Another building under construction has collapsed in Magbon, Badagry area of Lagos, today(Wednesday), with four persons feared dead.
Five others were rescued from the rubbles with varying degrees of injury, while efforts are still on to rescue others.
This is coming on the heels of the 21-storey building that went down in Ikoyi, earlier in the month.
Director, Lagos State Fire Service, Mrs Margret Adeseye, who confirmed the incident, said immediately the distress call was received, officials of the Lagos Fire and Rescue Service , Badary station, rushed to the scene.
She said, “There has been a reported case of a storey building collapse at Sunny Filled, Flour Mills, Estate, Magbon, Badagry, Lagos.
“The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Badagry Station, had rescued five victims from the building that is under construction, while concerted efforts are ongoing to rescue remaining trapped victims.
“The victims, who are mainly construction workers, were rescued with varying degrees of injury, but in stable condition and have been taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.
“However, four adult males have been recovered unconscious thus far as the Nigerian Police, Morogbo Division and the Community dwellers are complimenting the efforts of the the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service.”
The Nigerian Navy has broken its silence over purported disappearance of popular Instagram skit maker Ahmed Gafar Oluwatoyin, known as Cute Abiola, adding that, the comic actor is not missing but locked up in his unit for breaching the Armed Forces social media policy.
The skit maker, who is also a Naval officer, was declared missing on Monday, November 15.
One of his colleagues, Debo Adebayo, otherwise known as Mr Macaroni, took to his official Twitter account to raise alarm about his missing colleague.
Sharing the news, he attached a WhatsApp message he received stating that the Nigerian Navy ordered the detention of the skit maker for reasons yet to be disclosed.
However, Nigerian Navy said the comedian broke their media policy while he was on leave, and he was recalled.
Asked to come back, but he refused until he completed his leave which is a disobedience to particular orders.
“The young man was found to have breached the social media policy while he was on leave. So he was recalled, asked to come back, but he refused until he completed his leave which is a disobedience to particular orders,” the spokesperson for the navy, Commodore Suleman Dahun, said in a statement.
“He was not missing but locked up in his unit for breaching the Armed Forces social media policy. So, when he came back, we took him into custody for him to face the consequence.”
In a bid to stop the looming strike in the nation’s public universities, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has summoned the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed; Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu; and the national leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities to a meeting on Thursday over the strike threat issued by the university lecturers on Monday.
Gbajabiamila made the disclosure at the plenary on Tuesday after a motion of urgent public importance was moved by the Chairman of the House Committee on Basic Education, Prof Julius Ihonvbere.
Ihonvbere had prayed the House to urge the Federal Government to open a realistic negotiation with ASUU to stop the strike and “implement the signed agreement in the interest of our students, their parents, the education sector and the country.”
In his ruling, the Speaker said, “The Committees on Education, Tertiary and Basic, should investigate and report back to the House. I will meet with the Minister of Finance, Minister of Education and representatives of ASUU in my office on Thursday.”
Moving the motion titled, ‘Motion on the Urgent Need for the Federal Government to Do All Within Its Powers to Stop the Impending ASUU Strike,’ Ihonvbere said, “The House notes with dismay that once again, ASUU in Nigeria is threatening to proceed on another industrial action on a matter that has been on the front burner for so long; the implementation of negotiated and signed agreements with the Federal Government.
“The House notes also that the Federal Government has not been forthcoming, neither has it attached any consistent seriousness to the urgent need to reposition and refocus the education sector in line with our developmental objectives.
“The House is aware that the ASUU President has threatened to call out his members across the nation, if all the issues, including those of unpaid earned allowances and the universities revitalisation funds, are not addressed within a period of three weeks.”
Contributing to the debate, the Deputy Majority Whip, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, said another strike by ASUU would affect so many people. She stated that it was wrong for the government to sign agreement and later renege.
The Majority Whip, Mohammed Monguno, said the House should take advantage of the ongoing work on the 2022 Appropriation Bill to allocate more funds to the education sector.
Gbajabiamila, however, argued that the issue was not about funding, decrying that the finance and education ministers are passing the bulk on where the money was.
