The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Lanre Ogunlesi

  • LANRE OGUNLESI celebrates Sophisticat at 40

    LANRE Ogunlesi, gentleman and CEO of Sophisticat, a one-stop fashion company, is in happy mood. The reason is not unconnected with the fact that the baby he birthed several years ago has reached an enviable height and it has become a household name in the world of fashion in Nigeria

    Ogunlesi’s Sophifisticat is 40 and the fashionista cum businessman is not leaving any stone unturned to celebrate the giant stride. Already the edifice housing the business had undergone a massive renovation in its Maryland, Ikeja, Lagos headquarters.

  • Double celebration as Ogunlesi clocks 65

    Double celebration as Ogunlesi clocks 65

    Contentment swells the heart of Lanre Ogunlesi like an inflated balloon. The flamboyant head honcho of popular Sophisticat Fashion House could be forgiven for doing a gig in the full glare of the public as he cruised confidently into his 65th year on earth penultimate Friday. But rather than embark on a grandiose celebration, the popular dude ‘eloped’ with his wife to enjoy a quiet holiday in the picturesque serenity of the Italian Alps.

    If Lanre and Modupe are two lovebirds, the Villa Eden, Merano, a private medical spa in the Italian Alps, is the temporary cage where they have chosen to ensconce and refresh themselves far from the maddening crowd as they savour the sweetness accumulated over 42 years of marriage.

    The love between the Sophisticat boss and Modupe is like an old wine that grows more potent with age. Even as they metamorphosed over the years from friends and lovers to spouses and parents, they never once lost the thread that connected them together into an inextricable tandem.

  • Lanre Ogunlesi’s latest moves

    WHEN it comes to making money and growing his business, Lanre Ogunlesi can rightly be described as an Oliver Twist. To him, if we do not consciously pursue more, we end up creating less for ourselves and make it more difficult to experience more in life. This is the principle that has made Ogunlesi a persevering entrepreneur, constantly in quest of more ways to strike gold.

    With a big dream and a goal in sight, Ogunlesi has worked harder than most men his age. The popular clothier and designer has just completed the multi-million naira building that ‎will now house his fashion place, Sofisticat, one of high society ‘s longest reigning fashion outfits. The building, located on Shonibare Estate, Ikeja, Lagos, took him several months to complete. The architectural masterpiece has further accentuated his brand.

    The handsome sexagenarian icon is living the dreams of many. With his eyes always on the ball, he has built an enviable fashion brand many eulogise genuinely. Ogunlesi is consciously paving different paths of success for future designers.

  • Lanre Ogunlesi lays father-in-law to rest

    Lanre Ogunlesi lays father-in-law to rest

    Even the wealth of the wealthy offers no shield against death. Death claims the affluent just like it visits the common man. That much was evident in the recent death of Prof. Cornelius Taiwo, the father-in-law of prominent Lagos socialite, Lanre Ogunlesi. He was aged 103.

    The lawyer, author and educationist passed away quietly in his GRA, Ikeja, Lagos home, and Modupe, the dark and lovely wife of Lanre Ogunlesi, and her siblings gave their father a befitting burial. Of course, Lanre played a major role during the burial ceremony and dignitaries from all walks of life stormed Oru-Ijebu to pay their last respects to the deceased.

    The funeral ceremony boasted a kaleidoscope of guests, sumptuous local and international delicacies, choice wines and impressive eulogies to the departed soul. With the huge number of eminent Nigerians and Africans who graced the occasion, one needs not be told that Lanre, the deceased’s son-in-law, is not just a famous dude but also a respected crowd puller.

    The late Prof. Taiwo was a fellow of the Commonwealth Council for Educational Administration and the Nigerian Academy of Education, among others. He bagged degrees in Literature, Mathematics and Law and was once the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the University of Ilorin. He was also a solicitor and advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

    He is survived by prominent Lagos lawyer, Chief Ladi Taiwo; consultant radiologist, Dr. Bayo Taiwo, and Modupe Ogunlesi, among other children, grandchildren and great grandchildren

  • Alleged N30m fraud: FCMB suit for April 7

    Alleged N30m fraud: FCMB suit for April 7

    The alleged N30 million fraud suit instituted against First City Monument Bank Plc (FCMB) and its former branch Manager, Rosemary Usifo at a Federal High Court in Lagos, has been adjourned till April 7.

