The Nation Newspaper

Tag: The Sun

  • Ezeobi emerges The Sun industrialist of the Year

    Ezeobi emerges The Sun industrialist of the Year

    Chairman of Zobis Cables Limited, Chief John Ezeobi, has emerged The Sun Industrialist of the Year 2025 at an award ceremony held on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at the Expo Convention Centre, Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    The event attracted prominent Nigerians from the political, business and traditional institutions, who gathered to celebrate individuals recognised for outstanding contributions to national development.

    Ezeobi, who was accompanied by his wife, friends and business associates, received the award in recognition of his contributions to Nigeria’s electrical engineering sector and industrial growth through Zobis Cables Limited, a company noted for quality standards, technological innovation and job creation.

    The ceremony was chaired by the Chairman of Air Peace Airlines, Chief Barr. Onyema Allen, and anchored by Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, Chairman of New Nigeria Airlines. It was attended by representatives of the President of the Nigerian Senate, Godswill Akpabio, the Deputy Senate President, Senator Jibrin Barau, as well as Governors Peter Mbah of Enugu State, Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State, Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State, Bassey Otu of Cross River State and Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, alongside ministers, diplomats, traditional rulers and leading industrialists.

    While the awards night celebrated achievers across governance, entrepreneurship, public service and culture, Ezeobi’s recognition was highlighted as a testament to industrial vision, innovation and economic impact.

    Speaking after receiving the award, Ezeobi described it as a call to greater responsibility, saying, “An award is not merely recognition, it is a responsibility, to lead, to innovate, and to contribute meaningfully to the nation’s progress.”

    Other award recipients included High Chief Duru Mike Ejiogu, Chairman of Citygate Group, who received The Sun Entrepreneur of the Year Award for his contributions to real estate development. High Chief Peter Chibuike Orogwu, founder of Chuby-Zion Nigeria Ltd., was also recognised for entrepreneurial excellence.

    In public service, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Dr. Emeka Agbasi, and Prof. Stella Ifeanyi Smith, Director of Research at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, received Public Service Personality Awards. In the hospitality sector, Mr. Paul Onwuanibe of Landmark Africa Group and Chief Livinus Anigbogu of AG Lexon Nigeria Limited were honoured with Hospitality Icon Awards.

    Actor and public speaker Kenneth Okonkwo was recognised as Nollywood Icon, while Mrs. Onyeka Michael-Ugwu, founder of Hello Perfect, and Mr. Tunde Onakoya, founder of Chess in Slum Africa, received Young Achievers Awards.

    Leadership and political awards were also presented to Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State and Senator Solomon Adeola of Ogun West, who were named Men of the Year. Lifetime Achievement Awards went to Oba Rashidi Ladoja, the Olubadan of Ibadanland; Bishop Mike Okonkwo; Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe; Alhaji Buba Galadima; and Chief Simeon Eyisi. The Most Outstanding Royal Father of the Year award was presented to HRH Igwe Kenneth Orizu III, the Igwe of Nnewi Kingdom, while humanitarian honours went to Senator Jibrin Barau and Chief Obioma Success Akagburuonye.

    Commenting on the award, Chairman of Mekens Integrated Nigeria Ltd., High Chief Dr. Amb. Anthony Ikenna Obele, said, “the award is well deserved and quite befitting of an industrial giant. To the 7 Star General: John Ezeobi emerged not only as an award-winning industrialist but as a beacon for Nigerian manufacturing, a reminder that vision, perseverance, and innovation remain the bedrock of national progress.”

    The ceremony was broadcast live and streamed nationwide.

  • NPAN, editors, IPC slam EFCC raid on The Sun

    The Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN), the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) and the International Press Centre (IPC) Lagos-Nigeria have condemned the invasion of the premises of The Sun Publishing Limited by heavily armed operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the early hours of Monday.

    The fierce-looking operatives prevented workers of the organisation from either entering or leaving its premises and, in the process, disrupted the circulation processes.

    In separate statements, NPAN, NGE and IPC said they received the news of the invasion with grave concern.

    NPAN President Nduka Obaigbena’s statement reads: “Facts before the NPAN indicate that the EFCC operatives swooped on the newspaper in the early morning of June 12,  while Nigerians were commemorating the historic day of free expression, and  ordered  security men to take them on a guided tour of the premises of the newspaper.

    “The EFCC operatives subsequently prevented journalists and staff from performing their constitutional duties, and abridging their rights to free speech by preventing those who were in the premises from leaving, and others reporting for duty from entering the premises.

    “Although the EFCC  said they were there to enforce a 10-year old Interim Order of Forfeiture on the shareholding of Sun Newspapers, the editors of the Sun Newspapers said the EFCC officials were there on a vengeance and intimidation mission to settle scores on several stories published by the newspaper, including the alleged ownership of certain properties by the wife of the EFCC Acting Chairman for which the Acting  Chairman had threatened libel lawsuits.