Recall that ASUU had given the Federal Government a 21-day ultimatum over its failure to implement the agreement both parties signed.
This is as the Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, claimed in an interview with The PUNCH that the union had failed to submit a breakdown of the workers entitled to the N22.1bn earned allowances.
ASUU had embarked on a nine-month strike in March 2020, following its disagreement with the Federal Government over the funding of universities and alleged ineffectiveness and discrepancies around the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System and others.
Fresh fact has emerged on how phone call triggered Lagos gas explosion which led to the death of five persons, as 15 vehicles and many houses were destroyed by the explosion which happened at Ojekunle Street, off Ladipo Street, in the Mushin area of Lagos State.
Punch correspondents, who visited the scene, observed that the site was a mishmash of shattered blocks, wood, iron, cars, and hundreds of gas cylinders.
The workshop where the explosion occurred housed mechanics, panel beaters, gas retailers and other traders.
Eyewitnesses, who spoke to PUNCH Metro, said the incident happened when a woman, identified as Mama Emma, was frying puff-puff around 7.30am.
Our correspondents learnt that around the same time, a gas retailer, identified as Sodiq, was dispensing gas from a cylinder to another for a customer. Sodiq usually sold gas to panel beaters in the workshop.
Witnesses said while dispensing the gas, his customer received a call, which triggered the explosion.
Sodiq, the customer, Mama Emma and two others were burnt to death, as their remains were bagged and handed over to their families for burial.
Many traders, who wept at the scene, described the gas retailer as a hard-working man who did not deserve to die in such a cruel manner.
Over 15 vehicles on the premises were shattered by the blast.
PUNCH Metro counted at least 15 vehicles of different brands whose engines were destroyed by the explosion.
Some of the vehicles were buried in the rubble caused by the blast, as sheds used by mechanics were uprooted and fell flat on the shattered vehicles.
A mechanic whose workshop was on the site, Tajudeen Olorunwa, told PUNCH Metro that his car, a Toyota Highlander, and four others belonging to his customers, were affected.
Olorunwa said he had never experienced such losses in his 24 years at the workshop.
Speaking in Yoruba, he said, “I thank God for the preservation of my life. I had a vehicle in my workshop when the explosion happened and four others belonging to my customers. The vehicles were for repairs, but I have informed their owners and they have asked me to send photos of the damage.”
He noted that one of his apprentices was severely injured and had been rushed to a nearby hospital.
Another mechanic, who identified himself only as Ahmed, said he was at the workshop around 7am shortly before the blast.
He said, “I was here sleeping in one of the vehicles when one of us was hit by a motorcycle. I and another apprentice rushed the victim to a nearby hospital and on our return, we saw that the explosion had occurred.
“I could have been burnt too if I didn’t rush the victim to the hospital. I used to sleep in one of the cars now destroyed by the blast. I will thank God forever for creating a way for my escape.”
An eyewitness, Juliet Nwokedi, who worked opposite the scene of the incident, said the body of the gas retailer was shattered by the explosion.
Another eyewitness, Pastor Micheal Ogunremi, who claimed to live close to the scene of the incident, said the workshop was once shut by the state government, but the lock was broken.
The South-West Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency, Ibrahim Farinloye, said 121 cylinders were recovered from the scene.
He said, “An LPG domestic retailing centre located on Ojekunle Street, Ladipo Spare Part Market, exploded and resulted in casualties. Four adults – three males and one female – were recovered dead, while a 10-year-old boy rescued alive died before getting to the hospital.
“The scene was said to have been sealed because the side of the street was dedicated as a mechanical village on which no other user was allowed. But after some time, the seal and lock were removed before the incident occurred.”
The Director-General of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Oluwafemi Oke-Osanyintolu, while speaking at the scene of the incident, said a panel would be set up to investigate the cause of the incident.
He said, “After a rigorous and aggressive response, we put out the fire after one hour and we were able to bring out 10 injured persons, who were treated on the spot and discharged. But it is pathetic that we recovered five bodies, four males and one female. Recovery is ongoing and we are going to get to the root of the matter.”
The Chairman of the Mushin LGA, Emmanuel Bamgboye, who also visited the scene, said the council would set up a committee to investigate the incident.
