A week before the end of his tenure in May 2019, the then Governor of Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi, pardoned an official of the Oyo State Ministry of Justice, Yewande Oyediran, who was sentenced to seven years in prison for killing her husband, Lowo.
Oyediran, who was a lawyer, was in November 2017, convicted for manslaughter by Justice Muntar Abimbola of the Oyo State High Court, sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State.
She killed her husband with a knife after a disagreement on February 2, 2016, at their residence in the Akobo area of Ibadan. The disagreement was said to have arisen after Yewande accused her late husband of infidelity.
However, a few days before leaving office, Governor Ajimobi granted the convict amnesty.
Yewande, reportedly ‘flees’ to London after her release by ex-Governor Ajimobi
Speaking on Sunday, the Attorney-General of Oyo State under Ajimobi, Mr. Seun Abimbola, said the governor had the constitutional right to grant amnesty to any convict.
He, however, said Ajimobi did not exercise the power arbitrarily as it was being insinuated.
Abimbola said on the day the convict was pardoned, 49 other persons were also freed by Ajimobi.
The former commissioner for justice said a committee was set up to look into the petitions of 400 persons who had pleaded for clemency.
He said the committee comprised commissioners, officials of the Department of State Services and other government agencies which then advised the government.
The former AG dismissed reports that the convict was pardoned because of her former position as an official of the ministry of justice and the influence of her family.
Abimbola said, “The issue of clemency by any government is constitutional but the exercise of that power is not arbitrary. It is based on the recommendation of the committee on the prerogative of mercy.
“The committee is chaired by the attorney-general and also has DSS officers, the police, the chaplain and the chief imam of the Government House, Legal Aid Council, Director, Legal Affairs, the Solicitor-General and the Directorate of Public Prosecution are members. So, it was not an arbitrary decision.
The lady in question is just one out of 50 that were pardoned. And the 50 that were pardoned were drawn out of 400 that were considers. So, she was not singled out as some are insinuating. Even the prisons authorities brought recommendations on the good behaviour of those pardoned.”
Abimbola maintained that Oyediran had already served half of her sentence and the governor decided to show her mercy since she was not convicted of premeditated murder.
He explained that nine months in prison is equal to a year, adding that her sentence began counting from the day she was detained.
The former commissioner added, “She was arrested in 2016 and her sentence started reading from the day she was arrested. A year in prison is nine months. She was not convicted for murder but for manslaughter. It was a fight between a husband and a wife which resulted in death.
“People should stop saying she killed her husband as if it was premeditated. The amnesty was not a secret one. We did it every May 29 and even the new governor pardoned convicts on June 12.”
The decision of the Ajimobi-led government to pardon the husband killer has, however, sparked a debate on social media.
Many argued that were the convict a man, he would not have been released so early from prison.
Many male Nigerians further stated that had it been a woman that was killed, several feminist groups would have taken to the streets to protest.
The Lagos State Government has announced plans to concession the operations of the Red and Blue Line rail systems to the private sector in order to ensure their sustainability and repay loans taken for the rail projects.
This announcement was made by the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, during a recent TVC News interview, where he discussed the measures being implemented to ensure the continued viability of the state’s rail systems.
Osiyemi explained that the concessioning process would involve transferring the operations of the rail systems to private sector players for a defined period. This approach is intended to ensure the continued operation and effective management of the rail projects.
“The ultimate game is for all our rail systems we’ve done—that is, the Red Line and Blue Line—there is going to be some concessionairing with the private sector for a period of time to ensure sustainability and continuity,” he stated.
He added, “The concessioning would help pay back the loans taken for the rail projects.”
The commissioner emphasized that the concessioning strategy aims to ensure efficient operations and long-term financial sustainability, in line with the state’s vision for a world-class transportation network.
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Osiyemi further highlighted the substantial financial and technical challenges involved in operating rail systems, describing them as capital-intensive projects that require significant resources and specialized expertise.
To tackle these challenges and build local capacity, he noted that the Lagos State Government has enlisted foreign partners to temporarily manage the operations of the trains.
These partners are expected to not only ensure smooth operations during their tenure but also transfer critical skills to Nigerian personnel. The plan includes a structured training program lasting one to two years, after which the management of the rail systems will be fully handed over to local operators.
“What we have done is we have consulted foreign partners who, of course, would run these trains for a particular period of time and train our people—that is, transfer of skills.”
“They will train our people for one to two years, then hand over for our own management,” Osiyemi explained.
Things You Should Know
The Lagos State Government, under its Lagos Strategic Transport Master Plan, has set out an ambitious vision to develop a network of rail systems across the state.
Currently, only the first phases of the Red Line and Blue Line rail systems have been completed, with passenger services already in operation.
The Blue Line is a 27km electric rail line designed for sustainable operations. Its first phase, covering 13km from Lagos Marina to Mile 2, was completed in 2023 and began commercial operations in September, carrying over 2 million passengers to date.
The Red Line, spanning 37km from Agbado in Ogun State to Oyingbo in Lagos, operates on diesel. Its first phase, a 27km stretch, includes eight strategically located stations: Agbado, Iju, Agege, Ikeja, Oshodi, Mushin, Yaba, and Oyingbo.
The construction of the second phases of both the Red Line and Blue Line rail systems is being managed by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), which also oversees the operation of the trains.
Beyond the Red and Blue Lines, the state has plans for additional rail systems, including the 68km Green Line (Lekki Free Trade Zone to Marina), the 85.7km Purple Line (Redemption Camp to Ojo), the 48km Orange Line (Ikeja CBD to Agbowa), and the Yellow Line, all aimed at enhancing the state’s transportation network.
Condolence Message from the Honourable Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Lagos State, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab.
I am deeply saddened by the tragic incident that occurred in our community, Epe, claiming the lives of two promising young adults, a dedicated tricycle driver, and leaving several other people injured. This heartbreaking accident has left our hearts heavy, as we mourn the loss of these young souls who were full of hope and dreams, and an industrious individual who worked tirelessly for his livelihood.
As a member of this community, I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families and friends affected by this terrible loss. I can only imagine the pain you must feel, and I want you to know that you are not alone in this moment of grief.
Let us honor the memories of these individuals by advocating for safety and awareness on our roads. As we move forward, may we find comfort in community and strength in one another. May their souls rest in peace, and may their families find solace and healing in the days to come.
Monday Okpebholo, a serving senator, has been sworn in as the governor of Edo State.
Okpebholo took his oath of office at about 1pm on Tuesday during the inauguration ceremony in Benin, the state capital.
As the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Okpebholo won the September 21 off-cycle governorship election in the state.
He polled 291,667 votes to defeat Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who came second with 247,274 votes.
Olumide Akpata, the candidate of the Labour Party (LP), came third with 22,763 votes.
Dennis Idahosa was also sworn in as the deputy governor of Edo.
Dignitaries, including Vice-President Kashim Shettima, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, chair of the governors’ forum; Philip Shaibu, reinstated deputy governor of Edo; and other governors from the party, were present as Okpebholo took the oath of office.
The new governor later rode in an open-top van around the stadium, acknowledging cheers from supporters.