Politics
2023: ‘Lafi’ has been vindicated – Group reacts to alleged ‘sponsored story’ to malign ex-Oyo lawmaker
A group, Lagelu/Akinyele Non-Aligned Movement on Wednesday bemoaned an online news medium, Sahara Reporters for turning itself into an instrument being used by politicians to malign their opponents to pursue their selfish ambition.
The group made this assertion while reacting to a story published yesterday 13th April, 2022 with the headline: “Oyo Group Kicks As Alleged Killer of House of Representatives Member, Sugar, Declares To Run in 2023″ which it said was sponsored by political opponents purposely to malign and impugn the personality of Hon. Olafisoye Akinmoyede ahead of the 2023 general elections.
It also noted that the former council boss and lawmaker, Olafisoye has been vindicated in the murder allegation levelled against him as he was discharged and acquitted by the Oyo State High Court .
According to the group, Sahara Reporters went ahead to state that Olafisoye was arrested as the prime suspect in the murder of Olatoye Sugar in 2019.
But, in a statement issued and signed by its Chairman and Secretary of Lagelu/Akinyele Non-Aligned Movement group, Comrade Kolawole Ishola and Adedeji Adewale, the group expressed its utmost disappointment that an online platform like Sahara Reporters could descend so low to the extent of allowing a faceless group under the spurious name of Lagelu Legacy Youth Movement to publish such a misleading report aimed at blackmailing the former Chief Whip of the Oyo State House of Assembly, an indigene of Lagelu Local Government for their mendacious frustrating agenda.
The group added that it was surprised that Sahara Reporters who wrote in its report that “Olafisoye was arrested as the prime suspect in the murder of Olatoye Sugar in 2019 but discharged and acquitted by the Oyo State High Court for lack of merit in the suit”, could allowed itself to be used to publish such spurious story knowing fully well that it is against the ethics of journalism to publish such defamatory story after the court had delivered its judgment.
“We wish to state unequivocally that the publication in its entirety is false and baseless. It was published in the tradition of Sahara Reporters known for publishing sponsored stories to blackmail and impugn the credibility of notable people especially politicians in the country.
“While being conscious of the need not to react to such frivolous story as contained in the report and leave Sahara Reporters to its conscience, we considered it expedient to put the record straight for it, its sponsors and well meaning people of Oyo State.
“We want to place it on record that Hon. Olafisoye was never arrested by the police as reported by Sahara Reporters. Hon. Olafisoye rather submitted himself to the police for investigation in March, 2019 after the police mentioned his name for allegedly having a hand in the death of Hon. Sugar. The police commenced investigation and charged him and three others to court after completing their investigation.
“On Thursday 23rd January, 2020, Hon. Justice Mufutau Adegbola of High Court No. 7, Ring Road, Ibadan discharged and acquitted Hon Olafisoye Akinmoyede, Alhaji Rafiu Alimi, Alhaji Rasheed Oladele and Kazeem Ayinde who stood for trial in suit No. I/70C/2019 over an alleged involvement in the murder of Hon. Temitope Olatoye Sugar”, the statement said.
It continued, “Hon. Justice Mufutau Adegbola while delivering the judgment said the prosecution counsel had not provided any of the ingredients of murder to connect the accused with the murder of the deceased.
“His acquittal was widely reported in some national newspapers, broadcast media and of course many online platforms. We now wonder whether the Sahara Reporters and its sponsors were not in Nigeria to be aware of the court’s decision as delivered on 23rd January, 2020.
“We thank God that with the said verdict that vindicated him, truth finally prevailed over the allegation he knew nothing about to the admiration of we his lovers, well meaning indigenes of Lalupon, his hometown and indeed his entire political family in Lagelu and Akinyele local government areas.
“We can authoritatively confirm that a member of staff with Sahara Reporters is working secretely as a media aide to one of the aspirants for the Lagelu Akinyele federal constituency and that is the reason why the online platform published the story in an apparent attempt to blackmail and impugn the credibility of Hon. Olafisoye Akinmoyede having seen him as a threat to his own political aspiration because Hon. Lafisoye is known as a strong grassroot political mobilizer with track records of performances in all elective positions he has held so far.
“While we enjoin members of the public especially the good people of Lagelu/Akinyele federal constituency and the All Progressives Congress (APC) family in Oyo State to discountenance the content of the publication in its entirety, we want to warn Sahara Reporters to toe the path of honour by stopping further publishing such defamatory, libellous and spurious story against the personality of Hon. Olafisoye Akinmoyede. We shall otherwise, instruct our legal team to commence legal action against it, its agents, privies or whoever involving in such defamatory story in future”, the statement concluded.
House of Representatives member and Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Engr. Aderemi Oseni, has fulfilled his pledge to support the welfare of the All Progressives Congress (APC) staff in Oyo State.
