News

Governor Adeleke Unveils Osun Cocoa Revival Agenda

Published

2 years ago

January 11, 2024

Eric

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has unveiled a comprehensive Cocoa revival agenda of his administration as a major contributor to boosting agricultural production in the state.

Speaking as a guest speaker at the International Cocoa Conference in Lagos, Governor Adeleke who was represented by the Osun State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security described the importance of cocoa to the diversification of Nigerian economy and recalled how Chief Obademi Awolowo developed the old western region with earnings from cocoa production.

“As oil is the backbone of the Nigerian economy today, so was cocoa to old Western Nigeria. The late sage, Premier of old Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo deployed earnings from cocoa to develop the region, building the 25 story Cocoa House, investing in durable infrastructures, pioneering television broadcast in Africa and investing in education and health services.

“When you travel across the South West, you will see many old story buildings of various designs. Those are the houses of many prosperous traders who thrived across the zones in those days. Booming cocoa economy was the foundation of the robust economy of the old western region.” Governor Adeleke noted.

Unveiling the comprehensive agenda of his administration to revitalize cocoa production in the state, Governor Adeleke emphasized that cocoa producing states have a direct challenge and obligation to introduce new innovations that will help to revive the sector and increase productivity level of cocoa farmers.

“As a starting point, it is my considered view that Nigeria especially cocoa producing states have a direct challenge and obligation to introduce innovations towards reviving the cocoa sector; to set targets to increase tonnes of cocoa they presently produce; to support cocoa farmers and ensure that young farmers enter the sub-sector and to collaborate with research institutions such as the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria(CRIN) for new cocoa breed etc.”

The Governor proceeded to list the following agenda his administration is implementing to revive cocoa production and enhance the revenue base of the state.

“As a Governor, my agenda includes but not limited to the following, namely:

● To revive the sector holistically;

● Assemble stakeholders to design an updated revival plan;

● Get the cocoa industry in my town running again;

● Put life back into the cocoa farming sub-sector through demonstration of political will;

● Get more investors into the value chain through ease of doing business;

● Set up a domestic export terminal in Osun state to ease export process and access to international market;

● Partner with the railway corporation for easy of transport;

● Upgrade local infrastructures for farming community;

● Set up a modified commodity boards to strengthen stakeholders’ finance;

● Develop partnership with financial institutions to support the cocoa farming community;

● Develop relationship with the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) for agric tech and innovations; and

● An invitation to the Cocoa Research Institute for partnership and collaboration engagement.

In his effort to push the state to the top state in the community of cocoa producing states, Governor Adeleke disclosed that his administration is focused on doubling down on the implementation of the cocoa agenda by focussing on the following:

● A directive to the state Ministry of Agriculture to establish high yielding cocoa nurseries across the local governments in the state. This is to be implemented in partnership with the local government leadership;

● An action plan for the rehabilitation of old cocoa plantations in term of facilities and re-plantation;

● The opening up new cocoa estates with young farmers;

●. The introduction of a deliberate programme to protect cocoa farms from destructive activities of miners and mining activities;

● A plan to resuscitate the State owned cocoa processing industry at Ede for value chain addition;

● The adoption of the cocoa revival plan as part of our climate agenda. Reforestation through cocoa plantation is high on the table.

● Ongoing plan to establish cottage cocoa factories across the state Under an industry cluster agenda, our administration is targeting such cottage factories to increase cocoa processing and development of the value chain industry.

Emphasizing the need to revitalize cocoa production in the country, Governor Adeleke concluded by calling on the federal government to “declare an emergency in the cocoa sector by offering direct federal interventions in term financing for cocoa producing states; support creation of state marketing boards to fast track the re-development of the cocoa sector at state level; and empower the Ministry of Agriculture to support cocoa producing states through a World Bank project focussing on cocoa revival across the cocoa producing states.”

News

Court Grants Malami N200m Bail in DSS Terrorism, Firearm Charges

Published

16 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Eric

Justice Joyce Abdulmalikof the Federal High Court Abujahas admitted a former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, and his son Abdulazizto N200 million bail in the charges bordering on alleged terrorism and illegal firearms possession brought against them by the Department of State Service (DSS).

