Truck crushes nine family members in their Benue

A truck crashed into a residential building, killing nine members of a family in the Ohimini Local Government Area of Benue State on Thursday.

According to sources, the incident occurred at 5 a.m., while the family was still sleeping.

According to reports, the truck’s brakes failed, causing the driver to lose control and collide with a house along the roadside.

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An eyewitness said, “The incident happened early this morning when most people were still in bed. The loud noise from the crash woke up the neighbours.”

The Benue State Police Command confirmed the accident.

The command’s spokesperson, Catherine Anene, said, “The truck rammed into a residential building, killing nine members of the family. The unfortunate incident occurred in the early hours of Thursday.”

She disclosed that the police had commenced a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash and assured the public that further details would be provided in due course.

Alaafin stool: Prince Gbadegesin issues 30 days ultimatum to Gov. Makinde

Prince Lukman Gbadegesin has given Governor Seyi Makinde an ultimatum of 30 days to reverse the appointment of Prince Akeem Owoade as the new Alaafin of Oyo.

This ultimatum was issued via a pre-action notice signed by Gbadegesin’s lawyer, Adekunle Sobaloju SAN, who claims that the Governor’s actions violate the Oyo State Chiefs’ Law 2000.

According to Gbadegesin, the Governor has overstepped his bounds by announcing a different candidate, thereby disregarding the powers of the Oyomesi, as outlined in the Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration of 1961.

Furthermore, Gbadegesin’s lawyer argued that the Governor’s reliance on Ifa consultation is unlawful, as it contradicts a previous court judgment.

The letter from Gbadegesin’s lawyer reads in part: “By announcing a different candidate, the Governor has usurped the powers of the Oyomesi, violating the Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration of 1961, which makes the Oyomesi the sole authority for the selection of the Alaafin.

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“The Governor’s alleged reliance on Ifa consultation contradicts the judgment of the Oyo State High Court of 19th December 2022, which declared Ifa consultation In the selection process unlawful, as it is not provided for in the Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration of 1961, and the allegations of bribery by two Oyomesi members, raised over a year after the selection, lack credibility and were not formally communicated to the Governor or investigated.”

His lawyer noted that Prince Gbadegesin is seeking “an order setting aside the purported appointment, approval of appointment and presentation of staff of office to Prince Abimbola Akeem Owoade as Alaafin of Oyo as it was done in violation of the provisions of the Chief’s Law of Oyo State, 2000, the Registered Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration of 1961, unlawful, unconstitutional, invalid, null and void” and a declaration that he “was validly selected and or appointed by the Kingmakers of Alaafin of Oyo as the candidate to fill the vacant stool of the Alaafin of Oyo in accordance with Chiefs Law of Oyo State, 2000 and the Registered Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration of 1961 and therefore his appointment is valid, lawful and proper.”

See the pre-action notice addressed to Governor Seyi Makinde below:

Alaafin stool: Prince Gbadegesin issues 30 days ultimatum to Gov. Makinde

Ex-Lagos head of service Pa Ajose dies at 78

A former Head of Service in Lagos State, Pa Akinsanya Sunny Ajose, is dead.

Ajose died in the early hours of Thursday,January 16, 2025 after a brief illness, newstrends learnt. He was was aged 78.

He was a member of the powerful Lagos Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), a body constituted by Asiwaju Bola Tinubu many years before becoming President to watch over the politics of Lagos Dtate.

He was a close ally of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, contributing significantly to governance and public service in Lagos State.

As governor, Tinubu in 2004 appointed Ajose as the Lagos State Head of Service, a position he held until he reached the statutory retirement age. Following his retirement, Tinubu appointed Ajose to serve as his Special Adviser until May 2007 when his tenure elapsed as governor of Lagos State.

He served as deputy chief of staff to Tinubu, the same position he maintained in the Babatunde Fashola administration.

He was later appointed to the board of the Lagos State University Governing Council on September 16, 2015.