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Tag: Nigerian Newspapers

  • Bitter-rival celebs

    What would our social media look like without the stiff fights that often distract us? Boring! 2019 is not over yet but it has had its own fair share of drama and fights. Most of these fights played out on social media. Our package this week is on the top celeb beefs and tiffs this year.

    Lizzy Anjorin vs Toyin Abraham

    It’s time to get the popcorn ready because the feud between Nollywood actresses Lizzy Anjorin and Toyin Abraham is still a running tiff. As things stand, this very emotive fight might enter a new phase soon. The court drama that it gave birth to is yet to be resolved.

    Anjorin has feuded with more celebrities than we can count – simply because she can’t hide her feelings, and it seems as though we can now add Toyin Abraham to her shortlist! Their social media feud began after Abraham put to bed, and some fans accused Lizzy of not sending her a congratulatory message. This sparked a debate on Toyin’s page during which some of her fans reportedly rained insults on Anjorin. There was a lull and then everyone thought the dust had settled. But it was the calm before the storm. Shortly after, Anjorin launched a blistering attack on Toyin and the social media went crazy as the fans of both actresses rallied to their defence.

    Anjorin alleged that Abraham always incited her fans against fellow colleagues and celebrities in the entertainment industry. It has been hell ever since.

    Tonto Dikeh vs ex-hubby

    This rather public feud probably should not come as a surprise. That is because Churchill Olakunle is the ex-husband of hard-hitting, non-nonsense actress, Tonto Dikeh. For most couples, separation or divorce is like a declaration of war. This assertion also holds true for this celeb couple. Most of their fights played out on social media. Dikeh accused her ex of being irresponsible, incapable of meetings the needs of his family, domestic violence and some other sundry issues.  After their bitter separation war on social media last year, sometime in the early part of the year, Tonto Dikeh, again came out to drag her ex-husband, Olakunle, on social media and this time around, she revealed more than what a lot of people were expecting to hear. During her interview with media personality, which has to do with an issue of the bedroom. Olakunle, who was mute all through the period Tonto Dikeh was ranting and rainy insults on him, opened up, saying it was all a lie. He described himself as  ‘a tireless machine’ with a woman when one of his followers had commented on one of his posts, saying “40 sec makes one.”

    He wrote: “Of course not, don’t be deceived; you cannot undermine an ex-military boy… I am a tireless machine during marathon…”

    However, we hope that the two will settle and eventually become friends again for the sake of their son.

    Lizzy Anjorin vs Ronke Oshodi Oke

    Although you would think that Lizzy and Ronke would get on well; thanks to their shared interests-Nollywood Yoruba, it seems as though the complete opposite is the case. Last year, actress Liz Anjorin took to the social media to slam actress Ronke Oshodi-Oke for allegedly poking fun at her at a party they both attended. Before then, Ronke had taken to the social media to caution her colleagues for excessively display in their worldly possessions on social media. Though she didn’t mention names, Liz Anjorin felt the video was directed at her and she replied, describing Ronke as in some unprintable terms. Although things cooled off after a while, a new twist was introduced to the conflict soon enough when Ronke, while handling the mic, alluded to the tantrums heaped on her by an actress. The disclosure made Lizzy uncomfortable as she felt harassed. Ronke, on the other hand, put out a long video saying she and Liz were not mates and she will continue to ask for money at events because she’s doing her job as an MC. Liz didn’t allow that to go unchallenged. She replied Ronke: I’ll rubbish you anytime you do that. We hope the two actresses will sheathe the sword soon.

    Iyabo Ojo vs Kemi Olunloyo

    Iyabo Ojo has been able to work her way up over the years to become a huge name in the world of show biz and it seems as though she’s also learned a lot over that time. This has given her the opportunity to have a large fans base and to speak on personal matters and sundry issues on social media; apparently some people aren’t too happy with her posts.

    The controversial journalist and the Nollywood actress were engaged in a nasty war of words on social media with each party dragging the other with equal venom. Not until recently was a truce brokered by Toyin Lawani and Toyin Abraham. Kemi Olunloyo even claimed that Iyabo Ojo wasn’t married to her husband and claimed that she had evidence to land the actress in jail. The beef has, however, been settled.