    At the resumed trial before Justice Saliu Saidu yesterday, counsel to FCMB, Lanre Ogunlesi (SAN) prayed the court for an adjournment to commence trial.

    The prosecution had at the last adjourned date, informed the court that the bank was willing to settle; but Ogunlesi, while praying for a trial date, said the bank never conceded to settling the complainant, Archibong Nkanga, a retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, with the amount as alleged in the charge.

    Usifo, a former Manager of the Okerin branch of defunct Fin Bank Plc (now FCMB), was alleged to have defrauded the complainant of N30million from his fixed deposit account.

    She was arraigned by the Special Fraud Unit (SFU), on December 5, 2013. But she allegedly committed the offence in 2011.

    Usifo had pleaded not guilty to the alleged offence which contravenes Sections 1(2)(a), (c) and 3(1)(2) of the Miscellanous Offences Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

    Since the prosecutor, Effiong Asuquo, did not object the prayer of the defence counsel, Justice Saidu adjourned the case till April 7 for trial.

     

  • Ogunlesi brothers regain their bond

    Ogunlesi brothers regain their bond

    In spite of media reports a few weeks ago that the quarrel between Lanre Ogunlesi and his brother, Fola, had become a thing of the past, many believed the almost one-decade-old quarrel was still lingering. But their newly restored brotherhood was depicted penultimate Friday when they appeared at the 50th birthday celebration of the Style Editor of Thisday Newspaper, Ruth Osime.

    Not only did the highly successful brothers appear at the high octane party, they strolled into the expansive hall in each other’s company. Their entry engendered whispers among some of the guests who knew about their stormy relationship.

    Many will recall the period when Lanre Ogunlesi, the owner of Sofisticat, and his elder brother and owner of Fantasyland, Fola Ogunlesi, were sworn enemies. Many reasons were thrown up as reasons for their malice. Their mutual friends and family members intervened in the quarrel to no avail. Even their kids went the extra mile to settle the rift but their efforts met a brick wall.

    The feud was said to be so serious that the blood brothers hardly exchanged greetings even at social functions hosted by their mutual friends or family members. It was against this background that many were surprised to see them walk into the hall in each other’s company at Osime’s birthday.

  • About Teni Ojigbede’s marriage

    About Teni Ojigbede’s marriage

    IF the news making the rounds is to be believed, all may not be well in the home of Teniola Ojigbede, daughter of Sophisticat boss, Lanre Ogunlesi.

    The gist is that the hardworking Teni, who runs Gems of Nubia, has quit her matrimonial home with her three kids.

    Family and friends of the couple, we gathered, have already stepped into the issue to bring the couple back together.

  • Court adjourns trial of ex-Finbank MD ‘sine die’

    Court adjourns trial of ex-Finbank MD ‘sine die’

    Justice Lateefat Okunnu of a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja on Monday adjourned sine die (indefinitely), the trial of a former Managing Director of Finbank Plc, Okey Nwosu and three former directors of the bank.

    Nwosu, Dayo Famoroti, Danjuma Ocholi and Agnes Ebubedike were charged to court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly stealing N10.9 billion belonging to the bank.

    In the ruling delivered yesterday, Justice Okunnu adjourned the matter indefinitely sequel to three judgments delivered on November 21 by the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division.

    The Court of Appeal struck out the theft charges preferred against Nwosu, Famoroti and Ebubedike by the Commission.

    The court held that the High Court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the charges.

    According to the upper court, a state high court cannot entertain matters arising from capital market transactions.

    The appellate court held that matters that are capital market-based case can only be handled by the Federal High Court.

    Ocholi’s counsel Lanre Ogunlesi (SAN) urged the court to dismiss the charge against his client in view of the Appeal Court’s judgment.

    EFCC’s counsel Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), however, informed the court that the prosecution has appealed “the three judgments of the Appeal court at the Supreme Court”.

    Jacobs, subsequently, asked the court to adjourn the matter indefinitely in the interest of justice.