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Fayemi flags off EKIFEST, upgrades Bureau of Arts and Culture to a Ministry

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L-R: Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi; his wife and chairperson, Planning Committee 2019 EKIFEST, Erelu Bisi Fayemi; Director-General, Ekiti State Council of Arts and Culture, Amb. Wale Ojo-Lanre; and an Ekiti based Artist, Tope Adebiyi; at the opening session of Ekiti State Festival of Arts and Culture (EKIFEST) at the Ekiti Parapo Pavilion, Ado-Ekiti, on Wednesday

Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi on Wednesday reiterated his administration’s determination towards increasing its investment and exploits in the arts and culture sector for the economic prosperity of the State and its citizenry .

The Governor who stated this resolve in Ado Ekiti, the state capital while declaring open the 2019 Ekiti State Festival of Arts and Culture (EKIFEST), equally announced an upgrade of the state’s Council of Arts and Culture to the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Tourism

Fayemi gave the new Ministry the directive to consolidate on its various achievements, enhance the potential of creative practitioners and boost the Internally Generated Revenue of the State.

He added that the role of Arts and Culture as catalysts to progressive multiculturalism is gaining more recognition.

The Governor further described EKIFEST as an economic and social strategy aimed at repositioning the creative industry of the State for optimal performance and drawing attention of the global public to the unique landmarks of the State in tourism and culture.

“In Ekiti State, our cultural heritage keeps our memories alive of how beliefs and cultural expressions have contributed to the development of our society. Ekiti is a state of rich artistic and cultural heritage and endowed with the abundance of talents. Our riches are well demonstrated through arts, dance, literature, music, food and folklore.”

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“I commend the efforts of the Ekiti State Council for Arts and Culture towards the attainment of the target set for it. We still want the council to go a step further by consolidating on the various achievements, enhancing the potential of creative practitioners and boosting the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of Ekiti State. And to enhance the progress already made in the last year, I have decided to re-establish the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Tourism for better synergy and integration”, the governor said.

Governor Fayemi who assured investors of necessary support and encouragement called on entrepreneurs to visit the various tourism corridors in the State and invest in them, stressing that their investment is not only secured, but bound to yield good dividends.

Also speaking at the event, the Chairperson of EKIFEST 2019 planning committee and Wife of the Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, said the festival was aimed at creating tourism attraction and enhance investment opportunities as well as create viable markets for local businesses.

Mrs Fayemi noted that the previous editions of the festival in 2012 and 2013 increased tourism visits to the State and created the needed exposure for the cultural infrastructure.

“EKIFEST 2019 is designed towards the restoration of our core values as well as empowerment against the scourge of poverty. Our culture is a viable solution to several problems bedeviling our society. It is in our culture to be diligent, honest and peace-loving. Our culture abhors laziness; our culture goes against the shirking of responsibilities”, she said.

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In his address, the Director General of the Council of Arts and Culture, Mr Wale Ojo-Lanre said Ekiti people are gradually getting used to EKIFEST as an economic diversification project. He urged the people to promote Ekiti tradition for excellence.

Ojo-Lanre thanked Fayemi for providing the wherewithal for the resuscitation of the Council which has helped remove the State from the blacklist of absentee States at both local and international cultural festivals.

He disclosed that the State Cultural Troupe had been sponsored by Fayemi to Budapest, Edo State and Ogun State to promote the State’s cultural heritage.

Highlights of the opening session of the festival were colourful and carnival-like parade by all the 16 local government areas, Nollywood stars, artists and ethnic groups in the state as well as musical jamboree round the major streets of Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

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Metro

Nightclub killing in Ogbomoso confirmed by Police; officers detained

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The Oyo State Police Command has confirmed the killing of one Iyanfa Damilola at a nightclub in Ogbomoso on Monday and also detained officers involved in the incident.

