The Nation Newspaper

Category: Southwest

  • Family’s ‘greed’ endangers Baby Michael’s health

    Family’s ‘greed’ endangers Baby Michael’s health

    The health and future wellbeing of rescued Baby Michael Alvez, who suffers from face ulcer, seem to be on hold. Project Alert and rescuers have decided to refund donations raised, following alleged money-consciousness on the part of his family. GBOYEGA ALAKA reports.

    A thick shadow, penulti-mate week, fell on the future of four-year-old Baby Michael Alvez, who had been undergoing treatment for a diagnosed Facial Hemangioma at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).

    Project Alert, and his rescuers, Kate Henshaw, Aramide Kasunmu and Temitope Oluwagbemi, who had been raising money and working hard towards the baby’s treatment and rehabilitation, have decided to refund the money, over nine million Naira, to the respective donors, following what they termed “problematic” attitude from his parents.

    Over a year ago, March 16, last year to be precise, Henshaw, who incidentally is brand ambassador to Project Alert, and the two other ladies, came across a very sick boy with open, degenerating face sore, running in traffic and soliciting alms around the Lagos Museum Roundabout, Onikan.

    Moved with pity, they got hold of him, located his mother, who had brought him to the location to solicit alms and offered to help.

    Following Michael’s admission into LUTH, Henshaw, Kasunmu and Oluwagbemi footed his bills along with his mum, Mary’s upkeep, until his ailment was confirmed and it was decided that he would require a long period of treatment and huge financial intervention. Together with Project Alert, as a host organisation, they went public for donations.

    Mary was initially billed to be a signatory to the account, along with Henshaw and Effah-Chukwuma (Executive Director, Project Alert), until she was dropped, following a discovery that she had once raised money from the public, raising about N700,000 through a television (TVC) campaign, without attempting any major treatment or leaving the streets.

    The account was opened and people kept donating for the boy’s treatment. The donations came notably from friends of the rescuers, Henshaw, Kasunmu and Oluwagbemi. Kasunmu, through her online GoFundme account, raised N597, 000 within three weeks of Michael’s admission, which was used in funding the baby and his mum’s weekly bills, medical tests and medications.

    In all, Kate Henshaw and her group of friends raised 50 per cent of the total money generated.

    Everything worked well until the family started making trouble and the money, which Josephine Effah-Chukwuma, Executive Director, Project Alert said is in excess of N9 million, allegedly became a target for Baby Michael’s family.

    According to Effah-Chukwuma, at a recent press conference, Project Alert and the rescuers have decided to refund all donations to the respective donors because Baby Michael’s family has frustrated their efforts.

    “Their antagonism was not only limited to the rescuers and Project Alert, but also to the different government agencies responsible for care and protection of children such as Michael. Not only did his mother, Mary, abandon him in the wards; she was also maltreating him…and even beat up another woman in the ward, and threatened to burn down the ward when accosted by the matron,” a statement signed by Effah-Chukuma read.

    As a result, she was banned from the hospital and the baby’s grandmother came to stay with him, while his aunt, Syndi Ezeanyeji assumed guardianship.

    Effah-Chukwuma spoke of how Ezeanyeji, in November, last year, sent lawyers to them requesting information on the account and amount raised and how the family vehemently rejected efforts by the state government to place the baby under proper hygienic care, accusing the state and the rescuing team of conniving to take their child away from them.

    Things reached a head in February this year, when, at a meeting of all parties convened by the Lagos Social Welfare Department, at the Secretariat, the family vehemently refused to give up their son, rejected further medical intervention and signed an affidavit with the welfare body to the effect. Aside that, Ezeanyeji got another law firm, Beacon Solicitors to write to Project Alert about the fund.

    As a result, Project Alert and the rescuers wonder why the family is more interested in the money which was raised for the boy’s treatment than his health and have decided to reimburse the donors.

    The donations will be refunded in the following order: 50 per cent to all donors who made donations of N20, 000 and above; and 100 per cent to those who donated N19, 999.

