APC chief shot dead at viewing centre, APC, Fayemi seek probe

KAMARUDEEN OGUNDELE

The All Progressives Congress in Ekiti State has challenged security agencies to fish out the killers of a commissioner in the Federal Character Commission, Bunmi Ojo, and prosecute them.

Ojo, a former Personal Assistant to ex-governor of Ekiti State, Segun Oni, was shot dead by unknown assailants at a football viewing centre around Ajitadidun area in Ado Ekiti on Friday night.

The deceased had gone to watch an English Premier league match between Manchester United and Leicester on Friday night with some of his friends.

Shortly after settling down to watch the  match, eyewitnesses told our correspondent that six gun-wielding men invaded the centre and shot him in the head and stomach at close range.

His remains have been deposited at the morgue of the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti.

The Publicity Secretary of the APC, Taiwo Olatunbosun, in a statement rued the untimely death of the APC chieftain, describing it as “a brutish end to a blossoming life and career.”

Describing Ojo as a personal friend and an amiable personality who would not hurt anyone, Olatunbosun said his death was a personal loss to him and everyone who was close to the deceased.

“Those who knew Bunmi (Ojo) cannot but like him, he was an easy-going and upright politician who cultivated friendship in both high and low places, which endeared him to many people.

According to him, his death could not be far from the political machinations of “a devilish politician” in the state.

"We will not rest until the assailants are fished out. This is a test of efficiency for the police and other security operatives,” Olatunbosun added.

Another member of the APC, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Ojo’s death might not be unconnected with his ambition to contest the Ekiti North Federal Constituency II in the House of Representatives.

The Federal Constituency is comprised of  Ido/Osi, Ilejemeje and Moba Local Governments.

The Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti, DSP Caleb Ikechukwu, could not be reached for comments.

Several calls to his phone by our correspondent were not picked.

However, the Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has condemned Ojo’s murder, calling on security agencies to arrest and prosecute the killers.

Punch 

AgegePulse

Housewife stabs husband to death over telephone call

by Samson Folarin

A 23-year-old housewife, Damilola Ayeni, has been arrested by the police in Lagos for allegedly stabbing her husband, Olumide, to death at their house on Bamgbose Street, Lagos Island.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the duo, who got married about two years ago with two children together, had a disagreement at their home on Friday.
The woman was said to have stabbed the 36-year-old husband in the chest.
He was rushed to the Lagos Island General Hospital where he died.

The deceased’s father, Sunday Ayeni, who reported the case to the police, told our correspondent on Sunday that the couple’s marriage was fraught with disagreements.

The Ikale, Ondo State indigene explained that he had tried to intervene, but he was stopped by some family members, who warned him to back off.
He said his son was murdered by the wife over suspicion of infidelity.

Sunday said, “My son and I work at the Lagos Island General Hospital. While I work as a security guard, he worked in the pharmacy department. They got married at the Ikoyi registry.

“They had issues many times and my son reported her to me. I told them to go their separate ways, but people said I should not come between them.
“On Friday, after my son and I closed from work in the evening, he went for a party. Around that time, he called his wife on the telephone and they spoke.

“When he returned home that night, his wife waited for him at the door and stopped him from entering. She said she heard the voice of a woman in the background when they spoke on the telephone and accused him of infidelity. That was how she stabbed him in the chest and killed him. There was no struggle between them. Their two children were taken away by the wife’s mother. She has a three-month-old baby.”

He demanded justice for his son, describing him as gentle and easy-going.
A source, however, told our correspondent that the woman in her statement to the police said she acted in self defence.

The source noted that the Lagos State indigene claimed that her husband was the aggressor.
He said, “The woman said the deceased called her mobile phone sometime in the evening, but she missed the call. When he came back home around 1am on Saturday, he queried her whereabouts when he called her phone. He accused her of infidelity and charged at her with a knife. She then picked the kitchen knife and stabbed him in self-defence.”

