Decongestion Of Mortuaries: Ondo To Give Mass Burial To 402 Unclaimed Corpses

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August 18, 2025

Ondo University of Medical Sciences - UNIMED

By Ayodele Oni

The Ondo State Government is set to decongest public morgues with approval of a mass burial to unclaimed corpses numbering 402.

Report revealed that some of the corpses have been abandoned since year 2020, with nobody coming forward to claim them.

The dead bodies are dumped at the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital (UNIMEDTH), morgue, in Akure and Ondo complexes, leaving no room to deposit fresh ones.

The State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa has given approval for the immediate mass burial of the 402 known and unknown corpses deposited between 2020 and 2024, to prevent unwarranted hazardous tendencies the development portends for the people of the state.

According to a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Michael Odimayo, subtitled; “List of unknown and abandoned bodies in UNIMEDTH Ondo and Akure complexes”, said the governor “has approved the mass burial of prolonged abandoned corpses” in the two hospitals.

Due to the concluded plan on the mass burial, government has called on members of the public to claim the corpses of their loved ones before the expiration of the 21-day ultimatum given for the purpose.

It reads; “The office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health has completed arrangement to effect the mass burial.

“The general public is therefore given up to 21 days from the day of this notice to go with evidence and claim the corpses of their relatives/ loved ones before the proposed mass burial.”

According to the statement, there are a total of 146 abandoned female corpses while that of male were 256.

Out of the 145 female corpses, there are 117 corpses, whose owners could not be traced, while only 29 corpses of the total figure could be identified.

For the male, out of the 256 corpses, 205 are unknown while 51 could be identified.

The number of unknown corpses both for male and female stands at 322 while the total for known corpses stands at 80.

From the above analyses, the total abandoned and unknown corpses expected to be given mass burial by the Ondo State government remains 402.

NIMASA Promotes 9 Directors, Others

By

James Orji

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August 18, 2025

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The Governing Board of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has approved the promotion of nine Deputy Directors to Directors. In addition, the Board approved the promotion of 30 Assistant Directors to Deputy Directors, 35 Chiefs to Assistant Directors, and ratified the promotion of 169 other staff members from one grade level to the next grade level .

The newly appointed Directors include the Coordinator, Abuja Liaison Office, Mrs. Moji Jimoh; Director Internal Audit, Dr. Odunayo Ani; Special Adviser to the DG, Mrs. Nneka Obianyor; Director Procurement, Mrs. Biodun Fatade; Dr. Oma Ofodile; Ms. Gloria Anyasodo; Mr. Abdulahi Yelwa; Umar Buba and Mr. Umar Ibrahim Sidi.

While congratulating the newly promoted officers, the Director General of NIMASA, Dayo Mobereola, reaffirmed Management’s commitment to staff welfare and a transparent, merit-based career progression system.

He charged the beneficiaries to rededicate themselves to excellence in service delivery.

“Our administration is committed to improved staff welfare. This promotion exercise is strictly merit-based, and we expect staff to reciprocate by rededicating themselves to higher productivity. We will continue to prioritize staff welfare, while counting on your commitment to the ideals of the Agency in helping Management actualize its mandate,” Mobereola stated.

CBN: Currency In Circulation Hits N4.5trn

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James Orji

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August 18, 2025

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Currency outside the formal banking system moderated to N4.49 trillion in June 2025, down from N4.63 trillion in May, though it continued to dominate overall liquidity by accounting for about 90 per cent of total circulation.

Currency in circulation,CIC, closed the month at N5.01 trillion, marginally higher than N5.00 trillion recorded in the previous month, according to the latest Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) data. The pullback marks the first notable easing in two months, following a steady rise in cash supply. Over the past year, cash outside banks (CoB) had maintained an upward trajectory, climbing from N3.79 trillion in June 2024 to a peak of N5.13 trillion in December 2024, driven largely by festive spending. From July through November, out-of-bank currency expanded consistently—rising from N3.66 trillion in July to N4.02 trillion in September and N4.65 trillion in November underscoring the persistent reliance on cash in the economy.

