First News publishes retraction of the story concerning Mr Gbajabiamila with apology on its website.


The management of First News, an online newspaper, has retracted a story of a purported $30 billion fraud story allegedly involving President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.

The newspaper published a retraction of the story with apology on its website on Wednesday.

The controversial news story, authored by the newspaper’s editor, Segun Olatunji,
was published on 29 January.

It was published with the title, ‘How Gbajabiamila attempted to corner $30bn, 66 houses traced to Sabiu’.

But retracting the article on Wednesday, the First News management admitted that it found out that the publication about Mr Gbajabiamila contained “falsehoods and fabricated stories handed out to us as facts by a misleading source which was highly negligent on our part and for which we deeply tender an unreserved apology to the Chief of Staff to the President.”

The media outlet further said it has no malicious intent towards Mr Gbajabiamila

“Hence, our decision to tender an unreserved apology and the need to publish a retraction of the said story,” it added.

Gbajabiamila’s threat to sue

First News’ apology came days after Mr Gbajabiamila’s lawyer, Kemi Pinheiro, wrote the outlet demanding apology over the defamatory publication against his client.

In the letter dated 3 May and addressed to Mr Olatunji, Mr Pinheiro, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), demanded First News apologises within seven days of the receipt of the letter. The letter of demand for retraction was published by the law firm in the 7 May (Tuesday) publication of ThisDay newspaper.

The lawyer added that the retraction must be published in two Nigerian dailies, and the apology letter circulated on the same media platforms on which the disputed article was published.

Mr Pinheiro threatened that should First News fail to comply with his client’s demands, a defamation suit would be instituted against the newspaper.

Background

As a fallout of the defamatory article against Mr Gbajabiamila, Mr Olatunji said he was seized from his home in Lagos on 15 March and flown to Abuja by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).

Mr Olatunji was detained for 14 days. He was only released following persistent demands by the International Press Institute (IPI), the Nigerian Guild of Editors, the Nigeria Union of Journalists and other civil society groups.

His arrest and manhandling drew outrage within the human rights community in Nigeria.

In the defamatory article, Mr Gbajabiamila was portrayed as re-looting funds and landed properties allegedly recovered from Tunde Sabiu, an aide and relative to former President Muhammadu Buhari.

First News says it has now determined that the claims about the Chief of Staff were fabricated.

•Speculation, hoarding reemerges

•Push Naira to N1,450/$ in parallel market

The declining fortunes of the Naira persisted yesterday with further depreciation in the parallel and official markets due to the re-emergence of speculation and hoarding, even as some Bureaux De Change, BDCs withdrew from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN’s, dollar sales program.


Vanguard also learnt that despite the sustained nationwide raids and arrest of street currency hawkers, the Naira further depreciated yesterday to N1,435 per dollar in the parallel market, from N1,415 per dollar on Tuesday, and also depreciated to N1,421.06 per dollar in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market, NAFEM.

Data from FMDQ showed that the indicative exchange rate for NAFEM fell to N1,421.06 per dollar from N1,416.57 per dollar on Tuesday, indicating N4.49 depreciation for the naira.

Consequently, the margin between the parallel market and NAFEM rates widened to N13.94 per dollar from N1.57 per dollar on Tuesday.

Dollar sales to BDCs

In a bid to intervene in the retail segment of the forex market, the CBN in February resumed dollar sales to BDCs. Since then the apex bank has held three editions of the dollar. At the last edition, the CBN offered to sell $10,000 per BDCs at directing them to sell at the maximum margin of 1.5 per cent

BDC operators however complained dollar disbursement from CBN is too slow that and takes three to four weeks between when they make payment and when the dollars are disbursed to them.

Vanguard reliably gathered that as a result of this delay and the uncertainty in the forex market, some BDCs, have asked the CBN to refund their Naira payment.

Top BDC operators who confirmed this development to Vanguard under the condition of anonymity said that some of the BDCs that asked for refunds have gotten their money.


Speaking to Vanguard on condition of anonymity, the Chief Executive of a BDC said, “I think the CBN is overwhelmed. You pay money and it takes one month for you to collect $10,000. It is over a month now since they intervened and they have not intervened again.