    Davido vs Kemi Olunloyo

    Superstar musician Davido aka OBO and controversial Kemi Olunloyo have been engaged in a continuous social media feud for years. This feud seems not to have an end. The latest episode in the long-running fight between the two manifested when Olunloyo congratulated Davido and girlfriend Chioma who have plans to marry next year. Olunloyo remarked: “Congrats Chioma on the birth of your baby boy. I will come visit you this weekend,” she tweeted. The hip pop star reacted through a message on social media, saying: ”This one wan near my pikin, 400 dey wait you.”

    Kemi Olunloyo vs Linda Ikeji

    Linda is arguably one of the most famous bloggers in Nigeria. The dispute between Kemi Olunloyo and Linda is one of the most famous in Nollywood. Is it over? We are not sure. What we know is that Madam Kemi still attacks Ikeji fairly regularly.

    The renowned blogger and socialite, Linda Ikeji, celebrated her 39th birthday on Thursday September 19, 2019 in Dubai with friends and family Kemi claims Linda is not revealling her real age to the public.

    While wishing her a happy birthday, Kemi pointed out that Linda is 43 years old as opposed to what she and Wikipedia are saying.

    “Happy 43rd birthday to Linda Ikeji. Fans, Wikipedia age is 39th birthday,” she wrote.

    Shan George vs Femi Branch

    You might be wondering why Shan George is on this list, considering she just recently had a spine surgery. Well, you don’t need to worry, because the surgery is the bone of contention.

    That’s because, just days after the actress went through a successful spine surgery in Abuja, Femi Branch, who also happens to be a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria(AGN), took to his Instagram page to share a picture of the AGN executive giving an envelope to recuperating  Shan George.

    “God bless the & Actors Guild of Nigeria for coming to the side of our dear colleague and friend @shangeorge as she recovers from her back surgery”

    Reacting, however, in the comment section, Shan said: “They didn’t come to my aid sir. I’m not crying for any aid/help; it was just a show of love from the AGN president towards a colleague, @chief_femibranch. I know say you hate me but this is more than low. Aid ko, Babiala ni, you either correct this wrong impression or just kuku delete this post. Thank You”.  We also learnt the actress took to the AGN group chat to blast the actor.

    In her words:  “Abeg, make all of una help me tell Femi Branch to stop his bile for me now! I’ve had enough of of ur display of hatred for me at every little opportunity u can scramble at..Delete that bloody wicked evil post of urs…” Femi has remained mute all through.

    Sonia Ogiri & Angela  Okorie vs Mercy Johnson

    Nollywood actresses Sonia Ogiri and Angela Okorie are said to be embroiled in a social media mêlée with Mercy Johnson. The social media has been buzzing with mixed reactions after a Nigerian actress identified as Sonia Ogiri, in an Instagram post, titled ‘healing process’, shared her bitter experience in the hands of top Nollywood star, Mercy Johnson. However, while many people attacked her for trying to start a smear campaign against Mercy Johnson due to how successful she has become, there were others who believed her. Fellow Nollywood actress, Angela Okorie, reacting to the post, revealed that the actress did worse to her and went on to accuse the actress of fighting her both physically and spiritually.

  • Five-yr-old girl needs N500,000 for surgery

    A five-year old girl, Mercy Aka suffering from swollen stomach diagnosed as Ventral Hernia by doctors is seriously in need of a sum of N500,000 for surgery.

    It was said that Mercy had been taken to several hospitals in the last five months.

    Read Also: 35 year old lady needs N5+ million for hip replacement and plastic surgery

    Doctors at the Nigeria Christian Hospital in Nlagu in Abia State said the N500,000 required would cover the cost of the surgery, treatment and drugs.

    Mercy’s parents, Mr and Mrs Utume Nor-Aka, both indigenes of Taraba State, however pleaded with kind hearted Nigerians to assist them with funds to save their daughter from untimely death.