  • Community seeks vocational centre

    Chairperson of Shomolu Community Development Committee, Chief (Mrs) Modupe  Oluwole has urged Lagos State government to address youth restiveness in the area by providing vocational training centre for the community.

    Addressing reporters at a conference, she said Shomolu community was in high spirit to be part of the celebration of Lagos at 50, noting that Nigerians across ethnic nationalities have one success story to point to for being the Centre of Excellence.

    She said Shomolu as a community had made quantum leap in areas of infrastructure, education and health. The community leader called on government to address youth unemployment by providing a centre where they could acquire skills.

    Oluwole said: “For us in Shomolu community, we are very grateful to the Lagos State government for impacting on our community in infrastructure, health, education and security.

    “Some of the Lagos success story in the past 50 years in our community is to transform this former swamp to a community where people live to earn decent living. Today, we have Angus Memorial College, Ola Olu Primary School, Anifowoshe Road, Okunsuna Road and Abiodun Road, among others.

    “As an indigene and High Chief in Ondo Kingdom, Lagos has been part of my success story, it is indeed the land of opportunities. While we appreciate Governor Ambode for what his administration is doing, we would seek his help further for our community be given vocation training centre to mark the 50 years of the creation of Lagos State as a geographical entity.”

    She maintained that whatever is holding Lagos from being given special status could not be justified in view of its contributions to Nigerian economy.

    A member representing Shomolu State Constituency in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Rotimi Olowo advised the people to be law-abiding, stressing that government would not abandon its duty to make Lagos better.

    He added that government places high premium on the security of lives and property, noting that he would do everything possible to ensure that projects yet to be completed in Shomolu are completed.

  • ‘Keep your environment clean’

    In a bid to  ensure clean environment in Lagos, the Lagos Mainland Lion Club has erected four street sign posts “Clean Nigeria” in four Lagos communities.

    The programme brought together members of the club to the unveiling of the Clean Nigeria street sign in Alagomeji, Yaba, Abule Oja, and Jibowu Roundabout.

    Speaking during the unveiling ceremony, the 2nd Vice-President of the Lion Club District Governor Dupe Dada said the erection of the sign post was to create awareness and advocacy on clean environment and sanitation.

    She said it was evident that parts of Lagos are dirty, a situation that portends dangerous health implications on the people if stakeholders refuse to play their part in making the state not only peaceful but also safe to live in.

    “We are committed to clean environment and we are working with the local governments and other relevant stakeholders in Lagos State to make it a reality”, she said.

    She noted that Lions Club is celebrating its Centennial and it is working on the common goal of serving 100 million people through our pro-people programmes.

  • Okogie, others rewarded for integrity, hard work

    Okogie, others rewarded for integrity, hard work

    Hallmark of Labour Foundation has honoured three personalities, Prof. Itse Sagay, Archbishop Emeritus of the Metropolitan See of Lagos, Anthony Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie and Ambassador Olu Adeniji, in its book entitled: Hallmark of Labour, Volume 8. OLATUNDE ODEBIYI was at the book’s presentation on April 27 at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Lagos.

    Hallmark of Labour Foundation identifies Nigerians who have achieved success through hard work, honesty and integrity in their fields of endeavour….We project them as role models of rewarding and fulfilling honest labour. We promote positive attitudes among the youth in particular, as we encourage them to shun fraud, greed and impropriety as means of success.

    It was a gathering of the high and the mighty at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Lagos at the public presentation of Hallmark of Labour, Volume 8. Written by Patricia Otuedon-Arawore.

    The book, as the tradition of the foundation has been in the past eight years, again honoured three personalities who have distinguished themselves in honesty, integrity and hard work in the attainment of success.

    Prof. Itse Sagay, Anthony Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie and Ambassador Olu Adeniji, stood tall among the crowd. Otuedon-Arawore said the book focuses on people who have succeeded through dint of hard work and integrity.

