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  Inside Story: Lijebu (Odun Oba) festival in Ile-Oluji ...the role of youth and social media By: Engr. Adedokun A. Adeyonu, President, Oijefon Youth Council The Lijebu Festival, popularly known as Odun Oba, is a cherished tradition of the people of Ile-Oluji in Ondo State. Rooted in the heritage of the Jegun, the paramount ruler of the Kingdom, the festival celebrates kingship, identity, and unity. For generations, it has brought people together in joy, thanksgiving, and renewal. In the past, the festival was an occasion for the Jegun to appear in royal regalia, honour the ancestors, and receive the loyalty of his people. Today, it combines customs, prayers, drumming, music, and colourful displays that showcase the beauty and pride of Ile-Oluji. As society changes, the role of young people in sustaining this heritage has become vital. They bridge tradition and modernity, using creativity and technology to give Odun Oba a global voice. On social media platforms like Facebook, Insta...

  ‎ONDO POLICE RESCUE KIDNAP VICTIM UNHURT, VOWS TO TAKE WAR TO CRIMINALS’ DOMAINS ‎ ‎Ondo State Police Command has confirmed the successful rescue of Mr. Ayodeji Adebayo Akinsero, staff of the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, who was kidnapped on Thursday, 28th August 2025, by unknown armed men in Owo Local Government Area of the State. ‎According to a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer in Ondo State, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka Olushola, the Police in synergy with the Upeme Vigilante Group, launched a coordinated and aggressive operation into the forest where they engaged in a gun fuel with the kidnappers who eventually fled, abandoning the victim.  ‎ ‎He noted that the victim was rescued unhurt without payment of any ransom; and he was immediately rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, for medical attention, and has since been joyfully reunited with his family. ‎ ‎The Command commends the gallantry and resilience of the Police operatives and the Upeme Vigilante Gro...

FAKE POSTINOR-2 IN CIRCULATION - NAFDAC WARNS ‎*** hints on how to identify fake batches ‎The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has issued a public alert over the circulation of falsified batches of Postinor-2 (Levonorgestrel 0.75mg) emergency contraceptives in Nigeria. In a statement released by the agency, it said the counterfeit products, identified as Type 1 and Type 2 falsified batches, were flagged after the Society for Family Health (SFH), the authorised importer, confirmed it did not bring in those consignments. ‎NAFDAC disclosed that the counterfeit packs carried obvious errors, including a misspelt verification sticker reading “Veify” instead of “Verify” and a wrongly printed phrase “Distnibuted in Nigeria” at the back of the pack. The original version, the agency noted, has clearer fonts and correct spellings. ‎It said, “The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) hereby notifies the public of falsified Type 1...

BREAKING NEWS: IMO STATE GOVERNOR INCREASES WORKERS SALARY TO N104,000 MINIMUM WAGE Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, has increased the minimum wage for workers in the state civil service to N104,000. ‎This figure is more than 25 percent of the current national minimum wage of N75,000. ‎The governor, in a declaration made during a meeting with members of the state labour force held at the Government House in Owerri, also announced that the monthly salary for medical doctors in the state civil service has been increased to N533,000. ‎According to the governor, for lecturers in state-owned tertiary institutions, the new entry-level salary will be N222,000. ‎Governor Uzodimma explained that the upward review of wages was made possible by a rise in the state’s internally generated revenue and an increase in federal allocations. ‎He emphasized that the new salary structure is aimed at stimulating Imo State’s economy and boosting the morale and productivity of civil servants. ‎Gover...

HOMOSEXUALITY SCANDAL HITS NIGERIA CATHOLIC CHURCH A homosexuality scandal may have broken up in the Catholic Church in Nigeria following the conclusion of investigations into allegations of sexual abuse against a priest at the Catholic Diocese of Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State. After two separate verdicts of guilty and not-guilty, the church ordered that the accused, Reverend Father Kenneth (not real name), be formally warned to steer clear of scandals. The Bishop of Ijebu-Ode, Most Rev. Francis Adesina, in a letter dated July 30, 2025, said the verdict to rebuke Father Kenneth was reached in accordance with canon laws. The decision, however, led to calls for a review of the case, including imposition of stricter sanctions, amid claims of cover-up and ongoing risks to children in the church. The whistleblower, Bayo (not real name), claimed that no fewer than nine “brothers” were sexually abused by the priest, who also allegedly introduced them to homosexuality. The 33-year-old also stated that...

