The Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency, TRACE, has said no fewer than 10 persons have lost their lives and three others were severely injured after an 18-seater bus plunged off the Omu bridge located at Awa along the Ijebu-Ode–Ibadan Expressway.

OSUNDAILY NG reports that the accident occurred at about 8:30 p.m. on Friday.

The TRACE spokesperson, Babatunde Akinbiyi, confirming the incident on Saturday, said the bus conveying 15 passengers included three women and seven men, while two persons, including a toddler and an adult, escaped unhurt.

He attributed the cause of the crash to excessive speed and warned motorists against overtaking and night travel, saying such reckless behaviour has continued to claim lives on the highways.

The TRACE spokesman disclosed that the corpses have been deposited at the Ijebu-Ode General Hospital morgue, while the injured passengers were responding to treatment.

He said, “15 persons were involved in the crash. Sadly, 10 of them – three women and seven men – were confirmed dead at the scene, while three others suffered injuries. Two persons, including a toddler and an adult, escaped the crash unhurt.

“The deceased victims were evacuated and their remains deposited at the Ijebu-Ode General Hospital morgue.

The injured passengers were also taken to the same facility for treatment,” he added.

Crown FC head coach Ayodeji Ayeni has urged his players to bounce back from the Nigeria National League (NNL) Super 8 opening day defeat to Kun Khalifat FC.

The Ajilete Warriors suffered a 1-0 defeat to Kun Khalifat FC at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba on Saturday.

Ayeni said that the defeat won’t derail their target for promotion.

“As you can see, it is a marathon. It’s not yet over for any team,” Ayeni reacted after the game.

“Our first match doesn’t determine the league and ambition. We can go ahead and win the next two matches.”

Crown FC will lock horns with Osun United in the second match of the tournament on Monday.

The Lagos State University, LASU, has dismissed two senior academic staff members over allegations of sexual misconduct, financial impropriety, and professional misconduct.

The decision, ratified during the institution’s 143rd Statutory Governing Council meeting held on Friday, followed a formal petition submitted by Taofeek Adekunle, a member of the advocacy group Take It Back Movement. The petition accused the affected lecturers of sexually harassing students and engaging in unethical financial practices.

The lecturers include Prof. Olatunji Tajudeen Fasasi Abanikanda, Dean of the Epe Campus and a senior faculty member in the Department of Agricultural Science, and Khadeejat Kareem-Ibraheem, Coordinator of the Department of Animal Sciences, School of Agriculture, were found guilty following a six-week internal investigation.

In a statement issued by LASU Registrar and Secretary to Council, Emmanuel Fanu, on Thursday, both individuals were found culpable of serious breaches of the university’s code of conduct.

According to the statement, Prof. Abanikanda was dismissed for multiple violations, including subjecting final-year students to inhumane conditions during fieldwork at the department’s farm. It was reported that students were forced to remain on the farm from 6:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. without breaks, food, or shelter, even during severe weather conditions.

The professor was found guilty of sexual harassment of female students, verbal abuse of colleagues and students, and the unauthorised collection of money from members of the university community, all in contravention of the institution’s conduct regulations.

He said, “Dean, School of Agriculture, Epe Campus, Prof. Olatunji Tajudeen Fasasi Abanikannada, was dismissed over multiple allegations, including: Subjecting 400 Level students of the School of Agriculture to inhumane treatment by keeping them on the farm from 6:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. without break, food, and water even during torrential rainfall that lasted between 4:45 p.m. to after 6:00 p.m., an action prejudicial to the security of the University.

“Sexual harassment of female students of the same school. Subjecting staff members and students to emotional and physical trauma using threats, curses, derogatory utterances, and profane expletives on them, an act unbecoming of a public officer of the University. Unauthorised collection of money from staff and students of the School of Agriculture, contrary to university regulations.”

On her part, Kareem-Ibraheem was dismissed for dereliction of duty and gross financial misconduct.

She was accused of violating institutional procedures and failing to remit over N10 million in revenue generated from the sale of farm produce, which was instead deposited into her personal bank account.

Both cases, the statement noted, represented a clear breach of LASU’s 2017 Conditions of Service (as amended) and posed a serious threat to the values and standards the institution upholds.