by Oladapo Sofowora

If a soothsayer had told late Kalabari billionaire, High Chief Olu Benson Lulu Briggs before his death that controversy would trail his family after his demise, he would surely rebuff such claim. Having invested so much in humanitarian cause during his lifetime, it is expected that his legacies will be upheld even after his demise.

Those following the recent controversy rocking his family would wonder why close to a year after his demise, the chairman of oil exploration and production company Moni Pulo Limited, in Ghana is yet to be buried by his family members.

Society Rendezvous gathered that the real reason the octogenarian has not been buried is fueled by the lingering bad-blood between his eldest son, Dumo – a former Rivers state gubernatorial aspirant under Accord Party and the deceased’s wife Mrs Seinye Briggs over the cause of the billionaire’s death and the content of his Will.

Interestingly, the said Will was supposed to have been read in April 2019, but Dumo secured an ex-parte order from a High Court sitting in Umoku, Rivers State, barring his late father’s lawyer from reading. Months after, the order was set aside and the Will was read to the family members on July 26.

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It was gathered that, the content of the Will further escalated the matter as Dumo doubted the authenticity of the Will claiming it must have been doctored in favour of Seinye, who got substantial amount of wealth, while the rest of the asset was left in trust to be managed on behalf of the children and their off springs.

A source further revealed that the late High Chief did not accommodate any of his three older sons in the Will, but stated clearly that they should be taken care of. However, the source added that, it was stated in the Will unequivocally that any of his sons who instigates trouble against his wish should be automatically cut off from the Lulu-Briggs Estate.

However, it was learnt that in the Will that the late statesman expressed his wish to be given a befitting Christian burial and specifically noted that his wife fully be involved. According to the autopsy report carried out by the Military Hospital in Ghana, it stated that the billionaire Oil and Gas mogul died of cardiac arrest after living and managing Parkinson disease for close to two decades.

Meanwhile, a reliable source also revealed that there is a serious crack among the children, Dumo, Senibo and Sofri. Though the incumbent Governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike, former governor Peter Odili and the Amanayabo of Kalabari, King J.T. Princewill Amachree, have intervened in the family feud, the warring children have refused to sheath their swords and work hand in hand with Seinye, to give the late High chief a befitting burial as he so desired in his Will.

by Oladapo Sofowora

Top businessman, Timothy Ofoezie, Chairman and CEO of Tino Electronics is not someone who loves attention. Like the proverbial gold fish that has no hiding place in the water, he never goes unnoticed.

The Enugu-born respectable businessman and his delectable wife, Olufunke will play host to top dignitaries such as, businessmen and women, politicians, technocrats and well-wishers at his country home in Isikare Achi, Oji River LGA, Enugu State, for a 3-day event lineup to celebrate his beloved mother, Mrs. Ezinne Clarice, who glides into the league of octogenarians.

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The 80th birthday soiree will hold between  November 15 to 17 and will commence with a Praise Concert, headlined by top Igbo gospel artists like; Evangelist Chioma Jesus, Chigozie Anyanwu and Nonso Chukwumere.

The second day, the heart of the birthday celebration takes place in Ofoezie’s compound. Top dignitaries and guests present will be feted to an array of sumptuous meals laced with exotic wines.

The celebrant, Mrs Ezinne is a highly spiritual and devoted Christian. The grand finale of the birthday shindig will round-off with a church thanksgiving service at Christ Church, Isikare Achi, Oji River LGA, in Enugu State.

The groom launched into the popular song of James Brown as he fielded questions from the reporter. “I feel good, I knew that I would now. So good, so good…” he sang in a rare expression of ecstasy over his union with his heartthrob barely one year after they met.

Olalekan Tella and his bride, Aisha Alasa, had met on the popular social media platform, Instagram, last year, and like a tree planted by the river, their love blossomed until the two became one in a grand ceremony at Golden Tulip Hotel, Festac Town, Lagos last Saturday.

It was a moment of glitz and bliss which Olalekan, the Chief Executive Officer of Telll7 Innovations, a foreign exchange broking firm, admitted he was excited about. Clad in complete champagne gold Yoruba attire with matching cap, shoes and royal beads, he was all smiles as he was joined by his groomsmen to sing and dance.