In a gesture highlighting his commitment, the lawmaker personally funded the salaries of staff at the APC’s Oke Ado Secretariat in Ibadan, reinforcing his dedication to the smooth operation of the party’s activities in the state.
Representing the Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency, Oseni recently visited the secretariat, where he expressed gratitude to party leaders and members for their contributions.
As a further commitment to the smooth operation of the party’s activities, the lawmaker generously donated ten million naira (N10,000,000) as an allowance to enhance the secretariat’s functions.
In a statement released Wednesday by his media aide, Idowu Ayodele, and made available to journalists in Ibadan, the lawmaker extended appreciation to the secretariat staff, whom he described as the backbone of the party’s daily functions.
He lauded their dedication, noting their essential role in advancing the party’s goals.
“Leadership is about service, and service begins with supporting those who make the party function from within,” Oseni remarked.
“I am proud to honour this commitment to our staff, as they play a crucial role in making our political structures work effectively. This is my way of showing appreciation for their unwavering dedication”, he added.
Engr. Aderemi Oseni, representing Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency of Oyo State in the House of Representatives, has paid tribute to former Senate Leader, Senator Teslim Folarin, on his 61st birthday, celebrating his decades of dedicated service and contributions to Oyo State and Nigeria at large.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by his media aide, Idowu Ayodele, in Ibadan, Oseni, who also serves as Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), lauded Folarin’s unwavering commitment to leadership and the well-being of the people.
Highlighting the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial nominee in the 2023 elections for three terms in the Senate, the lawmaker noted that Folarin’s legacy of service continues to be a guiding light for emerging leaders and a source of inspiration for countless individuals across the state.
“Senator Folarin has built an admirable legacy through years of selfless public service, consistently advocating for progress and unity,” remarked Oseni.
Reflecting on Folarin’s role as the Ikolaba Olubadan of Ibadanland, the lawmaker commended his leadership approach, which has bridged divides, fostered coalitions, and promoted initiatives aimed at stabilising democracy.
“Senator Folarin’s career is an example of visionary leadership,” he added, “and his commitment to public service will leave a lasting legacy for generations to come.”
As Senator Folarin marks this milestone, Oseni extended warm wishes for his continued health and success, expressing hope that his exemplary life of service will keep inspiring positive change across the nation.
In a historic ruling, a Ugandan court on Friday sentenced former Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) commander Thomas Kwoyelo to 40 years in prison.
This landmark decision, marking the first time a member of the notorious LRA has faced trial for war crimes in a Ugandan court, follows the group’s brutal two-decade insurgency against the Ugandan government.
Kwoyelo, who was convicted in August on 44 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, faced charges including murder, rape, torture, pillaging, abduction, and the destruction of settlements for internally displaced people.
(FILES) Thomas Kwoyelo a commander of the Lord’s Resistance Army rebellion blamed for brutal civilian murders during a 20-year war in the north of the country is brought into a courthouse in the northern Ugandan town of Gulu on July 25, 2011. – A Ugandan court on October 25, 2024 sentenced former Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) commander Thomas Kwoyelo to 40 years in prison after a landmark war crimes trial over his role in the group’s two-decade reign of terror. The sentence against Kwoyelo, who was convicted on 44 counts of crimes against humanity in August, was announced by Michael Elubu, the lead judge in the case at the court in the northern city of Gulu. (Photo by MICHELE SIBOLINI / AFP)
Michael Elubu, lead judge of the case at the International Crimes Division (ICD) of Uganda’s High Court, delivered the sentence in the northern city of Gulu, underscoring a rare moment of accountability in the decades-long history of the LRA’s violence.
Judge Elubu stated that Kwoyelo retains the right to appeal both his conviction and sentence within 14 days.
Kwoyelo, who was abducted by the LRA at the age of 12 and later rose to a low-level command position within the organization, denied all charges brought against him.
(FILES) Suspected LRA (Lords Resistance Army) member Thomas Kwoyelo is pictured during a pre-trial session at the High Court in Kampala on Februay 1, 2017. – A Ugandan court on October 25, 2024 sentenced former Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) commander Thomas Kwoyelo to 40 years in prison after a landmark war crimes trial over his role in the group’s two-decade reign of terror. The sentence against Kwoyelo, who was convicted on 44 counts of crimes against humanity in August, was announced by Michael Elubu, the lead judge in the case at the court in the northern city of Gulu. (Photo by GAEL GRILHOT / AFP)
The Lord’s Resistance Army, founded by Joseph Kony in the 1980s, sought to establish a regime based on the Ten Commandments. Under Kony’s leadership, the group unleashed widespread terror across Uganda and neighboring regions, resulting in over 100,000 deaths and the abduction of 60,000 children.
The violence eventually spread to Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and the Central African Republic.
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