Author: Soffiyyah Olamide

The first Lagos Leadership Summit, held Wednesday, 17 April, 2024, ignited new passion and zeal towards charting a new course of action for the country’s future. The event, organised by Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy (LJLA), presented an opportunity for inclusive interaction between old and new generations. Debates, speeches and panels delved into topics that challenged the mental, emotional and physical preparation of the youth to take up leadership roles. Discussants evaluated how young people currently in leadership positions had inspired impactful changes. The event, with the theme: “Leadership and Nigeria’s Future”, held at Konga Place in Lekki, was graced by…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Oyo State government has confirmed the receipt of a letter indicating the nomination of the current Balogun of Ibadanland, Owolabi Akinloye Olakulehin as the new Olubadan of Ibadanland. It was gathered that the Olubadan-in-Council which consists of High Chiefs in Ibadan has appointed Olakulehin as the 43rd Olubadan of Ibadanland. Olakulehin who is from Okugbaja lineage in Ita Baale area in Ibadan North East local government area was appointed last Friday at the meeting chaired by the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland and a former governor of the state, Senator Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja. A source in Oyo State Government House…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike A Kano State High Court has granted an exparte order restraining the National Chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, from parading himself as National Chairman as well as a member of the party, pending the determination of the substituted motion of his suspension. Consequently, the court ordered that henceforth Ganduje should desist from presiding over affairs of the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party. The application granted by Justice Usman Malam Na’abba on Tuesday follows an exparte motion filed by Dr. Ibrahim Sa’ad on behalf of two executive members of Ganduje’S ward,…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Popular Nigerian singer, Simisola Kosoko, popularly known as Simi, has revealed the reason for her success in the music industry. The mother of one acknowledged that the sacrifices of the female artistes who held sway before her played a vital role in her success in the music industry. According to her, those workaholic women shattered the status quo and paved the way for other women to succeed in the male-dominated industry. During a recent conversation with African Folder, Simi said: “There are women who have worked hard to damn the status quo. “So, I won’t give myself…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Former Kwara State Senator, Rafiu Ibrahim, is dead. Ibrahim was said to have died at the age of 57 after a brief illness. The family made this disclosure in a statement made available to newsmen on Wednesday, 17 April, 2024. “We kindly request your prayers and support during this difficult time. His burial arrangements will be communicated in due course. “We pray Allah forgives his shortcomings and grants him Al-Jannah Firdaus. Ameen,” the family said in the statement. Mourning the lawmaker, the state Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, said he received with shock and sadness reports of the death of…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Federal High Court presided over by Justice Kehinde Ogundare sitting in Lagos State has granted businessman and socialite, Pascal Okechukwu, better known as Cubana Chief Priest, N10 million bail with two sureties in like sum. The celebrity bar man had earlier pleaded not guilty to tampering and abusing the naira during his trial. Cubana Chief Priest was arraigned in court on three counts of spraying and tampering with Naira notes during a social event at Eko hotel in Lagos. When the case was called on Wednesday,17 April, 2024, Mrs Bilikisu Buhari appeared for the prosecution while…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The suspended National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) Iyorchia Ayu, has withdrawn a lawsuit challenging his removal from the party to pave the way for the former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam, to replace him as the party’s substantive Chairman. The lawsuit is believed to have impeded the PDP from having a substantive National Chairman since 2023 when a High Court sitting in Makurdi, the capital of Benue State, stopped Ayu from parading himself as the party’s leader. In a notice of withdrawal of appeal tagged CA/MK/88/2024 SUIT NO: MHC/85/2023 dated April 15, obtained by an…

Kwara State Health Insurance Agency on Tuesday, 16 April, 2024 inaugurated a regional office of the agency in Kaiama, Kaiama local government area, assuring the residents of a proper health insurance coverage. The office which is situated at the premises of Kaiama General Hospital, was aimed at bringing affordable and accessible healthcare delivery to the door steps of the people at the grassroots, according to the Executive Secretary of the agency, Dr. Olubunmi Jetawo-Winter, who performed the function. Dr. Jetawo-Winter described social health insurance as the only financing vehicle available to subsidize health services, and to draw in all segments…

President Bola Tinubu has assured that his administration remains undeterred in its pursuit of comprehensive economic security for the country while addressing foundational challenges and creating a fair and equitable system in which all Nigerians can thrive. Speaking when he received leaders of Afenifere, the respected Yoruba Socio-Cultural Organization, at the State House in Abuja, on Wednesday, 17 April, 2024, the President said his administration is re-engineering Nigeria’s finances and seeking to boost the purchasing power of citizens, and spread prosperity down the line, by instituting a credit system where the element of cash is not an impediment to a…

By Adenekan Shogunle, fsi I read with stupefied horror, the VANGUARD Newspaper diatribe on ICPC dated 13th April, 2024. Indeed, it was an un-missable, bold print, front page headlining stuff. The authors and editor were calculative and deliberate. They wanted to grab public attention. Alas, for the very wrong reasons. How are the mighty fallen!!! I have heard it said that certain media outfits often float sensational stories to attract and boost sales. I never reckoned that VANGUARD Newspaper would be counted amongst the lowest of the low. At its founding in 1984 by Mr. Sam Amuka Pemu (a renowned,…

Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has reiterated his administration’s readiness to partner with investors to unlock the tourism potentials of the state. The Governor also promised to support and work with relevant stakeholders and foster the partnership that would lead to sustainable development and guarantee the success of their investments. Governor Makinde stated this on Wednesday, 17 April, 2024, at the opening ceremony of the International Tourism Summit tagged #ITSOYOSTATE 2024, held at the International Conference Center, University of Ibadan, Ibadan. The two-day event was aimed at bringing local and international stakeholders in the tourism sector to showcase the cultural…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Famous Nigerian Afrobeats star, Tiwa Savage has finally opened up revealing what inspired her to become a musician. The ‘Koroba’ crooner said her dream was to become an actress but she delved into music because of a man she had a crush on. According to her, her crush was always around musicians so she ditched her “first love,” acting for music. Savage, who made this disclosure in a recent interview with MTV, said, “I have always wanted to do acting. Acting was one of my first loves before music. I got into music because I had a…

By Niyi Akinsiju In a criminal court in Panama, the trial of the first batch of 27 individuals accused of money laundering related to the global “Panama Papers” revelations began on Monday, the 8th of April, 2024. The owners of the Mossack-Fonseca legal business, which was central to the major document leak in 2016, are among those on trial. A compilation of 11 million confidential financial records from the Panama Papers shows how some of the wealthiest people on the planet conceal their wealth. The revelations had far-reaching effects, leading to the resignation of Iceland’s prime minister and heightened international…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The failure of the Kano State government to serve criminal charges on the National Chairman of All Progressives Congress, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, on Wednesday, 17 April, 2024 stalled the arraignment of the former governor at the Kano State High Court. Ganduje, who was to be arraigned alongside his wife, Hafsat Ganduje, his son, Umar Abdullahi Umar, and five others on eight count charges bordering on bribery allegations, was conspicuously absent in the court. When the matter came up before Justice Usman Malam Na’abba, only the 6th respondent through his counsel, Nureini Jimoh (SAN), was present in…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Business tycoon and the Chief Executive Officer of Five Star Music, Emeka Okonkwo, popularly addressed as E-money has pledged to support and mentor the three children of the late Nollywood actor, John Odonwodo, popularly known as Junior Pope who died after their boat capsized in the Anam River in Anambra state. E-Money made the promise on his Instagram account on Wednesday, 17 April, 2024 while reacting to the actor’s death. “It has been one week since you departed from this world, leaving behind a profound sense of loss that reverberates, not only among us, but also across Africa…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday, 17 April, 2024 have stormed the Abuja residence of a former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, located in Wuse Zone 4, Federal Capital Territory. It was gathered that some armed EFCC personnel laying siege to the ex-governor’s home on Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja. As of press time of filing this report, the reason behind the siege on Bello’s home has not been ascertained. Recalled that theEFCC had earlier dragged Yahaya Bello, his nephew Ali, one Dauda Sulaiman, and Abdulsalam Hudu before Justice James Omotosho of the…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force and some armed men dressed in black with the inscription “Special Forces”, are preventing operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission from arresting embattled former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello at his Abuja residence. EFCC operatives had stormed Bello’s home on Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja, at about 9:30 am on Wednesday, 17 April, 2024. However, it was gathered that operatives were prevented by some policemen and other armed men guarding the ex-Governor, from entering the house. Earlier, the Governor of Kogi State, Usman Ododo, visited the embattled…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has described the decision of a Kano High Court to affirm the ‘suspension’ of the party’s national chairman, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, as a fraud. Recall that the court on Wednesday, 17 April, 2024 granted an order restraining Ganduje from parading himself as a party member, just as it also ordered Ganduje to stop presiding over the affairs of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC. It gave the ruling as an ex parte order, meaning that the lawyers toGanduje and the other adverse parties sued in the case did not…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike President Bola Tinubu has commended Dangote Oil and Gas Limited in reducing the price of Automotive Gas Oil, also known as diesel. This was contained in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale. Recall that Dangote Refinery on Tuesday, 16 April, 2024 reviewed downwards the gantry price of AGO from N1,650 to N1,000 per litre for a minimum of one million litres of the product, as well as providing a discount of N30 per litre for an offtake of five million litres and above. The price review represents a…

The Onisabe of Igbobi Kingdom, His Royal Majesty Owolabi Adeniyi, has described the Secretary of the Lagos State Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), Alhaji Mutiu Olatunji Are as a man whose commitment to humanity distinguishes him from the crowd. “He’s a man of honour and integrity, man whose love for humanity and kindness always distinguished him from the crowd,” Oba Adeniyi said of the man who is also the Aare Bobaselu of his Igbobi Kingdom. The referred Monarch gave this commendation in his congratulatory message to Alhaji Are on his 65th birthday which comes up on Wednesday, 17 April, 2024. Oba…