HOMOSEXUALITY SCANDAL HITS NIGERIA CATHOLIC CHURCH - PART II “Nonetheless, after carefully reviewing the entire case, and considering the seriousness of the original accusation, your credibility as the accuser, and other surrounding concerns, the DDF observed that a degree of suspicion remained regarding Father Kenneth’s conduct. “Therefore, during its session of 9th May 2025, the DDF imposed a canonical rebuke and issued a warning, instructing Father Kenneth to prudently avoid any persons or situations that could compromise his obligation to observe continence or cause scandal among the faithful.” Catholic law breached? A Catholic priest, who spoke to Saturday PUNCH on condition of anonymity because he could not be seen openly criticising the church, said justice was not served in the matter. The reverend father, after reading a copy of the bishop’s decision letter sent to Bayo, said there were contradictions in the statement, describing it as troubling. He also wondered why the civil...

WhatsApp Messaging: Man Charged To Court For Sending “Good Morning Babe” To A Married Woman On WhatsApp The Police Command in Ogun has filed criminal charges against a man, Sikiru Jamiu, at the Ijebu Ode magisterial district for addressing a married woman, Opeyemi Adegbesan as “babe” in a WhatsApp chat. Mr Jamiu is accused of conduct likely to cause a breach of peace in Mrs Opeyemi’s marriage to her husband, Akintunde Adegbesan.  He risks one-month imprisonment under the state’s criminal code. "That you Sikiru Oluwaseun Jamiu ‘m’ on September 19, 2021, at about 8.02 a.m along Fidipote Street, opposite IBEDC office, Ijebu Ode in the Ijebu Ode Magisterial District did conduct yourself in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace in the marriage between one Akintunde Adegbesan ‘m’ and Opeyemi Adegbesan T. by using the word ‘Good Morning Babe’ on WhatsApp no. 08059491562 and 08138868837. and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 249(d) of the Crimi...

 Ondo Attorney General Invokes Coroner’s Law Over Death of UNIMED Registrar ...Family claims forced poisoning by assailants; CJ appoints Chief Magistrate Ogunfuyi as coroner to lead inquest The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Ondo State, Dr. Olukayode Ajulo, OON, SAN, has invoked the Ondo State Coroner’s Law, urging the Chief Judge of the State, Honourable Justice Olusegun Ayedun Odusola, to assign a coroner to inquire into the death of Mr. Ezekiel Imole Adeniran, the late Registrar of the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), Ondo. In a letter addressed to the Honourable Chief Judge of Ondo State, Dr. Ajulo stated that reports indicated Mr. Adeniran died under questionable circumstances on or about July 17, 2025. He stressed that, in the public interest, a formal coroner’s inquest is necessary to ascertain the cause and manner of death, and to determine if any individual may bear criminal responsibility. Dr. Ajulo stated that the inquest would be conducted in a...

  ONDO CONDEMNS DESTRUCTION OF CROPS BY HERDSMEN IN IPOGUN      ...CALLS FOR CALM Ondo State Government has condemned the widespread destruction of crops in some farms in Ipogun, Ifedore Local Government Area of the state, by herdsmen who invaded the community to graze their cattle on the crops of hardworking farmers. Speaking on the incident, the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Forestry, Engr. Leye Akinola, stated that the administration of Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa would not condone the act of lawlessness. He emphasized that the government would investigate the incident and bring the perpetrators to book. The Commissioner sympathized with the farmers for their losses and vowed to bring those involved to justice to serve as a deterrent to others. He appealed to the affected farmers and the community to allow the government to handle the situation through the Amotekun corps, urging them not to take the law into their own hands. Engr. Akinola commended...

  FAMILY, ASSOCIATES AND COMMUNITY LEADERS BID MEDICAL ICON, DR IGE OGUNLEYE-ALADEJANA FAREWELL ...As Secretary to Ondo State Government, Dr. Taiwo Fasoranti, represents Governor Aiyedatiwa  Personalities from within and outside Ondo State on Friday gathered in Akure, the State capital, to bid a prominent son of the town, Prince(Dr) Ige Ogunleye-Aladejana farewell. Dr. Ige Ogunleye-Aladejana passed on at age 97. The funeral service held at St. David's Anglican Cathedral, Ijomu, had in attendance captains of industry, political leaders, medical icons as well as community leaders from Akure and its environs. Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa was represented at the occasion by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Taiwo Fasoranti. Other personalities present at the occasion included the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Kayode Ajulo, SAN, OON, and former Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development in the State, Mr. Kunle Ashaolu. In his homily, the Dean...