FEATURES

FEATURES

Denies Kidnapping Allegations

 

Fresh controversies have emerged following the demolition of Udoka Golden Point Hotel and Suites, popularly known as La Cruise Hotel, in Oba, Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The hotel owner has refuted claims by state authorities that the property was used as a hub for kidnapping and criminal activities.

 

Naija News understands that the demolition, which occurred on Saturday, January 27, 2025, was carried out by operatives of Anambra State’s security outfit.

Authorities alleged that over 30 graves, a shrine, military camouflage, arms, and ammunition were discovered within the premises.

The state government, through its New Media account, released a statement detailing the operation that led to the discovery.

 

“Oba, Idemili South LGA! Demolition of kidnappers’ den disguised as Udoka Golden Point Hotel and Suites, a.k.a. ‘La Cruise Hotel’, along Onitsha-Owerri Road. The hotel has well-partitioned graves of over 30 on the last floor with a shrine!” the statement read.

According to officials, intelligence gathering and a tip-off from a whistleblower led to the raid on the premises, which allegedly doubled as a haven for kidnappers and other criminal elements.

Hotel Owner: The Claims Are Baseless

Reacting to the allegations, the hotel owner, identified simply as Udoka, denied any connection to criminal activities.

Speaking to journalists over the phone on Monday, he claimed that the so-called graves were, in fact, partitioned fish ponds.

He said, “The hotel has never been involved in kidnapping. Those things they are calling graves were partitioned fish ponds. I bought the property from the original owner, who constructed it as it is, and the top floor was converted into a fish pond before I acquired it.

“The fish pond was designed to allow easy oversight of the fish and for them to be used at the hotel’s bar for barbecue. Since I purchased the property, some interested parties have been upset and wanted to revoke the sale. When that failed, they started manufacturing troubles for me.”

Udoka added that he had not been contacted about the demolition and only learned of it after the building was destroyed.

 

He stated, “I borrowed money to purchase the hotel and have not even repaid the loan. If the hotel had been closed and an investigation carried out, the truth would have been revealed.”

The owner also mentioned he was in Awka since Sunday to report the matter to the police.

He described himself as a legitimate businessman dealing in motor parts, land, and property, and claimed traders in the community could vouch for him.

The Anambra State Commissioner for Information, Law Mefor in a chat with Punch refuted Udoka’s claims, stating that a fish pond could not be situated inside a hotel.

“Fish ponds and shrines on the hotel’s top floor? Even for health reasons, is such an arrangement logical? Where are the fish if it’s a pond? Why is he hiding?” Mefor asked.

Responding to concerns that the demolition could discourage investors, Mefor said, “My brother, it’s better not to have kidnappers lurking everywhere in our state.”

Three-time African champions Nigeria were handed a tricky draw for the group stages of the 2025 AFCON tournament in Morocco, lining up in Group C with Tunisia as well as two of the co-hosts of the 2027 edition; Uganda and Tanzania.

The draw was held in the North African country on Monday for the tournament which will be played from December 21 to January 18, 2026.

Nigeria are the most successful team in the group, having won the tournament three times and going for their 21st appearance in Morocco.  Uganda will be competing in their eighth tournament while Tanzania have only featured three times.

Tunisia, the most familiar of the opponents, who dumped Nigeria out in the round of 16 of the 2021 tournament in Cameroon have won the tournament once – on home soil in 2024 – in their 21 appearances at the continental showpiece.

 
 

Nigeria head into the 2025 tournament as record medal holders in the competition’s 68-year history with 16 medals in 20 appearances, including three titles (1980, 1994, 2013), five runner-up finishes (1984, 1988, 1990, 2000 and 2023) and eight bronze medals.

The Super Eagles lost the 2023 final 2-1 against hosts Ivory Coast.

Hosts Morocco will play in Group A against Mali, Zambia and Comoros. Seven-time champions Egypt are in Group B along with South Africa, Angola and Zimbabwe. Group D has Senegal, DR Congo, Benin and Botswana while Algeria, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea and Sudan make up Group E. Defending champions Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Gabon and Mozambique are in Group F.

 

Meanwhile, CAF and the Moroccan Football Federation have announced six cities and nine stadiums that will host matches in the competition.

They are Rabat, Casablanca, Agadir, Marrakech, Fes and Tangier.

The capital Rabat is home to four stadiums; Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah (69,500), Stade Al Barid (18,000), Stade Olympique Annexe Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah (21,000) and the Complexe Sportif Prince Héritier Moulay EL Hassan (22,000).

Other stadiums are; the 45,000-capacity Complexe Sportif Mohammed V in Casablanca, Grand Stade d’Agadir (41,144), Grand Stade de Marrakech (41,245), Complexe Sportif de Fès (35,468) and the largest stadium, the 75,000-capacity Grand Stade de Tanger.