The state Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, urged residents to stop receiving calls around gas depots.
He said, “This is a disaster that is completely avoidable; this is human negligence because what we heard was that the thing blew up when someone was trying to refill a gas cylinder while making a call.”
Also, an official of the Department of Petroleum Resources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “We gathered that a lady was frying early in the morning and that prompted the explosion in the gas depot.
“But what we observed was that the cylinders stacked there were not in tandem with what we use in the industry.”
United States Government on Tuesday called on the Nigerian and Lagos State governments to adress alleged abuses pointed out by the report of the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry that looked into the violence surrounding the #EndSARS protest that took place in October 2020.
In a statement, the United States Consulate General in Lagos commended the work of the panel, describing it as a huge step forward in trying to make all those responsible for attacks on peaceful protesters to asnwer for their action.
The statement read, “The United States welcomes the conclusion of the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry with the transmission of its final report.
“We look forward to the Lagos State Government’s response as part of a process that represents an important mechanism of accountability regarding the #EndSARS protests and the events that took place near the Lekki Toll Gate on October 20, 2020.
“Those events led to serious allegations against some members of the security forces, and we look forward to the Lagos State and federal governments taking suitable measures to address those alleged abuses as well as the grievances of the victims and their families.”
On Monday, the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry submitted a 309-paged report to the state government after months of sitting.
The report blamed the Nigerian Army and Nigeria Police Force for the killing of at least nine protesters and injury to others.
The panel also blamed security operatives for blocking ambulances from rescuing wounded protesters, leading to the deaths of many of them.
The report has since sparked outrage among Nigerians, who have called for the Lagos and federal governments to be held responsible for the killings.
The #EndSARS #ReformPoliceNG Advocacy upon which the protesters premised their #EndSARS demonstration of discontent/Protest on, has been the most prominent advocacy in Nigeria and a major rallying point, convergence and common ground for the national Police brutality imbroglio since 2016.
This is one of the reasons why the advocacy was surgically curated and the youth protest that followed built on that protocol in an orderly, organized and transparent fashion, reinforcing the specific objective of shutting down the culture of impunity (#EndSARS) —through the disbandment of the poster child of impunity within the police structure (i.e. SARS and all Tactical Squads of the Police formation) and the End Goal of the holistic reformation of the Nigeria Police Force–#ReformPoliceNG.
However, the dearth of proper public orientation and sensitization by the Federal Government about the progress made over the years on the trajectory of reformation of the Nigeria Police Force, given the years of advocacy and dialogues cum the persistence of outrageous and gross violation of human rights (torture, extra judicial killings, extortion, robbery, unlawful arrest and detention among others) with impunity, being perpetrated by the Nigeria Police, forced the youth to express their constitutionally protected Rights and Freedom of Expression and Assembly to demonstrate their discontent from the 8th – 20th October, 2020.
From the 8th of October 2020, the protest under hashtag #ENDSARS started in Lagos and grew into large movement at various locations in Lagos and across the country principally targeted towards drawing attention to the ubiquitous incidents of Police brutality (Culture of Impunity) and poor working conditions of Police officers.
One of the demands from the protesters was the setting up of Judicial Panels of Inquiry to investigate cases of Police brutality. Lagos State Government obliged this request on the 15th of October, 2020 and set up the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry Into Victims of Police Brutality and other Related Matters, which was inaugurated on the 19th of October 2020.
Its main Terms of Reference was to look into cases of Police brutality and other related matters and award compensation to successful petitions. The members were Honourable Justice Doris Okuwobi, Chairperson, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa SAN, representing Civil Society, Retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, Frederick Taiwo Lakanu, Ms. Patience Patrick Udoh representing Civil Society, Mr. Segun Awosanya, Human Rights Activist, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Odusanya , Director of Citizens’ Rights, Ministry of Justice, Mr Lucas Koyejo Esq. representative of the National Human Rights Commission, and Mr. Majekodunmi Temitope Oluwaseun, Youth Representative.
The Panel shall ensure speedy inquiry/restitution on SARS activities and Extra-Judicial killings of innocent citizens by the dissolved SARS with a view to delivering justice for the Victims as well as compensate their families/dependents.
