The Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun has officially launched the groundbreaking 1st NPF Open National Mixed Martial Arts Championship that held on the 2nd and 3rd of December 2023 in Abuja at the MoshoodAbiola National Stadium, Abuja.

In his address during the inauguration on Saturday, December 2, 2023, the IGP underscored the significance of this championship in not only enhancing policing services but also contributing to the broader development of sports in Nigeria. The event was poised to foster collaboration and mutual respect among participating agencies, showcasing the commitment of law enforcement to community policing.

As part of the preparation for this championship, the Force conducted a comprehensive 2-day seminar titled “Sensitisation on the Rules and Regulations of Mixed Martial Arts.” The seminar brought together athletes and officials from the Police, Para-military, and other law enforcement agencies, along with representatives from the Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Development.

The IGP called on all participating athletes and agencies to showcase their best performances while adhering to the rules and maintaining the spirit of sportsmanship.

The competition will feature various categories, including the Beginners Mixed Martial Arts events, highlighting a combination of grappling, striking, and ground fighting.

By Omobolaji Adekunle, Abeokuta

The Ogun State government has shut three companies in the state for various environmental infractions.

The companies shut down include Robust International PTE Limited, Ruili Recycling Limited, Mowe, also in Mowe and Star Pipe Limited, Sagamu.

Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya while announcing their closure said, “Ruili Recycling- pet bottles recycling company was found guilty of discharging its wastes and storm water into their immediate environment especially in the premises of Christopher University which exposed the students to avoidable danger as well as its refusal to obtain a drainage approval to properly channel the unwanted water to appropriate place.”

“Aside from this, the company was also discovered to be burning all its solid wastes within its premises contrary to the state’s Environmental Laws thereby exposing its workers and residents of its immediate communities to toxic and hazardous pollution as well as operating in a filthy environment,” the Commissioner said.

Oresanya stated that the company illegally demolished a fence bounding them with the same Christopher University so as to reclaim some portion of land and subsequently divert all storm water to the premises of the institution as well as their failure to heed government’s directives for proper remediation.

He emphasised that the state government will not fold its hands and watch the two industries expose the students of the institution and residents of their immediate communities suffer from their careless environmental infractions while they feel unconcerned.

For Star Pipe Limited, Sagamu, Oresanya said the company was shut after they refused entreaties to install effluent treatment plants into their facilities as they discharge raw and hydrochloric acid into their immediate environment.

This he said has led to contamination of ground water of these communities which has made the water unsafe and unhygienic.

The Commissioner added that the three companies will remain shut until they correct all the lapses detected as the state government is not interested in closing them down but for them to operate according to the best global environmental standards which the state government has adopted.

The Executive Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke has denied plan to issue a fresh staff of office to Taiwo Adegboye, as the Alawo of Awo, describing as untrue reports in some section of the media that his administration is taking steps contrary to the dictate of rule of laws.

In a statement issued by his Spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, Governor Adeleke clarified that Taiwo Adegboye was installed as the Alawo of Awo in September 2021 and was subsequently issued staff of office by the Administration of Gboyega Oyetola.

Mallam Rasheed reiterated the commitment of the Adeleke administration to the rule of law, saying that the government will not do anything to impugn judicial decisions or tamper with peace and stability of any community in the society.

“We are constrained to inform the public that insinuations of a plan by the Adeleke administration to issue fresh staff of office on Awo stool are untrue. The crisis on the Awo stool preceded the administration of Governor Adeleke as Taiwo Adegboye, who is at the centre of the issue, was installed as Alawo several months before his (Adeleke) assumption of office,” the statement noted.

“It is worth noting that he (Taiwo Adegboye) was issued staff of office by the previous administration, and so, it is unfounded that Adeleke is planning to issue a staff of office that has already been issued.

“As a government committed to the fairness and rule of law, we recognise the right of Taiwo Adegboye to exhaust legal options on the Obaship tussle, which at the moment is before the Supreme Court.

“We must also note that Taiwo Adegboye has sought a stay of execution on the judgement of the Appeal Court, hence, the government decision to maintain status quo pending the full determination of the litigation.

“Available information is that Taiwo Adegboye is celebrating the anniversary of his installation and not installation or presentation of new staff of office as erroneously being speculated.

“Mallam Rasheed enjoins the public, particularly the people of Awo to disregard concoctions and deliberate misinformation on the Awo Obaship, noting Governor Adeleke’s commitment to the path of legality and rule of law.

“Governor Adeleke will not do anything to distort traditions and well established procedures on kingship matters, and we want to urge the public to discountenance any information contrary to this commitment,” he added.