Bolaji Idowu, the lead pastor of Harvesters International Christian Centre, says it is very “shameful” for a man to marry a woman for “financial reasons”.

In a recent sermon to his congregation, the cleric wondered why a “grown” man’s success strategy would be to tie the knot with a “lady from a rich family”.

He also described having such a thought process as a “consumer mentality”, adding that such men “lack critical wisdom”.

“One of the most shameful things I have seen is when men try to marry women for money. How can you be a grown man and your dream in life for success, your life strategy for success is that I will find a rich girl from a rich family and I will marry her,” he said.

“Is it because you believe there is nothing in you that can produce? That is consumer mentality. How do you want to do marriage and in planning for your marital finances, you plan that people will give you money to do your marriage? Does it not show that you lack critical wisdom?”.

Idowu founded Harvesters church on December 13, 2003.

He is well known for publicly speaking out on religious and political matters.

The Federal High Court in Lagos has further adjourned the case against celebrity socialite Pascal Okechukwu, popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest, for allegedly abusing the Naira. The new court date is set for June 25th.

Cubana Chief Priest was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on April 17th on three counts related to spraying and tampering with Naira notes at a social event held at the Eko Hotel in Lagos.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail for N10 million.

During the previous hearing on May 2nd, the defense counsel indicated that both parties were exploring the possibility of settling the case outside of court, following Section 14(2) of the EFCC Act. As a result, a preliminary objection filed by the defense was withdrawn.

The court then scheduled today, June 5th, for a progress report on the settlement discussions.

However, on Wednesday, it came to light that the defense had requested an adjournment. The court has now granted the request and rescheduled the case for June 25th.

The charges against Cubana Chief Priest allege that he tampered with N500 notes while dancing at the social event, which is a violation of Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act of 2007.

Popular blogger, Linda Ikeji, has explained why her son, Jayce, will continue to bear her surname instead of that of his father.

Ikeji said it has always remained so right from the birth of the now six-year-old boy, adding that he is free to change the surname when he comes of age.

The blogger made this known on her Instagram handle Tuesday while extolling her kid’s cousin named Ryan Kanu whom she described as “the best little human ever!”.

“Jayce Ikeji and Ryan Kanu take Disney/Marvel Paris. Cousins, best friends, and literally growing up together as brothers. Their love for each other is incredible, and when they can help it, are inseparable!

First Year Of President Bola Tinubu's Administration: Ministers Give Account0:00 / 0:00

“Ryan is literally the best little human ever! They’ve been on a few vacations together in the past, but this is the first one they will remember as they are nearly 6 and 7 now,” she wrote.

Meanwhile, some netizens have vented their anger against her decision to keep her surname for the boy, saying that it is not African culture.

A user who identified herself as Foluke676 on Instagram said, “Which one is Jahce Ikeji again,na your papa you born for ni, Linda? (sic).

Another user on Instagram who wrote with dr_alwaysrozy said, “Why would you give your son your own father’s name, biko?

“It’s okay to f00lish but coming online to let the world know about your descending behaviour it’s something you really need to check with yourself, Madam bet me this pikin go find him papa one day !! I’m glad we all live in internet age where finding information is at the tip of your finger,” one Tozz162 wrote.

Houseofeveryevery opined, “Kuku change Ryan to ikeji as well.”

Reacting, Ikeji said, “Just to be clear. I’ve NEVER ever had to change my son’s surname. He’s been an Ikeji right from when he was born! Where do I have the time or patience to be changing name? Changing Or keeping his surname (Ikeji) will be up to him when of age Food for my junior colleagues.”

Ikeji gave birth to Ryan in an Atlanta hospital in Georgia, United States, in 2018. Although there were reports that an oil magnate, Sholaye Jeremi is the father of her son.

The blogger had also confirmed that the relationship between her and the oil mogul was over.

The Kaduna State House of Assembly established an ad hoc committee to review all funds, loans, and contracts given under previous governor Nasir El-Rufai, and presented its findings to the House.

The chairman of the ad hoc committee, Henry Zacharia, presented a report during plenary on Wednesday. The report found that most loans obtained under El-Rufai’s administration were not used for their intended purpose, and that due process was not followed in some cases.