IN particular it shall –
Receive memoranda from concerned members of the public and inquire into cases of abuse, brutality, torture, extra – judicial killings by the disbanded SARS in Lagos State;
Identify the victims of brutality, torture and extra-judicial killings by the disbanded SARS;
Identify Officers of SARS involved in the abuse of rights of citizens and make appropriate recommendations for prosecution of such Officers;
Evaluate the cases of the victims; determine those deserving compensation as a result of such violations by Officers of the disbanded SARS and recommend compensations payable to them from the Victims Trust Fund established by the Governor;
To investigate the incident at the Lekki Toll- Gate on 20th October, 2020 and make necessary findings and recommendations.
Examine any other matters incidental to any of the terms of reference stated above; and
Make necessary recommendation(s) to guide against future abuse of human rights by the Nigeria Police in Lagos State.
AND the Governor further directed that the Chairman and members of the Panel constituted under this instrument shall remain in Office for a period of six (6) months commencing from the date of appointment and this period may be extended at the discretion of the Governor in writing.
Following the Panel’s inauguration, on the 20th of October 2020 there were allegations that the officers of the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Police Force had gone to the Lekki Toll Gate, Lagos State, the epicenter of the #ENDSARS protests and shot at peaceful protesters.
Following this, the Lagos State Government expanded the Terms of Reference of the Panel to include an investigation into what became known as the Lekki Toll Gate ( LTG) Incident.
The composition of members facilitated a comprehensive and cohesive approach to the investigative work of the Judicial Panel of Inquiry.
The Panel began its investigation into the Lekki Toll Gate Incident of 20th October, 2020, by issuing Summons to parties it considered pertinent to its finding and investigations as follows: The Lekki Concession Company (LCC), operators of the Lekki Toll Gate, Nigerian Army (NA); The Hierarchy of Lagos State Police Command and later also to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Maroko Police Division, the Lagos State Government, various hospitals, who were said to have attended to victims of the Lekki Toll Gate Incident, Operators of Advertising Billboards at the Lekki Toll Gate, and News outlets who carried investigative journalism on the incident.
The response to the Summons was hugely positive, as over 80% of those summoned honored the invitations, and gave evidence before the Panel, which assisted it greatly in unraveling the events of the 20th October 2020. The protesters on their own attended the Panel’s proceedings and presented evidence of what happened at the Lekki Toll Gate on the 20th of October, 2020.
On the part of the ENDSARS Protesters the Panel specifically considered the evidence of persons, who alleged that they were victims with injuries or death of their loved ones, which occurred during the Lekki Toll Gate Incident and the testimonies of those who were present and traumatized. Some gave accounts of what happened even though they had no physical injuries.
The evidence considered in this regard usually represented similar versions of the Lekki Toll Gate Incident as corroborated by other protesters, who were treated as Petitioners with Petitions arising from the Toll Gate Incident. Virtually all witnesses were cross examined by counsel to parties with opposing versions of Lekki Toll Gate Incident. Sequel to the above the Panel reached its findings and prepared its reports despite the evidence of the Nigerian Army, that was limited, as most of the officers who were summoned and who filed affidavits never appeared before the Panel).
At the conclusion of evidence of all relevant parties, key issues which called for determination and upon which the findings of the Panel were based are summarised as follows:
• Whether the Nigerian Army used live bullets on unarmed and defenseless protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate on 20th October 2020?
• Whether the live bullets resulted in injuries or casualties on the part of the protesters?
• Whether the Police was at the Toll Gate on the night of the 20th of October 2020 and the morning of the 21st of October 2020 and whether they shot at unarmed and defenseless protesters?
• Whether the LCC played any role in the events of the night of the 20th of October 2020?
• Whether the Lagos State played any role in the Lekki Toll Gate Incident of the 20th of October 2020.
The Panel thus made the following key findings:
That the Nigerian Army was invited for intervention in the State and was deployed to Lekki Toll Gate on the 20th of October 2020. At the Lekki Toll Gate, officers of the Nigerian Army shot, injured and killed unarmed helpless and defenseless protesters, without provocation or justification, while they were waving the Nigerian Flag and singing the National Anthem and the manner of assault and killing could in context be described as a massacre. The Panel also found that the conduct of the Nigerian Army was exacerbated by its refusal to allow ambulances render medical assistance to victims who required such assistance. The Army was also found not to have adhered to its own Rules of Engagement.