 

the full draw for the 2025 AFCON:

Last modified on Tuesday, 28 January 2025 08:21

A witness for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has testified at an FCT High Court in Abuja, alleging that Hadi Sirika, a former aviation minister, awarded contracts to Al Buraq Global Investment Limited, a company linked to his daughter, Fatima Hadi Sirika, and his son-in-law, Jalal Sule Hamma.

Naija News reports that Sirika, along with Fatima and Hamma, is facing a six-count charge of contract fraud amounting to ₦2,825,032,220.97.

 

The EFCC claims that Sirika used his position to influence the award of a ₦1.49 billion contract for the Apron Extension at Katsina Airport to Al Buraq, despite the company’s alleged lack of qualification for competitive bidding.

 

Musa Odiniyan, a retired director in the procurement department of the Ministry of Aviation, testified under cross-examination that the company would not have qualified for the contract had an open competitive bidding process been followed.

We use some criteria for determining the award of contracts for companies. I still maintain that if it was an open competitive bidding, the company, Al Buraq, may not have qualified,” Odiniyan stated.

He further revealed that Al Buraq received 100 percent payment upfront, with the aim of completing the project before former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration ended in 2023.

The time of issuing the contract letter to the company (Al Buraq) was at the twilight of the Buhari administration. That was why the contract had a period of six months,” he explained.

Odiniyan added, “The reason for the prompt payment (for the contract) was for it to be completed and inaugurated before the exit of the Buhari administration and not for the purpose of variation.”

The EFCC is pressing charges against Sirika for allegedly conferring undue advantage on Al Buraq by awarding contracts through improper influence, breaching procurement regulations, and defrauding the government.

The judge has adjourned the case until March 10, 2025, for the continuation of the cross-examination.

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery is awaiting up to 12 million barrels of crude oil from the United States, the Africa Report reported on Monday.

The refinery resorted to crude importation as local supply challenges hindered the new $20bn refinery’s push to reach full refining capacity.

Recall that the refinery plans to reach its 650,000 barrels per day capacity in June this year.

However, low local crude supply from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited is currently a challenge to this plan to ramp up daily production.

 
PUNCH SPORTS EXTRA: EPL- United Hold Liverpool At Anfield
 
 
 
0:00 / 0:00
 
 
 
 
PUNCH SPORTS EXTRA : AUSTRALIAN OPEN - SABALENKA, GAUFF WIN FIRST ROUND GAMES
 
 
 
0:00 / 0:00
 
 
 
 
 

The 12 million barrels of crude has already left the United States and will land in Nigeria next month, according to the report.

“About 12 million barrels of crude have departed the US and should arrive in Nigeria by February,” an insider source told The Africa Report.

The PUNCH reports that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery is importing more crude oil as supply from the NNPC becomes insufficient for fuel production at the $20bn Lekki-based facility.

 

Officials at the plant said the facility has ramped up production to about 500,000 barrels per day, with the target of hitting the 650,000bpd mark by June this year.

While affirming that the naira-for-crude deal is still on as directed by President Bola Tinubu last year, sources told our correspondent that the facility will have to import more crude to meet its target.

The NNPC is reportedly struggling to supply 350,000bpd to the Dangote refinery from the 450,000bpd crude meant for Nigeria’s local consumption.

With its current production capacity of 500,000bpd, officials said there is a need to look beyond the shores of Nigeria for the feedstock.

It was said that the feedstock needed by the refinery daily cannot be solely supplied by the state-owned oil company, NNPC.

 

“Currently, we are at 500,000bpd; we will ramp to 650,000 by midyear. You know what it means? So, it is a normal process to source crude oil anywhere it is available,” an official at the plant told The PUNCH.

Recall that in July, President Tinubu ordered the NNPC to sell crude oil to local refineries in naira.

 

In October, the committee supervising the naira-for-crude deal commenced the sale of crude to only the Dangote refinery in naira, saying it would sell to only petrol-producing refineries.

However, with the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries coming on stream, more refineries would be considered for the naira-for-crude arrangement.

According to the crude oil production forecast of producing oil companies and the refining requirement of functional refineries in Nigeria signed by the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Gbenga Komolafe, the Dangote refinery would require 550,000 barrels of a blend of Nigerian crude oil daily, 17.05 million barrels monthly, and 99.55 million barrels between January and June 2025.

The Dangote refinery is already building eight more tanks to store imported crude. The facility is planning to stockpile imported crude oil as local supplies become unreliable.

Officials of the refinery were quoted as saying that low crude supply from the NNPC “is driving import dependence.”

The building of eight additional tanks will see crude storage capacity at the refinery jump by 41.67 per cent to 3.4 billion litres.

“Importing crude from other countries instead of buying locally means that our crude stockpiles will have to be higher,” the Vice President in charge of the oil and gas business at Dangote Industries, Devakumar Edwin, was quoted as having said recently.

 

In May 2024, the refinery reportedly issued a term tender for the purchase of two million barrels of West Texas Intermediate Midland crude monthly for 12 months starting in July last year, amounting to 24 million barrels of crude in one year.