    Donations can be forwarded to a Union Bank account no: 0107296941 with the name, Mercy Aka, while her parents can be reached on 09013355235.

  • NIFROP lauds Army on spiritual warfare seminar to defeat Boko Haram

    The National Inter-Faith and Religious Organisation for Peace (NIFROP) has hailed the Nigerian Army for organising a spiritual warfare seminar to combat Boko Haram’s devilish ideologies.
    Unknown to Nigerians, this practice isn’t new as some reputable nations’ military resorted to aggressive forms of prayers on the battlefield.
    This concept was utilized by the North Americans in the form of evangelical warfare prayer since the 1980s.
    In a press conference on Wednesday in Abuja, Secretary General of the group, Rev (Dr) Elijah Akuh said the Army deserves commendation for towing this honourable path, knowing that Boko Haram’s ideology is based on strict adherence to Wahhabism – an extreme form of Sunni Islam.
    According to the clergyman, the essence of the conference was to properly educate troops and arm them against such ideologies that have been used in the past to infiltrate and break the ranks of any fighting force.
    The National Inter-Faith and Religious Organisations for Peace, therefore, called on other security agencies to emulate the Army in conducting routine spiritual warfare.
    The group added that this should serve as a challenge to spiritual and religious leaders on the need to support the Army in prayers and supplications in the fight against terrorism.
    Read full statement below.
    The National Inter-Faith and Religious Organisations for Peace in Nigeria (NIFROP) a conglomeration of faith-based organisations in Nigeria having extensively evaluated the operational strategies of the Nigerian Army in the fight against Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist in Nigeria wishes to by this medium state in unequivocal terms that indeed the Nigerian Army has risen to the occasion in the fight against terrorism in Nigeria.
    This is hinged on the fact that the Boko Haram terrorist group over the years had indeed practiced a radical stance that has seen to the propagation of their ideology in the pursuit of their nefarious activities.
    The beliefs of Boko Haram which tend to be centred on strict adherence to Wahhabism, which is an extremely strict form of Sunni Islam that sees many other forms of Islam as idolatrous is indeed worrisome and must be condemned by all well-meaning religious groups in Nigeria.
    The National Inter-Faith and Religious Organisations for Peace wishes to state that it aligns with the various approaches embraced by the leadership of the Nigerian Army in confronting the Boko Haram terrorist group since 2009 when the group took up a violent campaign against the constituted authorities in Nigeria.
    The recently concluded Nigerian Army Spiritual Warfare Seminar with the theme, countering insurgency and violent extremism in Nigeria through spiritual warfare could not have come at a better time in the light of the fact that the Boko Haram terrorist group has indeed utilized a religious ideology that if not tamed would ultimately give them the impetus to continue to perpetuate evil in North-East Nigeria.
    The National Inter-Faith and Religious Organisations for Peace understands that in the battle of spiritual warfare, we need to begin with acknowledging that we are in a war and that such battles make up smaller components of the bigger picture.
    These invisible or unseen forces, are real. There are forces, both angelic and demonic, that are actively working around us. There is evil that we fight in our spiritual warfare, and the Boko Haram warfare is not an exemption.
    The National Inter-Faith and Religious Organisations for Peace states that the essence of the conference was to properly educate troops and arm them against such ideologies that have been used in the past to infiltrate and break the ranks of any fighting force in the world.
    The National Inter-Faith and Religious Organisations for Peace also states that everything that occurs in the visible, physical world is directly connected in the spiritual world and as such the recent strategy introduced by the Nigerian Army is not out of place and a display of foresight by the leadership of the Nigerian Army in its quest to ultimately win the war against Boko Haram terrorists in Nigeria.
    This is on the heels that militarization and aggressive forms of prayer is not a new concept as it has been utilized by the North Americans in the evangelical warfare prayer developed since the 1980s. They have elaborated a complex theology and prayer practice with a highly militarized discourse and set of rituals for doing spiritual battle and conducting prayer strikes on the battlefield.
    The National Inter-Faith and Religious Organisations for Peace encourage other security agencies to deliberately carry out corporate social responsibilities initiatives in areas that will help Nigeria to defeat extreme religious ideologies like what Boko Haram and the Islamic Movement of Nigeria have done the country all in the name of religion.
    Our troops must be charged to know and understand that no terrorist group fights for any religious group in the country, but instead their evil agenda. So this much the recently concluded Nigerian Army Warfare Seminar aims to bring to the limelight.
    The National Inter-Faith and Religious Organisations for Peace commends the leadership of the Nigerian Army for this laudable initiative and consequently gives its approval for more of such conferences to be organized.
    This conference as organized by the Nigerian Army should serve as a challenge to spiritual and religious leaders on the need to support the Nigerian Army in prayers and supplications in the fight against terrorism in Nigeria.
    The Nigerian Army has indeed done well with this noble initiative contrary to what some section of the media wants the unsuspecting members of the public to believe.