PUNCH Metro gathered that the remains of the Ondo State indigene had been deposited in a morgue awaiting autopsy.

The suspect, who was arrested by policemen from the Lion Building division, had reportedly been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Yaba.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Chike Oti, said the Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi, was saddened by the rise in spousal killings.

He said, “Early Saturday morning, the police got a report that a woman, Damilola Ayeni, stabbed her husband, Olumide Ayeni, with a knife on the left side of the chest. The victim was rushed to the Lagos Island General Hospital where he died.

“The CP advises couples to resolve their matrimonial disputes amicably without resorting to violence which may ultimately lead to the death of either of them.”

Customs officer kills two colleagues in Lagos

Two officers of the Nigeria Customs Service lost their lives in a tragic accident on the Lagos-Badagry Expressway on Saturday.

The three officials were reportedly attached to the Seme Border Command, Lagos.

While the two crushed customs officers died on the spot, the driver of the Avalon was said to be unconscious at the Intensive Care Unit of the Badagry General Hospital, where he was receiving treatment.

Our correspondent gathered that officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps, led by the Badagry unit Commander, Fatai Bakare, deposited the remains of the deceased in a morgue.

A witness said the accident was caused by a burst tyre.

He said, “The incident happened around 7.45am on Saturday at Gbaji checkpoint. The customs officers were crushed to death by a Toyota Avalon driven by another customs officer of the same command.

“His car was descending the Gbaji Bridge and heading for Seme when one of his tyres burst. He lost control, thereby sending the two officers to their death.”

The customs unit commander, Bakare, however, said the accident was caused by speeding.

He said, “The customs officers were inside their vehicle at one of the checkpoints on the Lagos-Seme Road. The driver of the Avalon was on top speed when he crashed into them. He veered off the road and rammed into them. The two customs officers died on the spot, while the man responsible for the accident is in a coma.”

The Public Relations Officer of the NCS, Seme Command, Saidu Abdulahi, confirmed the incident and identified the deceased as Usman and Kabiru.

 He also confirmed that the driver of the Avalon was a customs officer and identified him as George.

 He said, “On Saturday, July 14, 2018, I received reports of an incident involving three officers of the Seme Area Command at Gbaji checkpoint. Usman and Kabiru were involved in a ghastly motor accident which resulted in their fatalities.

“The driver of the other vehicle, George, is currently on admission at a general hospital.”

Punch

HOFOWEM BLESSES CHILDREN AT CHRISTMAS

Hope for Women in Nigeria Initiative, HOFOWEM, a pet project of the wife of Lagos State governor, Bolanle Ambode, has distributed various gift items to more than 500 children at Massey Childrens Hospital, Lagos and Sought After Childrens Orphanage Home, Langbasa Ajah, in a project tagged: Love at Christmas.

In a statement signed by Assistant Director, Public Affairs
Office of the Wife of the Governor of Lagos State Governor, Mrs Folashade Kadiri, it was revealed that children aged between one month and 15 years, got various gift items, that left them feeling happy and included in the yuletide celebration.

Mrs Bolanle Ambode (m), supported by CEO. HOFOWEM, Ms. Oyefunke Adeleke (L), to present Xmas gifts to Miss Oluwatimileyin Bamgbade 

Commenting on the gesture, the founder of HOFOWEM, Bolanle Ambode, noted that it was intended to put smiles on the faces of those children and integrate them into the celebration of christmas.

Mrs Bolanle Ambode (m) supported by CEO. HOFOWEM, Ms. Oyefunke Adeleke (2nd right); and MD. Massey Street Children’s Hospital, Lagos, Dr. Olugbenga Aina  (r), to present Xmas gifts to Miss Zainab Kotun

What Christmas requires of all of us, is to show love and spread happiness among everyone including children. They are young persons, they need our care and special expression of love to partake in the celebrations.