    “Instead of lawsuits,  the EFCC operatives raided the newspaper offices to revive a 10-year old  Interim Order of Forfeiture that is already before an appellate court.

    “Given these developments, it is our considered view that the EFCC, being a state institution and a creation of the law, cannot be above the law: and the manner of the invasion tends to suggest that the EFCC was out on a self-help mission, a voyage to intimidate journalists, criminalise journalism  and cower free speech.

    “We should continue to remind ourselves that this crude tactics of invasion of  media houses and harassment of journalists did not work in the past,  is not going to work now, and will never work. It is unknown to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “We call on the Federal Government of Nigeria and all people of reason  and goodwill to call the EFCC to order for the greater good of the Federal Republic Nigeria and the rule of law.”

    NGE President Funke Egbèmode, in a statement, said the unwarranted siege to the company subjected workers to crude intimidation, psychological and emotional trauma.

    The EFCC, she added, had accused The Sun of publishing pro-Biafra, Boko Haram and Niger Delta militant stories.

    The statement reads: “The latest action of the EFCC on a newspaper house is a sad reminder of the dark years of military dictatorship and a deliberate effort to muzzle the press.

    “As a statutory agency birthed by an Act of Parliament in a democracy, we had expected the EFCC to explore civil means of addressing perceived infraction by a critical stakeholder in the Nigerian

    democratic project.

    “Rather than see the Fourth Estate of the Realm as an opposition, the commission should realise that the media is an indispensable partner in its fight against corruption.

    “The Guild notes that the latest affront on The Sun by operatives of the EFCC is one in a number of targeted attempts by a section of the nation’s security agency to gag free press. We recall the recent expulsion of Mr. Olalekan Adetayo, the State House correspondent of Punch Newspapers from Aso Rock by Bashir Abubakar, the Chief Security Officer (CSO) to President Muhammadu Buhari.”

    It added: “The alleged forfeiture order the EFCC brandished is 10 years old and a matter still before the Court of Appeal. The Guild wonders why the commission felt it had to act ahead of a case before a court of competent jurisdiction. It bears restating that such an attempt to intimidate the media does incalculable damage to the image of the EFCC and indeed the Nigerian government. Besides, it does not only undermine the foundation of our young democracy, it is a major threat to its sustenance and existence.

    “The Guild condemns the EFCC action in its entirety and calls on the commission to purge itself of all anti-democratic tendencies in order to foster mutual cooperation with the media and other stakeholders in its crusade against graft.”.

    The IPC described the invasion as a violation of the individual rights of the journalists and media workers, besides constituting an assault on press freedom.

    Director of IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, in a statement, said the act was uncalled for.

    According to him, it was a twist of irony that the invasion occurred on June 12, a day traditionally associated with the vanguard role that the media played in  the struggle for democracy in Nigeria.

    Arogundade said: “The EFCC owed the nation as a whole and the media and freedom of expression community in particular, an explanation for the unwelcome raid.”

  • NPAN, editors, IPC slam EFCC raid on The Sun

    NPAN, editors, IPC slam EFCC raid on The Sun

    The Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN), the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) and the International Press Centre (IPC) Lagos-Nigeria have condemned the invasion of the premises of The Sun Publishing Limited by heavily armed operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the early hours of Monday.

    The fierce-looking operatives prevented workers of the organisation from either entering or leaving its premises and, in the process, disrupted the circulation processes.

    In separate statements, NPAN, NGE and IPC said they received the news of the invasion with grave concern.

    NPAN President Nduka Obaigbena’s statement reads: “Facts before the NPAN indicate that the EFCC operatives swooped on the newspaper in the early morning of June 12,  while Nigerians were commemorating the historic day of free expression, and  ordered  security men to take them on a guided tour of the premises of the newspaper.

    “The EFCC operatives subsequently prevented journalists and staff from performing their constitutional duties, and abridging their rights to free speech by preventing those who were in the premises from leaving, and others reporting for duty from entering the premises.

    “Although the EFCC  said they were there to enforce a 10-year old Interim Order of Forfeiture on the shareholding of Sun Newspapers, the editors of the Sun Newspapers said the EFCC officials were there on a vengeance and intimidation mission to settle scores on several stories published by the newspaper, including the alleged ownership of certain properties by the wife of the EFCC Acting Chairman for which the Acting  Chairman had threatened libel lawsuits.

    “Instead of lawsuits,  the EFCC operatives raided the newspaper offices to revive a 10-year old  Interim Order of Forfeiture that is already before an appellate court.

    “Given these developments, it is our considered view that the EFCC, being a state institution and a creation of the law, cannot be above the law: and the manner of the invasion tends to suggest that the EFCC was out on a self-help mission, a voyage to intimidate journalists, criminalise journalism  and cower free speech.

    “We should continue to remind ourselves that this crude tactics of invasion of  media houses and harassment of journalists did not work in the past,  is not going to work now, and will never work. It is unknown to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “We call on the Federal Government of Nigeria and all people of reason  and goodwill to call the EFCC to order for the greater good of the Federal Republic Nigeria and the rule of law.”

