The Nation Newspaper

Category: Saturday Magazine

  • Court resolves dispute over land

    AN Ota High Court has ruled that Ikoroko Ajangbo, Kaniwo Agbogbo Akindipe families, are the rightful owner of the vast land situated in Imojuba community in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State.

    The Fatusi Ogedengbe family had dragged the Akindipe family to court for trespassing over its land at Imojuba Town along Atan-Ota, Owode, Idiroko Road, Ogun State.

    Giving his ruling, Justice Mobolaji  Ojo said the claimants could not prove their ownership of the land, noting that the counter-claim of the defendants succeeded.

    He declared that the defendant-Ikoroko Ajangbo Kaniwo Agbobo Akindipe family, “is the one entitled to the grant of the statutory right of occupancy in respect of a vast area of land at Ajegunle, Onse Olose, Kajola, Iboro, Ajibawo, Oke-Ore, Maku, Olorunda villages in Ado-Odo/Ota local government of Ogun State which land is more particularly, delineated and verged red in plan No. MAG/LID 1/2013 drawn by M. A Laoye, registered surveyor, admitted as Exhibit 2 in there proceedings.”

    He went further by granting a perpetual injunction restraining the Fatusi Ogedengbe family or its servants, privies or agents from committing any further acts of trespass on any portion of the land in dispute in the case.

    The judgment handed down on April 10, 2014 also awarded a sum of N25, 000 to the defendant/counter-claimant as general damages for trespass committed by the claimant on various portions of the land particularly over Onse Olose and Kajola Iboro Villages/Area Verged Blue on the aforesaid plan.

    The spokesman of the claimants, Chief Abiodun Fatusi, however, said that the family would soon file an appeal against the judgment.

    “The judgment does not signify an end to the case because the law permits an appeal of judgment given by a lower court and we shall do that before too long.”

  • Unknown persons raze church

    Unknown persons raze church

    THE dust is yet to settle on the mysterious death of 34-year-old Victor Oguntibeju, who allegedly gave up the ghost while seeking spiritual consultation at the Christ Evangelical Power C&S Church in Akure, Ondo State.

    Some unidentified persons were said to have set fire to the church in retaliation for the death of the deceased, who until his death was a popular welder in the community.

    A community leader, Akin Akinnayajo, said the perpetrators were unknown, adding that they must have set ablaze the church building to avenge the death of Victor and the alleged complicity of the prophetess in charge of the church called Abiodun.

    “No one knew when the church was set ablaze. From what I gathered, it must have been carried out late in the evening by aggrieved persons to punish Prophetess Abiodun for her complicity in the death of Victor.”

    The Nation had reported last week how the late Victor Oguntibeju who, until his death resided at No 1, Ifelodun Street, Oke-Ijebu, Akure, allegedly visited the church located on Saka Ibrahim Street, Oke-Ukere,Akure, on Tuesday April 8, 2014 for a spiritual consultation..

    The embattled Prophetess Abiodun was said to have given him a particular concoction known as agbo in local parlance to treat an undisclosed ailment. He allegedly developed complications after he took the concoction and died shortly after.

    His distraught relations had been looking for him until the lid was blown on his whereabouts by a commercial motorcyclist popularly called Okada who took him to the church. The Okada rider had insisted that Prophetess Abiodun must know something about Victor’s whereabouts. She was subsequently arrested by the police and led detectives to a public morgue where she deposited Victor’s body as ‘Oluwaposi Mathew’

    The late Victor got married to his wife, Toyin, about six months ago.His wife was said to have been delivered of a new baby on the day he died and the couple, according to sources, spoke on telephone shortly before the unfortunate incident.

    “Victor did not live to see his new child and had barely enjoyed the bliss of his marriage which took place six months ago. He is also survived by aged parents. His mother is currently staying with his wife in Badagry, Lagos State.

    “He never complained of battling with any ailment and I find it difficult to believe that he went to the church to take a concoction that could cure the undisclosed ailment. The prophetess should be held responsible and subsequently prosecuted for her complicity in the death of my good friend,” said one of Victor’s friends, who asked not to be named.