The Dangote refinery currently supplies petrol, diesel, and aviation fuel to Nigeria and other countries.

Christian and Muslim leaders on Monday clashed over the planned inauguration of shari’a arbitration panel across the South-Western states of Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Oyo and Lagos by the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs.

This comes as the proponents of the Islamic code said there was no going back on their decision to set up the panel to adjudicate and resolve issues among the South-West Muslim Ummah.

The President, Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs in Ekiti State, Dr Hammed Bakare and the Chairman of the Shari’a Committee of Oyoland, Dr Rafiu Bello, told The PUNCH in separate interviews on Monday that the shari’a panel would be inaugurated despite the opposition to it.

The shari’a council had moved to establish an arbitration panel in Oyo town to adjudicate and sit on matters relating to Muslims. 

However, the development was opposed by the government and other leaders.

Following this, the planned panel inauguration billed to hold at the Muslim Community Islamic Centre in Mobolaje Area, Oyo, on January 11 was suspended indefinitely.

Last week, the panel held its maiden sitting at the Ekiti Central Mosque, Ado Ekiti with three Khadis forming the panel.

 

The Khadis include Imam Abdullahi Abdul-Mutolib, Imam Abdulraheem Junaid-Bamigbola and Dr Ibrahim Aminullahi-Ogunrinde.

Apparently uncomfortable with the idea, the state Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Dayo Apata, (SAN) said the existing legal structure in the state did not recognise the shari’a court or arbitration panel.

 “There is an existing legal structure in Ekiti State (the Customary Court, Customary Court of Appeal and High Court) that has been handling issues relating to Islamic, Christian and traditional marriages and inheritance without any rancour or agitation,” he argued.

Aligning with the state government’s stance, the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe,  ordered the dissolution of the Sharia panel “in the interest of peaceful coexistence and law and order in the community.’’

Adejugbe spoke in Ado Ekiti on Saturday during a meeting he held with the chiefs and indigenes of the community and the Chief Imam and President of the League of Imams and Alfas in the Southwest, Edo and Delta states, Sheik Jamiu Kewulere; and other Muslim leaders in Ado Ekiti over the shari’a panel issue.

Speaking with The PUNCH, the SCN President in Ekiti State, Bakare said the panel inaugurated by Muslims in Ekiti State ‘’will not be disbanded nor dissolved as being canvassed in some quarters.’’

Bakare, who said that the arbitration was not a court, but part of the dictates of the Islamic religion for the promotion of peace, added that the constitution guaranteed the right of worship.

 

The Islamic cleric queried, “Why should the panel be disbanded? For what? Can you ask somebody to dissolve his marriage or not to worship God the way he likes? It is not lawful for anybody to give such a command.’’

He added, “The panel is an arbitration that we established for ourselves, Muslims, and not even compulsory for all Muslims, only Muslims that are willing to abide by the dictates of Allah as written in the Quran.

“It is just part of our way of worship, to do things according to the dictates of the Almighty God. That panel is for us, not a court or anything like that. It is an arbitration panel that every organization can establish within themselves.”

Bakare, who said that the panel existed in some Southwest states, including Lagos and Oyo States, affirmed, “It is not a new thing. We have examples even in churches where they arbitrate among themselves without resorting to established courts.

“It is just to settle matters within us and the constitution of Nigeria gives us a guarantee of worship. It is part of worship in Islam to make sure that there is peace in your domain, organisation, society.

“There is nothing anybody can fear from the arbitration panel, we are not forcing anybody. It is for only Muslims who are willing to go to that panel, if you are not willing to go as a Muslim, nobody is going to coerce you to go.

‘’That is what we are doing. The constitution of Nigeria guarantees freedom of worship and practice. That is all we are doing.’’

 

He berated the opponents of the panel, saying, “All those tags against the panel are not genuine, they are just an attempt to discredit it. When they hear anything about Muslims, about shari’a, they don’t want to hear whether there is anything good in it or not, whether it concerns them or not.

“We believe that nobody can stop us from being Muslims. That is how we see it. We have nothing against anybody, we are not fighting anybody, we are just peace-loving Muslims, we want to contribute to peace because if there is peace somewhere, it will translate to peace in the society.”

The Islamic leader argued that the arbitration panel did not violate any law.

Speaking in the same vein, the Chairman of the Shari’a Committee of Oyoland, Bello insisted that the inauguration of the panel in Oyo State would proceed as planned.

Bello explained that a new date for the panel inauguration would be announced in due course.

He said similar panels already existed in other parts of Oyo State, including Saki, Kishi, and Ogbomoso, and that the controversy surrounding the Oyo town panel stemmed from ‘’the initial mislabelling of the panel as a shari’a court.”

“A new date for the inauguration has not been announced yet. The inauguration of the shari’a panel in Oyo town cannot be stopped.