    NGE President Funke Egbèmode, in a statement, said the unwarranted siege to the company subjected workers to crude intimidation, psychological and emotional trauma.

    The EFCC, she added, had accused The Sun of publishing pro-Biafra, Boko Haram and Niger Delta militant stories.

    The statement reads: “The latest action of the EFCC on a newspaper house is a sad reminder of the dark years of military dictatorship and a deliberate effort to muzzle the press.

    “As a statutory agency birthed by an Act of Parliament in a democracy, we had expected the EFCC to explore civil means of addressing perceived infraction by a critical stakeholder in the Nigerian

    democratic project.

    “Rather than see the Fourth Estate of the Realm as an opposition, the commission should realise that the media is an indispensable partner in its fight against corruption.

    “The Guild notes that the latest affront on The Sun by operatives of the EFCC is one in a number of targeted attempts by a section of the nation’s security agency to gag free press. We recall the recent expulsion of Mr. Olalekan Adetayo, the State House correspondent of Punch Newspapers from Aso Rock by Bashir Abubakar, the Chief Security Officer (CSO) to President Muhammadu Buhari.”

    It added: “The alleged forfeiture order the EFCC brandished is 10 years old and a matter still before the Court of Appeal. The Guild wonders why the commission felt it had to act ahead of a case before a court of competent jurisdiction. It bears restating that such an attempt to intimidate the media does incalculable damage to the image of the EFCC and indeed the Nigerian government. Besides, it does not only undermine the foundation of our young democracy, it is a major threat to its sustenance and existence.

    “The Guild condemns the EFCC action in its entirety and calls on the commission to purge itself of all anti-democratic tendencies in order to foster mutual cooperation with the media and other stakeholders in its crusade against graft.”.

    The IPC described the invasion as a violation of the individual rights of the journalists and media workers, besides constituting an assault on press freedom.

    Director of IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, in a statement, said the act was uncalled for.

    According to him, it was a twist of irony that the invasion occurred on June 12, a day traditionally associated with the vanguard role that the media played in  the struggle for democracy in Nigeria.

    Arogundade said: “The EFCC owed the nation as a whole and the media and freedom of expression community in particular, an explanation for the unwelcome raid.”

     

     

     

     

  • EFCC operatives at The Sun

    EFCC operatives at The Sun

    Why our operatives visited The Sun, by EFCC

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in a statement by its spokesman Wilson Uwujaren, said:
    “Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in the early hours of today, June 12, 2017 visited the head office of the Sun Newspaper in Lagos.
    “The visit which lasted for less an hour was part of routine efforts to ascertain the state of the assets of the publishing company which is subject of subsisting interim forfeiture order.
    “Prior to the visit, the commission had written to the management of the company to account for its management of the assets for the period of the subsisting court order.
    The commission still awaits the response of the Sun and will not be distracted by any attempt to whip up sentiments by alluding to an appeal which has been pending for 10 years. The Commission’s action is without prejudice to any appeal and only meant to verify the integrity of the assets.”
    The statement said no staff of the newspaper was subjected to either molestation or psychological trauma.
    The statement added: “Contrary to claims in a statement released to the media by the management of the Sun, no staff of the media outfit was molested or intimidated for the few minutes that operatives of the Commission spent in the premises of the company.
    “The claim that “EFCC operatives subjected our staff to crude intimidation, psychological and emotional trauma, even as some of the men accused our organization of publishing pro-Biafra, Boko Haram , and Niger Delta Militant stories ,” is strange and clearly the figment of the imagination of the Sun.
    “There was no reason to molest anybody as the commission has always related professionally with the publishing outfit.
    “The attempt also to link the visit to the acting Chairman, Ibrahim Magu’s threat to sue the organization over a libelous publication is also diversionary.
    “Magu is pursuing that option in his private capacity and his lawyer, Wahab Shittu, did write the Sun and his letter was widely published in the media on March 31, 2017.”

    Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday visited The Sun head office in Lagos “to ascertain the state of the assets of the publishing company which is subject of subsisting interim forfeiture order.”

    The anti-graft agency said no official of the company was molested or subjected to intimidation during the one-hour stay at the place.

    But the company described the visit of the EFCC operatives as “personal vendetta by the leadership of the Commission and by extension, a declaration of war against the media.”

    A statement by the organisation said: “Law-abiding staff of The Sun Publishing Limited resumed work this morning, June 12, 2017 to behold heavily armed EFCC operatives in our company. They claimed to have “orders from above” to seal up the premises of The Sun Publishing Limited.

    “At gunpoint, they ordered our security personnel to take them round the company premises, after which they proceeded to prevent staff from either entering or leaving the premises, and disrupted our circulation process.

    “For one gruelling hour, EFCC operatives subjected our staff to crude intimidation, psychological and emotional trauma, even as some of the men accused our organisation of publishing pro-Biafra, Boko Haram and Niger Delta militant stories, as they surveyed our premises.