    Apart from working as a welder, the deceased had just finished a degree programme at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Ogbomosho, Oyo State. He was to attend the convocation of the university before his unfortunate death about a month ago.

    Our reporter gathered that Prophetess Abiodun is still being held at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Akure, at the time of filing this report.

    The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Ondo State Police Command, Mr Wole Ogodo, had said last week that investigation was still ongoing.

  • Gani Adams marks 44th birthday in grand style

    Gani Adams marks 44th birthday in grand style

    This is indeed happy times for the National Coordinator of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Otunba Gani Adams. The OPC leader, who is presently a delegate in the National Conference representing the Yoruba race, recently marked his 44th birthday celebration with a bash for friends and associates.

    The celebration, which was marked with a week-long of activities, saw the activist cum culture promoter receiving a chieftaincy title from the Ndi Eze Udo in Lagos, who conferred on Adams the title of Azi Eyindigbo on him. His friends also organised a novelty football match and a visit to an orphanage as part of other activities to celebrate their man.

    The grand finale, which held at the Sheba Event Centre on Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, Lagos, saw dignitaries from across the business, political and other divides come out to honour Adams.

    The celebration was rounded off with a thanksgiving service at the Holy Michael Church in Surulere, Lagos. Speaking on his experience, Adams, while expressing gratitude to the Almighty for sparing his life, said he was surprised by the turnout of dignitaries who came to identify with him in his hours of joy. “I am particularly grateful to the Almighty for sparing my life to witness this day. I must confess that I am both happy and surprised by the turnout of dignitaries. I thank them all for coming out to celebrate with me.”

    Among the dignitaries at the event included the former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Kofoorola Burknor; leader of Afenifere group, Pa Ayo Adebanjo; Senior Special Adviser to the President on Youth and Students Affair, Comrade Jude Imagwe; Dr. Awolowo Dosunmu; Mr. Tunde Shobulo (DCP, Lagos) and Hon. Babatunde Oke, Executive Chairman, Onigbongbo LCDA, among several others.

  • New lease of life for Muka Amusan

    New lease of life for Muka Amusan

    Muka Amusan, one of the famed Amusan brothers, can be said to be the most publicity-shy of the lot. Besides his deep pocket, one other thing for which he is known is his love for polo. A regular at the Lagos Polo Club, Ikoyi, Amusan maintains a posture that earns him respect among his peers.

    His marriage with Sore, which is believed to have gone sour, is another aspect of his life that makes news. Apart from her good looks, Sore’s deep understanding of fashion compels people to notice her at social circles. The marriage, which produced a kid, is said to have hit the rocks as a result of ‘irreconcilable differences’.

    Now, everyone is wondering if Muka is still interested in giving marriage another shot, given the high number of ladies who are said to be itching to be his wife.

  • DSP Alamieyeseigha buries dad

    DSP Alamieyeseigha buries dad

    Penultimate Sunday, former Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, had his deceased father committed to mother earth. The event saw the oil-rich town of Amassoma lit up in celebration as the former governor led family members, friends, political and business associates to pay their last respects to his nonagenarian father, Chief Salo Memein Alamieyeseigha.

    The carnival-like celebration of life started on Thursday, April 24 and rolled on till Sunday, April 27, 2014. President Goodluck Jonathan led his wife, Dame Patience Jonathan, Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson, his wife, Dr (Mrs) Racheal Dickson and many other A-list guests to the event.

    The late Chief Salo Memein Alamieyeseigha incidentally died on his birthday, March 16, 2014 at the age of 93. He was survived by two wives, 25 children and 115 grandchildren.

    The late Alamieyeseigha was reported to have been confined to his sick bed for a long time before he gave up the ghost. His son and erstwhile governor, popularly called DSP, was said to have done all he could to see that his beloved father remained alive.

  • Timothy Oguntayo gears up for new challenge

    Timothy Oguntayo gears up for new challenge

    Not a few people have expressed the belief that Timothy Oguntayo has paid his dues to deserve being named the CEO of Skye Bank in a couple of weeks from now. His success as a banker has no doubt endeared him to many in the high society.

