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Gbajabiamila Serves PDP Its First Payback Cheque
By Eric Elezuo
Forgiveness is hardly an option for officers in the war front. They always remember how the enemy buffeted them, and as a result, whenever the opportunity comes knocking, they don’t fail to use it to the fullest. Ask the Americans how they responded after the Japanese mesmerized their soldiers at Pearl Harbour. Of course, Hiroshima and Nagasaki are there to tell the story. The concept of revenge is rooted in the fact that when you bit me on the head without a care for my hairs, I will not be mindful of your feces when I bit you on the buttocks. This is the situation as Femi Gbajabiamila remembers the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
On June 11, 2019, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, representing Surulere Federal constituency, Lagos State, became the Speaker of the House of Representatives, winning with a landslide vote count. That notwithstanding, the honorable member, who tried unsuccessfully to be Speaker in 2015, sweated through his pants and brows to finally grab the position.
As the June 11 date slowly approached, members took up strategic support position for the two members contesting the position; Gbajabiamila and Mohammed Bago from Niger State.
Much as the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) had rubber stamped Gbajabiamila as its preferred candidate, there was still the PDP angle, which has the second largest number of voters. Gbajabiamila was sure that a silent coup from the opposition PDP could spell doom for him, and re-enact the scene of 2015 when against all odds, Hon Yakubu Dogara from Bauchi State emerged winner, winning with as few as four votes. However, the hope of wooing the PDP was thwarted as the party openly took a stand against Gbajabiamila, and supported his opponent, Bago. Obviously, Gbajabiamila must have had sleepless nights to the extent of promising as much as 60 committee leadership positions for the PDP, cutting across chairmanship and deputy. But the PDP remained adamant, and asked its members to ignore him. He was only left with one on one campaigning to win the members over.
All said and done, Gbajabiamila won with a landslide, and waited for his turn for a payback. That opportunity came sooner than expected. The PDP national office had sent a list of would-be appointees, but the Speaker disregarded the list, and announced another from the House. While the PDP had preferred Kingsley Chinda from Rivers State as Minority leader, Gbajabiamila choose Ndudi Elumelu. While the Speaker may have hidden under the House rules for his action, stakeholders believe that like the Lanisters (apologies to Game of Thrones), the Speaker was sure to pay his debts.
The disregard of PDP’s list is obviously the first payback cheque from the Speaker to the party he felt did not support his ambition. Who knows, more payback cheques may follow in the days ahead.
Well, is that the way to go? Time will tell!
The Court of Appeal sitting in Akure, Ondo State capital has upheld the death sentence of Ramon Adedoyin, a prominent businessman and hotelier, for his involvement in the murder of one Timothy Adegoke, a former postgraduate student of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State.
Delivering the judgment on Thursday, the court affirmed the earlier verdict of the Osun State High Court, which had sentenced Adedoyin to death.
“The judgment of the High Court of Osun State stands. Adedoyin’s appeal is dismissed in part,” the court declared in part.
The Court of Appeal, however, set aside some aspects of the lower court’s orders, including the forfeiture of the Hilton Hotel and the order for Adedoyin to pay for the education of Adegoke’s children.
Furthermore, the court ruled that it had no jurisdiction to impose penalties outside the statutory provisions
Adegoke’s death was reported in November 2021 after his corpse was found at the Hilton Honours Hotel in Ile-Ife, Osun State, where he had lodged.
The hotelier had travelled from Abuja for an examination at a distance learning centre in Moro, Osun State on November 5 of that year.
He had checked into the hotel but was reported missing after two days. However, Adegoke’s body was found days later, leading to a probe that linked his death to Adedoyin and others.
In May 2023, Adedoyin and others were sentenced to death after they were found guilty of murder and conspiracy to murder.
But dissatisfied with the judgement, Adedoyin approached the Appeal court to dismiss the sentence and conviction.
The court of appeal, on Thursday, however, upheld the conviction and death sentence of the hotelier.
The Nigeria Police have announced that their operatives have rescued Mrs Folasade Odumosu, the wife of a former Assistant Inspector General, Hakeem Odumosu, who was last Thursday, kidnapped at the entrance of her home in Arepo, Ogun State.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja, noting that two of the kidnappers were killed while four others escaped without their weapons.
Adejobi said with the support of the Force Headquarters technical intelligence platforms, the Ogun State police operatives engaged Odumosu’s abductors in a gun duel and neutralized the criminals in the swampy area of Ikorodu on Wednesday.
The police spokesman added that Mrs Odumosu is currently undergoing a medical evaluation and has since been reunited with her family.
The statement read, “In a commendable display of teamwork and swift action, police operatives attached to the Ogun State Command have successfully neutralized the kidnappers of Mrs. Odumosu, wife of Retired Assistant-Inspector General, AIG Hakeem Odumosu, and rescued her unharmed.
“On January 16, 2025, at approximately 9:45 PM, four masked gunmen forcibly abducted Mrs. Odumosu from her Lexus Jeep outside her residence in Arepo, Ogun State. The abduction sparked an immediate response from the anti-kidnapping unit of the Ogun State Police Command, who commenced a thorough investigation and targeted pursuit of the kidnappers.
“With the support of the Force Headquarters technical intelligence platforms, the Ogun State police operatives engaged in extensive surveillance of the creeks surrounding Arepo, gathering crucial information to track down the assailants. Their efforts culminated in a raid on January 23, 2025, at around 06:45 AM. The intelligence-led operation took the police to a creek in the swampy area of Ikorodu, where the kidnappers were reportedly planning their next attack.
“Upon arrival, the operatives encountered the kidnappers, who opened fire. In the ensuing confrontation, two of the gunmen were neutralized, while four others fled the scene, abandoning their operational weapons.”
Adejobi said the police operatives recovered N10m initially paid to the kidnappers, four Ak-47 rifles, three locally made single barrel rifles, and ammunition of various calibres.
He added, “The victim, Mrs Odumosu was rescued within the swampy creeks during the operation, unharmed. She is currently undergoing medical evaluation as a precautionary measure and has since been reunited with her family. The police also recovered 4 Ak-47 rifles, 3 locally made single barrel rifles, ammunition of various calibres, and the sum of N10,000,000 ransom previously demanded by the kidnappers, further ensuring that justice is served.”
Adejobi said the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, commended the police operatives and the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo, for the rescue operation.
He asserted that the Police Force is committed to safeguarding the citizens and combat kidnapping and other violent crimes.
“The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM., has commended the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Ogunlowo, and his operatives for their displayed gallantry in this successful operation.
“This operation exemplifies the dedication and resilience of our Police officers. The Nigeria Police Force remains steadfast in its mission to combat kidnapping and other violent crimes, providing safety and security to all citizens,” he added.
Mrs Beatrice Ekweremadu, wife of former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu is back in Nigeria.
Mrs Ekweremadu returned to Nigeria on Tuesday.
Senator Ekweremadu, his wife and one Dr Obinna Obeta, were sentenced to prison by a UK court for their involvement in organ harvesting.
The former deputy senate president was sentenced to 10 years, while his wife was sentenced to six years.
While the return of Mrs Ekweremadu is being celebrated across Enugu State, many are praying to have the Deputy Senate President back in the shortest possible time.
Source: DAILY Post