    “We recall that in 2007, (10 years ago) the EFCC had obtained an interim forfeiture order in respect of some assets of The Sun, attached to a suit against our Publisher, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, for which we have filed an appeal, which is still pending in court.

    “We also recall that the Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu had written a letter personally signed by him dated 23rd of May and received on the 7th of June, asking The Sun management to report to the Commission on 5th of June, detailing our operations in the last 10 years, on account of an interim order of forfeiture under appeal.

    “As law abiding corporate citizen, our lawyer, Chief Chris Uche SAN, wrote the Commission to intimate the Agency that the issue was pending before the court of Appeal. The receipt of our correspondence was duly acknowledged.

    We were, therefore, shocked that our premises would be invaded by the Commission under whatever guise. This is condemnable and reprehensible. No one, Agency or authority should be above the laws of our country. An abuse of the law is a recipe for chaos.

    “Magu had in an earlier letter threatened to sue The Sun over a report published by one of our titles, pertaining to a report on investigation of a property allegedly traced to his wife. But up till now, we are yet to receive any court process.

    “In the light of the above, we strongly view this onslaught against The Sun as a personal vendetta by the leadership of the Commission, and by extension a declaration of war against the media.

    “In this invasion of our premises, it is crystal clear that what Magu and his Commission are after is not only to intimidate and muzzle us, but a furious attempt to call a dog a bad name in order to hang it.

    “On the issue of the interim order, which he purportedly based his invasion, Magu knows the matter has been on appeal since 2007 for which hearing comes up this week. But rather than wait for the court process, the Commission under the leadership of Magu, typically resorted to self help.

    “We want the general public to take note of this authoritarianism and high handedness, which has been the hallmark of Magu’s leadership of the EFCC.

    “The other charge of publishing Biafra, Boko Haram and Niger Delta militant stories is very ridiculous, baseless and anti-Press freedom.

    “We like to state that we are neither an ethnic, political nor religious newspaper, but we are the Voice of the Nation, reflecting all sides, all views and all shades of opinion in line with the ethics of our profession.

    “We challenge Magu and his Commission to show where The Sun’s stories have been different from other papers in the country.”

  • EFCC raids The Sun Newspapers

    EFCC raids The Sun Newspapers

    Officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC) on Monday raided the premises of The Sun Publishing Limited, publishers of The Sun Newspapers in Lagos.

    The Sun in a statement said the operatives claimed the raid which lasted for about an hour was on ‘orders from above’.

    The company owned by former Abia State governor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, had been the subject of a forfeiture order, obtained by the EFCC in a suit against Kalu.

    The company said it had filed an appeal, which was still pending in court and was shocked that its premises would be invaded by the Commission.

    The statement said, “Law-abiding staff of The Sun Publishing Limited resumed work this morning, June 12, 2017, to behold heavily armed EFCC operatives in our company. They claimed to have “orders from above” to seal up the premises of The Sun Publishing Limited.

    “At gunpoint, they ordered our security personnel to take them around the company premises, after which they proceeded to prevent staff from either entering or leaving the premises, and disrupted our circulation process.

    “For one gruelling hour, the EFCC operatives subjected our staff to crude intimidation, psychological and emotional trauma, even as some of the men accused our organisation of publishing pro-Biafra, Boko Haram, and Niger Delta militant stories, as they surveyed our premises.

    “We recall that in 2007, (10 years ago) the EFCC had obtained an interim forfeiture order in respect of some assets of The Sun, attached to a suit against our Publisher, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, for which we have filed an appeal, which is still pending in court.

    “We also recall that the Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, had written a letter personally signed by him dated 23rd of May and received on the 7th of June, asking The Sun management to report to the Commission on 5th of June, detailing our operations in the last 10 years, on account of an interim order of forfeiture under appeal.

    “As a law-abiding corporate citizen, our lawyer, Chief Chris Uche SAN, wrote the Commission to intimate the Agency that the issue was pending before the Court of Appeal. The receipt of our correspondence was duly acknowledged.”We were therefore shocked that our premises would be invaded by the Commission under whatever guise. This is condemnable and reprehensible. No one, Agency or authority should be above the laws of our country. An abuse of the law is a recipe for chaos.

    “Magu had in an earlier letter threatened to sue The Sun over a report published by one of our titles, pertaining to a report on investigation of a property allegedly traced to his wife. But up till now, we are yet to receive any court process.

    “In the light of the above, we strongly view this onslaught against The Sun as a personal vendetta by the leadership of the Commission, and by extension a declaration of war against the media.

    “In this invasion of our premises, it is crystal clear that what Magu and his Commission are after is not only to intimidate and muzzle us, but a furious attempt to call a dog a bad name in order to hang it.

    “On the issue of the interim order, which he purportedly based his invasion, Magu knows the matter has been on appeal since 2007 for which hearing comes up this week. But rather than wait for the court process, thecCommission under the leadership of Magu, typically resorted to self-help.