    The man billed to take the mantle from Kehinde Durosinmi-Etti as the Managing Director of Skye Bank in July has been preparing for his reign in the most meticulous manner. And few would dispute the fact that occupying such an eminent position demands serious preparation, particularly because of the big shoes a former MD of the bank, Akinsola Akinfemiwa, left behind for Durosimi-Etti.

    Celeb Watch gathered that Oguntayo expects nothing different from his predecessor. Hence, he is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that his tenure is devoid of any hitch, taking into cognizance the public expectation that he should surpass his predecessors’ achievements.

  • Femi Otedola plans high- octane burial for late father

    Femi Otedola plans high- octane burial for late father

    Odoragunsin, Epe, Lagos, will be the cynosure of all eyes in the next few weeks as billionaire businessman, Femi Otedola, prepares for the burial of his late father, Sir Michael Otedola, a former governor of Lagos State.

    The influential Chairman of Zenon Oil is said to be pulling all the strings in the bid to give his deceased father a befitting burial. As you read this, Femi and his siblings are holding meetings in respect of the burial. His army of wealthy friends are also said to be warming up to honour the late father of one of their own.

    Sir Otedola, who  passed on at his private residence in Epe, Lagos State, a few days ago, was born on July 16, 1926 into a Muslim family at Odoragunsin, Epe, in Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State. After moving to Lagos to pursue his education, he won a scholarship to study Journalism at the Regent Street Polytechnic in London where he graduated in 1958.

    He began his career as a teacher before working as a reporter with the St. Pancras Chronicle, then as a reporter and later sub-editor with The Guardian and The Times in England. On his return to Nigeria in 1959, he became an information officer with the Western Nigeria government, and and was later appointed the Editor of Western Nigeria Illustrated. In 1961, he moved into public relations, working for Western Nigeria Television/Western Broadcasting Service (1961-1964) and Mobil Oil Group of Companies (1964-1977), continuing as a consultant to Mobil after leaving the company.

    He was elected the governor of Lagos State on the platform of the National Republican Convention (NRC), leaving office in 1993 when the late former head of state, Gen. Sani Abacha, assumed power.

    He is survived by his wife, Lady Doja Otedola, children and

  • ‘Why we killed Warri-South vigilance boss’

    ERIC UMUKORO, the suspected 30-year-old gang leader, allegedly involved in the murder of two vigilance chiefs in Udu and Warri-South L.G.A.’s yesterday said the gang took the decision after one of the vigilance bosses reneged on a promise to pay them after allegedly hiring them as political thugs.

    Umukoro claimed Godwin Migaga a.k.a (Kpuff Man) agreed to pay them N2 million for protection during campaigns in the 2011 Delta State gubernatorial elections.

    He claimed that the deceased was rewarded with the  position of vigilance boss, but he reneged on his promise, branding them armed robbers and threatened to report them to the police.

    He said the vigilance boss swore to kill gang members and that they (the gang) acted in self-defence.

    His words:  “Na person when we work with for election. The money when we bargain with am, he no gree give us after them don win. We come dey tell am mek he give us our money, he come dey tell us say make we no disturb am, because him go tell police say we be armed robbers. After the election, he come become vigilance chairman. Him come dey use the position dey pursue us. So with that vexation we come plan say we go kill am and also he sef dey plan to kill us.”

    He claimed that they trailed Godwin Migaga and engaged him in a shootout on a  lonely stretch of the  D.S.C expressway.

    The police paraded the five other gang members, including Akpojotor Christian Obele, Joshua Ogheneovo a.k.a (Abala) ,Caleb Oghenetega a.k.a (K-Leg) , Solomon Olo and Oke Onorede.

    It will be recalled that Prosper Erhinyojare, Chairman, Udu Vigilance Group, was shot dead on April 17 at a bar while Godwin Migaga a.k.a (Kpuff man)leader, Red Bar Security, was killed on the April 22 after a shoot out with the gang along D.S.C expressway near Otokutu community, Udu L.G.G.A.

