Author: Khadijah Olowode

Death struck the Yoruba film industry again, weeks after the sudden death of Murphy Afolabi, Saint Obi and Mukaila Adedigba few hours apart last month. Thegazellenews.com reports that Sidikat Odunkanwi, better known as Iyabo Oko, has died. The legendary actress died in the early hours of today, Thursday, 29 June, 2023 after a protracted illness. Iyabo Oko’s death was announced on the Facebook page of Toyin Abraham Fans’ Club. Sometimes in 2022, Iyabo Oko was announced dead after long battle with stroke but she came back to life 3 hours later. ReplyForward

One of Nigeria’s most colorful boxer and ex-Olympian, Jeremiah Okorodudu is dead, reports thegazellenews.com Okorodudu popularly called Jerry, died on Wednesday, 28 June, 2023 while awaiting amputation surgery at an Ikorodu, Lagos based hospital. This medium learnt from one Eniola Olatunji of Patmos Media that the hospital management has also refused to release his corpse until an outstanding N600,000 debt is cleared. Okorodudu was initially billed to undergo the amputation surgery on Saturday, 24 June, 2023 but the surgery could not be carried out because of lack of funds. “The surgery was thus rescheduled to Wednesday, 28 June, 2023, but even…

Eid el Kabir, also known as the Feast of Sacrifice, holds great significance in our faith and culture. It is a time to commemorate the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God. It is a reminder of the values of faith, devotion, and selflessness that we hold dear. It is a time to appreciate the abundance in our lives, to strengthen the bonds of love and friendship, and to extend a helping hand to those in need. May this Eid bring us closer as a family and as a community. May it…

By Hakeem Bello “One admirable thing about Fashola is that he executes every assignment as though his life depended on them. He is, to a considerable extent, the face of what the Catholic Church has in recent decades popularised as common good.” -Modestus Umenzekwe, President of Adem Commercial Complex Lagos, and a frequent road user, wrote in TheCable (8 September 2016). With yearly tributes over the past decade focusing on various attributes of Babatunde Raji Fashola, Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Commander of the Order of the Niger, it is almost tempting to ask: what is left to be said?…

By Yusuph Olaniyonu This is one of the most difficult write-ups I have ever worked on in my journalism career spanning over 30 years. And it should be understandable. My mind has been foggy and disturbed since that Sunday morning when Wale Olaleye sent me a Facebook post and wanted me to confirm the content. Unfortunately, I was in heavy traffic in the Ojodu area of Lagos, getting close to joining the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on a trip to Abeokuta to pay a condolence visit to the family of another late brother, Oba Babajide Bakre, the Agura of Gbagura who died…

I send my heartfelt greetings and felicitations to Muslims in Nigeria and around the world, particularly our youths and the women folks celebrating Eid el-Kabir and those performing Hajj this year. This festival is a poignant reminder of the lessons exemplified in the life of Prophet Ibrahim and a pointer to how rewarding it is to put our total trust in God and follow His command. As we share in the blessings of Eid, let us remember that it is not merely a celebration of sacrifice and total obedience to the will of Allah, but one full of meaningful teachings.…

Operatives of the Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested 47 (forty-seven) suspected internet fraudsters. The suspects were arrested on June 23, 2023, at Ikere Road and Iworoko areas of Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State following intelligence on their alleged cyber fraud activities in the State. The suspects are Adeyemi Joshua Adeniran, Ajaye Redmond Damilare, Nwaji Mathew, Jegede Boluwaji Victor, Oyetunji Sunday Wole, Damilola Awopetu Ayomide, Ajayi Temitope Ayomide, Babajide Adebisi Victor, Balogun Precious Akinwale, Obie Jacob Onatakaroma, Olonitola Olamilekan, Ajewole Ojo Kayode, Aina Toluwani Emmanuel, Adebayo Akinwumi Oluwadamilare, Omowaye Oluwatosin Olamilekan, Oyewale Francis Oyomilekan, Arowolo…

MTN Nigeria Communications Plc has been commended for its contributions towards fostering gender equality in the workplace. This recognition was conferred at the Nigeria2Equal Gender Leader Awards in Victoria Island, Lagos on Thursday, 15 June, 2023. Organised by the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Gender Leader Awards salute leading performers in the arena of gender equality. MTN Nigeria emerged as the star performer of the evening, claiming the coveted Outstanding Gender Leader Award, and establishing itself as the top-performing performed company across all categories. The company also won Family-Friendly Workplace Excellence, Gender Equality Champion and Company Leadership Gender Diversity Awards. These recognitions…

Ogun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has slammed the former Governor of the State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, over his latest interview in the media, describing it as ‘drama of absurdity and cocktails of lies’. Daniel, who presently represents Ogun East Senatorial District at the Red Chamber of the National Assembly, had granted media interview, where he alleged that Governor Dapo Abiodun is still at dagger drawn with him for supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, during the APC presidential primaries, among other allegations. Reacting to Daniel’s claim on Monday, 26 June, 2023, the state Assistant Publicity Secretary of…