Malami and his son were, however, ordered to be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the perfection of the bail conditions imposed on them by the Court.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik granted them bail while ruling on their bail applications, which were argued by their lead Counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN).

The judge ordered the former AGF and his son to get two sureties each, one of whom must own landed property either in Maitama or Asokoro.

Justice Abdulmalik said that the title of the property must be deposited with the Deputy Chief Registrar of the Court, along with valid international passports.

The sureties are also to depose to an affidavit of means and submit their two recent passport photographs to the court.

Malami and his son were also ordered to submit their international passports and recent passport photographs to the court.

The judge subsequently fixed March 4 for the commencement of the trial.

The Department of State Services (DSS) had arraigned Malami and his son, Abdulaziz, on a five-count charge bordering on terrorism and illegal firearms possession.

In the charge, Malami was accused of refusing to prosecute suspected terrorism financiers, whose case files were handed to him while he served as the AGF and Minister of Justice.

Malami and Abdulaziz are equally accused of warehousing firearms in their residence at Gesse Phase II Area, Birain Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, without lawful authority.

The DSS accused Malami in count one of the charge, with knowingly abetting terrorism financing, while the ex-AGF and his son are charged in counts two to five, with unlawful, possession of a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm, 16 Redstar AAA 5720 live rounds of cartridges and 27 expended Redstar AAA 5’20 cartridges, contrary to and punishable under relevant Sections of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and Firearms Act, 2004.

News

Fubara Appoints New SSG, Chief of Staff

Published

2 days ago

February 26, 2026

Eric

Governor Siminalayi Fubara has appointed Dr. Dagogo S.A. Wokoma as the new Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG) and Barrister Sunny Ewule as Chief of Staff, after the recent shake-up of the State’s political and administrative structure.

The appointments were announced on Thursday in a Special Government Notice signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Onwuka Nzeshi, and made available to journalists. Both appointments take immediate effect.

In a statement issued on Thursday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Onwuka Nzeshi, the governor appointed Dr Dagogo Wokoma as Secretary to the State Government and Mr. Sunny Ewule as Chief of Staff.

The statement said the appointments take immediate effect, adding that the new appointees would be sworn in at 2:00 p.m. at the Executive Council Chamber, Government House, Port Harcourt.

The development comes amid the protracted political crisis in the State, which recently escalated into impeachment proceedings against the governor and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, by the State House of Assembly. The crisis was eventually diffused following the intervention of President Bola Tinubu.

Speaker of the House, Martin Amaewhule, had last week announced during plenary that the Assembly formally withdrew the impeachment notice against the governor and his deputy after the President’s intervention.

Political observers suggest that the dissolution of the cabinet may be part of efforts to rebalance the power structure in the following the peace accord. However, it remains unclear whether the new appointees are aligned with the governor or loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

The statement read in part: “The Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has appointed Dr. Dagogo S.A. Wokoma as the Secretary to the State Government and Barrister Sunny Ewule as the Chief of Staff.

“Both appointments are with immediate effect. The new appointees will be sworn in at 2:00 pm.today, Thursday, February 26, 2026. The swearing-in ceremony will take place at the Executive Council Chamber, Government House, Port Harcourt.”

News

Court Strikes Out Forgery Case Against Ozekhome As FG Withdraws Charges

Published

4 days ago

February 24, 2026

Eric

The Federal Government has formally withdrawn the forgery charge filed against senior lawyer Mike Ozekhome, bringing an abrupt pause to a case that had drawn public attention.

The charge was originally instituted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC).
It followed a judgment delivered by a London court over a property linked to the late former FCT minister, Jeremiah Useni.

In January, the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation took over the matter from the ICPC for what it described as effective prosecution.

However, proceedings took a new turn on Tuesday at the FCT High Court.

The Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, informed Peter Kekemeke that the Federal Government was withdrawing the case file for “further instruction”.

He explained that the decision was taken in line with the provisions of Section 108 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.

Counsel to the defence, Paul Erokoro, SAN, told the court that his team had no objection to the withdrawal of the charge.

In a brief ruling, Justice Kekemeke held that since the application was not opposed, it was granted.

He consequently struck out the charge and ordered that the case be dismissed.

The withdrawal effectively halts legal action against Ozekhome over the alleged forgery linked to the disputed property transaction.