The Awujale and paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, has passed away at the age of 91.
The respected monarch reportedly died on Sunday, just hours after the announcement of the death of his longtime friend and former President, Muhammadu Buhari.
Mourning his passage, a prince of Ijebu, Prince Adedoyin Alatishe wrote on X, “Baami Ogbagba agbatewole 💔. Erin wo. Omo anikilaya saagbu.”
Adetona, who ascended the throne in 1960, was one of Nigeria’s longest-reigning traditional rulers and widely revered for his contributions to the sociopolitical development of Ijebuland and Ogun State at large. (Punch)
Justice Olugboyega Ogunfowora of Ogun State High Court, Abeokuta, on Friday sentenced the duo of Mustakeem Balogun and Soliudeen Majekodunmi to death by hanging.
At the same time, Lukmon Abdulgafar bagged life imprisonment over the murder of 16-year-old Sofia Okeowo at Kugba area, Abeokuta, on January 28, 2022.
The state Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Mr Oluwasina Ogungbade, disclosed this in a statement sent to journalists on Friday.
Recall that Sofia had gone to visit her boyfriend, Mustakeem, who had sexual intercourse with her, after which he was said to have viciously attacked and strangled the deceased with the support of Soliudeen and then beheaded her.
They subsequently cut parts of Sofia’s thighs and stuffed her headless body into a sack, after which the deceased’s head was taken to Lukmon’s house to be burnt with a local burner.
In a viral video that surfaced on the internet in January 2022, the trio were caught by community guards with Sofia’s head burning in the local burner.
They were also seen reciting incantations over her corpse.
The commissioner’s statement read, “Today, July 11, 2025, the trio of Mustakeem Balogun, Soliudeen Majekodunmi, and Lukmon Abdulgafar faces the full wrath of the law over the gruesome killing of Sofia Okeowo.
“The dastardly act which occurred on January 28th 2022, around Kugba, Abeokuta saw Mustakeem Balogun lure 16-year-old Sofia to have canal knowledge of her and later kill her in preparation for a premeditated money ritual charms.
“The two other culprits are Soliudeen Majekodunmi and Lukman Abdulgafar.
“Justice Olugboyega Ogunfowora of the Ogun State High Court has, however, found the trio guilty of the crime committed and has therefore sentenced Mustakeem Balogun and Soliudeen Majekodunmi to death by hanging while Lukman Abdulgafar received a life sentence.”
The commissioner further stated that the present administration does not allow crime to thrive, prompting the state to secure the conviction of the three criminals, which will serve as a deterrent to other ritualists. (Punch)
The National Association of Nigerian Students has commended the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, for approving the reconstruction of more roads across the state.
The student body also lauded the governor for authorising the procurement of ultra-modern security gadgets to strengthen the state’s security architecture and safeguard infrastructure.
Abiodun had announced the approval of the road projects during the weekly meeting of the State Executive Council.
The newly approved roads include the 5.4km Ogbeere–Orita Mobi Junction Road in Ijebu East Local Government, the 3.2km Erinlu–Imosan Road in Odogbolu Local Government, and the 2.0km Imodi–Imosan Road, also in Odogbolu Local Government.
NANS, in a statement issued on Friday in Abeokuta by the Chairman of its Ogun Joint Campus Committee, Gabriel Abiola, described the governor’s approval as a giant stride in the current administration’s efforts to improve infrastructure across the state.
He said, “The newly approved roads, along with 11 others earlier earmarked for rehabilitation across the three senatorial districts, will significantly boost intrastate transportation for commuters and aid the movement of farm produce.”
Abiola also paised the Abiodun-led administration for its commitment to the construction and rehabilitation of roads since inception, saying the state has witnessed remarkable infrastructural transformation under the current government.
While commending the governor’s achievements across all sectors, particularly in education, the NANS chairman urged him not to relent in his efforts to make Ogun State better than he met it.
He specifically applauded Abiodun for ensuring the continuation and completion of road projects abandoned by the previous administration.
Abiola, however, appealed to the governor to also consider roads leading to campuses of tertiary institutions for rehabilitation, reminding him of his promise to construct the access road to Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta.
The NANS chairman affirmed that students in the state will continue to support the governor’s efforts to move Ogun to greater heights of socioeconomic development. (Punch)
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