 

‘’It was only postponed, and we will announce the specific date for it in due time, Insha Allah. It is our right, and there is no going back on setting up the panel. It poses no threat or harm to this society,” he declared.

Bello also dismissed concerns raised by some traditional rulers, emphasising that the constitution provides for such panels.

Across the South-West, Bello said the panels had before now existed in Lagos, parts of Oyo and Ekiti while the zonal headquarters for the Supreme Council for Shari’a in Nigeria was in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.

“We are not concerned about the pronouncements of certain traditional rulers. The Constitution allows for this, and we have the Supreme Council for Shari’a in Nigeria supporting us,” he added.

Furthermore, Bello explained that the panel was designed for willing Muslims to resolve issues such as inheritance disputes, marital conflicts, and disagreements among friends.

According to him, Muslim scholars will act as arbitrators, providing guidance based on the Quran without imposing penalties, unlike formal courts.

“This panel is meant solely for willing Muslims. Those alleging that it is part of a Fulani or Hausa agenda are ignorant. It will handle disputes between couples, friends, and others in line with Islamic principles.

 

‘’Panels like this already exist in Osogbo, Kishi, Saki, Ogbomoso, and Ibadan, so why is there an issue with Oyo town,?” he explained.

When asked under what legal framework the panel operates, Bello reiterated that it functions as an independent arbitration body, which does not require approval from the State House of Assembly.

“The Nigerian Constitution has provisions for it. The only mistake was in calling it a shari’a court instead of a sharia arbitration panel. This is purely for settling disputes among willing Muslims. Those behind the uproar are religious bigots,” Bello alleged.

Osun State Coordinator, SCN, Mallam AbulGaniy Ezra, said Governor Ademola Adeleke would be persuaded to allow the shari’a panel in the state transmute to a full-fledged court.

Ezra disclosed that the panel was inaugurated in the state in 2005.

According to him, the panel had resolved several civil matters, noting that the 1999 Constitution provided for the establishment of shari’a courts in the country.

He also said those opposed to the court’s establishment in South- West were not Christians, but those ignorant about the operation of the shari’a system of arbitration.

 

“Let me clarify that what people are referring to as the shari’a court is actually the shari’a arbitration panel and it has been held for about 20 years now in Osun.

‘’It holds regular sittings. They hold their arbitration every last Wednesday or Thursday of the month. The panel has been sitting at the Muslim Community Secretariat in Osogbo for close to 20 years now.

‘’The inauguration was done at Oja-Oba Central Mosque, Osogbo in 2005 and since then, sharia arbitration has been going on.

“We don’t want to stop at that, what we intend to do is persuade the Osun State governor, even though is our right but we don’t take it like that, we see it as something that can be agreed on mutually.

‘’We have common law courts here which are adjudicating on every issue that concerns citizens and non-citizens living in this country. Also, we have the customary court which is a provision of the Constitution, same as the shari’a court.

‘’So, I don’t know why people are making noise about the creation of the shari’a court in the South-West. Section 278 of the constitution said ‘there should be a shari’a court’ but anytime our people heard anything about shari’a court, they thought maybe some people wanted to start war. No, it is not like that. It is about giving the right of Muslims to Muslims,’’ he pointed out.

The Amir of the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria and one of the proponents of the panel,  Amir Sirajudeen Abdulazeez said there was nothing wrong with establishing a shari’a court in Ondo State, explaining that it was part of Muslim rights.

 

He also expressed optimism that the planned creation of the panel would take place in the state sooner or later.

‘’For you to say that Muslims do not have the right to adjudicate their lives based on their beliefs is nothing but an affront to their constitutionally given rights. It is nothing but subjugation, exploitation, and oppression.

“If Muslims are a minority in Ondo State, can’t we talk? If it is in our constitution, can’t we demand it? If civil law has its roots in the Bible, customary law has its roots in idolatry – why can’t Muslims speak?

“Whether shari’a court will happen in those states, it’s a matter of time. Muslims are agitating for it, demanding it. When the time comes, the government will listen to us. And when the time comes, the government feels like establishing it, they will establish it,” he declared.

However, the state Chairman of the Ondo State chapter of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Pastor Joshua Opayinka said shari’a court was not feasible in the state.

He noted that it could only be replicated in the north where Muslims are in the majority.

The cleric said, “That (creation of shari’a court) is an aberration. Why shari’a court in Ondo State? No, that is not possible. Can the same thing be replicated in the north?

 

“They say that is their right. Nobody can stop them. Can we have full Christian worship activities in the north? Can they allow it? If they are canvassing that, we need to sit down at the round table and strike a balance.

“In the north, we have been marginalized. Christians in the north have not been permitted to have full operations of their Christian activities. So, why are they coming here? So to come and do that, that is not possible.”

The Organizing Secretary of the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation Afenifere, Abagun Kole Omololu, said importing religious law into the Yoruba culture would not be tolerated, stating that the focus of the South-west region was development.