    “The whole idea is to make this category of people known and enable younger ones to know them and follow their footsteps. When the young ones have role models as these to follow, it would contribute to national development.”

    She said Hallmark of Labour Foundation identifies Nigerians who have achieved success through hard work, honesty and integrity in their fields of endeavour.

    “We project them as role models of rewarding and fulfilling honest labour. We promote positive attitudes among the youth in particular, as we encourage them to shun fraud, greed and impropriety as means of success. We help to redirect Nigerians’ mindset from crummy lifestyle to restoration of decency in a society that deserves the respect and accolade of the international community.”

    The wife of Lagos State governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, represented by Jumoke Benson, urged youths to consider positive sides in Nigeria’s current challenges.

    Mrs. Ambode said Nigerians must emulate the exemplary life of those honoured and draw inspiration from their records as featured in the book.

    She also said those honoured put in the best in their respective careers which enabled them to attain excellence.

    Mrs. Ambode said the book is a great intellectual accomplishment that points the right and honorable direction for the youth in particular and Nigerians in general.

    “Many Nigerians have given up on the virtues of honesty and integrity as the most honourable vehicle to wealth and success. Many think success can only come through crooked and fraudulent means.

    “But the distinguished personalities in the book have proved these notions wrong. They are integrity personified, going by the record of their public life.  They have also shown that we can rely on hard work to attain coveted status in the society,” she said.

    Special Guest of Honour and representative of the Chairman of the occasion, Dr Christopher Kolade, Prof Emeritus Oladipo Akinkugbe, welcomed guests to the book presentation, in a short speech, rich in reminiscences from his days in Government College, Ibadan, when he, (Dr. Kolade), and Prof. Wole Soyinka were classmates.

    He said Nigeria must return to old ways of value, adding that integrity should be the norm as elsewhere, rather than the opposite as it obtains now.

    He said the book presentation is significant, adding that the three personalities are role models that must be emulated.

    “The personalities have shown that we must work hard, be disciplined, have a sense of achievement and believe that the country would move forward,” he said.

    He commended the author’s initiative, saying she is touching an area that has long been ignored. The book, he said, is a way of going back to old values to see people’s good works and enabling others to learn from them.

    Prof. Sagay said he felt honored, adding that the book is a great elevation for him which he appreciated.

    He urged youths to be principled. “In anything you do, be principled, don’t go for convenience, opportunism or immediate gratification. At the end of the day honour will come; you will be appreciated and put in positions where you will survive comfortably. There is no need selling your integrity and honour to make money.”

    The book reviewer and Head of the Department of International Politics (NIIA), Prof. Ostia Agbu, offered a rare insight into the evolving years of the three personalities that were honoured: how Prof. Sagay had to get the riot act from his strict father to take his education seriously; how Anthony Cardinal Okogie made history to transit from a choir boy at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Lafiaji, Lagos to become ordained priest in the same city, rising to be Archbishop of Lagos and later Cardinal and Prince of the Catholic Church; and how Ambassador Adeniji wrote Africa has Come of Age, the fiery speech by the late Head of State, Gen. Murtala Mohammed, made in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in 1975, to support the MPLA, one of the contending freedom fighter groups in Angola’s bitter war of independence against Portugal.

    He, among other things, spoke on why Prof. Itse Sagay and Dr. Christopher Kolade, didn’t get along.

    He said: “Kolade was, in secondary school, Sagay’s Latin teacher. Latin wasn’t Sagay’s favourite subject, unlike English and English Literature; and teacher Kolade didn’t think much of Sagay’s abilities.

    “In a parallel to British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill whose teachers often told him he was a never-do-well, Kolade, according to revelations from the book, must have been shocked at Sagay’s latter-day blooming as a silk and legal intellectual of class.”

    The reviewer lamented the waning societal values, adding that honouring authentic heroes such as the three would help the country to recapture old values that have turned them into role models, worth celebrating.”

