The family of the late Nigerian gospel singer, Aduke Ajayi, popularly known as Aduke Gold, has broken silence on the cause of death.

Naija News reports that this comes after a viral video of Aduke Gold made rounds online, with many people speculating that she had undergone fibroid surgery, which resulted in her death.

Recall that the singer’s unexpected death triggered diverse responses on social media as fans and her colleagues in the industry continue to grieve.

However, reacting to the controversies generated by the singer’s shocking death, her brother, pastor Ajayi Aderogbo, in a video making rounds on social media, said Aduke Gold died at the University College Hospital, UCH, Ibadan, on Monday, August 12, 2024.

He confirmed that the music star died of cervical cancer and warned those spreading unverified information to stop.

He said, “Whoever is saying what is not should stop it, our daughter was ill, she had cervical cancer, she was taken to UCH in Ibadan and unfortunately, she died. The information spreading around is false.

“Whoever is saying she died of fibroid surgery should stop it. Our daughter was ill, to the glory of God, she rested on Monday, 12th of August. It is always ideal that you get information from the right source.”

Four individuals suspected to be kidnappers have been arrested by police operatives in Yobe State.

Naija News learnt that the sum of ₦8 million, which allegedly constitutes a portion of the ransom obtained from the families of their victims, was recovered by the operatives of the Fika Division of the Yobe State Police Command.

Leadership quoted a source within the Command to have verified the arrests.

The source indicated that the suspects were detained following the receipt of a partial payment of the ransom from the relatives of their victims.

“We received intelligence from a local government chairman and concerned citizens regarding a group of kidnappers planning to collect ₦15 million from the relatives of their victims.

“We mobilised our patrol team and some members of the local vigilante group to the location, and the operation resulted in the successful arrest of the suspects,” the source, who was not authorised to speak to the press, told newsmen on Thursday.

In recounting the events, the chairman of the Fika local government area, Hon Abdul Gadaka, stated that the incident, which took place in Gubana, Dalla-Balli Village, was brought to his attention by the victims’ family after the suspects demanded a ransom of ₦15 million following the initial collection of ₦8 million.

He reported that four of the six suspects, identified as Manu Alhaji Bura, Musa, Juli Gogo, and Alhaji Bura, have been apprehended and are currently in police custody for further investigation.

Gadaka noted that the two remaining suspects, known as Mai Ruwa and Mai Kudi, managed to evade capture with the ₦8 million ransom previously taken from the victims’ families, as revealed by the apprehended suspects during their interrogation by law enforcement officials.

He emphasized that this incident will prompt the community to take proactive measures to address similar occurrences in the future, thereby enhancing the safety and security of the area.

The Presidency has stated that it is aware of the various failed attempts by a Chinese company, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited, to take over offshore assets of the Federal Government of Nigeria through subterfuge.

Naija News reported earlier that a French court had authorized the seizure of three presidential jets linked to the Federal Government of Nigeria as part of a legal battle involving Zhongshan, a Chinese company.

The company had a business dispute with the Ogun State government, which led to this significant legal action. 

But in a statement on Thursday, Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, stated that the Federal Government is not under any contractual obligation with the company.

He said the case in which Zhongshan is trying to use every unorthodox means to strip our offshore assets is between the company and the Ogun State Government.

According to him, the Federal Government is fully aware of efforts being made by the Ogun State Government to reach an amicable resolution on the matter.

The statement continues: “It must be said without any equivocation that Zhongshan has no solid ground to demand restitution from the Ogun State Government based on the facts regarding the 2007 contract between the company and the State Government to manage a free-trade zone.

“When the contract with Ogun State was revoked in 2015, the company had only erected a perimeter fence on the land earmarked for a free trade zone.

“While the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice is working with the Ogun State Government on an amicable resolution, Zhongshan obtained two orders from the Judicial Court of Paris dated March 7, 2024, and August 12, 2024, without any notice being duly served on the Federal Government of Nigeria and Ogun State Government.