The trend shifted at the turn of 2025 as liquidity conditions began to adjust. In January, CoB eased to N4.74 trillion before declining further to N4.52 trillion in February. It steadied at N4.57 trillion in April and edged up again to N4.63 trillion in May, before tapering to N4.49 trillion in June. Despite the moderation, the figure remained 18.6 per cent higher year-on-year, highlighting the scale of unbanked liquidity and its implications for monetary policy effectiveness.

A closer look at CIC trends reveals a cycle of seasonal expansion, sharp year-end spikes, and gradual correction. Total CIC stood at N4.05 trillion in June 2024, with N3.79 trillion, over 93 per cent held outside banks. The ratio hovered above 90 per cent throughout the second half of the year, peaking in December when CIC surged to N5.44 trillion, with N5.13 trillion circulating outside the formal system. By early 2025, the pattern reversed as post-holiday withdrawals tapered, with CIC falling to N5.24 trillion in January and further to N5.03 trillion in February, before stabilising around N5 trillion through April, May, and June.

THISDAY

Akpabio Returns, Dispels Rumoured Ill-Health

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Tosin Olatokunbo

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August 18, 2025

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Nigerian Senate President, Godswill Akpabio has returned to the country after days of absence from the Senate Chamber.

The nation’s number three citizen arrived the country early on Monday, welcome by many of his colleagues in the Senate, including Senator Ned Nwoko representing Delta state.

Akpabio’s absence from the country and Senate had fueled rumour that he had fallen ill.

The reports further claimed that he was receiving treatment in London, leaving many of his supporters and family members worried.

His media office had denied the report saying he had only embarked on a vacation.

Also while speaking on the report, a former governor of Ogun state, Senator Gbenga Daniel said the Senate President was hale and hearty, as he visited him in London.

Akpabio who arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, the nation’s capital in the early hours of Monday, dispelled the report of his ill health as the handiwork of rumour mongers,saying he’s “fit as fiddle”.

He described the report as “the imagination of the purveyors”.

“There’s nothing like such. I’m fit as a fiddle. I only stopped over in London for a short vacation,” Akpabio said

Soludo To Obi: LP Is Dead, Non-Existent In Anambra

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Tosin Olatokunbo

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August 18, 2025

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Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra has downplayed the influence of Peter Obi, the Labour Party and African Democratic Congress, ADC, popularity in the state, citing last Saturday bye-election in the state.

According to Soludo , the LP and ADC are “dead” in the state and are not existing. The governor made the remark on Sunday during an even in Nanka, few hours after his party, APGA swept the elections.

The magazine reported that Obi, the presidential candidate of the LP in the 2023 election had directed his supporters to vote for ADC candidates in the election due to the crisis in the LP., which made INEC to exclude its candidates from the election.

Obi is a member of the ADC which key opposition leaders in the country such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Governors Nasir El Rufai, Rotimi Amaechi, Rauf Aregbesola said will be used as a vehicle to oust resident Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, from power in the next election.

“ADC does not exist in Anambra. We showed it yesterday, Saturday. Labour Party is dead,” Soludo boasted, stressing that the two opposition parties had planned to use the election to test their popularity ahead the 2027 election.

Checks by the magazine indicate that the ruling party in the state won more than 75 percent of the votes cast during the off-season election.

The 2023 LP presidential candidate had few days before the election urged his supporters not to vote for the party because it has no recognised candidates by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, due to the lingering leadership crisis rocking the party.

In the message he posted on his X, the LP chieftain, said “Kindly note that because the Labour Party has no recognised candidates by INEC due to the internal crisis.

“I humbly urge every member of Obidient and COPDEM families to go out and vote for the coalition political party, African Democratic Congress (ADC), in their respective states.”

PDP Suffers Crushing Defeat In Edo Bye-elections

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Suleiman Anyalewechi

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August 18, 2025

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By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Electoral misfortune trailing the troubled Peoples Democratic party PDP in Edo State, at the weekend, worsened. The party suffered a humiliating loss in the hands of the All Progressive Congress, APC, in the State and National Assemblies by-election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC.