  • Free health treatment for Lagos communities

    Free health treatment for Lagos communities

    No fewer than 3,000 residents of Ifako-Ijaiye Local government Area and Ojokoro Local Council Development Area (LCDA), benefited from a three-day free health mission sponsored by the Lagos State Government, under the auspices of the Lagos Free Health Mission (FHM), which was rounded off at the Ifako Mini-stadium on Friday last week.

    The new health initiative was launched by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode in March. The initiative was aimed at promoting the well-being of Lagosians.

    Inaugurating the three-day event earlier on Tuesday, the Sole Administrator of Ojokoro LCDA Dr Waliu Ipaye, said the free health mission has deepened access to free medical care to a large spectrum of the public who hitherto had continued to suffer in silence.

    His LCDA is co-hosting the FHM, which is being spearheaded by the state’s Ministry of Health.

    Ipaye said he and his colleague at Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government, Mr. Babatunde I.Q. Rajh-Label, would mobilise the people massively in order to ensure that majority of the indigent members of the public benefit from the exercise.

    Welcoming the beneficiaries earlier, Rajh-Label appreciated Governor Ambode for on the initiative. He said the FHM has helped in improving the quality of health care and well-being of the people at the grassroots across the state at no cost.

    The council chief said the FHM would provide medical solution to a wide range of health challenges which hamper people’s health. Such health challenges, he said, include diabetes, high blood pressure, blood sugar level test, dental and optical care, malaria and meningitis, arthritis, HIV/AIDS as well as trauma and depression, among others.

    He said over 60,000 indigent members of the public, including women, children, teenagers, adults and the aged have so far benefitted from the initiative since it was launched in March.

    Rajh-Label revealed that the FHM is assisting the government in collating statistics that could help in arriving at appropriate epidemiological mapping and programme planning, as part of efforts to move the state forward.

    Also drawing attention to the existence of Primary Health Centres (PHC) across the state, Rajh-Label said members of the public should make good use of those units of health care which, according to him, the governor has equipped to provide free medical services to the people.

    He said it was disheartening that Lagosians have continued to daily besiege all the state’s General Hospitals scattered across all the five divisions of the state, while these PHCs equipped with appropriate drugs are not patronised.

    Deputy Director in the state’s Ministry of Health Dr. Rasheed stated that the state government, through the ministry, has, in the past three months, increased access to medicare for people of the various communities in all the 20 local government areas and 37 local council development areas.

    He said the Ministry of Health mobilised appropriate medical doctors, nurses, dentists, ophthalmologists and other medical personnel in all the council areas in order to provide free services in accordance with the mission and mandate of the governor.

    The Special Adviser to the Governor on Commerce, Hon. Benjamin Adeyemi Olabinjo, commended the governor for the initiative which has further confirmed him (Ambode) as a governor who has good intentions for the people. He urged them to come out en masse to receive free medical treatment.

    Dr Tolu Ajomale, the representative of the Project Director Dr Dolapo Fasawe, said it is gratifying that the downtrodden embraced the programme, adding that with such programme, the government is changing the face of the state as, he said, a healthy state would be a wealthy state.

    He revealed that the programme would aid the government in developing a database of epidemiological trends in the state and this would help in arriving at decisions aimed at appropriately targeting programmes aimed at containing such health challenges of the people, as the team planned to go round the state to provide free medical services to the people.

    Responding on behalf of the residents, the Baale of Karaole, near Oko-Oba in Abule-Egba area of the state, Chief Olayinka Dada George, praised the governor for the gesture. He said aggressive mobilisation would continue even after the programme for the people to always rally behind the governor and to continue to patronise the health care centres located within the local governments.

    “We are happy with our governor for bringing the initiative closer to us at Ifako-Ijaiye and Ojokoro. With this, the governor has been able to show us he is committed to the well-being of the people. We too will continue to rally round him and support all the programmes aimed at making life more rewarding for the people.