“Even the last one that they did some BDCs are just collecting the dollars. Some are even saying they should return their money. They are asking for a refund because there are many challenges. Some have paid but their name is appearing in another location which makes it impossible to collect the dollars. Some are getting their refund but it is a very slow pace too.”

Also speaking on condition of anonymity, another BDC operator said, “There is no supply. The CBN supply is slow. They sell one tranche for one month. It is too low. If they don’t have the money they should tell us we don’t have the money.”

Speculation reemerges
Vanguard investigations also revealed the reemergence of speculation and hoarding in the forex market due to the steady depreciation of the Naira in the last three weeks.

Speaking anonymously, a BDC operator said, “You know people are still doubtful. A lot of people now at any opportunity, buy dollars and keep, thinking that the rate will go up again. So speculation and hoarding are still happening.


“Before when people are scared, they bring out their dollars to sell. But now nobody is doing that. Supply is not coming into the market. There is no certainty about the frequency and volume of intervention from CBN. And this further encourages speculation and hoarding.”

Efforts for the CBN to respond to the above developments proved abortive as the Director, of Corporate Communication, CBN, Mrs Hakama Sidi-Ali, did not respond to calls and SMS and WhatsApp messages from Vanguard.

In Abuja, a Federal High Court has granted bail to former Minister of Aviation Hadi Sirika, along with his daughter and two others, requiring a ₦100 million bail bond and two sureties.

Sirika and others are being tried over an alleged ₦2.7bn fraud.

The sureties, according to the court, must have landed properties in Abuja and also responsible citizens.

The sureties must depose to an affidavit of means. The court also restricted the defendants from traveling abroad without its permission.

Justice Oriji ordered that the defendants should be remanded in prison custody if they failed to meet their bail conditions.

Recall that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has slammed six counts on the former minister, his daughter, and two others.

The Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, on Wednesday, lamented the drop in enrolment of pupils into schools across the state.

Sani, who expressed concern over the development, linked it to the spate of insecurity, occasioned by kidnapping, banditry and other related crimes, in the state.

He disclosed that the government had begun a move to relocate 359 schools from terrorist-infested areas and merge them with other schools in safe places.

The governor spoke while declaring open a one-day capacity-building programme organised by the Nigeria Police Force School Protection Squad in Kaduna on Wednesday.

Sani described as apt the theme of the programme: ‘Strengthening Security Resilience and Integration of Host Communities in the Protection of Education.’

“Incidents like the kidnapping of 135 students from the LEA Primary and Junior Secondary School, Kuriga, Chikun Local Government tragically illustrates the devastating impact of insecurity on education access and safety.

“To ensure that the education of our children in conflict-prone and terrorists-infested areas is not interrupted, we have commenced the merging of 359 schools with those in safe locations,” the governor said.

Sani lamented what he described as the alarming drop in school enrolment rate in the state due to insecurity.

Sani said, “Kaduna State is one of the states that has been waging a sustained battle against banditry, terrorism, kidnapping and other forms of criminality.

“These non-state actors have disrupted socio-economic activities in the affected communities and are threatening our educational revitalization programme.

“Kaduna State’s educational system is facing a crisis of declining enrolment, with over 200,000 fewer primary school pupils recorded in the 2022/2023 academic session compared to the previous year.

“This dramatic drop (from 2,111,969 in 2021/2022 to 1,734,704 in 2022/2023) is largely attributed to insecurity.

“In several local government areas, particularly Chikun, Birnin Gwari, Kajuru, Giwa, and Igabi, insecurity has forced school consolidation, further pushing up the number of out-of-school children.”

The governor commended the Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, for establishing the Schools Protection Squad, a proactive initiative aimed at enhancing security and safety in educational institutions across Nigeria.

The tragic killing took place in Corona, Queens, in the US, where the couple resided.

The couple appealed for leniency and expressed love for the child, but the court imposed the maximum sentence allowed by law.

During the trial, Valarie Owusu claimed she didn't know the severity of her son's injuries until they were revealed in court. According to the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office, the couple subjected the boy to beatings between March 30 and April 1, 2021.

