The Ogun State Government stated on Monday that it remains firm despite threats of legal action from individuals or groups opposing the Islamic burial rites conducted for Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, the late paramount ruler of Ijebuland.

Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Sina Ogungbade (SAN), responded to the legal threat from the International Council for Ifa Religion, which intends to sue the government and the family over the disregard for traditional rites.

Ogungbade said pursuing legal action over the late Awujale’s religious burial would be pointless, although the law permits individuals to challenge government decisions through the judiciary.

Oba Adetona died on Sunday, July 13, 2025, at the age of 91, and was buried on Monday, July 14, 2025, following Islamic practices.

The burial sparked controversy, with the ICIR and traditional leaders criticizing the authorities for allegedly neglecting traditional customs.

During a weekend press briefing in Ibadan, Oyo State, ICIR President, Dr Fayemi Fakayode, and the Council’s lawyer, Ifasola Opeodu, reportedly claimed that the burial violated both cultural practices and existing laws.

Fakayode cited Part 8, Section 55, Sub-section II of the Ogun State Chieftaincy Law, stating that traditional rites are mandated for royal burials in the state.

He disapproved of the exclusion of the Osugbo Confraternity, known as the traditional custodians of final rites, and commended them for not retaliating.

He emphasized that the burial was not just about a single king, but posed a larger threat to Yoruba cultural values, warning that bypassing customs erodes the people’s identity.

The council alleged that members of the late king’s family, along with government authorities and security forces, hindered the Osugbo from fulfilling their traditional responsibilities.

Opeodu described the burial procedure as undemocratic and a violation of the religious liberties of traditional worshippers.

According to the council, neglecting traditional burial protocols undermines the religious rights of those who practice indigenous faiths.

As a result, the ICIR pledged to seek legal remedies and reiterated its dedication to protecting Yoruba traditions in future royal burials.

Clarifying the government’s stance, Ogungbade (SAN) said, “If they want to sue, I will describe it as a welcome development.

He added that individuals or groups who believe the government acted wrongly should use legal channels to express their grievances and hold authorities accountable if justified.

He offered unsolicited legal advice, stating that the group’s position is based on a misunderstanding of the law and would likely result in an unsuccessful lawsuit.

Ogungbade questioned how a decision made by the Awujale and his family to follow religious burial rites could be interpreted as infringing on others’ religious rights.

He described the council’s claim as laughable and hoped they would reconsider or seek proper legal counsel. He concluded that if they go ahead with the case, the government is prepared to defend its position in court.

Chief Rasaki Osimodi, the Olowa Iberu and Chief Priest of Ijebu land, voiced dissatisfaction in an interview, accusing the government of colluding with the late monarch’s family.

He expressed disappointment that despite close ties with traditionalists during his lifetime, the late king chose an Islamic burial and failed to honor traditional obligations.

Osimodi claimed that the government backed the decision by signing an agreement with the Awujale, allowing the Islamic burial to proceed and preventing the Osugbo from taking the body, which he said would have happened otherwise.

He stated that although the late king’s children claimed he had no links with traditionalists, they knew he participated in traditional rites and left some duties unfulfilled.

He explained that the presence of heavily armed security personnel discouraged any opposition from traditionalists, who stepped aside to avoid conflict.

Efforts to get comments from the late Awujale’s family regarding the threatened lawsuit were unsuccessful, but a senior palace official who preferred to remain anonymous described the controversy as insignificant.

The source explained that the family acted within legal boundaries and those upset about the situation should challenge the lawmakers, not the family.

The official concluded that the uproar was unwarranted and equated it to making a fuss over nothing.

Chairman of BUA Cement Plc, Dr Abdul Samad Rabiu, has stated that recent foreign exchange reforms by the Central Bank of Nigeria have removed the need for companies to seek FX through lobbying. Rabiu made these remarks on Monday in Abuja during a media briefing following BUA Cement Plc’s 9th Annual General Meeting.

He described the new FX policy as more open and driven by market dynamics, contrasting it with previous approaches which, according to him, led to artificial shortages and pushed businesses to seek special access to dollars.

“I was making a joke a few weeks ago that I’ve only seen the current CBN Governor maybe twice since his appointment. That’s because I don’t need him. Before now, I used to visit the CBN every two weeks to lobby for FX. That was the only way to survive,” Rabiu said.

He criticised the old FX regime where the official rate was far below the black market rate, saying it distorted the system and restricted access for businesses.

“The rate was N500 or N600 officially, but nobody could get it. On the street, it was closer to N1,000. It was an artificial rate,” he said.

The BUA chairman commended the current FX reforms for merging rates, saying, “Now, the rate you get is what everyone else gets. You go to the bank, you get FX at the market rate.”

Rabiu voiced confidence in a continued appreciation of the naira, predicting that the exchange rate could drop to around N1,200/$ in the near future, down from nearly N2,000 earlier in the year.