The Source reports that the Electoral Umpire had, on Saturday, August 16, conducted by-elections in the Edo Central Senatorial District and Ovia Federal Constituency to fill vacancies created by the election of Governor Monday Okpebholo’ and his Deputy during the state’s off-circle gubernatorial polls held on Saturday September 21 2024 .

Both Governor Okpebholo and his Deputy were members of the red and green chambers of the National Assembly before their election.

In the result announced by the INEC Returning Officer Clement Ighoaro, the APC candidate, Dr Joseph Ikpea, was declared winner having polled 105,129 votes to defeat his PDP opponent Prince Joe Okojie who garnered a paltry 15, 146 votes.

Similarly, the APC candidate in the Ovia Federal Constituency, Gabriella Omosede Igbinedion, emerged victorious with 77,053 votes ,as against 3,838 votes garnered by PDP’s Johnny Aikpitanyi .

Dr Sandra Asemota, the flag bearer of the new Coalition platform the African Democratic Congress ADC , managed to poll 925 votes .

The PDP’s crushing defeat comes on the heels of its controversial defeat in the Governorship election of 2024.

Although the PDP, as at the time of reporting, was yet to react, the outcome of the exercise appears to have further pushed the once political behemouth into deeper abyss in the political equation of not just Edo State, but the entire country.

Commendation As Senator Nwoye Appoints Wife of Murdered Anambra Lawmaker His Aide

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Adesina Soyooye

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August 18, 2025

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By Adesina Soyooye

Commendations have gone the way of Senator Tony Nwoye over the compassion he has shown to Mrs Justina Azuka.

Mrs Azuka is the widow of Hon. Justice Azuka, member Anambra State House of Assembly under the Labour Party, who was abducted in Onitsha on December 24, 2024, and murdered. Days after he was abducted, his decomposed body was found near the new River Niger Bridge. He left his Widow and three children, all under 10 years, behind.

In sympathy, and to help the young widow take care of her children, stakeholders in Onitsha North 1 State Constituency, which her husband represented before his gruesome murder, decided to shoo her in to replace her husband in the State Assembly. The choice was applauded, and everybody thought it was a done deal.

What was not put into consideration, however, was that the ruling Party in the State, All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, under the leadership of the State Governor, Professor Charles Soludo, would ever think of fielding a candidate to challenge Mrs Azuka for the seat.

Of course there is no law against that, but not a few

people felt it was morally wrong especially, as her husband was abducted and murdered under Governor Soludo’s watch.

But that was exactly what Soludo and APGA did. They fielded another female, a well grounded Lawyer, Mimih Ifeoma Ikpeazu-Azikiwe to challenge her. And, surprisingly, so did the Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress.

Because of the leadership crisis in the LP, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, barred it from fielding a candidate. So, Mrs Azuka ran under the African Democratic Congress, ADC.

But it was no use. Not a few stakeholders rooted for her to win, including Peter Obi, the Presidential candidate of the LP in the 2023 Elections who publicly endorsed and presented her.

When the results were announced, the APGA Candidate, trounced Mrs Azuka. She beat her to a very distant second place.

To Mrs Azuka and thousands of people, it was a sad day. It was like her husband has been killed again.

But enters Senator Nwoye to wipe tears off Mrs Azuka’s eyes. He entered bearing succor.

Less than 24 hours after Mrs Azuka lost the race to replace her murdered husband, Nwoye offered her a job. He appointed her as one of his Legislative Aides – the position of Senior Special Adviser on Special Duties. The appointment, which letter has already been given to Mrs Azuka, takes immediate effect. It comes with a basic salary of N200,000 a month.

Apostle Suleiman Slams Dangote Over The Killing Of Three Persons In Auchi Accident

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Suleiman Anyalewechi

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August 18, 2025

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By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The managerial acumen of Africa’s acclaimed richest man, Aliko Dangote on Sunday, August 17, 2025, came under serious criticism by the fiery Christian Cleric Apostle Johnson Suleiman, following the crushing to death of three persons by a Dangote truck driver in Auchi.

