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Ogun bondsmen scheme frees over 8,000 defendants, reduces prison crowding

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The Chief Judge of Ogun State, Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu, said on Friday that more than 8,000 defendants have been granted bail and released under the Ogun Bondsmen Scheme since its inception five years ago.

Justice Dipeolu revealed that the scheme has played a pivotal role in curbing congestion in the state’s correctional facilities, while cleansing a bail system long plagued by corruption and inefficiency.

She made the disclosure while officially opening the second edition of the Bondsmen Stakeholders Forum at the Ceremonial Court, Judiciary Complex, Kobape Road, Abeokuta.

“When we last met, we celebrated the release of 2,800 defendants between January 2021 and October 2023. Today, I am delighted to report that between October 2023 and July 2025, this figure has grown exponentially.

“Thanks to the diligent work of our licensed bondsmen, Chrysalis Bail and Bond Limited and Egba Kelisco Bail and Bond Limited, we have now facilitated the release of over 8,000 defendants awaiting trial.

“This is not simply a statistic; it represents over 8,000 individuals whose rights to liberty and presumption of innocence have been preserved, significantly alleviating the immense pressure on our correctional institutions,” she said.

The Chief Judge stressed that the progress made over the years is a testament to the effectiveness of the scheme and a key achievement of her administration’s seven-point agenda.

She also announced the licensing of a new company, Praise and Moremi Bail and Bonds Limited, which brings the total number of licensed bondsmen operating in the state to three.

However, Justice Dipeolu acknowledged challenges such as defendants absconding after being granted bail, noting this has necessitated the introduction of the 2025 Bondsmen Regulations.

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She explained that this enhanced regulatory framework is designed to build upon the progress achieved, strengthening and standardising the operation of the scheme.

The Chief Judge urged bondsmen to embrace the judiciary’s digital vision by adopting technology and innovating their processes to align with this digital future.

“Our vision is to integrate the bondsmen system into a centralised digital platform. Imagine a future where bail applications, surety verifications, bondsmen engagements, and court notifications are processed seamlessly through a single portal.

“This will drastically reduce paperwork, minimise human interaction and potential corruption, and provide real-time data for better management across the justice chain.

“In pursuit of this goal, we established a digital database in January 2025 that captures information on all defendants granted bail through bondsmen — an important first step towards digitising the entire bail process,” she added.

Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the Ogun State Bondsmen Licensing Board, Justice Olugboyega Ogunfowora, praised the scheme’s contribution to prison decongestion but reported that out of 243 cases of defendants absconding, 212 have been swiftly rearrested due to the robust system in place.

Justice Ogunfowora stated that the scheme has helped eradicate the menace of fake sureties, touts, and corrupt civil servants seeking fees, while also creating employment opportunities, with the two bondsmen companies collectively employing over 80 staff.

He highlighted the launch of a Centralised Bondsmen Database — a digital platform offering real-time data on all defendants released through bondsmen, tracking court dates and appearances seamlessly, and fostering a fraud-proof ecosystem.

The state’s bond administrator, Mr Olakulehin Oke, described innovations in the 2025 Bondsmen Regulations, including increased financial thresholds for licence categories: Category A raised from ₦10 million to ₦20 million and above, Category B from ₦5 million to ₦15 million, and Category C from ₦5 million to ₦10 million.

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Oke warned that any bondsman with three clients absconding within six months will have their licence revoked, while others who flout regulations face up to a four-year ban, among additional measures to enhance the scheme’s success.

Prison congestion remains a major challenge to the administration of justice in Nigeria, often exacerbated when individuals who should be free await trial because they cannot meet bail conditions.

Initiatives such as the bondsmen scheme, alongside periodic exercises granting freedom to inmates on compassionate or health grounds by the President, state governors, and Chief Judges, are vital in addressing this issue.

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Veteran Yoruba broadcaster and comic actor, Timothy Agboola, widely known as Ereke Ni Shop, has died

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Veteran Yoruba broadcaster and comic actor, Timothy Agboola, widely known as Ereke Ni Shop, has died after battling an illness.

It was reports that the entertainer passed away on Wednesday at a private hospital in Lagos after reportedly being sick for a long time.

Agboola built a strong reputation in Yoruba broadcasting and comedy.

Over the years, he became popular for programmes that mixed humour with storytelling while also promoting Yoruba culture and traditions.