  • Recession: Cleric seeks end to hardship

    Recession: Cleric seeks end to hardship

    President Muhammadu Buhari and government officials at state and local government levels should shun religious atters…The Federal Government should curtail the excesses of suspected herdsmen’

    For the Methodist Bishop of Owo Diocese, Rev Solomon Adegbite, this is not the best of times for Nigerians who are bearing the brunt of the current economic recession which the country is experiencing.

    The cleric decried the situation where many frustrated Nigerians attempted to commit suicide as a result of hardship.

    He noted that the suffering was not unconnected with the unruly activities of people in government who have no fear of God.

    Delivering his address at the 29th Diocesan Synod held at Methodist Church Nigeria, Epinmi-Akoko Bishop Adegbite insisted that until people stop their cruel ways of life and also stop persecution of innocent people, especially Christians, the situation may not improve.

    He urged President Muhammadu Buhari and government officials at state and local government levels to shun dabbling into religious matters, even as he advised against religious intolerance.

    On the incessant attacks by suspected herdsmen, the cleric flayed the killings and destruction of farm lands in many parts of the country, urging the Federal Government to curtail the excesses of the herdsmen.

    Bishop Adegbite also expressed the need for the government to engage transparent technocrats to manage the economy of the country in order to bring succour to impoverished Nigerians.

    Besides, he advocated an egalitarian society where every Nigerian will feel equal; stressing that public office should be shared equally among various ethnic groups in the country.

    The Diocesan lay-President, Prof. Theophilus Olawoye urged Methodist leaders to emulate Jesus Christ by not using their positions to subjugate members, adding that their positions are not family hereditary privileges, but a call to the service of humanity.

    According to him, those in leadership positions should be transparent and accountable in their dealings.

    Prof. Olawoye, urged members at local church levels and through the Diocese to enhance the church’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) despite the current economic meltdown.

    Synod delegates from the Diocese witnessed the 29th Annual Synod hosted by the Methodist Church Nigeria, Epinmi-Akoko.

  • I’m innocent, says ‘prophet’ accused of N70m fraud

    I’m innocent, says ‘prophet’ accused of N70m fraud

    Controversy is trailing the arrest and detention of a Lagos-based prophet of the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) who is also a traditional chief in Ado-Ekiti, Femi Oladele, by the Police Special Fraud Unit (SFU) for allegedly defrauding a woman, Mrs. Mojisola Omokaro, to the tune of N70 million. The prophet has denied defrauding Mrs. Omokaro while the woman also claimed that Oladele did not defraud her. But the husband, Mr. Peter Omokaro, said the matter is still under investigation. ODUNAYO OGUNMOLA reports.

    ‘The matter is between me and my husband, the man accused by my
    husband was our saviour during our trying period. He is a prophet and not a fraudster as my husband had lied against him… He said that I should change my statement in order to indict the prophet, but I told him I can’t work against my conscience’

    A Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) Prophet, Femi Oladele, has denied defrauding a woman who sought his spiritual assistance, Mrs. Mojisola Omokaro, of N70 million, a Highlander Jeep and three houses, which landed him in police custody.

    Oladele, who addressed a press conference in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, earlier in the week in reaction to a story in a national daily that he defrauded the woman of the money, a 2010 Toyota Highlander SUV car and three houses.

    The prophet, who is an Ado-Ekiti traditional chief, said the reporter, who wrote the story did not hear his own side before publishing same which necessitated his own reaction.

    Oladele further explained that he already had a bungalow on his plot of land before Mrs Omokaro came and assisted him in the construction of his four bedroom duplex on the remaining space on the plot of land.

    He said he spent almost N40 million to complete the said bungalow, out of which Mrs. Omokaro paid about N22 million into his account in various installments.

    Oladele also claimed that some unknown individuals attacked him in Lagos. Oladele, who was based in Lagos, said he enjoyed a good relationship with members of the family of the Omokaro because of what God has used him to do several problems God has used him to solve within the family.

    According to him, a friend of Mrs. Omokaro, popularly called Iya-Ibeji, brought her to his church in Oke-Ira, Ogba in Lagos State to seek spiritual solution to 14-year-old menstruation problem after she had sought medical solutions without any remedy.