  • Court jails Lagos farmer 10 years for raping, impregnating daughter

    A Federal High Court in Lagos has sentenced a Lagos farmer, Yesiru Onajobi, to 10 years in prison for raping and impregnating his 14-year-old daughter (name withheld).

    Justice Sule Hassan convicted Onajobi following a six-year trial

    The judge said the prosecution successfully proved the charges of rape and unlawful canal knowledge made against the farmer.

    Read Also: Mobile Money agent rapes’ colleague to death in Ogun

    Justice Hassan held: “The prosecution has been able to establish the charges against the defendant. “I have also listened to the plea of allocutos made by the defendant’s counsel, though, she did not say much.

    “The offences that the defendant is charged with are very serious offences, consequently, I hereby sentenced you, Yesiru Onajobi to 10 years imprisonment on each count without option of fine.

    “The terms of imprisonment are to run concurrently. However, the period spent in custody shall be deducted from the jail terms”.

    Onajobi was arraigned by the National Agency for Prohibition and Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), on July 18, 2013.

    The offences, according to NAPTIP, contravened Sections 13 (1) and 18 (a) of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Law Enforcement Act 2003.

  • Bayelsa poll: Speaker bows to pressure, may resign on Monday 

    THE Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Emmanuel Tonye Isenah, may resign on Monday following the pressure mounted on him by some People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leaders to quit his position ahead of the November 16 governorship election.

    A source who spoke on the development said Isenah decided to resign so that he would not be blamed in case the PDP failed to win the election.

    The source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Isenah hinted of his resignation while addressing staff of the Assembly after presiding over plenary on Friday.

    “Members of the House that witnessed the Speaker’s briefing were Felix Bonny Ayah, representing Southern Ijaw Constituency 1, and Moses Marlon, representing Southern Ijaw Constituency 3.

    Isenah came under intense pressure to relinquish his office in the House of Assembly to enable his party balance political equations ahead of the November 16 governorship election.

    The speaker was said to have reached an agreement with Dickson and other PDP leaders to vacate his office in the event that Senator Douye Diri, who hails from his Kolokuma-Opokuma Local Government Area, emerged the candidate of the PDP for the election.

    Following the emergence of Diri, PDP leaders were said to have asked Isenah to surrender his position to another lawmaker from Southern Ijaw to enable the party garner votes from the council, but Isenah initially insisted that he would not let go of his position before the governorship poll, adding that he was yet to see how abandoning his office would help the PDP win the coming poll..

    The Special Adviser to the speaker on Social Media, Ranami Afagha, indicated that PDP leaders were blackmailing the speaker to leave the office for a lawmaker from Southern Ijaw.

    He said they were telling Isenah that his stepping down was crucial for the PDP to win the forthcoming poll.

    He wrote: “’Mr Speaker, Rt. Hon. Tonye Emmanuel Isenah, if you step down as speaker, then the PDP will win the governorship election. If PDP does not win, then you are the cause because you refused to step down as speaker.’ One of the blackmails against Mr Speaker.”

    Afagha, however, advised the Speaker to step down if the PDP insisted they needed his office to win the election with less than 50 days to go.