He mentioned that the strengthening of the naira was already reducing the prices of goods, including cement and food items.

Speaking on the issue of cement pricing, Rabiu said the rise in production costs, especially due to FX fluctuations, energy costs, and the need for imported machinery, were responsible for recent price increases. Nevertheless, he noted that BUA had tried to maintain stable prices.

Rabiu explained that BUA Cement’s revenue grew to N877bn in 2024 from N460bn in 2023, even though the company recorded FX losses of N93.9bn.

He stated that the company’s profit before tax rose by 48.2 per cent to N99.63bn, and its return on average capital employed increased to 15 per cent from 10 per cent the previous year.

The company’s earnings per share climbed to N2.18 in 2024 from N2.05 in 2023, marking a 6.3 per cent rise. “This performance was driven by a combination of increased dispatch volumes and prudent pricing strategies, even as the Company absorbed rising input costs.

“Cash generation grew significantly, enabling increased capital expenditure financing and supporting our strategic efforts to reduce exposure to foreign currency obligations. This was achieved by paying down import finance facilities and aligning accrued interest payments with available cash flows,” he said.

Rabiu added that BUA Cement earned N81bn in profit after tax in the first quarter of 2025, surpassing its full-year profit for 2024. He projected that total earnings for 2025 could reach N250bn, attributing this growth to improved efficiency, reduced FX losses, and higher production capacity.

He said the company had no immediate expansion plans beyond its current capacity of 20 million metric tonnes, after recently launching two new cement lines in Sokoto and Edo States.

Rabiu also restated BUA’s focus on shareholder value, announcing a dividend of N2.05 per share, representing a payout ratio of 94 per cent.

The Managing Director and CEO of BUA Cement, Yusuf Binji, also spoke, highlighting the company’s strong financial results, agility, and strategic focus on growth despite a dynamic economic environment.

Binji said the company’s biggest cost—energy—was being tackled through the construction of a 700-tonnes-per-day LNG regasification plant, which would ensure supply and cut costs. He added that BUA Cement had renegotiated its service contracts to favour local content as a way to reduce FX risks and lower operational expenses.

The Plateau State government has raised concerns over the presence of troops in certain parts of the state and has called for their replacement. This comes in the wake of the killing of 27 farmers last week in an area that has already seen numerous violent deaths this year.

In a statement, the government requested that mobile police units take the place of the soldiers. The administration, through Chris Kwaja, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Peace and Security, also appealed to the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, to establish a special board of inquiry to look into the repeated attacks, with particular attention on the “actions and inactions of the military personnel” stationed in those communities.

Additionally, the state urged the federal government to support local efforts like Operation Rainbow in tackling the ongoing security crisis.

Kwaja explained that the new strategy was essential to provide a more efficient and responsive approach to dealing with threats, especially in combating asymmetrical warfare, an area where MOPOL is better equipped.

Bandits also launched another assault in Zamfara State, where over 100 farmers were kidnapped in Jengebe Village, located in Talatan Mafara Local Government Area. The raid happened during the weekend, with the bandits returning on Sunday evening without encountering resistance.

Reports from RFI Hausa Service, monitored yesterday, indicated that nine farmers were killed while working on their farms during the attacks. The outlet cited a statement from the state government, which claimed it had taken immediate action in response.

Ahmad Dan Manga, the Governor’s Special Adviser on Security, noted that the situation was under control and that a delegation would soon visit the affected area. He added that security has been reinforced with the deployment of soldiers and local vigilantes.

On Sunday night, armed men attacked Dabagi community in Dange-Shuni Local Government Area of Sokoto State, killing three people and abducting several others. Upon arriving, the attackers opened fire indiscriminately, creating fear among residents before escaping with their captives.

A post shared yesterday by security analyst Bakatsine on X stated: “Bandits attacked Dabagi community in Dange-Shuni LGA of Sokoto State last night. They killed three people and kidnapped an unspecified number of male and female residents.”

A resident who witnessed the event confirmed that the assailants moved freely without resistance, taking the victims into the nearby forest.

He recounted that the attackers came in large groups, began shooting immediately, killed three individuals on the spot, and abducted several men and women.

In another development, the Kaduna State Police Command reported the arrest of Mati Bagiyo, a notorious criminal who had managed to avoid capture for 11 years.

According to Mansur Hassan, the Command’s spokesperson, authorities recovered several weapons from Bagiyo, including one AK-47 rifle, one fabricated AK-47, a pump-action shotgun, two locally made pistols, two AK-47 magazines, two LAR magazines, four AK-47 rounds, 10 pump-action cartridges, 80 pistol rounds, a machete, two torchlights, and a cleaning rod.

Hassan stated that Bagiyo had been a major threat in Kaduna and Katsina states, and is now in custody providing important details to investigators.