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Youth Group Rejects Call To Rename UNILORIN After Sheikh Alimi
A socio-cultural organisation, under the aegis of the Kwara South Consultative Forum, has opposed the call by the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, for the renaming of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) after Sheikh Alimi of the Alimi Dynasty in Ilorin Emirate.
It is recalled that the monarch had made the call at the 50th anniversary celebration of Unilorin recently.
The group said that the call is indifferent to the diversity and divergent history of other ethnic groups in the state.
The Forum also called on the state government to rename the Government House after the late General David Bamigboye, being the pioneer military governor of the state, instead of renaming it Ahmadu Bello House
In a statement by its Secretary General, Engineer Adebayo Simon Daramola, while alluding to a call for the renaming of UNILORIN after Sheikh Alimi, the people said that: “The entire state of Kwara is the catchment area of the University of Ilorin. We are just not homogeneous enough in Kwara state for that idea to ever be mooted.
“Neither do we want to go into needless arguments with members of other ethnic groups in other senatorial districts because of mutual respect between us and other such organisations towards the development of the State, Kwara.
“The fact that the University is located in Ilorin does not confer ownership on the city. The privilege of being the host does not confer ownership on the city, while the privilege of being the host community should not be confused to mean exclusive ownership either.
“It should be noted that the significance of the history of the head of the Alimi dynasty bears no relevance to the people of Ekiti, Ibolo and Igbomina descent of Kwara South and even of the other Senatorial District (Kwara North).
“It will, therefore, be uncalled for to contemplate imposition of a name that does not have a ‘state-wide spread’ on our collective inheritance.
“As of today in Kwara South, there are six private Universities, Viz: Landmark University, Omu-Aran; Thomas Adewumi University, Oko; Abubakar Abdulrazak Toyin University, Gamo; Summit University, Ira Road, Offa; Offa University, Offa; Lens University, Offa/Ilemona Ira Road, as well as Lens Polytechnic, Ira Road, Offa.
“So, we are advising you to take a cue from Kwara South by establishing a private university in the name of Sheikh Alimi if you are so concerned and desirous about naming a university in the name of the Alimi dynasty”.
On the naming of the State Government House, the Forum noted that “of recent, the Government House was renamed Ahmadu Bello House without consultation with other ethnic communities in Kwara State, especially, the Yoruba ethnic group in Kwara South.
“If at all the Government House would be named after anybody, after due consultations, it should have been named after the pioneer Military Governor of the State, Brigadier General David Lasisi Bamigboye (Rtd), of blessed memory, as David Lasisi Bamigboye House.
“It is still not too late to right the wrong by renaming the Kwara State Government House as David Lasisi Bamigboye House, considering the fact that Bamigboye was the pioneer Military Governor of the State who had served the state diligently and left worthy legacies, including the Government House.
“Justice, equity and fairness make this our demand salient and incontrovertible. We, therefore, appeal to our amiable Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to passionately look into this matter by reversing this glaring injustice done to a man who gave his all to give Kwara State a solid foundation.
“We wish to emphasise and advise that equity, justice and fairness should be our watchwords in Kwara State, a state with the sobriquet, ‘State of Harmony’.
“We should not do anything by our actions or inactions, and conduct that can tamper with our resolve to perpetually live together in peace and harmony”.
The Department of State Services (DSS) will arraign former Governnor of Kaduna state, Nasir El-Rufai, on February 25 over alleged cybercrime and breach of national security.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court has fixed the date for the arraignment of the former Governor on a three-count criminal charge filed by the Department of State Services (DSS) after the Chief Judge, Justice John Tsoho assigned the case to her.
NAN earlier reported that the DSS, on Monday, filed a three-count criminal charge against El-Rufai following his alleged involvement in wiretapping the telephone lines of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
The charge, instituted by the Nigerian secret police, is marked FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026.
The service accused El-Rufai of breaching the Cybercrimes Prohibition Act (2024) and the Nigerian Communications Act (2003.)
In court, El-Rufai was alleged to have, on Feb. 13, while appearing as a guest on Arise TV station’s Prime Time Programme in Abuja, admitted during the interview that he and his cohorts unlawfully intercepted the phone communications of the NSA, Mr Ribadu.
The offence is said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.
Maureen Omorinola Badejo is scheduled to appear before the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on February 20, 2026, following charges filed by the Inspector-General of Police over allegations bordering on defamation, cyberstalking, and related offences.
The charges arise from online publications made in November 2021, in which Ms. Badejo allegedly transmitted statements and videos on YouTube and Facebook concerning Apostle Johnson Suleman and his associate Dickson Omodiale Osajie.
According to the charge sheet, the prosecution alleges that:
Ms. Badejo conspired with others to publish defamatory content against Apostle Suleman.
She allegedly portrayed him as a cultist, rapist, assassin, ritualist, and other criminal labels, knowing the claims to be false.
She is accused of sending false messages via computer networks intended to cause annoyance, hatred, intimidation, and injury to reputation.
Additional allegations state that defamatory statements were also made against Mr. Dickson Osajie, claiming involvement in crimes such as rape and ritual killing.
Authorities further allege that the publications caused fear for safety and threatened bodily harm to the complainants.
The offences cited fall under provisions of the Criminal Code Act (Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004) and the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.
The case follows a formal petition submitted to the Nigeria Police Force by Mr. Osajie, who alleged persistent cyberstalking, harassment, invasion of privacy, threats to life, and dissemination of false information affecting himself, Apostle Suleman, and their families.
Statement from Maureen Badejo
Ms. Badejo maintains her readiness to face the court and present her defense, expressing confidence in the Nigerian judicial system to ensure fairness and justice.
“I will appear in court as required and trust that the truth will prevail through due legal process,” she stated.
However Ms. Badejo is expected to be formally arraigned before the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, where the charges will be read and she will enter her plea.
The Rivers State House of Assembly has officially suspended impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, following President Bola Tinubu’s intervention.
The House moved the motion to halt the impeachment process on Thursday at its resumed sitting in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
JomogNews had reported that during its first sitting of 2026, the House had begun impeachment proceedings against the governor and his deputy over allegations of gross misconduct, including the demolition of the State Assembly complex and alleged spending without legislative approval, among other claims.
More details later….
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