) and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
Another count read: “That you, Jude Okoye Chigozie and Northside Music Ltd sometime in 2022, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did indirectly using bureau de change convert the sum of $1,019,762.87 (One million nineteen thousand, seven hundred and six-two dollars eighty-seven cents), domiciled in Access Bank Plc operated by Northside Music Lid to the naira equivalent and remitted into various bank accounts with the intention of concealing that the said fund form part of the proceeds of an unlawful act and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (2)(a) and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges.
In view of his plea, the prosecution counsel, Larry Peters Aso, applied for a date for hearing as well as for the remand of the defendant in the correctional facility pending trial.
The defendant’s counsel, Inibehe Effiong, informed the court of a pending bail application. He asked for a short date for the hearing. Effiong also asked that the defendant be remanded in the EFCC’s custody pending the hearing of the application.
Aso objected to the request for the defendant to be remanded in the EFCC custody. He argued that the EFCC custody was already congested with suspects awaiting arraignment. He urged the court to remand the defendant to the correctional facility since he had taken his plea.
Justice Owoeye adjourned the matter till February 28 for bail hearing and April 14 for trial.
He also ordered that the defendant be remanded in the Ikoyi correctional facility.
The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested Kogi-born political activist and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Austin Okai, in Abuja.
The arrest, which took place on Wednesday morning, was reportedly carried out on the directive of Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo.
Video footage obtained by Elanza shows heavily armed security operatives storming Okai’s residence in the Federal Capital Territory before taking him away.
While no official reason has been given for his arrest, sources suggest it may be connected to his outspoken criticism of the Kogi State government.
Okai, a well-known opposition figure, has frequently condemned the administration’s policies and governance.
His wife, speaking to reporters, claimed that the DSS operatives did not present an arrest warrant before detaining him.
“They came to arrest him at our home in Abuja without a warrant,” she said.
“They ransacked our house, forced their way inside, and took him away. I asked for a warrant, but they had none.”
She further alleged that Okai’s personal gadgets were confiscated during the operation.
As of the time of this report, the DSS has not issued any official statement regarding Okai’s detention.