“This arm-twisting tactic by the Chinese company is the latest in a long list of failed moves to attach Nigerian government-owned assets in foreign jurisdictions.

“The material facts in the transaction between the Ogun State Government and Zhongshan point to another P&ID case in which unscrupulous and questionable individuals falsely present themselves as investors with the sole objective of undercutting and scamming Governments in Africa.

“Undoubtedly, Zhongshan withheld vital information and misled the Judicial Court in Paris into attaching the Nigerian government’s presidential jets, which are on routine maintenance in France. The use and nature of the Presidential jets as assets of a Sovereign entity whose assets are protected by diplomatic immunity forbid any foreign Court from issuing an order against them.

“We are convinced the Chinese company misled the Judicial Court of Paris regarding the use and nature of the assets it seeks to attach and did not fully disclose to the court as required by law.

“This same Chinese company had tried to enforce its questionable judgment in the UK and USA but failed. 

“Like the P&ID case, foreign companies are trying to defraud Nigeria with the collaboration of some bureaucrats. Zhongshan appeared to have sold the judgment they got to a venture capitalist seeking to make money by embarrassing the Federal Government and President Bola Tinubu.

“We want to assure Nigerians that the Federal Government is working with the Ogun State Government to discharge this frivolous order in Paris immediately.

“Nigerian Government will always work to protect our national assets from predators and shylocks who masquerade as investors.

“Background to the Zhongshan Fucheng Case:

“A contract between Ogun State and Zhongshan to manage a free-trade zone was executed in 2007. The parties entered into a dispute in 2015, and arbitration began in 2016.

“By 2019, the arbitration hearing had been concluded. The Arbitral Panel awarded over 60 million USD against the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN), a co-defendant, when all Zhongshan had done was build a perimeter fence around the free-trade zone.

“Based on legal advice, the Ogun State Government resolved to resist the enforcement of the award. The resistance was successful in 8 different jurisdictions. There are pending appeals against recognition orders issued in both the US and UK.

“Ogun State also engaged Zhongshan in settlement discussions on reasonable terms. The last meeting, held in September 2023 in London, lasted for three days and was attended by several officials of Ogun State, including Governor Dapo Abiodun and the Attorney General/Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi.

“Zhongshan’s initial reasonable readiness to consider Ogun State’s offer was surprisingly reversed by the second day when it insisted on the government paying the full arbitration debt. This led to a breakdown of the mediation, with parties agreeing to meet again in the first quarter of this year.

“Since then, Zhongshan has been evasive. Instead, it embarked on a series of enforcement proceedings, which the legal team appointed by the FGN and Ogun State successfully opposed. In cases similar to the present one, where Zhongshan obtained an ex-parte order, Ogun State successfully set aside the orders.

“Ogun State has not given up on a reasonable settlement option, with the most recent letter sent to Zhongshan last week. Zhongshan only responded after obtaining this latest illegal order.”

The Ogun State government has criticized the judicial process that led to the provisional attachment of three Nigerian presidential jets by the Judicial Court of Paris.

The court had ordered the seizure of the jets on March 7 and August 2, 2024, as part of a legal dispute involving a Chinese company, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Ltd. 

The jets, which include a Dassault Falcon 7X, a Boeing 737, and a newly purchased Airbus A330, were undergoing maintenance at airports in France and Switzerland when the seizure orders were issued.

The Dassault Falcon 7X was stationed at Le Bourget Airport in Paris, while the Boeing 737 and Airbus A330 were located at Basel-Mulhouse Airport in Switzerland.

The dispute stems from an aborted contract between Zhongshan and the Ogun State government, initiated in 2007.

The Chinese company had sought court orders in relation to this dispute, leading to the attachment of Nigerian assets abroad.

In a statement released on Thursday, the Ogun State government, through the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, condemned the legal actions taken by Zhongshan.

The government described the latest developments as part of a broader attempt by the Chinese company to appropriate Nigerian assets in foreign jurisdictions.

Ogun State accused Zhongshan of concealing the litigation from both the Nigerian government and Ogun State authorities, as well as their legal counsel.