He said, “What Yoruba wants is not religious bigotry, we are too closely knit as a race. Religion is the last on the pedestal of our priorities.  Ecclesiastical or shari’a law will not make us Dubai or Singapore.

‘’My grandfather, who died in 1957, was a Babalawo (herbalist), and yet Baba Egbe (elder) in the church.  The concoction he prepared against smallpox is still at the back of my father’s house. Yet, my dad was a chairman of a church too.

“Because we are uniquely homogeneous as a race, what binds us together is our tradition and not religion. Hardly can you find any family in Yorubaland that does not co-habit as traditional believers, Muslims and Christians. Introducing religious law into our family will encroach into our traditional family setting.”

The Yoruba Cultural Renaissance Advocates expressed its support for the Ewi of Ado Ekiti regarding the ban on the shari’a panel in Ekiti State.

 

The group stated that the Ewi’s pronouncement aligns with the principles of secularism and cultural sensitivity, and is essential for fostering unity in a diverse society.

In a statement issued by its President, Ifabunmi Esuremilekun, the YCRA commended the decision, describing it as a move that promotes religious harmony, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence among the various groups in Ekiti.

“Do they realize that the land hosting Ado-Ekiti belongs historically to the stool of the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti? Considering that many Yoruba Muslims are married to Yoruba Christians under a combination of customary, Islamic, and statutory laws, what legal framework would this panel use to resolve disputes?” the group queried.

It lauded the monarch and the state government for taking a bold step to uphold the nation’s secularity.

“This decision demonstrates a commitment to preserving secularism while fostering unity in Ekiti State. It is a vital step toward ensuring religious harmony, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence among its diverse population,” the statement concluded.

The Osun State Chairman, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Prof. Isaiah Adelowokan, said Christians in the South-West would oppose the establishment of a shari’a court in the region.

Adelowokan said, “I know no Christian who will ever say shari’a court should come to South-West. We are not in support of it.”

 

Osun State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr. Kolapo Alimi, disclosed that the government has not received any request for the inauguration of a shari’a court in the state.

Alimi explained that a decision on such a request would not affect the peace of the state.

“We have not received any request for shari’a court in Osun. When we get to the bridge, we will know how to cross it. If we get the request, the government will consider the pros and cons and take appropriate action that will not jeopardise the peace of the state.

‘’This is a democracy. If they table it, the government will look at it and take appropriate action,” Alimi said.

Emeritus Professor of Islamic Studies and Chief Imam of Egba Gbagura, Abeokuta, Prof Kamaldeen Balogun, affirmed that there is no constituted shari’a court in Ogun State and any part of the South-West.

Balogun said that what is only common across the southwest are committees set up by the Muslims to adjudicate personal affairs that may arise among the Muslims like issues of marriage and divorce, among others.

The Muslim scholar said, “We don’t have constituted shari’a court in any part of the South-West as we have say in Kwara and others.

 

“What we have are committees or panels set up among the Muslims to address personal issues according to the dictate of our religion but I don’t know why people are now talking about having shari’a court, there is nothing like that.”

The President of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Apostle Bello Otaru, said he was not aware of a shari’a court operating in the state.

Otaru, who is also the General Overseer of Signs and Wonder Church also known as Antioch Assembly, explained, “PFN is not aware of operating of shari’a court or plans to start one in Ogun State.

“In any case, we have cordial relationships with Muslim leaders in the state and we have a platform, Nigeria Inter-Religious Council, NIREC which provides a forum for us to always iron out any contentious issue, so there is peace and religious harmony in the state and that we shall continue to uphold and sustain for the good of all.”

However, a top Muslim leader who craved anonymity, disclosed that the Muslim leaders in the state would be meeting on the matter in the next few days.

The National Missioner and Chief Imam of the Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Sheik Abdulrahman Ahmad, acknowledged that a shari’a panel had been operating in Lagos for 20 years.

“We have had shari’a panel in Lagos for almost 20 years now. There is no controversy about it. It’s not anything new in Lagos and it has been operating without any itch or controversy whatsoever. That’s why I said people should not bring any sentiment into it,” he offered.

 

He added, “What we must know is that there is a provision in the Nigerian Constitution for Muslims to have shari’a court if they want.

“It is a constitutional matter and the shari’a court as presently constituted applies to what they call Muslim Personal Law, marriage, divorce, inheritance, custody of children and so on. This is what the shari’a court is about.”

A yet-to-be-identified officer of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission attached to the Lagos Division of the anti-graft agency has slumped and died.

PUNCH Metro learnt on Monday from a video being circulated online that the officer who was not in uniform slumped and died in an undisclosed part of Lagos State on Sunday.

The video shows the lifeless body of the officer being surrounded by sympathisers including some police officers who coordinated a search on the deceased officer’s bag.

Following the search, it was discovered through his identity card that the man was an officer of the EFCC. 

