Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang has announced the death of the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Lt. General Jeremiah Timbut Useni.

The elder statesman died on Thursday, January 23, 2025, at the age of 82, following a protracted illness.

In a statement in Jos, Governor Mutfwang described his death as a tremendous loss not only to his immediate family but also to the Nigerian Armed Forces, Plateau State, and the entire nation.

The Governor highlighted General Useni’s exemplary leadership and steadfast commitment to service, which left an indelible mark on Nigeria’s security and political landscape.

He noted that General Useni’s tireless efforts to promote peace and security, especially in Northern Nigeria and Plateau State, will forever be remembered.

Governor Mutfwang recounted the illustrious career of the late General, who served Nigeria with distinction in various capacities, including as Minister of Transport, Quarter-Master General of the Nigerian Army, and Minister of the FCT.

The Ogun State Community, Social Orientation, and Safety Corps, known as So-Safe Corps, has apprehended a 54-year-old man, Adelani Oriyomi, at a burial ground in Kere, Obada-Oko, Abeokuta, for allegedly attempting to exhume a human skull.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Corps Commander, Soji Ganzallo, through the Director of Information and Public Relations, Assistant Commander Moruf Yusuf, detailed the arrest.

“At about 2:35 a.m. on January 21, 2025, officers of the So-Safe Corps on routine patrol noticed suspicious activity behind a church. The suspect, identified as Adelani Oriyomi, was caught trying to conceal himself. When the coast seemed clear, he resumed digging a tomb to allegedly retrieve a human skull. Our officers immediately apprehended him,” Ganzallo said.

Oriyomi, a resident of Kere, Obada-Oko in Ewekoro Local Government Area, reportedly confessed to the crime during interrogation. He admitted to previously exhuming a skull on January 18, 2025, and claimed he was attempting to retrieve another for a money ritual known as “Osole.”

The suspect further confessed to being a serial offender, having sold nearly ten human skulls in the past. He revealed prior convictions for similar crimes, serving two years in prison for an offence in Ado-Odo and an additional six years and nine months at the Oba Correctional Centre for another crime in Obada-Oko.

Ganzallo confirmed that the recovered human skull, along with the suspect, has been handed over to the Nigeria Police Force at Obada Divisional Headquarters for further investigation and possible prosecution.

He urged community leaders to be vigilant in screening tenants and visitors to prevent criminal activities. “Such vigilance can secure 70% of home safety, with the remaining 30% relying on alertness to external threats,” Ganzallo added.

After the death of Oba Adeyemi on April 22, 2022, about 198 contenders signified their interest to assume the revered throne.

But, the number was pruned from 65 to 10 by the Oyo Mesi, a council of kingmakers after a rigorous interview and consultation with Ifa Oracle.

Then, the kingmakers were reported to have nominated Prince Gbadegesin.

After the nomination of Prince Gbadegesin by the estranged kingmakers, there was a row among the kingmakers over the sharing formula for the sum of money allegedly offered them for the selection.

It was gathered that it was the sharing formula that sowed the seed of discord. It was alleged that two of the kingmakers felt the larger portion of the cake was taken by one of them.

Inundated with complaints and alleged monetisation of the process that led to the selection, the‘greased palms’, the governor restrained himself from giving approval to the name forwarded to him by the kingmakers.

The governor insisted that due process must be strictly adhered to.

The governor, as reliably gathered instructed the kingmakers to go back to the drawing board by re-consulting Ifa Oracle without being induced by any one of the princes which the kingmakers rejected.

• Ifa Oracle consulted outside Oyo;
  In what could be termed an unprecedented move, the state government reportedly went and sought the services of a neutral ifa priest, Professor Wande Abimbola, the former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ife and the head of all Ifa oracle diviners to ask Ifa Oracle which of the aspirants he preferred.

Ifa picked Prince Owoade — Prof Abimbola
In a viral video last weekend, Prof Abimbola was heard saying that the Oyo State government contacted him on the divination process.

According to the Ifa diviner, the Oyo State Governor called him to ask Ifa who the right choice would be.
The Professor of Yoruba explained the rigour he went through before picking the new Alaafin.

He said: ”I spent ten days seeking the face of Ifá oracle and Ifá made its choice. Ifá chose Prince Owoade.”

The Ifa representative also alleged that the Oyo kingmakers tried to monetarily influence him by persuading him to stick to their initial nomination to which he said no.

This was how Oba Akeem Abimbola Owoade became the 46th Alaafin of Oyo.