This, the government argued, allowed the company to quickly secure seizure orders without full disclosure to the court regarding the nature of the assets.

The Ogun State government and the Federal Government have reportedly taken immediate steps to lift the provisional attachments on the jets.

The statement also accused Zhongshan of reneging on earlier discussions aimed at reaching an amicable resolution.

The Ogun State government likened the case to the infamous P&ID case, describing it as another instance of unscrupulous individuals disguising themselves as foreign investors with the intent to defraud Nigerian entities.

The statement reads, “On August 14, 2024, the attention of the Ogun State Government was drawn to the provisional attachment of three Nigerian government-owned aircraft in France by the Chinese company, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Ltd. (Zhongshan).

“Ogun State also learned of two orders of the Judicial Court of Paris dated 7 March 2024 and 12 August 2024 respectively, both obtained by Zhongshan without notice being duly given to the Federal Government or Nigeria, Ogun State or their legal counsel.

“This is the latest in a series of ill-advised attempts by Zhongshan to attach Nigerian-owned assets in foreign jurisdictions, none of which have to date led to the recovery of any sums from Nigeria.

“Each of the three aircraft is used solely for sovereign purposes and as such are immune from attachment under international and French laws. In obtaining the provisional attachments, Zhongshan deliberately withheld information from the Federal Government of Nigeria, Ogun State and their legal counsel.

“Just like the P&ID case, this is another unfortunate case of unscrupulous individuals masquerading as foreign investors with the sole aim of defrauding Ogun State and Nigeria.

“It should be recalled that the underlying contract between Ogun State and Zhongshan was executed in 2007, 12 years before the present administration, for the management of a free-trade zone.

“The parties entered into a dispute in 2015 with arbitration commencing in 2016.

“By 2019, when the current State Administration took office, the hearing at the arbitration had been all but concluded.

“The Arbitral Panel awarded over 60 million USD against the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) which was a co-defendant, when all Zhongshan had done was to build a perimeter fence around the free-trade zone. Needless to say this was a bad/unfair decision.

“The present State Administration could not in all good conscience allow such an unconscionable and baseless decision, which would dissipate the commonwealth of the good people of Ogun State.

“Accordingly, and based on erudite legal advice, this Administration resolved to resist the enforcement of the award. The resistance was successful in eight different jurisdictions.

“Currently, there are pending appeals against recognition orders issued in both the US and UK.”

Former Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) president, Olisa Agbakoba, has advised President Bola Tinubu to work towards giving the country a new constitution.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Olisa Agbakoba said the current political structure of the country has been ineffective for too long.

In a statement, on Thursday, on X, Agbakoba said the current power-sharing structure in the 1999 Constitution (as amended) did not decentralize governance.

“It’s time to reconsider Nigeria’s governance structure. We’ve been operating within a system that has been ineffective for far too long. Too much power has been centralized in Abuja, limiting the authority of states and regions and stifling their power. We need to go back to basics with a constitutional reform that truly redistributes power, empowering states to drive their own development.

“History has taught us a valuable lesson. In 340 AD, Roman Emperor Diocletian believed that his empire was too vast for one person to effectively govern. What did he do? He appointed four co-emperors, decentralizing power and allowing the Roman Empire to thrive for another 1,500 years! This is the bold action required in Nigeria.”

He further advised the National Assembly to start up the process for constitutional reform. He noted that decision-making should be closer to the citizens.

“We should aim for a governance structure where governors have the authority to lead their states, local communities have a say in their affairs, and decision-making is closer to the people it affects.

“The National Assembly holds the key to making this change. We need a constitutional reform that recalibrates the balance of power and allows real strong political and economic development to take hold in Nigeria,” Agbakoba added.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says the fifty billion naira it gave to the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) is part of recovered proceeds of crime remitted to the Federal Government and not a donation by the Commission.

The EFCC, which said this in a statement, explained that it is clarifying reports in a section of the media purporting that the Commission donated fifty billion naira to NELFUND from its recovery account.