Christmas celebrations are not complete when we have not touched these children tenderly. As it were, this is just a token of love for the children from the foundation.

Speaking further, the governors wife noted that the cardinal philosophy of her foundation was to affect the lives of less-privileged persons, through interventions that bring radical improvement for them. She recalled that HOFOWEM had organized various programmes in the past, with the sole objective of putting smiles on the faces of that category of persons, promising that the foundation would unfold more children and women-friendly programmes in the coming year.

Also speaking, the commissioner for health, Dr. Jide Idris, represented by Dr. Funmilayo Shokunbi, expressed appreciation to the governors wife and the foundation, stressing that, the gesture would go a long way in putting smiles on the faces of the children.

According to him, This noble gesture goes a long way in putting not just smiles on the faces of the children, but also demonstrates your genuine love and care for them.

That you have left the comfort of your home at this period to spend time with these children, goes a long way in showing your heart of meekness, kindness and love and there is no better way to express love and integrate the children into the celebration of the yuletide, than this visit Dr Idris stressed.

The chief executive officer of the foundation, Ms. Oyefunke Adeleke, thanked the founder for graciously approving the project, aimed at providing succor for the children, stressing that HOFOWEMs agenda was about happiness for the weak and vulnerable. She hinted that many programmes had been lined up for children and women in the new year and would be unveiled one after the other.

On behalf of the parents of the children, Mr. Emmanuel Stephen, expressed deep gratitude to the governors wife and the foundation, for what they described as the great act of kindness, praying that God would reward her most generously.

Former Vice President of Nigeria, Dr Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme is dead.

A statement from his family signed by his brother and the traditional ruler of Oko in Anambra State, Igwe Laz Ekwueme said that he died by 10:00 pm in a London clinic, Sunday.

The statement read: “Ekwueme family regrets to announce the peaceful passing away of their patriarch, the former Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Dr. Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme GCON.

“The sad event occurred at the London Clinic at 10:00 pm on Sunday 19th November 2017.”

Ekwueme had slumped in his Enugu residence, and immediately taken to the Memfys Neurosurgery Hospital Enugu, where he relapsed and went into a coma.

As soon as he was stabilized in the hospital he was flown to London in an air ambulance last week.

Source: Sahara Reporters

Ambode launches new access road to LASUTH

... Orders contractors to complete Ayinke House in six months

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Wednesday launched the new access road connecting the premises of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja from Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way.

Speaking at the launching, Governor Ambode expressed delight at the completion of the project, saying it was designed to facilitate faster access to medical care, thereby saving lives.

He said it was a thing of joy that after about three to four decades, another access road had been created to LASUTH.

In his words: We are delighted to be here. We believe strongly that the major cornerstone for the growth of the economy of Lagos actually lies in the hands of all of you here because if we don't have a healthy state, we cannot have a productive economy and that was why we decided that we would pay greater attention to the health sector.

While commending the management of the institution, Ambode assured that his administration would not relent in implementing policies and project to scale up the health sector.

The Governor, who also used the opportunity to inspect the progress of work on the LASUTH Maternity Hospital popularly known as Ayinke House, ordered contractors handling the project to ensure completion of the project within the next six months.

Earlier, the Chief Medical Director of LASUTH, ProfessorAdewale David Oke commended Governor Ambode for his commitment to the health sector, saying several projects had been executed in the institution since the inception of the present administration.

Speaking on the launched  road, Oke said: This is a dream come true. For many years, we have had a problem with movement of patients into the hospital. Sometimes, they are in the ambulance for fifteen or twenty minutes before they can get in but this road has solved that problem.

Also speaking, Professor Babatunde Sholagbero, Provost of Lagos State University College of Medicine, said the completion of the road was a proof of a promise made and kept by the state government.

He also thanked Governor Ambode for facilitating the accreditation of Dentistry for the Institution, thereby making Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH / LASUCOM) the only state university in Nigeria that has a Bachelor of Dentistry degree.