Many listeners saw him as someone who loved his heritage and proudly represented Ijesa culture through his work.

Following the announcement of his death, many colleagues, friends and fans began sharing messages of condolence on social media.

One of his associates, Idris Shogbola, was among those who first shared the sad news online while mourning the loss of the veteran broadcaster.

“May the soul of our boss rest in peace. Pa Timothy Agboola ‘Ereke ni Shop’. Baba Oloye Repete… A broadcaster, actor, comedian. May God Almighty give you eternal rest in peace. Amen. Ereke ni Shop sun re o,” he wrote.

Agboola gained wide attention through his unique storytelling style and lively comedy.

His radio shows often combined humour with social observations about daily life, which made him popular among many Yoruba listeners.

During his long career in the entertainment industry, he worked with several well-known entertainers, including Baba Alajeju.

Some of his comedy performances date back to the 1970s when he was already becoming known for his lively stage presence.

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I Don’t Leave My House Without Going Through Newspapers – Tinubu

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President Bola Tinubu has assured Nigerians that he is always concerned about the welfare of the masses.

He disclosed that he reads about happenings in the country every morning before leaving home.

Tinubu stated this during an interfaith breaking of fast with senior journalists and media executives at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

He said that he was a little bit stubborn at the beginning of his administration.

The president also stated that his administration has opened up on the principles of true federalism to the extent that local governments now get direct allocation from the Federal Government.

He said, “There’s no morning that I ever leave my house without going through the newspapers. It’s an addiction. I read all of you.

“It might not be in full detail, but headline, the one that would hit me and the ones that won’t.

“At the beginning of this administration, I was just a little bit stubborn, looking at opportunities to correct things and make life more easier for the downtrodden.”

Meanwhile, Tinubu has stated that improving Nigeria is a collective responsibility.

He asserted that the country’s development cannot be the sole responsibility of the federal government and urged the media to hold states and local governments accountable.

The President stated this on Friday when he hosted media executives and proprietors at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Tinubu cited increased financial autonomy for the lower tiers of government and urged the media to extend the same level of scrutiny they apply to his government to the local and state administrations.

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“We’ve opened up the principle of federalism to the extent that local governments are now getting their money. But how they use it is in your hands,” Tinubu said.

“So don’t bombard me alone; look at the local government too. Yes, we can complain it’s not enough; we can complain we are not where we should be. But we have to manage what we have to sustain today, survive tomorrow, and make progress.

“Today, there is no state that is borrowing to pay the salaries of employees,” he told the gathering.

“Yes, we can complain that it’s not enough. We can complain we are not where we should be, but we have to manage what we have to sustain today, survive tomorrow, and make progress,” he added.

The ex-Lagos State governor reiterated his commitment to doing the job with dedication.

“And I promise you, the job that I continue to do is dedication, patriotic dedication to improve Nigeria. It’s all in our hands; it’s a collective responsibility,” he said.

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US Lawmaker, Moore Alleges American University Shooter Met ISIL In Nigeria

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United States lawmaker, Riley Moore, has alleged that a shooter who attacked Old Dominion University in Virginia met with members of the extremist group Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Nigeria before carrying out the incident.

Moore made the allegation on his 𝕏 account on Saturday, in response to the attack.

It was understands that the attacker, Bailor Jalloh, a former Virginia National Guard member and convicted supporter of ISIS, entered a classroom filled with Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) students and opened fire.

According to the FBI, the gunman shouted “Allahu Akbar”, Arabic for “God is greater”, before shooting at students inside Constant Hall.

The classroom quickly descended into chaos as terrified students scrambled for safety.

However, several ROTC students bravely confronted the gunman and ultimately subdued him, preventing what authorities believe could have been a far deadlier massacre.

Reacting to the development, the lawmaker claimed that the suspect was earlier imprisoned but was released before the attack despite alleged ties to the terrorist group.

“The radical Islamic terrorist who attacked Old Dominion yesterday was let out of prison early despite meeting with ISIL in Nigeria and seeking to aide and abet ISIL in carrying out an attack on our homeland,” Moore said.

The congressman criticised the circumstances surrounding the suspect’s release, describing the development as alarming and unacceptable.

“This is insane, and it MUST END! That’s why I’m introducing a bill to denaturalize and deport any naturalized citizen who seeks to commit a terrorist attack or aids and abets terrorism against the American people,” he said.

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