    Oladele said: “When she came, I told her that I would collect N98,000 for materials, out of which she gave me N35,000, but because of the person that brought her, I went ahead to source for money for the work to commence.

    “The unceasing flow of blood, which she had been battling with for 14 years, stopped after two weeks of my spiritual assistance to her.

    “In appreciation of what God used me to do for her, Mrs. Omokaro bought a Toyota Highlander 2010 model for me.

    “I had a land at Ijoko-Otta, where I had already erected a bungalow and she asked me what I wanted to use the remaining land for and I told her I wanted to erect a structure on the land whenever God blesses me.

    “The same Mrs. Omokaro brought her own bricklayer there and after series of inspection and discussion with the bricklayer, they left.

    “Shortly after the visit, she called me that the bricklayer will come and start work, but on my instruction and plan to build the house, promising to be sending money to my account.

    “The house, a four-bedroom duplex was built in my name and I have the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) and building plan. The Toyota Highlander was bought and registered in my name.

    “I did not, at any time, defraud Mrs. Omokaro or any member of the family; she willingly did it for me in appreciation of the 14-year-old problem God used me to solve in her life.

    “There was a time her husband, Mr Peter Omokaro called me and said he had a problem at his place of work and with my spiritual intervention and prayer, he overcame and in appreciation, asked his wife to give me N1 million, which she later sent to my account.

    “Shortly after that, the husband called me and said I should stay clear of his family. I told the wife about the matter and she pleaded with me not to hands off based on what I had done for the family in the past.

    “Though, I don’t know why the wife asked and warned me not to go and see her husband, but several times, called to warn me not to go and see him.

    “Because I did not go to see the husband, following the warning of the wife, the husband used to call to threaten me and not long after, I was attacked by unknown persons, who inflicted wounds on me.

    “When my life was under threat, I had to relocate to Ado-Ekiti.

    “On April 4, this year, men of the Police Special Fraud Unit (SFU) from Lagos stormed my home in Ajebamidele, Ado-Ekiti with search warrant and nothing incriminating was found in my residence.

    “They took me to Lagos, accusing me of defrauding one Mrs. Omokaro to the tune of N70 million and listed other things, but I told them that I did not defraud anybody and they are free to call Mrs Omokaro and ask her before me.

    “I was detained in the police cell for 16 days and my health deteriorated, my blood pressure rose and I almost died there.

    “My main concern was that I should not die in police cell for me to tell my own side of the story and the policemen said I must hand over the house built in my name and the Toyota Highlander SUV.

    “I told them that I am ready to relinquish the house and the car, at least for me to regain my freedom. The policemen at Special Fraud Unit demanded N2 million for my bail, but I was able to raise N750,000 after which I was released.

    “My phone was seized by the police at the unit and till this moment, they have not released it to me and this has put me out of circulation as all my contacts are on the phone.

    “I want to put the record straight that I did not defraud Mrs. Omokaro or any member of his family.

    “I did not defraud anybody for that matter; all she did for me was voluntary and in appreciation of the spiritual assistance that God used me for her and other members of her family, such as the husband and their three children.

    “All that was written in that newspaper report were lies, there was no time I defrauded the woman.

    “The total amount Mrs. Omokaro sent into my account to develop the house was N22 million, but the money that completed the house was about N40 million.

    “I am not a fraudster, I have my name and image to protect. I am a High Chief in my home town and I have been in the ministry for the past 23 years, where God has used me to assist so many people who had various problems.”

    Speaking on telephone when contacted for her reaction, Mrs. Mojisola Omokaro accused her husband of being behind the plight of Oladele, describing Oladele as her saviour in her time of trouble.

    She advised the police not to unnecessarily maltreat the man of God in order not to incur the wrath of God, saying “the main problem is between me and my husband.”

    Her words: “The matter is between me and my husband, the man accused by my husband was our saviour during our trying period. He is a prophet and not a fraudster as my husband had lied against him.