The child's condition deteriorated over three days until he lost consciousness, but they didn't seek help for him.

They instead took him to a relative's home in Brentwood on April 1, 2021, and abandoned him there. It was only when the family member returned home and found that the boy had died.

The medical examiner's testimony during the trial revealed the extent of King's injuries, with signs of beatings covering his entire body, ultimately leading to his tragic death.

A Nigerian man simply identified as Young C caused a stir online on Wednesday, May 8, when he embarked on a challenge to be buried alive in a coffin for 24 hours. 

In a post shared on his Instagram page, Young C said he intends to broadcast live footage from the coffin at night. 

Sharing a video on his Instagram account, he said

"I am going to be spending the next 24 hours buried in this casket. Guys, this is real, not fake. And the most amazing part is that I am going to go live by night."

In a subsequent update, Young C revealed that he had been buried for over 8 hours and was experiencing physical discomfort, including excessive sweating. 

"Guys, I have been buried alive for over 8 hours now. For those of you who saw my first video, I have been down here. As you can see, my camera is still rolling, and I have my light down there, I am sweating, guys."

In yet another update, Young C said he has started experiencing heat and that his fear now is for his rechargeable fan not to run out of power. He also showed a container where he has been urinating since he began the challenge.

Watch the videos he shared below

The police on Thursday continued their investigation into the circumstances leading to the death of the late singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba aka Mohbad.

This followed the invitation extended to Mohbad’s family and the group of persons mentioned in the ongoing probe of the illegal embalming of the deceased’s body following his death.

PUNCH Metro reported that Boluwatife Adeyemo aka Darosha who was the Personal Assistant to Mohbad was interrogated at the Zone 2 Police Headquarters in the presence of the deceased’s father Joseph and mother, Abosede.

The police, upon interrogating Darosha, thereby asked all those mentioned in his statement to be brought in for further interrogation.

The head of the family’s legal team, Monisola Odumosu, in a statement sent to our correspondent on Wednesday, however, stated that the second interrogatory meeting was held at the Zone 2 Police Headquarters in Lagos State on Tuesday.

Odumosu added that the police were working to reveal the identity of the “illegal mortician.”

“The police will reveal to the public soon, who illegally embalmed the body of the late singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba, widely known as Mohbad.

“The police stated they would work on their report and continue investigations which will be directed to the Legal Department of the force for a recommendation.

“The meeting was held at Zone 2 and present at the meeting were Mr. Joseph Aloba (Mohbad’s father), Boluwatife Adeyemi (aka Darosha), Adura Aloba (Mohbad’s younger brother), Mrs. Abosede Olumuyi (Mohbad’s mother) and Cynthia Omowunmi Aloba (Mohbad’s wife). Others include Iya Lolade and Samuel (Mr. Joseph Aloba’s witnesses) and lawyers to the parties,” Odumosu added.

The family’s legal team had earlier, on the instruction of their client, petitioned the police that Boluwatife Adeyemo, the personal assistant to the late Mohbad, had embalmed the body of the late singer which violates Section 16 and 48 of the Coroner’s System Law, 2007, which addresses the offences and penalties of tampering with a dead body.

The police upon interrogating Darosha have asked all those mentioned in his statement to be brought in for further interrogation.

Shortly after Mohbad’s death, his cousin, Darosha, on his social media handle, daroshagram, wrote “…About the salt, when my father died, a salt was placed on his chest till we arrived and was told it was local embalming to keep him fresh till the whole family arrived, and I did the same thing (on Mohbad) because a lot of people were still coming to see him before leaving to Ikorodu that night.”

The post sparked controversy in social media and legal circles that led to the need to discover who embalmed the late singer without regard to extant laws.

The legal team further stated that they were awaiting the police report as soon as the police got the legal advice from their legal department. It is then they will be properly informed the recommended persons will face prosecution.

Mohbad’s father had alleged that his son’s body was already embalmed and placed by the staircase when he arrived at the deceased’s home the day he died.

He made this known while calling on the police to intensify the investigation to unravel the cause of his son’s death.

Mohbad died on September 12 at the age of 27, with the circumstances surrounding his death sparking controversy on social media.