    Read Also: INEC still in possession of 201,143 PVCs in Kogi, Bayelsa

    He said some of the leaders also resorted to blackmailing the Speaker with an allegation of bribery to change the tide of public opinion against him.

    He said: “Please, kindly disregard any blackmail being peddled by those who want the Rt. Hon. Tonye Emmanuel Isenah, the Bayelsa 6th Assembly speaker, out of office.

    “Their blackmail is to incite the public who are always standing with the speaker from when he became an assembly member from the Labour Party to when he was elected speaker. This they are doing to incite the masses to rebel against the Speaker, who are always there standing with the Speaker.

    “This is why they are out with this blackmail that the Speaker has collected money to step down as Speaker. All they want is public rebellion against the speaker.

    “The speaker will not betray the trust of the masses. The speaker still stands with the public, and whatever decision he will take is for the good of the public and the masses who have always stood with and by him from the day he was elected speaker.

    “The speaker has not collected a kobo from anyone and will not collect. The speaker will address the public and tell you why he will step aside for the House of Assembly to function in full for the sake of the masses and the public.”

    Governor Dickson has taken measures to regain the confidence of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, popularly called the Bayelsa’s Kano in terms of voting, ahead of the November 16 governorship election.

    There were fears that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members in Southern Ijaw, which has the second voter population after Yenagoa, were making plans to move to the All Progressives Congress (APC) after losing the party’s governorship ticket.

    Dickson and the party leaders were said to be worried by defections of PDP members in the council and the likely mass exodus that could hit the party in the area if nothing was done to assuage them.

    About eight out of the 21 PDP governorship aspirants in the just-concluded primary election who came from Southern Ijaw all lost the poll to Senator Douye Diri, who hails from Kolokuma-Opokuma, in the same Central Senatorial District.

     

  • Kogi/Bayelsa guber polls: INEC axes 14 candidates

    FOURTEEN of the candidates whose names were submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the November 16 governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states were on Friday disqualified by the commission.

    The electoral umpire said their nominations were invalid.

    Nineteen other parties willingly withdrew from the polls, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr. Festus Okoye, said in Abuja.

    Disqualified  from Bayelsa are: Victor E. Izofapei of PDC (30years old); Deborah Ade  of SDP (31);Peter David of  ANDP (34); Princes Owali Willaims  of PPM  (27); Lucky Opio of RDMP (32); Sadjere Regan (31); and O. Ikolid Ayebanda  of YPP ( 34).

    Rejected from Kogi are: Musa Sodique of APP (34 ) and Usman Mihamemd I of DPP (31) .

    Running mates axed are: Ibrahim A. Abdullahi of ANP  (32); A. Bala of APM  (30); Omeiza Vincent of APP (34); Yinka Adeoye of ASD (33); Titus Adedeji Sunday of MRDD (33); Mohammed Bashiru Yakubu of SDP (34);  and Abubakar Aminat Mohammad of UPP (33)

    Okoye said that at the close of nomination, 23 political parties were cleared in Kogi with18 parties withdrawing from the race, while one party withdrew in Bayelsa, leaving 45 political parties in the race.

    “At the close of the time stipulated by sections 31, 33 and 35 of Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) for the submission of the names of nominated candidates, 49 nominations were received for Kogi.

    “Out of these, 41 nominations were valid, while eight were invalid. Subsequently, 18 political parties withdrew from contesting the elections. Therefore, 23 political parties will contest the governorship election in Kogi.

    “For Bayelsa State, a total of 52 nominations were received. Out of these, 46 were valid while six were invalid.

    “One political party has since withdrawn from the contest, leaving a total of 45 political parties to contest the governorship election in Bayelsa.’’

    Okoye recalled that INEC monitored the primaries conducted for nomination of candidates for the two states and also made public its preliminary review of the list and personal particulars submitted by the parties at the close of nomination.

    “After the review, we disclosed that some of the nominated candidates for governorship and deputy were below the minimum age prescribed by the constitution and that the Commission was considering further action.

    “In a letter dated Sept. 13, the Commission notified the concerned political parties of the invalidity of their nominations.