 

A voice in the video said, “He works with EFCC. His ID card is with him.”

 

Confirming the death to our correspondent in a telephone conversation on Monday, the spokesperson for the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, disclosed that the officer’s death was under investigation.

“Yes, the man is our officer. His death is being investigated. The incident happened on Sunday,” Oyewale said.

 

PUNCH Metro reported on January 15 that a suspected Yahoo boy, Joshua Ikechukwu, shot an Assistant Superintendent of the EFCC, Aminu Salisu, during a raid in the Onitsha area of Anambra State.

The operatives, who had travelled from the EFCC’s zonal headquarters in Enugu, were said to be on a mission to apprehend a group of suspected cyber criminals when they were ambushed.

Oyewale, who condemned negative narratives about the officer’s killing, stressed that the commission would ensure justice is served.

The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and socio-political organisation, Afenifere and ex-Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, on Monday, commended legal luminary, Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), for agreeing to withdraw the defamation cases instituted against human rights activist and lawyer, Dele Farotimi.

Afenifere and Obi gave the commendation in separate interviews with The PUNCH on Monday.

Babalola and Farotimi had been locked in a legal battle since last year, following Babalola’s complaint that Farotimi defamed him in a book titled ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System’.

Following Babalola’s petition, the police had arrested Farotimi and arraigned him before two courts in Ekiti.

 
 

Consequently, Farotimi was charged with criminal defamation before the Ekiti State Magistrates’ Court in Ado Ekiti; and was also arraigned for alleged cyber-bullying before the Federal High Court in Ado Ekiti.

The activist was remanded for 20 days before perfecting his bail and regaining freedom on December 24, 2024.

However, Babalola, on Monday morning, announced that he would be withdrawing the court cases against Farotimi, following the intervention of Yoruba monarchs, led by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.

 

 “I will tell my lawyers to withdraw the case,” Babalola said after a midnight meeting with the traditional rulers at ABUAD.

Reacting to the development in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, Afenifere, who had earlier called for Farotimi’s release, commended Babalola for his peace move.

Afenifere said that by heeding the calls of the traditional rulers “Aare Afe Babalola has demonstrated, as a true Yoruba son, certain core ethos of being an Omoluabi.

“He  came to defend his reputation and when he was appealed to by our foremost traditional institutions, he dropped the gauntlet. This is highly commendable.

“We also applaud Ooni and other monarchs ‘for the  bold step they took’. They acted as true elders in line with the saying ‘Agba kii wa loja, ki ori omo titun wo’ – Elders would not sit-by in a marketplace to watch the dangling head of a child!’

“This act has further demonstrated the valuable roles that our Obas – who are the custodians of our culture and tradition  – can play in the society, if given the chance.”

In a similar vein, Obi, Obi, who had also last year visited Babalola over the matter, described Monday’s outcome as positive.

 

Speaking through his media aide, Ibrahim Umar, the former Anambra governor said, “We are pleased that this matter has been resolved amicably, and we believe that this outcome is a testament to the power of dialogue, and constructive engagement. Let me set the record straight: Obi’s visit to Afe Babalola was not about begging for pardon for Dele Farotimi, but rather a genuine effort at intervention and conflict resolution.

“As a leader, Obi recognises the importance of peaceful resolution of disputes, and his actions were guided by this principle. Now, with the news that Afe Babalola has agreed to withdraw the suit against Dele Farotimi, we welcome this development as a positive outcome of Obi’s intervention.

“This decision demonstrates that Chief Babalola is also committed to finding peaceful solutions to conflicts, and we commend him for this gesture. It’s worth noting that Mr. Obi’s actions were driven by his desire to facilitate a peaceful resolution that would allow all parties to move forward positively and constructively.”

At the reconciliatory meeting led by the Ooni were the Chairman, Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers and the Olojudo of Ido Ekiti, Oba Ayorinde Ilori-Faboro; the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe; the Ajero of Ijero Ekiti, Oba Joseph Adewole: the Ogoga of Ikere Ekiti, Oba Adejimi Adu; the Oloye of Oye Ekiti, Oba Michael Ademolaju; and the Alaaye of Efon Ekiti, Oba Emmanuel Aladejare.

Babalola, who restated the importance of the Yoruba traditional institution and the influence it wielded, said, “The monarchs are here, they have appealed to me over a criminal charge involving somebody who said I was corrupt.”

The Senior Advocate of  Nigeria said he felt so bad that Farotimi accused him of winning all his cases through corruption; hence, he rejected all earlier appeals to him to take the cases out of court.

He also listed those who earlier appealed to him to take the matter out of court, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo; the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Mathew Kukah; and the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adejugbe.

 

He said, “If you go through the pamphlet (Farotimi’s book), you will find that he attacked many judges by names, he attacked Supreme Court judges, and none is bothered, but I am bothered. I am bothered because of where and how I started life, from the farm to where I am.