    “We want the general public to take note of this authoritarianism and high-handedness, which has been the hallmark of Magu’s leadership of the EFCC.

    “The other charge of publishing Biafra, Boko Haram, and Niger Delta militant stories is very ridiculous, baseless and anti-Press freedom.

    “We like to state that we are neither an ethnic, political nor religious newspaper, but we are the Voice of the Nation, reflecting all sides, all views and all shades of opinion in line with the ethics of our profession.

    “We challenge Magu and his Commission to show where The Sun’s stories have been different from other papers in the country.

    “We call on well-meaning citizens and relevant authorities to restrain Magu and his Commission from taking the laws into their hands.”

  • Remembering MEE: The daughter of the sun

    Remembering MEE: The daughter of the sun

    It is 21 years since May Ellen Ezekiel’s (MEE’s) untimely call to eternity. It seems as if it happened at the cast of dawn today. Ah! Twenty-one solid years. How time flies. No wonder Onome, her daughter is a full grown woman. Beautiful, tall and elegant, brilliant, bold and courageous. Truly, she is yours. I am proud of her.
    MEE, your abrupt transition at a young age of 39 was too much a shock to absorb. Core members of the Sunshine Foundation have not fully woken up from it. It remains a tragic nightmare with hallowing frightful echo in-tow, unfit for a playback.
    As an undaunted, top of the line dreamer, you had never, and would never have dreamt of you dying at 39, and from fibroid. Well! What would you say? God gives and God takes. I disagree. Some say the one that dies at 100 is a baby. This to me is conflicting. Was your unwelcome exit destiny, fate or human error? Only the God knows.
    It was on Sunday, March 24, 1996, my part was listening to the early morning newspaper review on radio – Ray Power 100.5FM. ThisDay carried a sorrowful and unbelievable extremely devastating report: ‘MEE Mofe-Damijo is Dead’.
    ‘Liar!’ he screamed and ran out.
    ‘MEE of all people. Die just like that? he added. This is unimaginable. How? When? Where? Is it a booboo? It’s better be. These attackers of progress – journalists have come again. They want her to read her obituary before her death. Like the likes of the Great Zik of Africa. If it is a joke they should nip it in the bud fast, he thought. It was nothing but the truth. For us, the time was unripe. Too sudden to be acceptable. You may say, the mystery is God’s. Death, cruel and wicked, always goes to where it is not invited, especially when the best of meals is about to be served.
    I only knew about MEE’s hospitalisation on Friday, March 22, 1996, through Elo, her little sister with a beautiful heart, when I went to find out if she was back from Abuja. She told me she would be back on Wednesday. This was Friday. MEE went beyond the veil of light on Saturday, March 23, 1996.
    Elo told me she wanted to see me urgently. I immediately remembered Baba asking me, “Where is your sister?” Then, I knew all was not well. Elo picked a few things from the house and we hurried away. At the hospital I was told again by few others that she wanted to see me. I was also told that she needed blood, and it should be Ben, her brother and I that should donate. We were tested and ready, but were later told it would not be necessary again.
    Before I left for NTA, HQ, Victoria Island, Lagos, I asked to see her but was denied access because she was being prepared for a second surgery. We never saw. I went away without any fear or thought of losing this daughter of the sun, whose flame was obsessive about helping and seeing others succeed and live well by living their dreams.
    As the senior Associate Producer, MEE and You Show, she had instructed me on what to do before the next episode of the hit TV Show. That was the reason I was at NTA. I had planned to see her on my return from the studio. Unfortunately, we completed the work very late and pushed my seeing her to Saturday. I never did. Why? For 21 years, I have no answer. I feel very naked and guilty. Publisher, oh! Iya, please forgive me. Surely, you would, after a few screams. Then, smiles. Jokes in your Warri accent, rumbled in echoes of laughter… The end. That was MEE.
    While my part was at my door I was at Saint Leo’s Catholic Church, Ikeja, Lagos. After Mass at Saint Leo’s Catholic Church, Ikeja, I went to Providence Hospital, Itire Road, Surulere, to see her. Here her black Honda Civic car was no longer there. On enquiry, I was rudely discharged by a lady whose appearance, countenance and utterances depicted more of a Lucifer’s daughter than the purported nurse she represented. She told me she has been moved to First Foundation, Ikeja, Lagos, not far from her house. The nurse, who had no name tag, sprang up briskly, walked to the entrance door, flung it opened and held it for me to pass. She looked at me scornfully. I smiled. She frowned, looked away and said, ‘Be quick. Goodbye’. Totally confused and angry, I left accepting that it was my fault, not hers.
    At First Foundation, I discovered that it has not been in operation for years then. Frustrated and full of guilt, I decided to go to the house just a few minutes walk from First Foundation. On Adeyire Close, I saw a lot of cars parked. Still I felt nothing tragic. As I approached the house, I saw more cars. People were discussing in small groups. The entire street was quiet. The scene was a sobriety. I entered the compound more confused than shocked. Well, she is back from hospital and her friends and relations are here to see her, I thought. Most of those present were known to me – her employees. They looked worried, sad, even traumatised. Their eyes were swollen red, especially the women.
    As I was walking toward them, Edna broke down and screamed. ‘Nsikak, see o! Publisher is dead’. I became numb and felt like something went out of me. I was lifeless. I felt like I was in a trance. When I recovered. I couldn’t imagine or decipher how tragic the line was. I was angry with God. I felt Edna was acting a script and I appeared to be a member of the audience.
    MEE, there was no applause from the audience on that Saturday’s episode, only death with its cruelty smiled. That was 21 years ago, your infectious smile which has always been our sunshine over-shadows death.Your sun shines even brighter, calm and soothing like the moon. Your dream will not die because you are here with us. We remember you today because you are a victor only on a pilgrimage. A SURVIVOR, The MEE I know is a picture entirely her own. She is daughter of the sun.
    Even as you wrote “I am a SURVIVOR. The wind may blow strong and harsh as a monsoon, the rains may fall hard and relentless as they have done in recent times. But at the end of the day the strong will SURVIVE … and the rain, where will it be? Forgotten, History. I’ll still be here. I intend to still be here!” In 2016, we celebrated your 20th Anniversary with the elderly at LTV Lagos because you are here with us. Whenever we remember your thoughts on why it is important to put a smile on the needy’s face, our spirit are rekindled with your flame of love for humanity.
    MEE was a remarkable human being. Rare. She drove me to discover myself. She was too wonderful, simple and innocent to live among us. Her smiles were synonymous with generosity, love and peace. Her world was freedom, robust and open. But like the early morning sun rise, it never last the day. Her dream was to put smiles and a little sunshine on the faces of the less-privileged. In Nigeria, if to every one million, there is a MEE, there would be no hatred, distrust, killing, poverty, violence, crime, illiteracy, prostitution and suffering.
    MEE employed the jobless, fed the hungry, supported the weak and helped the sick. She clothed the naked, sheltered the homeless, consoled the widow and encouraged the widower. In her, the aged found a concerned and caring daughter and the motherless, a loving and irreplaceable mother.
    Though young and healthy as a May morning, she marched on on Saturday, March 23, 1996 leaving her dream – The Sunshine Foundation with us. Her depth of perfection is the Foundation’s guide. God our strength.
    How do you live your life? Charitable? Begin now. Put a little sunshine on the face of the needy. Even a smile is enough. It doesn’t have to be money or old clothes. That abandoned woman with her children needs a soothing word of advice and courage. That childless woman need to be encouraged. The abandoned baby at the refuse heap need warmth. Our parents need love and respect.
    What is your contribution to make the world a better, loveable, peaceful and wonderful place for us all. Don’t forget. Nature is perfection. Discourage evil of any degree because she has a funny way of responding. Show someone the way. MEE was a great teacher. She made me know I had the ability to write. One day, I chuckled, ‘ I am not as fast, intelligent, creative and talented as you are’.
    •Daniels is the Coordinator of 1000 Leaders Global Projects.
    MARY, sleep on till we meet again. When? Perhaps at a new Dawn. See you then, MEE Mofe-Damijo.
    Nsikak Daniels
    Coordinator, 1000 Leaders Global Projects.

