AN Ilorin magistrate court on Tuesday issued an order of warrant
of arrest against serving commissioner of Commence and Cooperative
in Kwara State, Deacon Tunde Agboola, for failure to appear before
the court on allegations of causing bodily harm, and attempted
culpable homicide on a broadcast journalist in the state.
It is recalled that a broadcast journalist and former chairman
of the Radio Kwara chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists
(NUJ), Alhaji Abdullahi Adisa-Akodudu was on Thursday, March 28,
2019, reportedly attacked and beaten to a state of coma by
suspected hoodlums over a land dispute in the llorin
metropolis.
The incident, it was gathered, occurred at the lrewolede Housing
Estate, along Yidi road in llorin when the suspected hoodlums were
demolishing two structures on the disputed land.
Adisa-Akodudu, who was the chairman of House Owners Association
of the estate for over 13 years and said to be the rightful owner
of the land, was reportedly attacked and beaten to a state of coma
immediately the suspected hoodlums sighted him.
The journalist was later found in a pool of his own blood after
sustaining several injuries on his head and leg.
Speaking with journalists in Ilorin on Tuesday after the court
sitting, counsel to the plaintiff, Yahaya Abdulrasheed Alajo, said
that it was the first time that the case came up in court for
mentioning.
“The case was actually mentioned. We expected the accused
persons to take their pleas today, but the first defendant, who is
the commissioner did not show up in court. For that reason, the
court could not go ahead with the case. Attempts were made to serve
him court notice, but he was evading service of the summon. So, the
court ordered that the warrant of arrest and he be arrested to make
him appear in court on the adjourned date on June 18, 2019.
“The incident is that complainant here, Adisa Akodudu complained
before the court that all defendants brought before the court
harassed him, beat him and caused bodily injury on him and that
attempts were made on his life, an offence under the law. The
accused were brought before the court on allegations of conspiracy,
causing bodily injury and making attempts on his life, which is
culpable homicide punishable with death.
“The matter is about a fight over a piece of land, which had
been earlier assigned to our client. The people thought because
they are in government and they think they can do and undo. They
brought thugs, including the commissioner. Our client believed that
it’s in the court that he can get justice, and that’s why he was in
court.
“The first defendant, who is the commissioner, was not in court
today, all other four defendants, who are the staff of Housing
Corporation. He was not in court despite the fact that he was aware
of the case. On several occasions, the court orderly made attempts
to serve him but he refused service. So, the court saw this as an
affront on the court and ordered his arrest before the adjourned
date,” he said.
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Ramadan: Kwara PDP Assembly Candidate Feeds 5,000
Muslims
Honourable Abdulmajeed Olanrewaju-Oba, the Peoples Democratic
Party, PDP, candidate for Kwara Assembly in the 2019 elections, has
fed over 5,000 Muslims in Ilorin and Surulere local government
areas of Kwara and Lagos States respectively.
PRNigeria reports that under the Olanrewaju Oba Foundation,
TOOF, the philanthropist have been providing free meal packs to
thousands of Muslims since the commencement of the month
Ramadan.
Speaking during one of the Iftar (fast-breaking) food
distribution sessions, Mr Olanrewaju-Oba disclosed that before the
end of the Ramadan month, he hoped to feed over 10,000 Muslims.
According to him, the decision to provide free meals to Ilorin
and Surulere residents stemmed from a realisation that many
families are undergoing serious economic hardship in the
country.
He noted that the feeding exercise would also help to provide
soothing relief to those who were finding it difficult to feed
during fasting and, at the same time, feed their families.
Honourable Olanrewaju-Oba said: “The religion of Al-Islam
exhorts the rich to always assist the needy, especially during the
month of Ramadan, because of the immense spiritual benefits that
will accrue to them.
“Those who are blessed financially should know that assisting
the needy and catering for the less privileged in this great month
will attract massive reward for them.”