A Special Court Martial set up by the Nigerian Army, which found the former Group Managing Director and Executive Vice Chairman of Nigerian Army Properties Limited (NAPL), Major General Umar Mohammed, guilty will deliver judgment on Tuesday, THISDAY has learnt.
The Special Court Martial sitting in Abuja had found Major General Mohammed guilty of 14 out of 18 counts of charges, including stealing and other sundry offences, which are all contrary to service laws.

The charges brought against the general border on stealing, forgery, conspiracy, theft, unauthorised diversion of Army property, among others.
In one of the charges on which he was found guilty, General Mohammed was alleged to have collected the sum of $1.045,400 paid by shipping companies for the use of Nigerian Army Jetty located at no 6 Marina, Victoria Island, Lagos

He was also found guilty of a theft of $430,800 monies paid into the Nigerian Army Domiciliary account at Unity Bank, Abuja for the use of Nigerian Army Jetty, Marina, Lagos.
The court martial also found him guilty of withdrawing and confiscating the sum of N74 million out of N75 million paid for a property belonging to the Nigerian Army at Ikoyi, Lagos.

The general was however found not guilty on allegations that he sold Army property worth N200 million in Lagos as well as stole the sum of another N750 million out of the sum of N2.5 billion secured from banks as well as contributions from subscribers for Army housing estate in Asokoro, Abuja.
He was also not found guilty of charges of forging a Deed of Agreement document pursuant to confiscating another Army property in Lagos.
The Special Court Martial with Major General Kames Myam as President, has seven other Major Generals as members and a Brigadier General as Judge Advocate and it is expected to read out its sentences for the accused on Tuesday.

General Mohammed had claimed that the houses and monies accused of selling and misappropriating were released on the directive and instruction of his boss.
During the court-martial, Major General Mohammed was brought into the court in a wheelchair but the President of the court, Maj-Gen Myan said all necessary medical checks were carried out on the accused and all proved that he was fit to stand trial.
The lead counsel for the prosecution was Col. BA Oguntayo (rtd), while the lead counsel for the defence was Olalekan Ojo (SAN).

[ThisDay]

The Lagos State government has announced the sealing of a popular nightclub in the state over noise pollution.

In a terse statement on Saturday night, the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, identified the sealed nightclub as Silk Club.

Located at 190, Awolowo Road in Ikoyi, the commissioner said the nightclub was sealed by the officials of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), who on his orders, conducted a nighttime enforcement operation in the area.

“As I directed, the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency @LasepaOfficial conducted a nighttime enforcement operation, leading to the closure and sealing of Silk Club at 190, Awolowo Road, Ikoyi due to noise pollution,” he disclosed this on X (formerly Twitter).

See photos below:

 

[Channels TV]

Rooney made the announcement after DC United were beaten by New York City FC. The Athletic says he doesn’t a new job lined up.

“It’s the right time [to leave D.C. United],” Rooney said. “I’ve done everything I can to get this club into the playoffs. It’s not a single thing that’s happened. It’s about timing.

“What lies ahead, I don’t know. I’ve seen a lot of reports in the media. I’m going back with nothing lined up.

“I want to say on record to everyone involved in the club. Staff, players: I’m grateful.”

[NewsGuru]

Former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Peterside Idah has disclosed that it would take Nigeria more than 40 years to host the FIFA World Cup.

Idah cited the country’s poor maintenance culture of its sports facilities, which he said has affected some of the quality stadiums in the country.

The 49-year-old in an interview on Channels TV’s Sunrise Daily, noted that the only available stadium, where good football can be played at the moment, remains the Godswill Akpabio International stadium in Uyo.

He emphasized that neglecting these facilities could limit Nigeria’s ability to compete on the global stage, not only as a future World Cup host but also as a genuine challenger in a variety of sporting disciplines.

“On record presently, the only playing field which we have is a grass stadium and it is the Uyo stadium, but 20 anything(years) is still very long maybe in the next 40 years, we would have had some kind of stability,” he said.

“We have facilities everywhere like in Port Harcourt where I live in Port Harcourt now, we have three stadiums in Port Harcourt, and we play well. This stadium must be working. We have the civic centre that had everything such as the swimming pool but these facilities are not being maintained. And once these facilities are not maintained how do you expect us to firstly chunk out athletes and be able to contest or contain the world. We have to go back to basics.”

Nigeria last hosted a global football tournament back in 2009, which was the U-17 FIFA World Cup with Switzerland emerging as champions and Golden Eaglets taking the runner-up spot.

[Leadership]

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has instituted a Scholarship Award scheme for 550 indigent students in the Remo Federal Constituency of the state in honour of his late son, Gbemiga Abiodun, who died six years ago.