    Read Also: Kogi poll: INEC trains 210 security personnel

    “In Bayelsa State, six of the nominated governorship and/or deputy governorship candidates were affected, while in Kogi State there were eight such nominees.

    “Some of the affected parties have written the Commission admitting their error and requesting to submit new nominees to replace the under-aged ones.

    “However, this was after the deadline for submission of nominations on September 9, 2019. As such, the Commission could not accept any fresh nominations.

    “In like manner, since the parties did not submit valid nominations before the deadline, they cannot substitute the candidates on the grounds of death or voluntary withdrawal, in accordance with the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), which assumes the prior existence of valid nominations.’’

    Okoye said that members of the public may recall that just before the 2019 general elections, INEC had cause to draw the attention of political parties to the same problem of nominating under-aged candidates.

    “That communication was a notice to the parties that future violation of such a basic provision of the Constitution will be unacceptable and could lead to severe consequences.

    “Accordingly, the Commission has informed the affected parties that their names and logos will not appear on the ballots for the Bayelsa and Kogi governorship elections due to the invalidity of their nominations.’’

    He said that in compliance with section 34 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), the full names and addresses of all candidates standing nominated would be published in the relevant offices on Monday, September 30.

    He added that it would also be made available on the INEC website.

    Addressing reporters earlier this month at the close of nomination for the elections, Okoye had confirmed that 101 political parties nominated candidates for the polls from the two states.

    Okoye said that though 64 political parties conducted primaries in Bayelsa State and 59 in Kogi, some of them did not submit any list and personal information of their candidates, while a few others failed to submit before the deadline.

    He added: “From our records, 64 political parties conducted primaries in Bayelsa as against 59 in Kogi.

    “Out of these, 52 political parties from Bayelsa and 49 from Kogi respectively submitted the lists of candidates and their personal particulars at the close of nomination at 6pm. on Monday, September 9.

    “While some of the political parties that conducted primaries did not submit any lists and personal particulars of candidates, a few failed to submit within the time limit prescribed by the commission.

    “Out of the 101 nominees for the two states, 91 are males, representing 90 per cent, while 10 are females, representing 10 per cent of all the nominees.

    “Of the 52 nominees for Bayelsa, six are females, while 46 are males. The corresponding figures for Kogi are four females and 45 male nominees.”

     

  • Hoodlums kill policeman, seven vigilantes in Niger

    A policeman and seven members of a local vigilance group have been killed by gunmen in Kusherki community in Rafi local government area of Niger State.

    The gunmen were said to have ambushed the victims who were on their way to the village after receiving distress calls that the community was under the siege of suspected hoodlums.

    Sources said hoodlums engaged the security men in exchange of gunfire that lasted three hours, during which the unnamed policeman died.

    Read Also: Policeman killed in Ekiti bank robbery

    Policemen were said to have received a distress call that some armed cattle rustlers had invaded Lamba Waya village at Pandogari, which prompted the deployment of a joint team of police, civil defence personnel and vigilance group members to track down the hoodlums.

    Witnesses said the gunmen men escaped with the rustled cattle leaving seven vigilantes and one policeman dead.

    Confirming the report, Police spokesman, Muhammad Abubakar noted that the cattle rustlers were also badly injured during the exchange of gunfire.

    He disclosed that security forces had been drafted to the area with a view to apprehending the culprits.

    “Our men are following the blood trails and combing the areas as we speak, “ Abubakar added.

  • Gunmen abduct two senior NSCDC officials

    Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted two senior personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

    The two officials were identified as the Area Commander of Edo North Command, Francis Okunwe and Divisional Officer of Irrua, Albert Eguavoen, a Chief Superintended of Corps (CSC

    They were on their way to Benin city, the state capital, when they were abducted at Ewosaa before Ekpon near Ebele in Igueben Local Government Area.

    Read Also: NSCDC nab 20-year old woman for hawking N.3m naira notes

    Sources at NSCDC said the two officials travelled through Igueben due to the bad state of the Benin-Auchi-Okenne highway.