    “The problem has been on for a very long time, it is only unfortunate that this man is being treated in this manner; he deserves to be commended by my family for the role God has used him to play in our family and not to be condemned.

    “I bled for over 14 years and most times, I will collapse and people will rush at me and rescue me, but sometime in 2007, I told my husband that I wanted to commit suicide that I am tired of this life.

    “I have been to several places seeking for solutions, but I was advised not to undergo any operation, that it was a problem that could be solved spiritually and not with orthodox medicine. It was at that point that one of my friends, we call her Mama Ibeji took me to this prophet.

    “It was precisely September 13, 2007 and within two weeks that I met him, my problems stopped. At that time, I also had problems with my son and daughters. God also used this same prophet to solve them.

    “I bought an SUV car for him, assisted him in his four-bedroom duplex that was of his dream then, and since then we have been family friends.

    “When this problem began, I was in my town, Owo in Ondo State, but had to rush to Lagos, because I cannot go against my conscience.

    “My husband said this prophet was a scam. When he had problems in his former workplace, (a bank), he ran to this same prophet and his problems were solved, even he could not believe it because he had spent a lot of money on the problems then.

    “I kept appealing to him to ask the police to release the prophet, he said until he surrenders all my properties in his possession and I told him that I voluntarily bought those things for him and not that he asked for them.

    “He said that I should change my statement in order to indict the prophet, but I told him that I can’t work against my conscience, even as I told him that this man has been the one God has been using for us in the family.

    “But because I refused to change my statement, as I speak with you, he has sent me out of the house. So, I am no longer under his roof.

    “He has three wives, but I am the first and the only one that has children for him. That is my story. Please, appeal to him to leave the innocent and saviour of myself and my children alone. The man is innocent and not a scam as he had told the police.

    Contacted on telephone for his reaction, Mr. Omokaro said the matter is still under investigation by the police. He said Prophet Oladele was investigated and granted bail while investigation into the matter still continues.

    When asked to react to the claim of his wife that she voluntarily gave the prophet money in appreciation of what he (Oladele) did for her and the family, Mr. Omokaro fired back: “Do you give what you don’t have? Do you give what you don’t have?  The money in question is her family business money and the police are investigating that.

    “They (police) Special Fraud Unit is an independent body and whatever they say to the public on this matter is more reliable. If the police give you a fact, do you have to doubt that? I will advise you to ignore them (Prophet Oladele and Mrs. Omokaro).”

    Omokaro said efforts are already on to find an amicable solution to the face-off with his wife, revealing that a mediator is already working to resolve the feud.

    He said further: “This is a woman that has three children for me and the oldest is 31 years. We have been married for the past 32 years. You know that I cannot sue my wife and that is why we are seeking an amicable solution through mediation.

    “It really happens sometime. I will not join issues with somebody that has children for me and who has lived with me for 32 years. I will let go.

    “If we have gone to mediation, I don’t want it to be a press issue again so as not to violate the agreement that we should not speak with the press during the mediation process.”

  • 78 ex-militants trained in entrepreneurial skills

    Seventy-Eight ex-Niger Delta militants have been trained in entrepreneurial skills at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA).

    According to the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Adebiyi Daramola, 50 of the militants who were trained in welding and fabrication had graduated, while 28 of them are currently undergoing training in agriculture production.

    Speaking at the convocation briefing in Akure, through the Chairman, Ceremonials Committee of the university, Prof Olaniyi Okunlola, the V-C said the university collaborated with the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs for the training exercise.

    He said the Niger-Delta militants were trained by the Centre for Entrepreneurship Studies of the university, stressing that the training would make the militants to be self-reliant in order to be useful for their families and the society.

    Prof. Daramola, who noted that the Niger-Delta militants trained by the university are of good conduct, stressed the need for national environmental development by the Federal Government.