  • How The Sun DMD’s wife was released

    How The Sun DMD’s wife was released

    FREED wife of The Sun Deputy Managing Director (DMD) Mr Steve Nwosu, Toyin yesterday relived her experience in kidnappers’ hands.

    She was abducted on Monday and released early yesterday.

    She said she was well treated, adding that the kidnappers served her food, but she could not eat.

    Mrs Nwosu was released around 2.20am when the kidnappers took her to the First Avenue/Amuwo Odofin Link Bridge and gave her a phone to call her husband.

    It was gathered that the kidnappers, who had demanded N100 million ransom, blindfolded her before taking her to the bridge, which is less than 15 minutes drive to the Nwosus’ Ago Palace Way, Okota home on the outskirts of Lagos.

    After her call, they collected the phone from her and left in their speed boat.

    [ad id=”403656″]A source close to the family said a team of security operatives, led by Police Commissioner Fatai Owoseni found Mrs Nwosu on the bridge.

    When The Nation visited the Nwosus’ home at 9am, friends and family members were praising God for her safe return.

    Some of the visitors, including Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) members, shed tears of joy, as they embraced Mrs Nwosu.

    At about 10:51am, the couple came out of their living room, accompanied by two others, to address reporters on the balcony.

    Dressed in a black jeans top, blue leggings and a pair of slippers, Mrs Nwosu was all smiles.

    But behind the warmth was a traumatised woman, with a blood clot in her right eye.

    She said the injury must have been caused by the leaves in the place she was taken to.

    For the about three minutes, the couple spoke with reporters, The Nation observed that she was in tears, while her husband held her and patted her back calmly.