The Panel found that the Nigerian Police Force deployed its officers to the Lekki Toll Gate on the night of the 20th October, 2020 and between that night and the morning of the 21st of October, 2020, its officer shot at, assaulted and battered unarmed protesters, which led to injuries and deaths. The police officers also tried to cover up their actions by picking up bullets.
The panel found that LCC hampered the panel’s investigation by refusing to turn over some useful and vital information/evidence as requested by the Panel and the Forensic Expert engaged by the panel, even where such information and evidence was by the company’s admission, available. It manipulated the incomplete CCTV Video footage of the Lekki Toll Gate on the night of the 20th of October 2020, which it tendered before the Panel.
The Panel found that there was an invitation of the Nigerian Army to Lagos State made by the Lagos State Government through the Governor before the hierarchy of the Nigerian Army deployed its soldiers to the Lekki Toll Gate on the night of the 20th of October.
The Panel found that there was an attempt to cover up the Incident of the 20th of October by the cleaning of the Lekki Toll Gate and the failure to preserve the scene ahead of potential investigations.
Upon the above key findings amongst others, the Panel made a total of 32 Recommendations, which included but not limited to:
• Holistic Police Reforms covering welfare, training and proper equipping of Policemen and their working environment;
• Sanctioning of the officers of the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Police Force respectively who participated in shooting, injuring and killing of unarmed protestors at the Lekki Toll Gate on the 20 and 21st of October 2020;
• Development of more robust engagement between the Youth and the Government;
• Setting up of a Standing Committee/Tribunal to deal with cases of Violation of Human Rights by security agencies and a trust fund to settle compensation awarded by such committee/tribunal;
• A public apology to ENDSARS protesters who were killed, injured and traumatized by the Incident of the 20th of October 2020;
• The memorialization of the Lekki Toll Gate and the 20th of October going forward.
• The recognition of Hospitals and Medical Doctors who played heroic roles following the Incident of the Lekki Toll Gate on the 20th of October 2020 thereby saving lives and minimizing the impact of the injuries suffered by the victims, most of which were on a pro-bono basis;
• The Panel recommended various sums of compensation to victims of the Lekki Toll Gate Incident, which must be expeditious in order to accelerate the healing process.
• The Panel recommended that any data that may have been generated over the years on the impunity of the Police across Nigeria be studied and deployed as early warning signs (EWS) mechanism.
The Panel recognizes that it had the cooperation of most stakeholders save for the Nigerian Army and some others who ignored summons issued by the Panel. The Panel accordingly notes the cooperation of stakeholders through their respective Counsel, such Counsel included, members of the Nigerian Bar Association, Counsel to the various groups of ENDSARS Protesters, Counsel to Lagos State Government, and Counsel to the Nigeria Police Force.
The Panel is grateful to the experts, who honored its various summons to attend proceedings and provide the panel with vital information and evidence. The contributions of the aforementioned aided tremendously the investigative work of the Panel.
The greatest limitation of the Panel was time as the Panel had to undertake its investigation into the Lekki Toll Gate Incident alongside other petitions in respect of Police brutality related matters. Following this limitation the panel was unable to determine all Petitions arising from the Lekki Toll Gate Incident and accordingly urges that those petitions be heard and determined by the standing committee/tribunal on Human Rights recommended by it.
The Panel thanks the Lagos State Government for giving it the opportunity to serve, providing the resources and allowing it to conduct its investigations and arrive at its findings independently and with integrity.
The Panel believes that with the implementation of the recommendations, the LEKKI TOLL GATE INCIDENT OF 20TH OCTOBER 2020 will never happen again, lessons will be learnt on all sides and there will be healing in the great state of Lagos State.
Embattled Student of the University of Ilorin, Salaudeen Waliu Aanuoluwa, popularly known as Captain Walz, with matriculation number 17/55EJ198, has been expelled by the management of the institution.