The statement explained that President Tinubu, in furtherance of his social intervention policy for the most vulnerable segments of the population, decided in his wisdom to plough the money into funding the critically acclaimed Students Loan Scheme.

The EFCC says it is not its place to determine where the Government commits Recovered Proceeds of crime, but the Student’s Loan Scheme is a salutary innovation which has the potential to reduce youths’ involvement in criminality.

The Chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyde, had disclosed during a courtesy visit by NELFUND’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Akintunde Sawyerr, on Tuesday that the Anti-graft Agency will monitor the use of the funds to ensure accountability and the realization of the objectives of the Scheme.

The leadership of Labour Party on Wednesday rejected Chief Olusola Ebiseni, the Secretary-General of the Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, as the party’s candidate in the November 16 governorship election in Ondo State.

The party’s decision was contained in a statement by Obiora Ifoh who declared that Dr Ayo Olorunfemi emerged as the party’s flag bearer at the primaries held in Akure in June 2024.

“Ebiseni, who contested for the governorship of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state but lost, was yet to relinquish his membership PDP, neither identified with the Labour Party.

“Dr Olorunfemi is the candidate of the Labour Party. He emerged after the governorship primaries witnessed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“His name was subsequently submitted to INEC and was published as the Labour Party’s duly nominated candidate for the Ondo election.

“INEC has since concluded the nomination processes and one wonders how he emerged without the involvement of INEC and the sponsorship of the Labour Party,” he said.

LP subsequently urged the Nigeria Police, Department of State Security(DSS) and other security agencies to apprehend anyone impersonating or being used to fight a proxy battle against

He added that “Labour Party is poised to win the Ondo governorship election having fielded a very credible candidate who is a grassroots politician, a prominent Labour leader and a renowned educationist.

“We think that this unholy alliance between Ebiseni and APC sponsored NLC is geared towards frustrating our expected victory at the polls but we will resist it through every legal means.

“We are therefore calling on party members in Ondo, particularly Obidient family and the entire electorate to ignore the gang up against the party.

“Come out en-masse to vote for Dr Olorunfemi of the Labour Party, secure our votes and make sure our votes count.”

THE WHISTLER recalls that the Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC) had kicked against the convention that produced Julius Abure as LP’s National Chairman. Subsequently, the former President of NLC, Abduwaheed Omar, was appointed to chair the National Transition Committee(NTC). 

Members of the NTC, including Dr. Kingsley Okundaye, Prof  Theophilus Ndubuaku, and Folu Bademosi, nominated Ebiseni as flagbearer of the party.

But the Abure faction in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, on Wednesday, insisted that Olorunfemi is the party’s flag bearer, saying he emerged at the primaries held in Akure in June 2024.

In a shocking and disturbing incident, a 16-year-old boy, Abubakar, was buried alive by his two siblings over a missing phone, in Zaria, Kaduna

The brothers, aged 22 and 18, were arrested by the police after a good Samaritan discovered Abubakar’s head protruding from a hole in an abandoned property.

According to eyewitnesses, the siblings had a heated disagreement over a missing phone in Abuja, where they worked.

It was gathered that the duo trailed Abubakar back to Zaria and buried him alive as a form of torture.

“The boy was tied up, and his mouth was sealed. He was buried in a hole, leaving only his head outside,” said Hajiya Rabi Salisu, Commissioner of Human Services and Social Development in Kaduna State.

“I’ve never seen someone buried alive apart from in film. This boy, Abubakar, a 16 year old was buried by his brothers because of a missing phone.

“They dug a hole, tied his hands backwards and sealed his mouth. They buried him, leaving only his head outside covered with rags inside an abandoned property near a farm.

“It was a good samaritan who heard the boy coughing that raised the alarm which attracted other farmers that rescued the boy, as contained in the video which went viral in social media.

“The culprits were a 22-year-old and his brother, an 18-year-old who was arrested by the police. We would be going to court after their investigation.

“The Government would not take it lightly,in the protection of children’s rights and others whose rights are violated in Kaduna State,” Rabi told the BBC Hausa Service.