    The couple said they had been directed by the police not to grant interviews to avoid contradictory reports.

    Nwosu maintained that he did not know what transpired before his wife was released, but he thanked all who facilitated her safe release.

    Nwosu specifically mentioned former Abia State Governor Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, his boss, Mr Eric Osagie, the Lagos State Government, and the security agencies.

    He said: “We just want to thank Nigerians and to say we are happy she was released in the wee hours of today (yesterday).

    “I am sorry we might not be able to give the details because police who have been on the case all along said they will address a press conference and that we should not talk.

    “We do not know how this happened; all we know is that we were asked to pick her up somewhere this morning. Incidentally, the security agents, including the Commissioner of Police were there too.

    “I really do not know what happened besides that some people called and said we should come to a certain place and pick her, which we did and she is home.

    “So, we want to thank all Nigerians and thank the government, security agencies and all those involved.

    “I do not know how this came about, but the important thing is that I have my wife with me, she is back with us and we are grateful.

    “I want to allow the police address their press conference this morning, and then I will also talk to my Chairman, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, as well as the Managing Director of Sun, Eric Osagie, who did all the running.”

    Asked if ransom was paid, Nwosu replied: “How much can I afford? As a journalist, where will I be getting N100 million?

    “Let the police say what they did and let Dr Kalu also say how this happened. All I know is that I got my wife back. What happened in between, I do not know,” he said.

    Mrs Nwosu thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for her safe release.

    “Firstly I thank God. President Muhammadu Buhari, The Sun Newspaper staff, my colleagues at the local government,  NIPR members and our well wishers.

    “I did not even know that I am this popular. I want to thank everybody including the media houses. God is just the ultimate.

    “I thank you so much that I am alive and kicking. One thing I will tell Nigerians is if you are doing good, continue to do it. God will help us all,” she said.

    Earlier, Owoseni told The Nation in a telephone interview that the woman was found around First Gate, Amuwo Odofin, where the kidnappers left her and contacted her people to get her.

    He said efforts were on to bring the perpetrators to book, asking the people for information to curb crime.

    Also yesterday, it was gathered that the dereliction of duties by policemen in Area E Division, Amuwo Odofin, enabled the kidnappers to take away Mrs Nwosu on Monday morning.

    The Amuwo Odofin Police Division was called severally but its operatives refused to respond on grounds that the Nwosus’street is under Okota Police Division.

    Despite being the closest police station to the street, Festac Policemen, The Nation learnt, were contacted about 1:30am, but they did not arrive till about 3am.

    A source, who spoke in confidence, said Nwosu also tried to reach a senior police officer in Festac, but the officer did not pick his call.

    “Oga called police before the armed men broke the window and entered the house. He called them many times, but they did not come, the Festac policemen kept arguing that the street is under Okota. He was told to call Okota police station. Are the police supposed to argue over jurisdiction when someone’s life is at stake?

    “He called their oga many times but he did not pick and so, when the kidnappers entered the house, he surrendered.

    “It was after they have robbed and kidnapped his wife that the police came. If they had come early, maybe things would have turned out differently,” he said.

  • The Sun DMD Nwosu’s wife abducted

    The Sun DMD Nwosu’s wife abducted

    The wife of The Sun Deputy Managing Director Steve Nwosu,  Toyin, has been kidnapped.

    An armed gang, numbering about seven, stormed Nwosu’s Ago Palace Way, Okota home, entering the house through a window.

    They took advantage of the absence of electricity supply, the transformer stationed in front of the building before scaling the fence.

    They were said to have broken the bulb at the corridor, entered the house and turned off the lights. They  headed straight to the rooms.

    The armed men bundled Nwosu’s kids who were sleeping in the parlour and locked them inside a toilet ransacked the house for money and other valuables, after which they ordered his wife to dress up. They whisked her away in a speedboat through the canal opposite the house.

    It was learnt that the criminals blindfolded Nwosu and wanted to abduct him but changed their minds and told his wife to dress up. They took her instead.

    The gang also attacked another house on the street. The owner, who was said to have jumped into the next compound upon sighting them was injured.

    The residents are vulnerable to attacks because of the porous canal that serves as boundary between Amuwo Odofin and Okota.

    Nwosu told The Nation that the armed men entered his house around 1:50am.

    “They did not knock. They opened the window, pushed down the burglary proof and two people came and pointed a gun at me.

    The third one stood on the other side.

    “My wife had jumped out ahead of me but then, they bypassed her and pointed the gun at me, demanding money.

    “They searched everywhere and I told them that I am a journalist and wondered how much they think a journalist has.

    “But I guess they did not believe me and were still demanding ‘where is the money’.

    “Sincerely, there was really no money. The last N20, 000 I had at the weekend, I had gone to a wedding on Saturday, and feeling like a big boy, I had sprayed the money there.

    “My wife and I were even arguing that there was no money at home and I told her to be patient, that on Monday we would see what we could scavenge from the account.