According to a statement by the University’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr. Kunle Akogun, the verdict was handed down by the Student Disciplinary Committee where Salaudeen was arraigned on Monday.
The statement, however, added that “the student has 48 days to appeal against the verdict to the Vice-Chancellor in case he feels dissatisfied with the decision.
“Salaudeen has since been handed over to the police for further necessary action,” Akogun said.
A letter written to Salaudeen by the University Registrar reads: “You will recall that you appeared before the Student Disciplinary Committee, SDC, to defend yourself in respect of an allegation of misconduct levelled against you.
“After due consideration of all evidence before it, the Committee was convinced beyond any reasonable doubt that the allegation of misconduct has been established against you.
“It has accordingly recommended to the Vice-Chancellor, who in exercise of the power conferred on him, has directed that you Salaudeen, Waliu Aanuoluwa be expelled from the University.
“Accordingly, you are hereby expelled from the University with immediate effect.
“You are required to submit forthwith, all University property in your custody including your student Identity Card to the Dean of Student Affairs or his representative and keep off the campus.
“In case you are dissatisfied with this decision, you are free to appeal to the University Council through the Dean, Faculty of Life Sciences to the Vice-Chancellor within 48 days of the date of this letter.”
Embattled 400-level student of the Department of Microbiology, University of Ilorin, UNILORIN, Waliyullah Salaudeen, popularly known as Captain Walz, has revealed his encounter with his female lecturer, Mrs Zakariyau, who was beaten to stupor last Thursday.
Captain Walz said his dastardly action was necessitated by the refusal of the lecturer to help wave his mandatory SIWES scheme despite all his explanations.
Walz spoke to a team of University Campus journalists, UCJ-Ilorin, who met with him at the University’s security post after his arrest following the incident.
The embattled student claimed that months before the last Thursday incident, he was arrested and locked up for two months in Lagos which warranted his inability to attend the SIWES.
Explaining his ordeal, Walz told the UCJ team that he had gone to Allen Avenue in Ikeja, Lagos State, to meet a friend for the first time.
He was waiting for the friend when he felt the urge to urinate.
“I urinated near a car parked by drainage and challenged by one of the workers there.
“I was then accused of being a thief and was not allowed to explain myself before a mob descended.
“I was severely beaten and handed over to the police which led to my detention for two months.
“After the incident, I approached Mrs Zakariyau to explain to her my ordeal but she said there was no help to offer, except I joined the next set which would result in an extra year.
“On the fateful Thursday when I entered her office, she ordered me out.
“I got angry and don’t know what came over me.
“It was while I was arguing with her that she threw a mug at me which injured me and I started beating her.
“But she did not fight back, I dragged her out of her office and she ran.
“I chased and kept beating her before people came. I tried to run but was later caught by the school security”, UCJ quoted him,” he said.
Osun State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of six suspects in connection with the death of missing Master in Business Administration (MBA) student of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Nigeria who was found dead at a yet to be disclosed area on Monday.
The Image maker of the Command, Opalola Olawoyin, stated this in a release issued to newsmen on Monday.
The deceased, Adegoke, who based in Abuja travelled to Ife on November 5 to take an examination at the school’s distance learning centre in Moro, Osun State, was declared missing when friends and family members could not reach him.
The statement partly read , “It would be recalled that, a case of a missing person was reported on 7th November, 2021 at about 1630hrs, at Edun Abon police station and later transferred to State Criminal Investigation Department for discreet investigation on 9th November, 2021. Immediately the case was received, detectives from SCID of the command swung into action and have arrested six suspects in connection with the case while investigation is ongoing.
“Consequently, the Commissioner of Police is using this medium to appeal to the family, the sympathizers, students and management of the university to remain calm and be rest assured that, the police will do all within its constitutional responsibility to unravel the mystery behind his death.
“Police command is working assiduously to unravel the circumstances surrounding the death of Mr Timothy Adegoke, a master’s degree student of OAU who came from Abuja to sit for his examination at the OAU distance learning centre, Moro, Osun State.”
Meanwhile, the management of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, has described in a statement issued by the Varsity public relations officer, Mr Abiodun Olarewaju on Monday Adegoke’s death as unfortunate.