    It was said that the abduction happened on Friday at about 2 pm and the Toyota Sienna van they were travelling in had been recovered from where it was abandoned.

    “They were on their way to Benin but because of the bad state of portions along the Auchi – Benin road, they decided to pass through Igueben to cut off the bad spots but unfortunately the incident happened around Ewossa before Ekpon.’’

    Confirming the incident, the state’s Commissioner of Police, Danmallam Mohammed, said security agencies had been directed to apprehend the abductors.

  • Lagos: Baale denies involvement in land grabbing

    The Baale of Cardoso area of Ipaja, a Lagos suburb, Chief Moroof Owonla, aka Kaka, on Thursday, denied any involvement in land grabbing activities within the Ayobo-Ipaja Local Council Development Area of the state.

    A statement by his Media Adviser, Chief Babajide Osokoya, described Owonla as a consummate businessman in various sectors of the country’s economy, who would not engage in such unlawful activities.

    According to the statement: “Apart from being a traditional ruler of repute, High Chief Owonla sits comfortably atop successful businesses spanning hospitality, education, property, oil and gas and automobiles. He is the Chairman/ Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Owonla Hotels, Impressive Schools, Owonla Property Management Company, Rosebol Oil & Gas Limited and Kaka Auto Marts.

    ‘’It was, however, shocking that some residents in Ayobo and other communities in the area staged a demonstration to protest against the activities of land grabbers allegedly led by one Moroof Owonla, aka Kaka, who has been terrorising their communities.”

    Owonla said he had no personal or business relationship with the property agent, who issued a 14-day ultimatum dated September 10, 2019 to property owners in the community.

    He urged concerned authorities to feel free to carry out thorough investigations on the matter with a view to ascertaining those responsible for the controversial notice.

    The statement added: “We imagine what could have been the link between High Chief Owonla and the agent known as Gabfod Properties that informed the reported protest against his personality on the streets.

    ‘’For purpose of clarity, Chief Owonla was the property agent of late Chief Arimiyau Bello Ekundayo, when he won the case over the landed property in suit No. ID/1722/92 in the judgment delivered by Justice O.A Williams (Mrs.) of Ikeja High Court 7 on October 24, 2004, and he successfully managed the property until this year (2019), when the children and family of late Arimiyau Bello Ekundayo decided to disengage Chief Owonla and appointed Gabfob Properties Investments as their new land agent.

    ‘’Chief Owonla, a graduate of Business Administration from the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, is equally a landlord on the said property, having bought 15 acres with genuine documents directly from the judgment creditor, late Chief Arimiyau Bello Ekundayo, long before his death,  and this his children and family can attest to.’’

  • Redeemer cometh for abused tenants

    It is no longer news that some of the most atrocious crimes against humanity are committed in the house rental sector in Lagos State.

    Unscrupulous and mindless estate agents, especially those not bonded to government aegies and operating loosely as wheelie-dealers, have been having a kill on unsuspecting home-seeking tenants and dashing so many hopes with reckless abandon.

    You hear or read of an agent collecting advance rent from 100 people for only one room or flatlet or flat or even fleecing members of the public on properties that are not even assigned to them for letting. And cases of victims are not helped by the disposition of some law enforcement agents to reported cases of fraud by dodgy estate agents or rent collectors.

    That the state government has responded to these unsavoury developments with the creation of a state real estate transaction department (LASRETRAD) in the ministry of housing is quite commendable to help bring to an end the woes of would-be tenants who did not come about their money easily.

    LASRETRAD seeks to regulate, monitor and develop an institutional framework for real estate transactions in the state with a view to protecting citizens from fraudulent and unscrupulous practices of some real estate agents who often use real estate transactions as a means to defraud and take advantage of unsuspecting tenants and purchasers of properties.

    This agency of government is also to monitor compliance with the state tenancy law of 2011 and other state legislation on land transactions. It is a body that should be patronized by citizens for their common good. Government information machinery should be revved to give maximum publicity to this vital public service.

    This columnist supports government in creating awareness to members of the public to avoid unregistered agents and swindlers in the real estate sector.