He added: By the World Health Organisation (WHO) statistics, the accepted dentist to the patient population in the United States is 1 to 2000, but for Africa, is 1 to 150,000. So, for every dentist we produce, we will now have 150,000 Lagosians being catered for.

Aside from that, there are many other projects that the present administration has implemented in our institution and we are now a toast among other medical colleges, Solagbero said.

Obafemi Martins donates 200 Wheel Chairs, 3,240 Crutches, other health equipment to LASG

AgegePulse

Governor Ambode described it as a Good Gesture, Act of Selfless Service, Commitment To Humanity.

Nigeria Football international, Obafemi Martins on Thursday donated health equipment worth several millions of naira to the Lagos State Government, saying it was part of his philanthropic gestures to give back to the society.

Among the equipment donated by Martins, through his foundation, Obafemi Martins Foundation (OMF), include 200 Wheel Chairs, 3,240 Crutches, 100 Baby Courts, 60 Hospital Beds, 13 Electric Wheel Chairs and 3200 Blind Sticks.

Presenting the equipment to the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode at a short ceremony held at Lagos House in Ikeja, Martins, who currently plies his trade with Shanghai Greenland Shenhua F.C in China, said the mission of his Foundation is to assist members of the community who are in need as a result of being handicapped.

I am grateful to announce that the Foundation is currently prepared to donate a lot of wheel chairs, electronic wheel chairs, clutches and other equipment. I am confident that this contribution will impact lives in our communities. Through service to our community, we can all make a difference, Martins said.

He, however, said that the Foundation would not only stop at the donation, adding that there would be more interventions in the nearest future.

Receiving the equipment on behalf of the State Government, Governor Ambode commended Martins for the gesture, saying that it was not only a worthy and noble act of selfless service, but a clear demonstration of his commitment to Nigeria and most especially Lagos State.

We are all delighted to welcome Obafemi Martins back home. As you are aware, he is a true born Lagosian and through his Foundation, he has deemed it necessary to extend selfless service back to his community.

We are, on behalf of Lagosians, saying a big thank you to you. Apart from the fact that you have become an excellent ambassador for Lagos, you’ve done extremely very well in your chosen career. You’ve also deemed it fit that it’s time to pay back to humanity. Apart from the fact that these are things that we would use in our hospitals, there are also things that we are going to use for people living with disabilities.

This actually complements the efforts of the government to support our less privileged brothers and sisters. You have shown yourself to be a true role model on and off the pitch and Lagos State is very proud to associate with you. Once again, I commend you for your philanthropic gesture and wish you more successes in your endeavours, the Governor said.

Governor Ambode, who later presented a letter of commendation personally signed by him to Martins, also seized the occasion to encourage other well-meaning Nigerians and organisations that have the opportunity to contribute back to the community to emulate such gesture.

I have been reliably informed few weeks back that we also had this kind of gesture from the proprietor of Ebeano Supermarket for the giant stride he did for us at Ibeju-Lekki General Hospital, I want to also use this opportunity to say a big thank you to him and also to let others willing to support us and complement the efforts of government to do the same, the Governor said.

He said Martins’ gesture has reinforced his administration’s belief that sports remains a veritable tool that can be utilized to touch humanity, just as he assured that the equipment would be put to judicious use especially at the Primary Healthcare Centres across the State.

I think that there is no thank you that is enough. It would go into our history books that you are one of the firsts of our people that would actually give back to the community and to the society, Governor Ambode said.

Earlier, Special Adviser to the Governor on Sports, Mr. Deji Tinubu, said the donation by OMF was a testament to what can be achieved through sports, stating that it was for this reason the present administration is advocating the use of sports for development of the State.

Also speaking, Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris said the State Government welcomes such gestures, noting that aside government’s determination to make available all essential equipment in public hospitals, donations by public-spirited persons out of their sheer will of commitment to support government’s effort are worthy of emulation and indeed commendable.