Receiving the report, Yusuf Liman, Speaker of the Kaduna House of Assembly, stated that the El-Rufai government took a total of N423 billion, leaving the state with massive obligations.

As a result, the committee recommended that El-Rufai and other indicted members of his cabinet be investigated and prosecuted by security and anti-corruption agencies for abuse of office through the award of contracts without due process, diversion of public funds, money laundering, and plunging Kaduna State into deep debt.

The committee recommended suspending Kaduna State Commissioner of Finance Shizer Badda, who also served under El-Rufai’s government, and the head of the state universal basic education board.

It also called for a comprehensive inquiry of several key appointments of the previous government by competent law enforcement and anti-corruption authorities.

The committee set up by the Kaduna State House of Assembly was tasked with the assignment of examining loans, grants and projects implementation from 2015 to 2023 during which El-Rufai served as governor of the state.

Former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Kingsley Moghalu has reacted to the recent revocation of the banking license of Heritage Bank by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Moghalu described the development as the chronicle of a death foretold, adding that the situation was not surprising.

Moghalu shared his thoughts via a post on his X handle on Wednesday.

He insisted that that the defunct bank should not worry anyone, adding that it doesn’t mean the financial system isn’t sound.

Moghalu said: “The revocation of the banking license of Heritage Bank by @cenbank is the chronicle of a death foretold. In other words, it’s not surprising.

“I don’t think it should worry anyone, nor does it mean the financial system isn’t sound. Banks are businesses, even if very special and thus heavily regulated ones. A bank that is badly run should not have a lifetime guarantee. The important thing is to protect depositors funds.

“What we did in 2010 when we created @AmconNg was to ensure SYSTEMIC financial stability. We made sure no bank failed then to ensure systemic stability because of the unique situation of the global financial crisis. But over the long term, I never subscribed to a view that no bank, no matter how badly run, should ever fail. That would be a wrong approach to financial regulation.”

The strike declared by organised labour has reversed some of the gains made in May by stock market investors as the Nigerian Exchange Ltd (NGX) All-Share -Index (ASI) fell by 0.18 per cent on the first market day of June.

ASI fell to 99118.86 points from the 99,300.38 which it was on the last market day of May 2024.

Market capitalization dropped by 0.18 per cent to close at N56.07tn as investor’s wealth declined by N102.55bn.

On Monday, the volume and value of shares traded decreased by 19.45 per cent and 38.92 per cent to 349.59 million units and N5.24bn respectively.

Top losers were E-Tranzact International Plc which saw shares price dropping by 9.82 per cent of its value, Unity Bank Plc with a decrease of 9.80 per cent, Jaiz Bank Plc losing 9.65 per cent of its shares and MCnichols Plc which lost 9.09 per cent of its share value.

Banking stocks went south as Access Corporation lost 0.05 per cent of share price, First Bank Holdings lost 1.1 per cent shares and Unity Bank Plc lost 0.15 per cent of share price.

The bearish performance came on the background of labour strikes in Nigeria which crippled economic activities across all sectors.

THE WHISTLER reported that banks, schools, hospitals, airports and government offices were shut on the orders of the Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress over a wage increase dispute with the Nigerian government.

Organised labour is demanding N494,000 minimum wage and embarked on an indefinite nationwide strike on June 3, 2024 but the federal government is offering a N60,000 wage.

But after deliberations on Monday night, June 3, 2024, the federal government has agreed to increase the N60,000. However, no amount was mentioned on the negotiation table between the government, private employers and organised labour.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), on Tuesday, announced that it would shutdown power supply for one hour at the international terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos.

The power maintenance shutdown is expected to occur between 1:30pm and 2:30pm on Wednesday.

FAAN said this is to verify the issues affecting the Bus Riser 11KVA high tension panel on the ground floor – North of the international terminal 2.

“The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) hereby notify all stakeholders and the public that a maintenance shutdown of power supply shall occur at the International Terminal 2(ITZ-2) between 13:30 and 14:30 hrs on Wednesday, June 05, 2024.