A man and three women have sustained injuries after a gas explosion at the Agege area of Lagos State. The incident occurred in the early hours of Monday, 26 June, 2023 beside the Apostolic Church, Agege. The explosion was said to have erupted from a gas shop following a leakage from one of the cylinders. According to the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), rescuers were able to contain the ensuing inferno from escalating to adjourning shops and nearby buildings. LASEMA’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, who confirmed the incident, said the injured suffered second degree burns and were taken…

Dear Manchester City, When I first arrived here, I was a young man with no kids and a lot of dreams. It’s hard for me to even believe, but I am leaving seven years later as a father who has fulfilled every single dream that he ever had. Today is bittersweet. Goodbyes are never easy, but it’s even harder with this team. When I had to break the news to the boys that I was leaving in our group chat, I was very emotional. I will miss all of them, honestly. But I am happy to say that I’m leaving…

Arewa Economic Forum (AEC) has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to prioritize merits and pedigrees in the appointments of ministers, advisers, and heads of various agencies and not old politicians and political office holders. The Forum pointed out that by placing meritocracy at the forefront of decision-making, the President can ensure that the best individuals are entrusted with the responsibility of serving the nation. The Chairman of AEC, Ibrahim Yahaya Dandakata who made the call at a media interface in Abuja said the president should not appoint people whose only credentials are political participation or who had failed in the…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the Acting Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Folashodun Shonubi, to “immediately delete the patently unlawful provisions in the apex bank (Customer Due Diligence) Regulations directing banks to obtain information on customers’ social media handles for the purpose of identification.” SERAP also urged him to “withdraw the Circular number FPR/DIR/PUB/CIR/007/076 of 20 June 2023 mandating banks and other financial institutions to implement and comply with the unlawful mandatory provisions on customers’ social media handles in the CBN Regulations.” According to Section 6(a)(iv) of the CBN Regulations, banks and other…

By Kasali Oluwasegun Oluwajuwon We sleep with our eyes open; Gone are those days when we walk freely without securities. Gone are those days when the youth are the hope of the Nation. Gone are the days when we vote for who we want and not who gains power through manipulation. Now in our society, the youth believe being a fraudster is a way to to earn a living, rather than the days the young children dream to become doctors, and lawyers, accountants, and so on. Now Kidnapping has become a lucrative business, killing cases gets higher by the day.…

The decision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reopen the Seme border has been commended as in order since it could stimulate activities in Nigeria’s automotive industry with significant implications for the nation’s economy. The Head of Economics Department at Bingham University, Abuja, Prof Abayomi Awujola stated on Sunday in an interview with journalists, while emphasizing the importance of understanding the magnitude of the policy and urged the government to conduct ongoing monitoring, evaluation, and analysis to ensure the success of the policy. He said one of the immediate implications of reopening the border is an increased demand for vehicles.…

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted two imported consignments of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis, with a combined weight of 5,344.1 kilogrammes in Lagos. The drugs, were seized along the Epe-Lekki corridor and at the Alfa beach, also in Lekki area of Lagos state. A statement on Sunday, 25 June, 2023 by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi revealed that the first interception was based on credible intelligence, adding that NDLEA operatives laid ambush for a white truck conveying 50 jumbo bags of the illicit substance weighing 2,434.1 kilogrammes along the Epe-Lekki…

Nia Pearl, a rising artist from Umtata in the Eastern Cape, is making a name for herself in the South African music industry. With a love for music that started in primary school, Nia Pearl has been perfecting her craft and building a career in the industry. After studying contemporary music at Damelin College, Nia Pearl started working with industry heavyweights like DJ Maphorisa and Kabza De Small, Tyler ICU, Major League, Mas Musiq, Dj Stokie and Daliwonga on various hit tracks. Her delivery can be best described as creative, with incredible stage presence and vocal talent, as well as…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Troops of the Nigerian Army have raided a baby-making factory in Adamawa State, arresting seven suspects. Channels Television reports that the suspects were apprehended during the operation on June 23, with the parade done at the military headquarters on Saturday, 24 June, 2023 Also rescued were 17 teenage girls as well as two babies. Recall that recently operatives of the Nigeria police in Rivers State busted a suspected baby making factory and rescued six pregnant girls Police said the arrest was made around Choba community in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state. The new state Commissioner…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike A Federal High Court in Kano, presided over by Justice Simon Akpah Amobeda, has granted an ex-parte motion that temporarily halts the demolition of structures and property in the state. The motion was filed by a Kano citizen, Saminu Muhammad, through his lawyer, and seeks to protect specific buildings along BUK Road from being demolished by the Kano State Government. Justice Amobeda’s order specifically restrains the Kano State Government and its agents from proceeding with the demolition of properties situated on No. 41 and 43 Salanta, along BUK Road, Kano. The respondents in the suit include the…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service (KADIRS) has sealed some branches of Access Bank, the Regional Office of Transmission Company of Nigeria and six other companies over tax liabilities amounting to N419.3 million. According to the agency’s Head of Corporate Communications, Mr Zakari Muhammad, the affected bank and companies were closed based on a court order after they failed to settle their outstanding tax returns of N419.3 million. He identified the companies as Access Bank – N249.9 million; Transmission Company of Nigeria’s Regional Office – N56.3 million; Transmission Company of Nigeria’s sub-regional office – N67.7 million; and…