The police have confirmed the incident and are currently investigating, adding that the suspects are in custody and would be charged to court soon.

The spokesman of the state police command, Mansir Hassan, who confirmed the incident, said the culprits have since accepted committing the crime.

Meanwhile, in a statement, the Kaduna State Ministry of Human Services and Social Development, on Wednesday, stated that it has taken decisive action following the horrific incident in the Gauraki community, Kufaina Ward, Zaria Local Government Area, where the teenager was buried alive after being accused of stealing the phone.

The statement credited to the Commissioner, said, “the victim, Abubakar Aliyu, survived the ordeal and has since been rescued. The suspects, identified as Yahaya Abdulkadir (20) and Abdul Abdulkadir (17), who are cousins of the victim, have been arrested by the police.

“The Social Officer in charge of Zaria visited the community where the incident occurred to assess the situation and provide necessary support.

“The Ministry has assured the public that justice will be served and that they will continue to monitor the case closely.

“The Kaduna State Government has condemned the act in the strongest terms and reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the rights and welfare of all citizens, especially children.

“Further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.”

As the abysmal performance of Team Nigeria at the 2024 Paris Olympics continues to raise dust, Minister of Sports Development John Enoh says the different sporting federations in the country need comprehensive reforms for efficient sports development. 

The minister, who apologised to Nigerians over the poor outing in Paris, indicted the leadership of sporting federations for the lacklustre performance, emphasising the need for systems and structures at the federations to get the best athletes to represent Nigeria and get the desired medals in the next games.

“I’ve always stated that we need to reform our federations,” he said on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Wednesday.

“I am also glad that these discussions are going on now. And I need this discussion to continue. Let it not be limited to the reaction because we didn’t get a medal.

“Let it go further in terms of finding out which of those federations is holding the country to ransom when the ministry starts its move to want to reform, which of those federations wants to become an obstacle to that reform?” 

He said the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) was dead when he assumed office in August 2023, and that none of the sporting federations have well-equipped training centres.

He agreed that a state of emergency should be declared for sports development.

The minister admitted his limitation and that he had no powers to change weak ones among the federation leaders because they were elected by congresses.

“The leadership of these federations are elected in congresses, and they hold office for four years. Those four years coincide with the four-year Olympic circle,” he said.

Interference?

The minister said any attempt by him to make input into the activities of the federations is perceived as interference.

“It is the federations that pick the athletes that they think are competitive enough for any game.

“The federations are very strong in their defence of what decisions they make…these federations guard what they do so jealously that any attempt by any minister to reach out in things like this is considered interference.

“My responsibility is to prosecute the games at international competitions.

“I have avoided in my leadership most of the pitfalls that have bedevilled our sporting competitions and engagement internationally for the last several years.”

Enoh described Nigeria’s pathetic fate at the Olympics as a “very sad” one because Africa’s most populous nation couldn’t clinch a single medal despite that the country registered for 12 events at the global games.

Admits Poor Preparation

The minister expressed utter disappointment, saying that he didn’t expect that Team Nigeria would come back from the Olympics without a medal.

He said the medal-less outing should be blamed on a lack of motivation as all Nigerian athletes who participated in the games were well-paid, while some of them were paid in advance before the games.

He said over N8bn was spent on the competition, adding that Nigeria funds competitions and not training for the competitions. “We spent more funds qualifying for the Olympics than actual preparation for the real games,” he said.

The minister said there would have been backlash if he had ruled out Nigeria’s participation in the games because of poor preparation.

Enoh said heads would roll if findings establish that some persons sabotaged Nigeria’s chances at the games.

Decries Limited Powers

Asked whether he has the powers to sack or discipline any erring heads of federations, he said, “I don’t have such powers.”

The sports minister said he does not have the luxury to replace or work towards the replacement of those who can’t contribute enough to the development of sports at federations.

He said many of the federation presidents are in their third or fourth Olympics and they are holding the country to ransom with their lack of their ability to bring home medals from games after games.