“This is as a result of the urgent need to verify the issues affecting the Bus Riser 11KVA high tension (HT) panel on the ground floor, North of the International Terminal 2 (ITZ-2) of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos,” a statement by FAAN’s Director, Public Affairs & Consumer Protection, Obiageli Orah, said.

The agency assured that it would ensure that the shutdown has very minimal disruption to flight operations and passenger facilitation.

FAAN informed that airlines that operate within the maintenance hour would be relocated for check-in and arrival formalities at the International terminal 1.

“FAAN would ensure that the shutdown of power supply is with very minimal disruption to flight operations and passenger facilitation.

“The identified airlines, namely Rwanda Air (WB), EgyptAir (MS) and Qatar Air (QR) that operate within the maintenance hour will be relocated for check-in and arrival (parking) formalities at the International terminal 1(ITZ-1). All intending passengers on these flights should please take note.

“The Authority regrets any inconveniences this might cause our stakeholders and the travelling public.

“We are committed to world-class safety standards and service to all airport users,” Orah added.

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday, further adjourned until June 25 for mention a case against celebrity bartender, Pascal Okechukwu (Cubana Chief Priest), for alleged abuse of the Naira.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), arraigned Okechukwu on April 17, on a three-count charge of allegedly spraying and tampering with the Naira notes during a social event at Eko hotel in Lagos.

He had pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail in the sum of N10 million. 

At the last adjourned date on May 2, the defence counsel, Mr Chikaosolu Ojukwu (SAN), had informed the court that parties were exploring settlement and had applied that the matter be settled pursuant to the provisions of Section 14(2) of the EFCC Act.

Following the position, defence counsel then applied for a withdrawal of the preliminary objection, and since there was no objection from the prosecution, the court granted same.

The court had consequently, adjourned the case until June 5 (today) for report of settlement.

However, on Wednesday, newsmen gathered that the defence had written a letter seeking an adjournment of the case.

The case has now been fixed for June 25 for mention.

In the charge, the defendant was said to have tampered with the funds in the denomination of N500, while dancing at the social event in Eko Hotel.

The offence contravenes the provisions of section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act of 2007

Officers of the Nigeria Police Force, Criminal Investigation Department, Alagbon, in the Ikoyi area of Lagos State, on Monday questioned Joseph Aloba, father of the late singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, also known as Mohbad, over a petition filed by Oba Saheed Elegushi.

The head of the Aloba legal team, Monisola Odumosu, in a statement on Tuesday, said the petition borders on cyberbullying, cyberstalking, and criminal defamation.

According to Odumosu, the allegation came on the heels of an interview granted by Aloba recently.

The statement read in part, “Mr Aloba was invited by the police and led to the police station by the representatives of his legal team, Teri Wellington and Monisola Odumosu. The petition was written by Oba Saheed Elegushi who alleged that during one of Mr. Aloba’s interviews with a London-based blogger, he was criminally defamed.

“During the interview, Mr. Aloba granted the London-based blogger, it was alleged that he said, ‘… his son was bullied and killed on the instruction of Oba Elegushi and that it was one Sam Larry that was sent to do the job…”

According to the statement, Aloba reiterated that defaming or performing any act that constituted or could lead to cyberbullying and cyberstalking Oba Elegushi wasn’t his intention, as he was trying to seek justice for his late son.

Odumosu added that the late singer’s father further clarified that he did not have any proof to support the allegation against the monarch except the petition written by his late son and other phone conversations he had with him.

While noting that the monarch, who was present at the meeting, demanded a retraction, Odumosu clarified that Aloba was never arrested or detained.

“In fairness to Oba Elegushi, he only demanded the retraction of the defaming statements made by Mr Aloba on social media.

“Mr. Aloba was never arrested or detained. He was granted bail without stress. It is important to note that Mr. Aloba is still grieving the death of his son. He just lost a single star in the family firmament.

“Any grieving parent may on the spur of the moment make statements that may tend to be unreasonable. We only need to understand the geographical circumstances giving rise to his utterances.”

Mohbad died at the age of 27, on September 12, 2023, with circumstances surrounding his death sparking controversies on social media.