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Akeredolu Vows To Arm Amotekun Against FG’s Directive, Says “If Katsina Can, Ondo Will”

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The executive governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) says the state will procure arms for operatives of the Western Nigeria Security Network, codenamed Amotekun.

The senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN) said if the federal government can allow a security outfit in Katsina to carry arms, then Amotekun should be granted the same right.

“The video making the rounds showing the equivalent of the Western Nigeria Security Network (Amotekun Corps) in Katsina, obtaining the approval of the Federal Govt. to bear arms is fraught with great dangers,” he said.

“Denying Amotekun the urgently needed rights, to legitimately bear arms is a repudiation of the basis of true federalism which we have been clamouring for.

“That Katsina was able to arm its state security force, with the display of AK47 means we are pursuing one country, two systems” solution to the national question.

“If the katsina situation conferring advantages on some, in the face of commonly faced existential threats, it means that our unitary policing system, which has failed, is a deliberate method of subjugation which must be challenged.

“The Independence agreement was based on a democratic arrangement to have a federal state and devolved internal security mechanics. We must go back to that agreement.

“Denying Amotekun the right to bear arms exposes the Southwest to life-threatening marauders and organized crime. It is also deliberate destruction of our agricultural sector. It is an existential threat.

“We want to reiterate, that what is sauce for the goose, is sauce for the gander. Ondo State government under the doctrine of necessity have decided to fulfil its legal, constitutional and moral duty to the citizens of the State, by acquiring arms to protect them.

“This is more so, given that the bandits have unchecked access to sophisticated weapons. The State government cannot look on while its citizens are being terrorized and murdered with impunity. We will defend our people.”

Akeredolu’s statement comes a few weeks after Samuel Ortom, governor of Benue, said if the federal government refused to approve the license for arms for the state’s security outfit, he would get approval from his people.

The federal government had said security outfits set up by various state governments cannot bear firearms.

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55-Yr-Old Woman Slumps, Dies While Sharing Testimony In Lagos Church

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A 55-year-old woman, identified as Ifeoma, tragically passed away on September 8, 2024, after collapsing during Sunday service at a church in the Ejigbo area of Lagos State.

According to reports, Ifeoma had stepped forward to share her testimony around 8:48 am when she suddenly collapsed. Despite prompt medical attention, she died shortly thereafter.

Lagos State Police Command spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident on Wednesday, stating that Ifeoma was rushed to a nearby hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Eyewitnesses described the scene as Ifeoma sang praises and prepared to share her testimony before suddenly collapsing.

He stated, “The Zonal accountant of the church in Ejigbo came to the station and reported that during testimony hour in the church, while the service was on, Ifeoma came out singing songs to give her testimony when she suddenly slumped.

“She was quickly rushed to a nearby hospital but was referred to the General Hospital in Isolo, where she was confirmed dead.

“Based on the report, detectives were detailed to visit the hospital with the complainant. On getting there, they were told that the husband and family of the deceased had taken the corpse to Anambra State, where she came from for burial.”

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Two UK-based Nigerians Risk Life Jail After Rape Conviction

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Two Nigerians, Tosin Dada and Solomon Adebiyi, now face the possibility of life imprisonment for multiple rape charges after being convicted by a jury at the Northampton Crown Court in the United Kingdom.

It was gathered from Lawtons Solicitors, a UK-based law firm, and a feminist charity organisation, Rape Crisis (England & Wales), that under the UK’s Sexual Offences Act 2003, the maximum sentence for rape is life imprisonment.

It was earlier reported that the Northamptonshire Police announced the conviction of the two Nigerians on its official Facebook page on Monday.

The conviction of Dada and Adebiyi follows weeks after a Nigerian pilot, Olukayode Ojo, was found guilty in a Texas court in the United States for making false statements to obtain a certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration.

The Northamptonshire Police announced that the convicts, Dada and Adebiyi, had each been charged with three counts of rape related to a March 2022 incident, while claiming they had engaged in consensual sex with a 17-year-old girl.

However, the jury found these claims false, ruling against them and declaring both guilty.

“Tosin Dada, 34, previously of Knox Road, Wellingborough, and Solomon Adebiyi, 39, previously of Stanley Street, Northampton, were both charged with three counts of rape each in connection with the offence on March 12, 2022.

“Their nine-day trial at Northampton Crown Court ended last week with both men being found unanimously guilty by the jury on all charges after eight hours of deliberation.

“Both men were remanded into custody ahead of sentencing at Northampton Crown Court on October 25, 2024,” the police disclosed.

Lawtons noted that while the average prison sentence for rape ranges from four to 19 years, varying from case to case, there is no statutory minimum sentence for the crime.

“Generally, sentencing for rape convictions starts from four years imprisonment. This sentence would only be given for category three offences and it is also very rare to receive such a short sentence, given that the majority of rape convictions also include some degree of harm or culpability.

“The maximum sentence for rape is life imprisonment. However, when using the term ‘sentenced for life’, it does not mean that someone will spend their whole life in prison. Instead, someone who is given a life sentence usually spends 15 years in prison.

“In these cases, the offenders will spend the rest of their lives on a life licence. This means they would immediately be called back to prison if they were to commit another crime,” the law firm stated on its website.

Our correspondent also learnt that the possibility of the convicted Nigerians bagging life imprisonment for the crime was possible, as mentioned on the official Rape Crisis (England & Wales) website.

“Rape is defined as someone with a penis penetrating another person’s vagina, anus, or mouth without consent and carries a maximum sentence of life in prison,” the feminist charity organisation stated.

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JUST IN: Court Grants Bail To 10 #EndBadGovernance Protesters Arraigned For ‘Treason’

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A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to 10 protesters associated with the #EndBadGovernance movement, who are standing trial for alleged treason.

The defendants, Michael Adaramoye, Adeyemi Abayomi, Suleiman Yakubu, Opaoluwa Simon, Angel Innocent, Buhari Lawal, Mosiu Sadiq, Bashir Bello, Nuradeen Khamis, and Abdulsalam Zubairu, were arraigned before Presiding Judge Emeka Nwite on September 2.

They pleaded not guilty to a six-count charge, including: treason, intent to destabilize Nigeria,conspiracy to commit felony, inciting mutiny.

These offenses are punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code. Additional allegations include: attempting to start a war, intimidating the president, attacking and injuring police officers, burning police stations.

The defendants were also charged with torching the NCC complex in Kano, Kano Printing Press, Kano government house, and several other buildings.

Although the defendants had applied for bail through their different lawyers, Nwite ordered their remand in prison custody pending a ruling on the application on September 11.

Delivering the ruling on Wednesday, Nwite granted a N10 million bail to the defendants.

They are to produce one surety each in like sum. The sureties must have landed property in Abuja, produce documents of the properties, and submit them to court.

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