The statement quoted the vice Chancellor, Professor Ogunbodede, to have sympathized with the family and also acknowledged the tenacity and doggedness of the late Mr. Adegoke’s wife which assisted, in no small measures, in unravelling the circumstances of her husband’s movement in Ile Ife.
Ogunbodede charged the widow, children, family, friends, colleagues and associates to take solace in the fact Mr. Adegoke left positive footprints and impacted numerous lives, and that “death is a necessary end that will come when it will come.”
The Vice-Chancellor pledged the commitment of the University administration to work with the law enforcement agents to unravel the circumstances leading to the death of Mr. Adegoke.
He prayed for the repose of the soul of Mr. Adegoke and that God should grant the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
Some graduating students of the University of Ibadan have decried the Nigeria’s premier university management’s decision to ban all, except first class graduates, from its 2021 Convocation ceremony.
The university on Monday held its Convocation and Award Ceremony for the First Degrees at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, with only the first class graduates allowed in.
The institution had earlier announced that only first class graduands and their parents would be allowed into the Convocation Hall.
However, some of the graduands with lower grades were seen in the university’s academic regalia taking pictures with their friends and families.
Those, who spoke with NAN, said that they felt cheated out of a very important milestone in their lives, describing the university’s action as “discriminatory and damning”.
One of the graduating students from the Faculty of Social Science, who simply gave his name as Bayo, said that he felt demoralised.
“The university asked us to pay all convocation fees, but told us at the same time that we are not good enough to attend out own convocation ceremony.
“I bagged a Second Class Upper after spending close to seven years on school for a four-year degree; so you can’t tell me I didn’t earn the right to be in the hall with other coursemates and friends.
“What message are they trying to pass across, that we are not good enough?
“I am grateful that my parents are not condemning me in spite of this,” he said.
Another of the graduands seen lurking around the convocation grounds, Yemi of the Faculty of Arts, said that the university was only trying to create unhealthy rivalry among the graduands.
Also commenting, Jeremiah Bunmi, a graduand of the Department of Psychology, said that the university did what it thought was best in order to keep the graduating students and their families safe.
“I am excited to be one of the graduands of this reputable institution.
“I think they did what they thought is best for everyone, especially pertaining to the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Bunmi said.
NAN reports that the university had earlier announced that it would restrict the weeklong 2021 Convocation and 73rd Foundation Day ceremonies due to the risk posed by the Coronavirus (COVID-19).
It said that inviting over seven thousand graduates and parents, guardians with their well-wishers into the venue would amount to flouting the rules and protocols of the Federal Government of Nigeria governing COVID-19.
The university had invited only first class graduands and awardees to the ceremonies.
In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kayode Adebowale, said that a total of 8,474 candidates would be awarded for various Degrees and Diplomas.
Adebowale said that the university was ranked number one in Nigeria and West Africa, seventh in Africa and top 500 globally in the Times Higher Education World University Ranking, 2021.
“After the university contended with industrial action, there came further disruption in our academic calendar as a result of the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic, which led to the closure of our great institution.
“In view of the problem posed by the pandemic, we opted for the alternative visual-classroom learning after the last convocation ceremony.
“It is cheering that despite the news of the third wave of the pandemic, the university has successfully completed another session and our final year students for 2018/2019 session have successfully completed their academic programmes.
“Some are participating physically, while most are joining virtually.
“Today, our graduands are from the Faculty of Arts, Science, Basic Medical Sciences, Clinical Sciences, Dentistry Agriculture, the Social Science, Education, Renewable Natural Resources, Distance Learning Centres, the affiliated, Technology, Law and Pharmacy.
“A breakdown of the list shows that approximately 3.1 per cent and 25. 5 per cent of our students finished with First Class and Second Class Upper Divisions Honours respectively.
“These outcomes are noteworthy, showing a lot of more significant improvements in the academic performance of our graduating students
“These graduands, who are being awarded the various degrees, have kept to the oath to which they subscribed during their matriculation.
“I charge you to be creative, courageous, enterprising and technologically sound.
“I urge you to acquire employability and professional skills in addition to your educational prowess; do not be afraid, but be focussed and be determined and success will be yours,” he said.