Mohbad, a former record label signee of Marlian Music owned by Naira Marley, left the label in February 2022.

The Lagos State Police Command on September 18, 2023, inaugurated a 13-man special investigation team to probe the death.

His death also led to the arrest of Naira Marley and controversial Lagos socialite Balogun Eletu, aka Sam Larry, amongst others.

The body of Mohbad was exhumed on September 21, 2023, for an autopsy to unravel the cause of his death.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, tweeted in September 2023 that an autopsy had been concluded and the police were “awaiting results.”

The PUNCH exclusively reported that the toxicology test carried out to determine the cause of death of the late music star had been concluded.

The result had been sent to the pathologist who carried out the autopsy to analyse and interpret it.

Renowned Nigerian record label boss and producer, Don Jazzy has taken to social media to mark the 12th year anniversary of MAVIN Records in a heartfelt celebration.

Through a series of video clips featuring both past and present signees, Don Jazzy highlighted the achievements of the label’s artists on various streaming platforms, showcasing their remarkable journey over the past decade.

Founded by Don Jazzy himself after his departure from Mo’Hits Records, MAVIN Records has emerged as one of the foremost players in the Nigerian music industry, boasting a roster of over ten talented artists, both past and present.

The label’s collaborative efforts have produced numerous chart-topping hits, including instant classics like “Dorobucci” and “Amina,” which have left an indelible mark on the music landscape.

MAVIN Records has served as a launchpad for several artists who have gone on to carve their own paths to stardom.

Notable talents such as Johnny Drille, Ayra Starr, Rema, Ladipoe, Crayon, and Bayanni have all flourished under the mentorship of Don Jazzy, showcasing their musical prowess and versatility.

Despite the departure of former members such as Tiwa Savage and Reekado Banks, who have maintained their relevance in the industry, MAVIN Records continues to thrive under Don Jazzy’s leadership.

Beyond his role as a record label boss and producer, Don Jazzy has also become a champion for upcoming artists, using his platform on social media to promote and showcase emerging talent.

His accessibility online has created invaluable opportunities for up and coming musicians to gain exposure and recognition.

The Ogun State Police Command said it had arrested a septuagenarian landlord, identified simply as Adesina, for allegedly defiling and impregnating his tenant’s 14-year-old girl (name withheld) at Akegbeyale Street in Ifesowapo Akute, Ifo Local Government Area of the state.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the residents and other tenants were thrown into a state of shock when the septuagenarian suspect was found on Tuesday, April 9, 2024, having sexual intercourse with the 14-year-old girl at about 10:15 pm in the house bathroom.

The minor, according to a police source who was part of the team that arrested the 71-year-old suspect but was not permitted to speak for the command, was said to have made her way to the apartment’s bathroom to take a shower.

Our correspondent learnt that a few seconds later, the landlord was said to have gained entrance into the same bathroom and was believed to be having sexual intercourse with the teenager before he was caught in the act.

After this shocking discovery, some members of the community and other neighbours who witnessed the scene raised the alarm, leading to the arrest of the landlord by the men of the Ajuwon Police Division.

PUNCH Metro gathered that upon advice by the police and others on the need for the minor to be treated to avoid any infection, the father was said to have taken the 14-year-old girl to the hospital for medical examination.

However, the result of the test was said to have indicated that the minor was about six weeks pregnant.

Confirming the incident on Wednesday, the spokesperson for the state Police Command, Omolola Odutola, told our correspondent the case had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, where all parties would be grilled.

“The landlord has been arrested and detained. The father reported that he was caught defiling his 14-year-old daughter in their bathroom in the morning. The teenager was taken to Tamara Hospital in Akute for a medical examination.

“However, the medical report further showed that that wasn’t a first-time act because the test showed that the teenager was already six weeks pregnant. The state CID in Eleweran will soon take up the matter for further investigation,” Odutola stated.

In November 2023, the operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps reportedly apprehended another 76-year-old man, David Ogunsanwo, for allegedly defiling a 16-year-old girl in the Abeokuta area of the state. The teenager was also reportedly five months pregnant.