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Kwara Hijab Crisis: 151 Students May Miss WAEC, Principal Tells Panel

Published

3 years ago

March 14, 2022

The committee set up by the Kwara State Government to investigate the circumstances that led to the recent violence in Oyun Baptist High School, Ijagbo, on Monday began sitting in Ilorin, the state capital.

This is just as the principal of the embattled school said about 151 of its students are ready to write WAEC while the school is still closed.

At its inaugural sitting, the chairman of the panel, Dr Shehu Omoniyi, explained that it was not to witch-hunt anyone but critically assess the situation and make specific recommendations to the government to prevent a reoccurrence.

He sought for corporation and urged invitees to speak the truth whenever they are called upon adding that there’s no need to try to mislead the panel.

“We want to work with the fear of God and I hope at the end of the day, all sides will be happy with our recommendations”, he submitted.

Dr Omoniyi called for religious tolerance and understanding for peaceful co-existence.

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In his submission, the Principal of the school, Mr Francis Lambe, who narrated what transpired in the school between Wednesday January 19, 2022 and Thursday February 3, 2022, when the issue of hijab took another dimension, said the resistance to the hijab was strictly from the Christian body in the community.

Mr Lambe explained that several meetings he held with some stakeholders to allow peace to reign in the school did not yield result.

He said government owns the school and is responsible for payment of its teachers, saying the only role played by the Baptist is advise the government on the choice of principal, as has been the culture in schools originally owned by missionaries.

The Principal, who disclosed that the school has a population ratio of 47% Muslims and 53% Christians, agreed that the wearing of hijab by willing Muslim girls did not have any negative effect on the school.

“What I will recommend to the government is to invite the CAN and the concerned Muslim stakeholders and let them understand that policy is policy and pacify the two sides. Now, our school is closed. We have our SS3 students about 151 students ready to write WAEC,” he added.

The embattled school had been under lock and key for over a month following the crisis which erupted when some members of a Christian group disallowed some female Muslim students who wore hijab from entering the school.

The incident was coming just after a year that the state witnessed a similar incident over the same issue in 2021.

Daily Trust

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Tragedy as 25-year-old man hangs self in Ogun forest

Published

8 hours ago

March 14, 2025

Trends Admin

CSP Omolola Odutola

Tragedy as 25-year-old man hangs self in Ogun forest

The Police Command in Ogun State has launched an investigation into the death of a 25-year-old man, Toye Dominic, whose body was discovered hanging from a tree in a forest near Alagbodagbo Village, Ijebu Igbo.

In a statement released on Thursday, the command’s spokesperson, CSP Omolola Odutola, confirmed the incident and said the body was found around 4:30 p.m.

According to Odutola, a local hunter, Kareem Olawalose, came across the scene while on a hunting trip and promptly reported the discovery to the Ijebu Igbo Divisional Police Headquarters.

After spotting the body, Olawalose sought assistance from a nearby village, where he met the deceased’s elder brother, Joseph Dominic.

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The brother disclosed that Toye had left for the farm earlier in the day but failed to return, prompting a search by concerned family members.

“Policemen and villagers on arrival at the scene, observed that the deceased had set aside his farm tools before proceeding further into the forest, where he was found hanging from a tree.“No suicide note was found, and family members expressed shock and disbelief over the incident,” Odutola said.

She added that officers documented the scene with photographs, and the body was taken to General Hospital, Ijebu Ode, for further examination.
Odutola assured the public that the police would carry out a comprehensive investigation to determine the events leading to the tragedy.

She also encouraged community members to stay alert and support people who might be experiencing emotional distress, emphasizing the importance of mental health awareness and timely intervention.

Tragedy as 25-year-old man hangs self in Ogun forest

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Ex-Kwara Gov AbdulFatah Ahmed rearranged in N5.8bn fraud case

Published

8 hours ago

March 14, 2025

Trends Admin

Former Governor of Kwara State, Abdulfatah Ahmed

Ex-Kwara Gov AbdulFatah Ahmed rearranged in N5.8bn fraud case

The Kwara State High Court has fixed April 10 and 11 for the continuation of the trial of former governor AbdulFatah Ahmed and his finance commissioner, Demola Banu, over the alleged diversion of 5.78 billion naira from the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) fund.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting the two officials, who have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Testifying in court, Engineer Abdulsalam Olanrewaju, a former project manager at the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), revealed that despite the state paying counterpart funds in 2014 and 2015, no contracts were awarded.

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He stated that while the 2013 contractors were eventually paid after protesting delays, funds meant for subsequent projects remained unused.

During cross-examination, Olanrewaju clarified that signatories to the SUBEB account were the accountant, permanent secretary, and executive chairman of the board.

Earlier, a second witness, Dr. Musa Dasuki, emphasized that matching grants from UBEC and SUBEB are strictly meant for school infrastructure and cannot be diverted for other purposes.

Ex-Kwara Gov AbdulFatah Ahmed rearranged in N5.8bn fraud case

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Fubara writes fresh letter to Rivers Assembly for 2025 budget presentation

Published

8 hours ago

March 14, 2025

Trends Admin

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara

Fubara writes fresh letter to Rivers Assembly for 2025 budget presentation

Less than eight hours after his Chief Judge has been placed on investigation over alleged age falsification, the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has properly written to the state House of Assembly of his intention to present the 2025 budget.

On Wednesday, Fubara was locked out of the Assembly Complex for what the spokesman of the House, Hon Enemi George said “his inability to formally communicate the House”.

In a letter titled: Notice of Presentation of Rivers State 2025 Budget to Rivers State House of Assembly, and addressed to the Speaker, Martins Amaewhule, the Governor recalled his first visit to the House.

“You may recall my failed visit to the Rivers State House of Assembly on Wednesday, 12th March, 2025 for the presentation of the 2025 Rivers State Budget in compliance with the judgement of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

“As you know, the planned presentation of the said budget could not take place because my entourage and I were locked out at the gate and denied entry into the premises despite the prior delivery of a soft copy of the notice to you following the failure of the Clerk to accept the hard copy from us.

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“Recall further that before this unfortunate incident, the House issued a 48-hour ultimatum to present the 2025 budget even when we were yet to be served with the certified
true copy of the judgement and accompanying enrolled orders”, he said.

Governor Fubara informed the Speaker in the letter that “we were simply complying with both the order of the Supreme Court and the request of the Rivers State House of Assembly when we came to present the 2025 budget on the 12th of March, 2025.

“The Supreme Court has directed that all arms of government should exercise their
powers and perform their duties within the ambits of the Constitution and ordinary laws of our country, and this we must do to end the lingering stalemate and advance the progress of our state and the well-being of our people.

“No matter the depth of our differences, we believe the interests of the State and our
people should take priority over political conflicts.

“Against this background, it is my pleasure to again notify you, Mr. Speaker, of my desire and intention to present the 2025 Budget to the Rivers State House of Assembly on
Wednesday, 19th March, 2025 by 11.00 a.m. or any other date within March 2025 that you may
consider convenient”.

It is therefore left to be seen if the House will have the courtesy to respond to the letter giving the long time frame for thr presentation of the budget.