The General Overseer of the Omega Power Ministry in a post on his official site, accused the billionaire business mogul of surrendering his trucks to a bunch of drivers high on drugs and other intoxicants.

According to him, Dangote, it appears, prefers the employment of untrained little boys who engage in drug abuse as drivers of his trucks, a development which he claimed has led to the wanton killings of innocent people.

The Source reports that the latest Auchi incident is coming on the heels of the crushing of Ruth Otabor, the sister of the Reality Show BBNaija winner Phyna, by a Dangote truck driver.

The incident which prompted Phyna to drag the billionaire businessman, has led to the amputation of one of the victim’s legs ,with the other said to be equally at risk .

The accident which occurred by the Omega Fire Ministry on Auchi/Okpella/Okene road ,in Etsako West Local Council of Edo State, involved a Dangote truck and three other vehicles.

According to the Edo State Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Cyril Mathew, the accident was as a result of brake failure on the part of the truck which subsequently rammed into the vehicles.

“The truck had a break failure, and in the process, rammed into three vehicles, killing three persons and injuring one”, the FRSC Commander stated.

The three vehicles, particularly a Mercedes Benz GLK ,were are destroyed beyond repairs.

Two of the victims are male , while one is female

Apostle Suleiman, also, criticized Dangote for not paying attention to the management of his business concerns, noting that such lackadaisical attitude has harmed many families, and made parents childless.

“@aliko_dangotegcon,you are not the only rich man on earth. Your recklessness in managing your business has caused harm to families and made parents childless.

“Your truck just killed 3 people a few minutes ago in Auchi . You give trucks to little boys who are high on drugs and untrained. This won’t go unchallenged”, Apostle Suleiman wrote.

Meanwhile, the Dangote Company has visited Mrs Otobo in the hospital and assured that tye company would take care of the bills and do everything to make life comfortable for her.

Nigerian Army Redeploys GOCs, Other Commanders

By

Tosin Olatokunbo

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August 18, 2025

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Major General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyele

Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, COAS), has approved the posting and appointments of some senior officers to key command, instructional, and staff positions across various formations and units of the Nigerian Army.

The approval was contained in a statement made available to defence correspondents in Abuja on Sunday by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Lt Col. Appolonia Anele.

It stated that this was in a strategic move to strengthen leadership and reposition the Nigerian Army (NA) for greater operational effectiveness.

Anete said in the statement , that the redeployment encompasses a few Principal Staff Officers (PSOs) at the Army Headquarters (AHQ), two General Officers Commanding (GOCs), Corps Commanders, Commandants of training institutions, and Brigade Commanders, among other appointments critical to the Nigerian Army’s operational and administrative structure.

Some of the senior officers appointed as Principal Staff Officers at the Army Headquarters include Maj Gen. AA Adeyinka, who was posted from the Nigerian Army Corps of Supply and Transport (NACST) to the Department of Army Logistics and appointed Chief of Logistics (Army); Major General AA Adekeye, posted from the AHQ Department of Standard and Evaluation to the AHQ Department of Personnel Management as Chief of Personnel Management (Army); and Major General TB Ugiagbe, redeployed from the Headquarters Nigerian Army Intelligence Corps to the AHQ Department of Standard and Evaluation and appointed Chief of Standard and Evaluation.

Others are Maj Gen. AA Idris, moved from Defence Headquarters to the Nigerian Army Intelligence Corps and appointed Chief of Military Intelligence (Army), and Maj Gen. MO Erebulu, redeployed from the Department of Special Services and Programmes to the Nigerian Army Corps of Military Police and appointed Provost Marshal (Army).