“There is nothing I am going to gain from his imprisonment, there is nothing I am going to gain from so-called damages. I am not on the quest for more wealth, but rather, how to spend what I have for the benefit of others. The only time I am happy is when I give.

“The request is simple, take away this criminal case in court. When Obasanjo wrote, he came here, I said no. When Kukah phoned and came, I said no, but on this occasion, I say yes. Thank you, Kabiyesis. I will speak to my lawyers to withdraw it.”

The Ooni, Oba Ogunwusi, who spoke on behalf of Yoruba monarchs, had requested Babalola to withdraw the case in court, assuring him that “Nobody can tarnish your name. Your name is more than silver and gold and you have stood for your name with the message that nobody can joke with your name.”

Oba Ogunwusi, who acknowledged Babalola’s contributions to the development of Yoruba, Nigeria and the world, said, “We (monarchs) came here to discuss the matter with him and he gave full respect to the obas and agreed.

“We, the obas, can attest to the hard work of Aare Afe Babalola and how he has invested so hard to build his name. The name cannot be tarnished or rubbished by anyone. Aare Afe Babalola has proven to the world that he cherishes his name and the world has heard him clearly.

“Baba, we want to appeal and also use our race to instruct you. Dele Farotimi is your son, you may not know him, we give birth to different children in this world, some are tough, some are soft, some are hard. Why we are here is our ethos as a race.

 

“We are using our race because some of our elders in Yorubaland and even beyond Yorubaland have spoken, but combining forces with the traditional institution, we have heard you, enough, enough and enough. Your name is intact. We have resolved the matter in our own way, we have done the needful,” the Ooni said.

The Ooni of Ife, Arole Oduduwa Olofin Adimula, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi,CFR, Ojaja II in company of about prominent Yoruba traditional Rulers in Ekiti state was at the Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD) last night to appeal to the founder of the university Aare Afe Babalola to forgive the human rights lawyer and activist Dele Farotimi and withdraw the ongoing criminal case instituted against him.

Ooni Ogunwusi arrived Ado Ekiti at about 10:08pm last night into the waiting hands of Aare Afe Babalola himself accompanied by the Vice Chancellor Professor Elisabeta Smaranda Olarinde

Bursar Pastor Joseph Modupe Babalola,

The school PRO, Deans of various faculties at the university and the legal team of Afe Babalola handling Farotimi's criminal case.

The Vice chancellor in her welcome speech at the meeting acknowledged Ooni's love for the school's founder and the school itself which she described as one of the leading universities in Africa.

The Ooni briefed the journalists outcome of the meeting which was earlier held close door between Afe Babalola and the Ooni accompanied by Ewi of Ado, Oba Rufus Adejugbe Aladesanmi III, Ajero of Ijero, Oba Adewole Joseph Adebayo, the Ogoga of Ikere, Oba Samuel Adejinmi Adu, Alaaye of Efon Alaaye, Oba Dr. Emmanuel Aladejare Agunsoye II and the Olojudo of Ido Ekiti who doubles as Chairman, Ekiti Council Of Traditional Rulers, Oba Ilori Faboro that having watched the scenarios surrounding the criminal case instituted against Dele Farotimi with rapt attention, it has become very imperative to apply Alternative Dispute Resolution method which Yoruba race was known for in the past because it's a case between father and son.

"We have come today to appeal to Aare Babalola to forgive his son; Dele Farotimi and what we want from him is to withdraw the criminal charges against Farotimi today. 

"Aare Afe Babalola, you are an elderstateman, you have seen it all, you are one of the iconic voices in this country, a great man per excellence, you are a rare breed who has excelled in everything you have touched in this life, a very God fearing elderstateman, above all, you are one of the proponents of the Yoruba ethos of Omoluwabi which has been your strongest value that you hold in our country. This what we are using to bring down the tempo in what has happened between you and your son Dele Farotimi. We have been very proud of you as a great Yoruba elderstateman. You have done great things for this race and Nigeria such that your name can never be forgotten."

"We've all come together as traditional Rulers to discuss with you on this issue and this gentleman Dele Farotimi is your son and you must forgive him and withdraw the criminal charges against him. As a father, you have soft sons and you have tough sons, Dele Farotimi is a tough son of yours. You have indeed made a point that your name can not be be messed with".

"I hereby withdraw the criminal charges against Farotimi" - Afe Babalola.

When given the microphone to respond to the request made by the Ooni and the traditional Rulers, Aare Afe Babalola did not hesitate to accept the request saying he grew up as a child to understand such interventions by the traditional rulers. He declared he had not only forgiven Dele Farotimi but also will instruct his lawyers to withdraw the criminal charges against him with immediate effect, because of the honour for the Ooni and the other Obas. 