The scholarships cover pupils in primary and secondary schools as well as those in vocational and tertiary institutions.

The scholarship was spread across all schools in its coverage area.

Speaking at the launch of the Gbemiga Abiodun Education Scholarship Award held at Iperu, Ikenne Local Government Area, Prince Abiodun said the scheme would ensure that brilliant students and those whose parents could not afford to educate them, have access to quality education.

According to him, the number of beneficiaries will increase to 1000 in the next 12 months, which will be the minimum at any given time.

He also promised that the scholarship would be extended to the other federal constituencies in the state for maximum spread. He said: “It is against this backdrop that my family came up with a scholarship scheme called GBEMIGA ABIODUN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP AWARD, in memory of our son, Gbemiga Abiodun, which is strictly for indigent learners of Public Primary, Secondary Schools, Technical College, and Tertiary Institutions, as well as Special Needs Learners within Ikenne, Remo North, and Sagamu Local Government Areas, to provide support to selected learners who are from the aforementioned local government areas of Ogun State.

“The Award is in two phases. The first phase is to be a Scholarship Award, designed for indigent and brilliant students while its alternative form; the second phase will be a Bursary Award for in-need but not necessarily brilliant indigent students whose chances of upward socio-economic mobility are probable with bursary support.

“This Scholarship award is designed for a period of three (3) years and within the age bracket of 6-25, and selection will be determined by the State Ministry of Education Science and Technology, using the Cumulative Promotion Examination Result obtainable from the OGSERA platform while the beneficiaries for tertiary institutions were recommended by their respective institutions.”

[Nation]

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has said that the history of the ancient city of Ile-Ife is deeper than what is available in academic institutions.

Ooni disclosed this on Saturday during a press conference on the theme, “International Conference on Ile-Ife and Yoruba Civilisation: The Nexus between Tradition and Modernity,” held at his palace in Ile-Ife, Osun State.

He lauded the organisers of the event saying that it would pave the way for proper documentation of Ile-Ife history.

“As the 51st Ooni of Ife, in the third dynasty of Ife, I noted that there are so many facts that were not written down about the nexus of tradition and modality.

“Our oral tradition has not been adequately written down, so many facts and figures were distorted from the original history of Kaaro-o-o-jiire.

“For me to build the legacy for the entire Kaaro-o-o-jiire race, that is known as Yoruba people, we are discovering every day that our history is deeper than what we have in various academic institutions,” Ooni said.

He commended the team led by a Lecturer at the Department of History, International Studies, Osun State University, Prof. Siyan Oyefeso, as very passionate and fantastic people working together to put history in the right perspective.

The royal father revealed that Ghanians had traced their lineage to Aga-Ako in Ile-Ife and that Ethiopians are sons and daughters of Oranmiyan in Okerewe, Eredumi ruling house in Ife to date.

“Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania categorically told me when I traveled to their countries that they migrated from Ile-Ife and they are sons and daughters of the source, while all these cannot be found in any archive.

“We are leading the team globally, nobody has documented the three dynasties, only the last dynasty, Ife Akanlubebe, which I’m the 51st Ooni, was documented to a large extent.

“But the two,  Ife Oodaye and Ife Ooyelagbo, some professors talked briefly on them, but during this international conference, the duo will be deeply rooted.

“Their rulers, supernatural beings that form these dynasties like the Luwos, the Agbaakos., the Oromos, Oranmiyans, all over the continents of Africans, the Bantoos, the Baribas will be dealt with,” Ooni added.

Oba Ogunwusi tasked the indigenes to support the conveners of the conference in order to properly document the history of their race.

“If we fail to do it this time around, nobody will do it for us. We cannot be waiting for any Western country to continue with wrong documentation,” he said.

Earlier, Oyefeso had said the conference is an international academic gathering that needs the royal blessing of Ooni.

Oyefeso said that apart from the royal blessing, the conference would deepen the body of literature on Ile-Ife and Yoruba civilisation.

He stated that facts would be established that Ile-Ife is not just the cradle of the Yoruba race, but a place where Yoruba identity was formed.

“Right from the Oduduwa revolution to the three phases of Ile-Ife history, Ife Oodaye, Ife Oyelagbo and Ife Akanlubebe, have not been put in the right perspective.

“We want to ensure that Nigerians are aware that before the  51st dynasty, there had been three phases and it’s the third phase that his royal majesty is now the 51st Ooni of Ife.

“So when people talk about the history of Ile-Ife, they talk about it in generic terms, we want to draw that distinction,” the convener said.