    “Everybody understands the economy of today, but somehow, the men did not seem to believe me.

    “Initially, they blindfolded me and wanted to take me with them. Although I was blindfolded, I know they brought me outside the house.

    “But they suddenly changed their mind and took me back, demanded that I laid on the floor and then I heard them telling my wife ‘dress up, dress up’.

    “She had just her nightie on when they came. So, I don’t even know what she eventually wore when they left.

    “The next thing I heard was Ole! Ole! (thief! Thief!) outside, which I knew nothing about. Later I started hearing gunshots and by the time I stood up, some neighbours had come and said there were some others (gunmen) outside, who joined the three that entered my compound and that one was carrying AK47 while the other one had a pistol.

    “That the other one also was carrying a gun and that they shot to disperse the neighbours who had gathered, before they entered their motorboat and left.

    “God knows if I had money I would have given them. Robbers have been here once, last December. Luckily, it happened a few hours after my wife’s birthday. So, all the little gifts people gave her were still in the house and so, then, the robbers saw money.

    “So, if I had I would have given them but there was nothing,” he said.

    Asked if the robbers had contacted him, Nwosu replied that they were making “all kinds of demands, both monetary and otherwise.”

    He said: “They have made their demands. All kinds of demands. Not only monetary. I won’t go into details of what they are demanding.

    “I did not take the case to the police, I guess they heard the gunshots and came. They asked me and I gave them my statement that’s the much I know.

    “As I am standing, I have not done an inventory but I know they took two phones with a small one that my little girl uses.

    “I set it as alarm to wake her up because they resumed school today. My kids were sleeping in the parlour when the armed men came.

    “They don’t like sleeping in their room most times, so, they were in the parlour and the men just rounded all of them into one toilet and locked them there.

    “So, at the moment, I know they took the phones and two IPADs, some perfumes, hot drinks. I don’t know what else they took because they turned the entire place upside down, everything in my wardrobe was placed on the bed and my mattress turned over.”

    Police Commissioner  Fatai Owoseni, said efforts were on to secure Mrs. Nwosu’s release.

    He said the police were going to collaborate with local vigilante groups to secure the waterways.

    Owoseni, who said the incident was painful to him because Nwosu is his personal friend, ruled out a possible attack on the journalist.

    He said that three other buildings were attacked same night, describing the incident as a case of armed robbery.

    “Looking at how wide the sea is, it takes a whole lot to patrol the waterways but what we do now is to partner with members of the community like forming joint patrol teams with their vigilante groups,” he said.

    At Nwosu’s home was the Managing Director of The Sun, Eric Osagie, who urged the kidnappers to release the woman unharmed.

    With him were the newspaper’s editorial board chairman, Mrs. Wale Sokunbi; its General Manager, Operations, Daramola Lajumoke and Editor on Sunday, Abdulfatah Oladeinde.

  • ‘My comrades at The Sun take heart’

    ‘My comrades at The Sun take heart’

    Edo State Governor Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has condoled with the management and workers of the Sun Publishing Ltd on the death of Mr. Dimgba Igwe.

    He said in a statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Public Affairs, Prince Kassim Afegbua:  “It came as a rude shock to learn of the death of one of your executives, a journalist with the Midas touch, whose literary contributions to the development of the media had its unique place in history.

    “I had the opportunity to interact with him on a number of occasions and I could see the informed logic of his discourse, especially on issues of statehood.”

  • Prosecution tenders ‘items used’ in bombing media houses

    Memories of the April 26, 2012 bombing of three media houses in Kaduna were relieved on Tuesday before the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    It was at the resumed trial of Mustapha Umar, a suspected Boko Haram member, charged with terrorism related offences over the explosion which partly damaged the building -SOJ Plaza – occupied by Thisday, the Sun and the Moment, on Kontagora Road.

    The prosecution, led by Simon Labaran, brought burnt remains of a Honda car, marked Kaduna: AL 306 MKA; 12 gas cylinders and a partly burnt black 25Litre jerry can, allegedly used by Umar in his purported attempt to blow-up the building.

    At about 11.30am, the presiding Judge, Justice Adeniyi Ademola, parties to the case, court officials and others came down from the court room located on the fifth floor of the Federal High Court building to inspect the items brought onto the foot of the building’s main entrance.

    Prosecution witness number Eight, who had spoken about the items, while testifying in the court room, identified them, following which the court admitted them in evidence as exhibits MU7 to 18(the cylinders), the jerry can as MU19 and the car as MU20.

    Earlier in his evidence, the witness, who wore mask, to conceal his identity, said as at the time of the incident, he was an Exhibit Keeper at the Sabon Gari Police Station, Kaduna.

    He told the court how the items were given to him for safekeeping after they were retrieved by the police, from the scene of the incident.

    The prosecution also called two other witnesses- a police bomb disposal expert and an Assistant Police Commissioner, who said he interviewed Umar and made a video recording of the interview session.