    Delta Police boss, Ikechukwu Aduba, said the arrested suspects at the completion of investigation will be made to face the “full wrath of the law”.

    Aduba said other members of the gang at large include David Snu, Rege Snu, Festus and Ojekom.

    Aduba stressed that the intention of gang was to instill fears in the populace “by brutally snuffing the lives of the two vigilance chiefs who had done so much to aid security agencies in their duties of law enforcement”.

    He said the police will not rest on its oars until all identified culprits are brought to book.

    He said the huge number of arms seized from the hoodlums suggested that “there is an obvious build-up for which we have mapped strategies to mop up”.

    Another gang member, Caleb Oghenetega a.k.a (K-leg), said he was a spy to the group .He said during robberies, his role was to inform the gang about the presence or absence of the police.

    According to him, he was a commercial motorcyclist, adding that he joined the group in February when he could not pay his house rent and was subsequently thrown out of his house.

    Items recovered from them included 2 AK 47 Rifles, 90 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition and two locally made cut to size single barrelled shot-guns.

  • At premiere of Half of a Yellow Sun

    At premiere of Half of a Yellow Sun

    SOME of Hollywood and Nollywood biggest stars turned out in eye-popping fashion and style at the Silverbird Cinemas at the premiere of the much anticipated movie adaptation of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s bestselling novel “Half of a Yellow Sun” at the Silverbird Galleria in Lagos.

    One of the Nollywood sexiest, Genevieve Nnaji, turned up with sex appeal as he rocked a blazers jacket over pants of the same fabric. Elegant stallion, Madam Onyeka Onwenu, rocked her low haircut with embellished orange skirt and blouse. While Biola Alabi, Managing Director of M-Net in Africa, opted for black, the author of the novel, Chimamanda, went for a glitzy red maxi with white stripes.

    It was a suit affair for handsome and talented Hollywood rave of the moment, Chiwetel Ejiofor. Check out the red carpet photos.

  • Controversy trails ejection of tenants of Lagos Island building

    Controversy trails ejection of tenants of Lagos Island building

    AGGRIEVED tenants of a three-storey building at No 23, Issa Williams Street, Lagos Island have accused an estate agent of masterminding their forcible ejection on May 1, 2014.

    Over 20 tenants of the building explained that they were not given any quit notice prior to their ejection by one Alamu, who claimed to be an estate agent in charge of the building.

    Speaking with our correspondent penultimate Sunday, the spokesman of the displaced tenants, Taiye Oyetunde, said: “We moved into the building some years ago through a property developer called Teluwo. Sometime in July 2013, we saw a ‘For Sale’ notice pasted on the building by a legal firm. When we contacted the lawyer, he claimed that the developer had handed off the property, adding that the owner had asked him to sell the house. He promised that whoever bought the house would contact us.

    “Surprisingly, a few weeks later, one Alamu threatened to forcibly eject us from the building. He claimed that he had the mandate of the ‘new owner to flush us out by force. As I speak, the identity of the new owner who sent Alamu remains unknown. We reported the matter at the Ebute Ero Police Station where he was detained for some days and later released on bail. ”

    Speaking further, Oyetunde said: “We wrote a petition to the Area ‘A’ Command when men of the Ebute Ero Division became indifferent to our plight.At a point, he brought some men who claimed to be officials of the Lagos State Building Regulatory Agency to intimidate us but we resisted them. When we got tired of reporting Alamu’s incessant harassment to the police, we took the matter to the Igbosere Magistrate Court and the case was adjourned till May 5.

    “Our ejection on May 1 smacks of conspiracy because Alamu immediately led over 100 thugs to throw out our belongings just as some policemen from Area ‘A’ Command came to invite us to their station. The hoodlums looted our belongings and destroyed our belongings.

    Alamu, however, denied the allegations in a telephone conversation with our reporter.

    He said: “I was the one that rented the apartment to them on behalf of the owner and I stopped them from paying rent about three years ago when the building was sold by its former owner.

    “There was no court injunction stopping their ejection and if there is any, it would have been pasted on the building for everyone to see.All those who rented shops there had left over a year ago.”