Police operatives were dispatched to the nightclub at the “Under G” area, Owode Ogbomoso, while the 16th convocation of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) was going on after a distress call over a fighting incident in the place.

But the Oyo State Police Command spokesman Osifeso Adewale said the fracas worsened, leading to the firing of “warning shots” by the officers. This led to one death.

“The incident recorded the death of one Iyanda Damilola, ‘m’, and the injury of his brother one Iyanda Femi Isreal, who has since been discharged from the hospital after treatment,” Osifeso said in a Thursday statement.

“All operatives involved in the incident including Inspr Rasheed Saheed are currently under detention at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Iyaganku,” he added.

According to him, the police commissioner in Oyo Adebola Hamzat has ordered that the case be “taken up by the Homicide Department of the State Criminal Investigation Department with the Deputy Commissioner of Police directly in charge of the investigations”.

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Education

Victim of Ogbomoso nightclub shooting not our student – LAUTECH breaks silence

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In the aftermath of the tragic killing of Iyanda Damilola, allegedly by a police officer during a nightclub altercation in Ogbomoso, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) has clarified that the victim was not a student of the institution.

Damilola, identified as a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), was reportedly shot dead during a fracas at a club in Ogbomoso on Monday.

Contrary to initial reports, LAUTECH’s Public Relations Officer, Akin Fadeyi, emphasized that the incident did not occur within the university premises.

“The incident occurred around 2 am. It did not occur in the institution. It happened in a club, and in LAUTECH, we don’t have a club or hotel,” stated Fadeyi during the institution’s 16th convocation ceremonies.

He further clarified, “They were fighting and the student who got killed was not our student. So, what happened had nothing to do with LAUTECH. It has nothing to do with our convocation.”

Meanwhile, the Oyo State Police Command has taken action, detaining the officers involved in the incident. According to the command spokesman, Osifeso Adewale, the officers were dispatched to the nightclub to quell a disturbance during the party.

“The incident worsened, leading to the firing of ‘warning shots’ by the officers. This led to one death,” Osifeso stated in a Thursday statement.

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The deceased’s brother, Oluwafemi Iyanda, a LAUTECH graduate, confirmed that the tragic event occurred after attending his convocation ceremony and heading to an after-party with his late sibling.

“All operatives involved in the incident including Inspr Rasheed Saheed are currently under detention at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Iyaganku,” Osifeso added.

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Crime & Court

Judgment Reserved in Baba Ijesha’s Sexual Assault Appeal

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The Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal has reserved judgment in the appeal filed by Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju James, widely known as Baba Ijesha, challenging his conviction by a State High Court over the sexual assault of a minor.

 

A three-man panel of the appellate court, led by Justice Folasade Ojo, reserved the appeal for judgment today after hearing arguments from both sides.

 

Baba Ijesha, in his notice of appeal, sought to overturn the judgment of the lower court, which on July 14, 2022, sentenced him to five years imprisonment for sexual assault on a minor.

 

Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo (rtd) of the Lagos Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court convicted Baba Ijesha after finding him guilty of four out of six counts brought against him by the Lagos State government.

 

The counts included indecent treatment of a child and sexual assault, among others. However, he was acquitted of sexual assault by penetration.

 

In response to the conviction, Baba Ijesha’s counsel, Kayode Olabiran, argued that the prosecution failed to prove the allegations and claimed his client was set up, citing circumstances surrounding the incident.

 

Olabiran emphasized that Baba Ijesha’s confession was made under duress and urged the appellate court to set aside the lower court’s judgment.

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On the other hand, the Director of Public Prosecution, Dr. Babajide Martins, urged the court to dismiss the appeal, asserting that the conviction was valid and supported by evidence.

 

Dr. Martins also reiterated the victim’s age at the time of the incident, emphasizing her status as a minor under the law.

 

Following the arguments presented, the Court of Appeal reserved its judgment for a later date, leaving both parties awaiting the final decision on Baba Ijesha’s appeal.

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