“The main purpose of the conference is to invite a body of scholars at the international, national, state and local levels to reexamine the existing literature.

“And to come out with a new original and unsearched evidence which might have been unresearched. A number of experts in Yoruba history, and archeology would be part of the conference.

“Eminent scholars overseas and in Nigeria that would partake in the conference are Prof. Cordelia Osasona, Professor of Architecture, OAU; Prof. Oyeronke Olademo, Professor of Comparative Religious Studies of the Unilorin.

“Others include Prof. Akin Ogundiran, Professor of Africana Studies, Anthropology & History of Northwestern University, United States of America and the 18th President of the Society of Africanist Archaeologists among others.

“In less than eight years of Oba Ogunwusi on the throne, there are a lot of changes in the architectural and infrastructural landscape in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife within the 60 years of establishment.

“Ile-Ife is now the home of tourism and hospitality, it is a great destination of today, Ooni is a proprietor of Ojaja University, Eyenkorin, Ilorin, Kwara.

“He established the hospitality industry in the leading city of Nigeria today like Ife Grand Resort, Ojaja Arena, Ojaja Cinema, Adire Odua hub, Ojaja More in Ife, Ede, Ibadan, Akure, Lagos among other cities,”  Oyefeso expressed.

The historian said that Oba Ogunwusi had impacted greatly on Yoruba history and culture, encouraging archeologists and historians to partner by coming together to deepen their understanding, not just of the history of Ile-Ife but of the entire Yoruba race.

He said that the academic conference would be held between Oct. 10 and Oct. 12 at Ojaja Arena, Ife Grand Resort, Km 4, Ife-Ibadan Expressway, Ile-Ife.

“The Ooni has positioned Ile-Ife as a leading light in the making of modern Nigeria, embarked on several local and foreign trips to tie the loose ends and reestablish the cultural significance of the Yoruba race.

“Ooni is passionate about the preservation and restoration of the ancient city of Ile-Ife, since ascension to the throne,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria {NAN} reports that the conference would basically be on documenting the history of Ile-Ife in terms of culture, archeology, history, tourism, hospitality and international networking.

NAN

Despite her 16-match winning streak coming to a close in a semi-final showdown against second-ranked Polish tennis star Iga Swiatek, 19-year-old U.S. tennis star Coco Gauff has pocketed another substantial sum at the 2023 China Open, cementing her status as one of the top earners in women’s tennis.

Gauff, who had been on an unprecedented winning spree since her title victory in Cincinnati last August, faced a formidable challenge in the semi-final on Sat., Oct. 7, at the Diamond Court. The match ended with Swiatek emerging victorious, but Gauff’s remarkable performance throughout the tournament did not go unrewarded. She earned $781,100 from her efforts at the China Open.

This substantial income from the China Open adds to the $5.017 million that Gauff secured at the 2023 U.S. Open, where she made history by winning her first-ever Grand Slam title. Her victory at the U.S. Open earned her a grand prize of $3 million, making her the youngest woman to clinch a Grand Slam title since Serena Williams accomplished the feat in 1999.

Recent financial analysis by Billionaires.Africa, based on official figures from the China Open authorities, reveals that Gauff earned an additional $108,400 from a doubles match earlier in the tournament. Her five singles matches, including the semi-final defeat to Swiatek, contributed $763,843 to her overall earnings from the competition.

While her total earnings of $781,100 from the 2023 China Open may be comparatively lower than the windfall at the U.S. Open, this figure significantly boosts her earnings this year. As of Sept. 15, Gauff, presently ranked as the world’s number three female tennis player, trailing behind 22-year-old Iga Swiatek and 25-year-old Belarusian pro Aryna Sabalenka, has amassed a staggering career earnings total of $11,107,463.

This remarkable milestone comes nearly five years after her professional debut in 2018. The year 2023 has proven to be a watershed moment for Gauff’s financial success. In this year alone, she has amassed $5,557,372 from all competitions as of Sept. 15, firmly establishing herself as one of the top earners among active female tennis players.

[billionaires.africa]

Billionaires around the world are recognized not only by the extent of their wealth but also by the impact of their philanthropy. In this regard, Nigerian business tycoon Femi Otedola has consistently stamped his mark as one of Africa’s foremost philanthropists.

Over a span of two and a half decades, Otedola, who made his fortune in gas stations, shipping, and electricity generation, has given away tens of millions of dollars to various initiatives – from funding the construction of educational and religious institutions across the country to financing public healthcare initiatives and footing the medical expenses of national heroes down on their luck. His donations have touched nearly every facet of Nigerian life, from health to education to religion to historic preservation. His actions serve as a reminder that wealth isn’t just about personal accumulation but about the impact one can make in the world.

