It witnessed the award of contract for the kick off of a land mark project, the Mambilla Hydro power project, which has been in the pipelines for about 45 years.
The council also mandated Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to take over the leadership of the Federal Government’s negotiation team with the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities.
According to reports, the Mambilla Hydro power project has been in the works since 1972, with successive administrations lacking the political will to commission such a project into being.
But the Federal Cabinet meeting approval was given for the engineering and turnkey maintenance contract to a joint venture of Chinese Civil Engineering firms at a cost of over 5 billion dollars.
The just promoted Ibadan high chiefs held their first meeting on Wednesday and they separated themselves from the decision of the Osi Olubadan of Ibadan land, Chief Rashidi Ladoja who challenged the installation of 21 new kings in Ibadan in court.
They declared that Ladoja was acting alone.
At the end of the meeting held at Mapo Hall , Ibadan , Balogun of Ibadan land , Oba Owolabi Olakulehin , called on Ladoja to stop playing politics with the issue by embracing the new idea to install the new kings .
Meanwhile, the Mogaji (family head) of Akinsola compound in Oopo Labiran area of Ibadan , Chief Olawale Oladoja , said more than 300 Mogajis in Ibadan have decided to challenge the installation of 21 kings in Ibadan by the state government .
Moreso, the Oyo State Government has said that despite the dust created by the appointment of 21 kings in Ibadan, the relationship between the Olubadan and Governor Abiola Ajimobi remains cordial .
8. ANOTHER SUSPECTED RITUAL KILLERS’ DEN UNCOVERED IN LAGOS
Two people on Wednesday were killed by angry mob in the Mushin area of Lagos State over suspicion of involvement in kidnappings and ritual killings.
According to reports, one was butchered and set ablaze on the road, while the other, who had been beaten to stupor, died at the police station after rescue.
It started after a vulcaniser sighted a ‘mad’ man discussing with another person in a tunnel at the Challenge bus stop around 6am and he raised alarm as residents gathered around the scene but only the ‘ mad’ man was seen, as his interlocutor had fled.
The ‘ mad’ man, who was tortured by the residents , allegedly confessed that his gang had been operating in the tunnel for the past three months.
Some members of the Oodua People ’s Congress were said to have led a search team into the tunnel and found hundreds of syringes . The tunnel reportedly linked different parts of the community.
9. WE HAVE CORRUPTION ELEMENT IN THE EFCC – IBRAHIM MAGU
The Chairman of the Economic Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, on Wednesday admitted that the agency has some corrupt people as well.
While addressing newsmen, he said the agency is doing all it can to weed out those elements.
“The internal affairs department in the EFCC looks at issues of professional misconduct of operatives in the EFCC. Internal affairs investigate unethical conducts by our men and the internal affairs is in charge of screening prospective employees of the EFCC.
“Recently, we had to discharge about nine cadet officers because they told lies on their certificates. We are also prosecuting a lot of officers who are involved in crime. Some of them are already in court. But you can also help us by giving us information about corrupt officers because we do not condone corruption.”
10. NIGERIA POLICE THREATENED TO KILL EVANS IF HE DID NOT PLEAD GUILTY – LAWYER
Counsel to billionaire kidnapper Evans, Mr. Olukoya Ogungbeje, disclosed that the police forced the guilty plea from him and affirmed that his client would change his plea by the next adjourned date.
According to Mr. Olukoya,
“After he pleaded guilty, I struggled to get to him and ask him: ‘Why did you do so’? He told me the police asked him to do so and added that he is ready to change his plea.”
The Second Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Monday Ubani, however has commended Mr. Evans and described his guilt plea as a welcomed development for the young man not to waste the time of the government in persecuting the case.
Furthermore, Director, Access to Justice, Mr. Joseph Otteh, also said it is a positive development and that it is important for the court to establish if his plea of guilt was voluntarily made.