    While giving a breakdown of the graduating students for the 28th Convocation ceremony, the don said 85 of them bagged first-class, 1,044 made second-class (Upper Division), 1,274 in

    second-class (Lower Division), 453 had third-class, while 33 had Pass.

    Besides, he said a total of 105 will bag the university’s Ph.D degrees, 731 hold Master’s degree and 40 will obtain the Post- Graduate Diploma Certificate of the university.

    He revealed that the President of African Development Bank (ADB), Dr Akinwumi Adesina and a German scholar, Prof. Rainer Horn are receiving the university’s honorary doctorate degree.

    Prof. Daramola hinted that a student, Ali Abdul-Hafiz of the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering emerged the overall best graduating student of the university for the 2015/2016 academic session, with a CGPA of 4.89.

    He said as part of the convocation ceremonies, 10 different projects executed by school management would be inaugurated.

    Among the projects are Prof Albert Ilemobade Library, Advancement Centre Building, 1,000-Seater LT Mini Campus Multi-purpose Hall and Shopping Complex.

    Prof. Daramola assured that adequate security arrangements had been put in place to ensure hitch-free convocation ceremonies.

  • Five honoured for philanthropy

    As Lagos celebrates 50 years of its existence, the Yoruba Tennis Club has rewarded outstanding members with awards which were presented by the Commissioner for Tourism, Home and Affairs, Mrs Adebimpe Olusola.

    In her speech, Olusola, who represented Governor Akinwunmi Ambode said: “Lagos has made the dream of founding fathers a reality. Though small is size, Lagos has remained the most prosperous in the federation and currently ranked the fifth largest economy in Africa.

    “Those who are Indigenous to Lagos State have every reason to celebrate the achievements, which would not have been possible without the sacrifice and commitment of individuals and organisations.

    “Philanthropic gestures, networking and socialising, social clubs are veritable channels for protecting, promoting and popularising government’s policies, projects and programmes for smooth growth and development of the state’s economy”.

    Great men and women who also rendered selfless service to the state in both public and private capacities were remembered.

    She admonished Lagosians to come up with lofty ideas to assist in proffering solutions to challenges in different sectors.

    She said: “We must not lose focus on the future by reflecting on the level of development we want our state to attain in the next 50 years.

    “Individually, we must continue to accord pride of place to social clubs and forge strategic partnership with them in our collective efforts to build a small city of our dream.”

    The members who received awards are Bro. Folarin Coker, Bro. Ernest Balogun, Bro. Iyiola Omisore, Bro. Agboola Joseph and Bro. Adeoye Thomas.

  • Aspirant promises infrastructural development

    A Chairmanship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming local government election in Lagos State, Hon. Adesina Williams, has said she will provide infrastructural projects that will lift the Igando/Ikotun Local Council Development Area (LCDA), if she is elected.

    Hon. Williams, who had served a term in the LCDA as chairman, pledged her loyalty to all residents of the LCDA, including women, youths and monarchs. She promised to adjust wherever she had made mistakes during her first tenure.

    She said she would ensure that all the ongoing projects were completed, adding that she would start other projects that would benefit the residents.

    She spoke at a meeting with youths and the women wing of the ruling parting (APC) at her office in Igando.

    She promised to run an all-inclusive government, carrying everybody along to ensure harmonious relationship among party members.

    She said she renovated many roads, schools, hospitals as well as took care of the monarchs within the LCDA during her last tenure. She noted that many of the projects embarked upon were yet to be completed, appealing to the electorate to vote for her to enable her to complete her vision of making the LCDA one of the best in the state.

    She pledged to organise workshops that would enable youths and women to become productive and self-reliant.

    Williams assured the residents of the LCDA that her administration would continue to bring succour to the plights of the residents and do more in infrastructural provision as embarked upon in her first term in office.

    She implored residents, the party’s contestants and the opposition to continue to support Governor Akinwunmi Ambode in his efforts to transform the state to a mega city.

    She urged them to pray for the quick recovery of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    She praised Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu whom she described as a great leader and mentor of all members in the party.