"Today is a very important day for me, I'm a Yoruba man and I'm very proud to be one. Ewi of Ado has come here to meet me on this matter, former president Obasanjo has intervened, same with Bishop Matthew Kukah and a host of other prominent Nigerians to ask for the exact thing you have come to ask for this evening., my answer to them has been "NO" but today my answer is "YES"

Your coming is unquantifiable in terms of money, who Am I? When the colonialists came here in 17th century or thereabouts, they found as a fact that Yoruba land was a highly organised society with an advanced systems of government with each town headed by an Oba who was regarded as a replica of God on earth. His words were commands."

In the middle ages, the Greeks had a saying"the meadow that grow on the bank of a river which obeys the direction of the flood remains strong forever but the meadow that grow that disobey the direction of the flood were broken asunder".

Aare Babalola concluded his response with a an Adage in Yoruba saying " Eni ti o ba nI nkan lati se, kii wo elegan rara" meaning "those who change the world for the better do not wait to respond to criticism"

He said he had listened to the Ooni's advice and he certainly didn't want to be a meadow by the riverside which disobeys the flood.

I was a lawyer who defended the EFCC law, yes I'm corrupt, I was given an oil block, when I looked at the money and saw that it was too much , I rejected it, yes I'm corrupt, I was offered ministerial appointments twice, I rejected it, yes I'm corrupt because whatever I am, I don't want anybody to say I made it through corruption. Look at my books, I'm Chairman, Transparency International based in Germany, I have given lectures against corruption with my papers in many universities globally. For someone to allege me that I have won my cases through corruption, it's an attempt to defame me, that was why I rejected all appeals earlier made to me. But when I heard that Ooni was coming, I knew I'm in a fix today. "Nkan de o". There is nothing I'm going to gain from his(Dele) imprisonment and there's nothing I want from the so called damages. I am not in quest of more wealth, I'm rather concerned on managing the one I have already. Dele Farotimi is hereby forgiven. On this occasion, I say "YES".

Ooni departed venue of the meeting at about half past midnight for his Ojaja Park in Akure from where he is expected to make his departure to Abuja on Monday.

 

Signed:

Otunba Moses Olafare,

Director, Media & Public Affairs,

Ooni's Palace

A Nigerian-American woman, Victoria Ogunremi, returned the cash sum of $5,700, which she had found in the toilet at her workplace in New Jersey, United States.

Most Nigerians living abroad have described the gesture as one of the remarkable acts of honesty and kindness.

Ogunremi told the News Agency of Nigeria in a telephone interview on Monday that the gesture had earned widespread praise from her employer, colleagues and the person who lost the money.

According to her, the decision to return the money was made with concern for the person who had lost the money.

 

Ogunremi said, “The thought of the pain or trauma it could cause inspired me.

“I did not hesitate to return it because of my Christian faith and beliefs. Honesty brings peace of mind, and it is the key virtue I cherish.”

She said that she had found the owner of the money before informing her employer’s organisation management.

 

Ogunremi said that her co-workers also admired her gesture, and many were not surprised by her act of kindness.

 

“The management was very pleased and proud of me. The owner was incredibly grateful and showered me with praise.

“They told me that it could only have been an act of kindness by a woman with the fear of God to do something like this,” she recounted.

The Nigerian-American attributed her kind nature to her late father’s teachings on moral upbringing, adding “he taught us never to take what does not belong to us.

“Such principles have guided me throughout my life, knowing that honesty is a principle I hope to instill in my children and grandchildren.

“Whether someone is watching or not, doing the right thing matters. A good name is priceless, and peace of mind is golden.

“No matter how tough your situation is, always return what does not belong to you. Doing the right thing brings rewards far greater than anything material.”

 

NAN reports that Ogunremi’s gesture is a shining example of integrity and compassion, of doing what is right even when it is not the easiest path.

NAN

The administration of President Bola Tinubu has announced the commencement of the process for recruitment of Nigerians into the Federal Civil Service.

This was made known in a statement on Monday by the Head, Press and Public Relations of the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), Taiwo Hassan.

 

The vacancy announcement was published on the Commission’s website and also announced in several national dailies.

 

Applicants who are physically challenged should state the nature of their disability.

Applicants are to upload the following documents as applicable:
i. Curriculum Vitae
ii. Ph.D/Master’s Degree Certificate
iii. Degree/HND/NCE Certificate
iv. WAEC/NECO/NABTEB Certificate
v. Primary School Certificate
vi. NYSC discharge/exemption/exclusion certificate
vii. Birth Certificate/Declaration of Age
viii. Local Government Identification
ix. Recent Passport photograph

Naija News reports the deadline for the submission of applications is Monday, 10th March, 2025.

Eligible applicants are to apply for only one position via the application link: https://recruitment.fedcivilservice.gov.ng.

Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has assured Nigerian universities that his administration was committed to addressing challenges confronting the university system.

 

Naija News reports the Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Said Ahmad, stated this as she represented the President at the 44th Convocation Ceremony of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, on Saturday.

Tinubu challenged universities to intensify research efforts and bring out practical solutions to challenges affecting the economy.