Going down memory lane, he recalled that he first met Aisha on Instagram and was pleasantly surprised that a relationship that began on platonic level could blossom into marriage, even though his instincts had told him the moment they met that something good would come out of the relationship.

He said: “The moment I met her, I told myself that I had found a wife. I also told my friends so. We met on the Instagram where she sells jewellery. I was meant to buy jewellery for my friend’s father’s burial. We courted for about a year and the rest is history.”

Olalekan, an indigene of Ogun State and Accounting graduate from the Yaba College of Technology, said the first attraction to his wife was her honesty. That added to her beauty made her an irresistible package.

“My wife is humble, understanding and prayerful,” he enthused. “Her family, which is now my family, is the best kind of family I ever dreamt of. If I come back to this world again, I will choose the same family.

“Although we are from different tribes, I was warmly welcomed by her father, and he is now my father.”

Aisha, who dazzled guests with her well-set white teeth, lovely makeup and champagne gold tube flowing dress with a matching veil, had her hair, neck and hands decorated with royal beads.

The Edo State born bride described her husband as patient, adding that his high level of intelligence was part of the first attraction.

She said: “I am grateful to God for my husband because he is the only one that can keep me grounded. I am sure he is the bone of my bone. We will live together happily and everything will go well.”

The Law graduate from Babcock University expressed gratitude to her parents, family members, in-laws and guests.

It was the coming together of families from two different tribes and of two different religions, namely Chief Babs Alasa, a media consultant and seasoned journalist and Alhaji Surajuden Tella, a civil servant of note.

The ceremony had begun with a traditional wedding anchored by Mohammed Ayaosi and Yinka Bolarinwa a.k.a. Topyink. After prayers, the bride’s and groom’s families converged under a tent where the engagement held. Introductions by members of the two families were followed by the cutting of a huge cake designed in several shapes of traditional drums, after which guests moved into the hall where the reception held.

Ushers in white lace popularly called oleku matched with gold headgear led guests into comfortable seats. The hall itself was beautiful and classy, decorated with white and gold with flowers. There were lots to eat and drink.

The couple’s entry amid music rendered by a live band was dramatic. It was preceded by the entry of bridesmaids in blue dresses and groomsmen in black trousers, white shirts, cream jackets and black bow ties. The bridesmaids and groomsmen entered the hall one after the other with stylish dance steps from the entrance to the dance floor with music supplied by D.J. Wallet.

By this time, the couple had changed their outfits, with the bride spotting a long sequenced dark grey dress and grey shoes while the groom wore a pair of black trousers and white shirt with a jacket of green colour mixed with black and a green tie and black shoes to match. They entered the hall amid standing ovation from guests, dancing artistically in their gorgeous and stylish attires.

Now on the dance floor, they were joined by family members and friends who sprayed them with new naira notes before they settled into the bridal seat.

The master of the ceremonies undertook the task of introducing some of the distinguished guests, including seasoned journalists, captains of industries and traditional rulers. A minute silence was also observed in honour the bride’s deceased mother, Mrs Juliana Alasa, who was a colleague of the groom’s father.

In his speech, the chairman of the occasion and founder of Varvant and Zeal, Dr Tunji Olugbodi, admonished the couple to live together as true friends. “Develop a conflict resolution mechanism between yourselves. Come together to resolve issues and never call a third party to settle any quarrel for you,” he said.

The bride and her father had a dance, after which the couple danced to 2Face’s popular song, African Queen. They later cut the white three-step cake in a session led by Olori Bukunola Mobadenle. They then fed each other with the cake, sealing it with kisses. The ceremony then continued with dancing and spraying of new naira notes.

The bride’s father, Chief Babs Alasa, said he had looked forward to the day, adding that it was a thing of joy to give his daughter’s hand out in marriage.

On his part, the groom’s father, Alhaji Surajuden Tella, said he felt highly elated and wished the couple a happy married life. He urged the bride to be submissive while the groom must always exercise patience. According to him, marriage, if placed on a solid ground with understanding, is sweet.