Also, Maj Gen. EA Anaryu from the Defence Space Administration has been redeployed and appointed Corps Commander, Supply and Transport, while Major General SA Akesode has been moved from the Office of the National Security Adviser to the African Union Verification Mission in the Tigray Region, Ethiopia, as Head of Mission. Maj Gen JE Osifo was posted from the Nigerian Army School of Finance and Accounts to the Nigerian Army Finance Corporation as Director General.

She stressed further explained that senior officers appointed as General Officers Commanding (GOCs) are Maj. Gen. ASM Wase, moved from the Department of Training to Headquarters 1 Division/Sector 1 Joint Task Force North West Operation FANSAN YAMMA (OPFY) as GOC 1 Division/Commander Sector 1, and Maj. Gen. CR Nnebeife, appointed as the General Officer Commanding 2 Division/Sector 3 Joint Task Force OPFY.

Some of the senior officers appointed as Commandants of Nigerian Army training institutions are Major General MO Ihanuwaze, redeployed from the Nigerian Army Finance Insurance Corporation to the Nigerian Army School of Finance and Administration as Commandant; Maj. Gen. KO Osemwegie, appointed Commandant, Army Signal School; Major General AJ Aliyu, appointed Commandant, Nigerian Army Ordnance School; and Maj. Gen. AC Adetoba, posted from the Department of Transformation and Innovation to the Nigerian Army College of Logistics and Management as Commandant, among others.

Other senior officers also affected in the redeployment are Brigadier General M Jimoh, moved from HQ Operation FANSAN YAMMA to HQ 1 Brigade as Commander; Brigadier General NE Okoloagu, redeployed from the Army War College Nigeria to 2 Brigade as Commander; and Brigadier General AA Bello, moved from the Nigerian Army School of Infantry to 6 Division Garrison/Sector 3 JTF South South Operation DELTA SAFE as Commander.

It stated that the COAS has charged the newly appointed senior officers to redouble their efforts and commitment to duty in ensuring the sustenance of the ongoing onslaught against terrorism, insurgency, and other threats to national security as they assume their new appointments.

The COAS also reiterated his commitment to the welfare of troops as paramount to operational successes.

Awujale Stool: Race To Throne Heats Up, As Adeyemi Family Protests Exclusion From Royal Lineage

By

Akinwale Kasali

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August 17, 2025

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By Akinwale Kasali

Weeks after the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, joined his forebears, the race to replace him has intensified.

Following this development, the Adeyemi ruling House of the Anikilaya dynasty has alleged its exclusion from the Anikilaya Ruling House.

The Anikilaya Ruling House is one of the royal lineages entitled to produce candidates for the stool of Awujale of Ijebuland in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State.

It would be recalled that the Anikilaya Ruling House had previously produced the immediate past Awujale of Ijebuland.

In a statement issued on Sunday and signed by Adedeji Ademola Adeyemi, the family alleged that a few members of the Ruling House have deliberately altered history by removing the Adeyemis from the recognised lineage.

Adeyemi explained that Adeyemi Anikilaya was the eldest crown prince of the late Oba Anikilaya Saagun, with Ogbagba and Ademolu being his younger brothers.

He further noted that after the death of Oba Daniel Adesanya, Gbelegbuwa II, in 1959, Prince Ademola Aiyegbajeje Adeyemi was chosen for the Awujale stool but declined the offer.

His immediate younger brother, Prince Mubashiru Adedipupo Adeyemi, father of the late Oba SK Adetona, then put forward his son, Sikiru Kayode Adetona, who was accepted by the kingmakers and crowned Awujale in 1960.

The Adeyemi family rejected claims by certain relatives who refused to acknowledge them as descendants of the eldest son, instead attributing headship to the second-born and adding two others, whom they described as outsiders, to the Royal lineage.

They clarified that they do not recognise the inclusion of Mabadeje, Adekoya Ofirigidi, and Adeire Adeewu, alleged children of Oba Anikilaya Saagun Figbajoye, who reigned in 1821, insisting that they remain the true descendants of Adeyemi Anikilaya, the eldest son of the monarch.

The family urged the public to disregard the submissions of what they described as “misguided members” of the lineage, saying such claims were false and inconsequential.