Billionaires.Africa gives a snapshot of the seven most significant donations from Otedola that have made waves in the media:

1. $14-million donation to Save the Children UK (2019) – In what stands as Nigeria’s largest individual charity donation, in November 2019, Otedola donated NGN 5 billion (about $14 million at the time) to Save the Children U.K through his daughter, DJ Cuppy’s Foundation, to support various intervention programs for needy children in Nigeria’s north-east region. It was the single largest individual donation to charity in Nigeria’s history. The charity works to improve the welfare of Nigeria’s vulnerable and marginalized children, focusing on early childhood education and healthcare, among numerous other programs.

2. Donation of a $6-million building to Augustine University (2021) – In a tribute to his mother, Lady Doja Otedola, Otedola funded the construction of a $6-million multistory building at Augustine University in Epe, Lagos. The facility was subsequently christened, The Lady Doja Otedola Faculty of Engineering building, one of the best-equipped engineering departments in any tertiary institution in Nigeria. Augustine University is a private Catholic-owned University located in Ilara, a town in the Epe local government of Lagos State, Southwestern Nigeria.

3. $3.2-million gift to Federal University, Otuoke (2011) ­– In 2011, Otedola donated N500 million (about $3.2 million at the time) to the construction of the Federal University, Otuoke. The hniversity is a federal government-owned university located in Otuoke, a town in Ogbia local government area of Bayelsa State, Southern Nigeria. It was one of the nine new Federal Universities established by the Federal Government of Nigeria in February 2011 under the leadership of former President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. 

4. $2.9-million donation to the National Ecumenical Center, Abuja (2005) – In 2005, Otedola donated N375 million ($2.9 million) to complete the National Ecumenical Centre in Abuja. The National Christian Center is a non-denominational Christian church building located in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria. The project was started around 1989, then lay dormant for several years until 2005, when Otedola and other wealthy, well-meaning Nigerians donated to ensure its speedy completion.

5. $2.7-million donation to combat Coronavirus (2020) – In March 2020, Otedola donated N1 billion (approximately $2 million at the time) towards eradicating COVID-19 across Nigeria at the height of the pandemic. He contributed to the Nigerian Private Sector Coalition Against COVID-19, an umbrella body under which industrialists and corporate organizations donated funds to support efforts in combating the contagious virus.

6. $1.5-million donation to Michael Otedola University Scholarship scheme (2005) – In 2005, Otedola donated N200 million ($1.5 million at the time) to the Michael Otedola University Scholarship scheme. The scheme granted bursaries of the equivalent of around $1,000 at the time to hundreds of indigenous students from Epe, Lagos, in Nigeria’s southwest region, where the billionaire hails from. 

7. $1.5-million gift to the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library – In 2005, recognizing the importance of maintaining national heritage, Otedola contributed N200 million ($1.5 million then) to the construction of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, a repository of pivotal documents from the tenure of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Even as those who flew thousands of kilometres across the Atlantic, drove several kilometres and walked a million steps in search of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s status at the Chicago State University are back – empty handed – and the chief mourners and their bitter sympathisers have refused to go home, it is fit and proper to intervene in what many discerning minds have described as our longest-running comedy. Yes.  

Around the blackmail has grown a huge industry of tricksters, pranksters, fraudsters, mobsters and marabouts. 

They are joined by all manner of charlatans masquerading as public affairs analysts, public commentators and public rights activists. 

Feeding the mill of deceit is the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 25 election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who has been huffing and puffing, threatening to bring down the roof on everyone. He has been inviting – inciting actually – his fellow politicians to join him on his vacuous voyage.

Is the President’s certificate fake? Can there be a fake without an original? Whoever claims to have seen a fake must know where the original is; not so? If Chicago State University is defending the certificate it issued one of its dearest former students, should anybody claim to know the paper more than the issuer?

Why the flood of tears? To arm-twist the Supreme Court? To keep the opposition and its supporters in high spirits? To bring the Judiciary into disrepute and cause anarchy? Unbridled emotionalism? I really don’t know. 

In search of the truth, I have consulted a renowned psychologist whose theory is even more befuddling than those that have been advanced for this strange behaviour. The Professor, who pleads not to be named for what he describes as security concerns, says: “It is deep desperation, fuelled by a strange animosity, extreme bitterness. Consider a man who yells at a Lagos bus stop, “help! help! help o! They have taken my manhood o! My manhood is missing o! There is nothing you tell such a man, he will keep yelling. Even when he touches the thing, he will not agree it is there. Right?”