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Ota-Awori Kingdom Biggest Event, Iganmode Cultural Festival Set To Hold In December!

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The annual one week-long Iganmode Annual Cultural Festival, “Odun Omo Iganmode Afeleja,” has been scheduled to hold from December 13 to December 19, 2021 with the theme; “Culture: A Module For Sustainable Leadership In Nigeria.”

According to the Chairman of the Central Planning Committee of the event, Aare Ayodele Bankole, the festival opens on Monday December 13 with the Osugbo Prayer session, which he said will come up at the Olota of Ota Palace.

This was just as the Olota of Ota, Oba (Professor) Adeyemi Obalanlege (Lanlege Ekun II, Arole Iganmode) called on all residents, companies, and individuals, “who have chosen Otta as their home or are indigenes to support us to have a successful outing.”

Buttressing the view of the monarch, Aare Bankole added at a press briefing, which was held at Oba Isiyemi Hall, Olota Palace on Wednesday that as part of the activities for the festival, there will be a free Medical Outreach program to cater for the aged and the less privileged members of the community.

“It will be a day-long affair with medical personnel on ground at the palace attending to people needing medical attention.

“Day One will be concluded with a charity visitation to Ijamido Motherless Babies Home.

“Day Two Tuesday, December 14 is our Youth Day. There will be a Youth Summit to give lipid and activate meanings to our central theme; “Culture as a Module for Sustainable Leadership in Nigeria.”

“The session intends to educate and inform participants on the significance and synergy between culture, customs and building sustainable leaders for effective leadership roles in the society.

“The day will be wrapped up with a Street Carnival for the Youth,” Aare Bankole revealed..

The Central Planning Committee Chairman added that on Day Three, Wednesday December 15 is the Cultural Day, saying that It promised to be a day for all to remember from 3pm at the Olota’s Palace Open Ground.

Day Four, which is Thursday December 16, he said is planned for the installation of new chiefs at the Olota Palace at 10am, when traditional and honorary chieftaincy titles will be bestowed on deserving members of the community.

“On Day Five Friday December 17, there will be a Special Jumat Service at Ota Central Mosque from 1pm.

“Day Six, Saturday December 18 is for the Grand finale billed to take place at St Michaels / AnsarUdeen Primary school, Ota from 10am.

“Day Seven, Sunday December 19 is for Thanksgiving Service at the Living Faith Tabernacle (Winners Chapel),” he said.

Olota of Otta said further at the briefing that the fact that the leaders of the town were at the event was a confirmation of their continued commitment to play their fatherly role to painstakingly preserve the style and substance of “this great kingdom.”

“Undoubtedly, every “Odun Omo Iganmode Afeleja” comes with great improvements on the previous ones.

“The theme of this year is “Culture: A Module for Sustainable Leadership In Nigeria,” could not have been more apt, especially as this historical and spiritual event has helped immensely in projecting the rich cultural values and norms of the Otta people and by extension, all Awori People as a whole.

“It is a festival that helps to remind our people of their origin and identity, as an essential component for stimulating communal understanding, love, unity and for augmenting steady progress, peace and development of the larger Community.

“This year’s theme is more apposite. As sons and daughters of Otta, l must say that from birth, we have imbibed the right cultural values and morals needed in all spheres of life. Again, as a people, the cultural heritage we inherited from our fore-fathers.

“This has also helped in our determination to ensure the massive socio-cultural and infrastructural development that we have now witnessed across our sub-ethnic nationality since I assumed office as the Olota,” he said.

The monarch stressed that Otta Kingdom occupied a very important place in the ecosystem of the state and the country, “especially as the Industrial nerve-centre of the economy.”

He emphasised that they were the Geese that lay the Golden Egg is not unconnected with their history.

Otta, nay Aworiland, he explained, is home to “very interesting historic sites as well as unique traditions and customs of which we are reputed. Culture is believed to be a distinctive way of life of a group of people.

“Moreover, in order to promote our cultural heritage, we believe in enhancing industry and tourism.

“To attract tourists in appreciable numbers however, we need to develop our infrastructure and generally upgrade our environment.

“That is why I will call on the State Government to come to our aid to fix the deplorable roads that are in Otta and give us a fair share of our contribution to the State economy,” he stated.

The Oba promised that they would continue “to sensitise our people not only to be of good conduct, but to be loyal, patriotic and support the Government of the day by paying their taxes regularly.

“Our people need to focus attention on the necessary conducive atmosphere for businesses to continue to thrive by maintaining the peace and shunning social vices that will heat up the polity. Only then can we legitimately demand that the Government should compensate us with various infrastructural development projects.”

While revealing that they will be honouring some Awori Citizens who have distinguished themselves in community development and personal lives, which he said have direct impact on the town’s historical antecedents, he said that they will be acknowledging some friends of Otta, who have made life more abundant for the citizens who come to work, live and play in the town.

“We appreciate the likes of Chief Michael Adenuga who have offered to fix the 64 kilometre Otta-Idiroko Road, and it is on this note that I will urge other industrialists and investors to emulate such a move.

“We thank the Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun for his resilience in fixing some of the terribly bad roads here, including the Lagos-Otta-Abeokuta express road, intra-city roads like Joju and the Attan-Lusada road which leads to the largest Industrial hub in the country at Agbara.

“While we request partnership with the state Government on this Cultural Festival and its mainstreaming in the Tourism Calendar of the State like it is done with Ojude Oba, Lisabi Day, Oronna Day or even Odun Omo Olowu that continue to enjoy Government patronage and presence every year, we will encourage Government not to rest on it oars to fulfil all promises to our people.

“For us, we will continue to support all genuine efforts by individuals and groups that are directed at improving the cultural heritage and the lives of our people in general,” he said.

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Just In: Dr Doyin Okupe Is Dead

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Dr. Doyin Okupe, a prominent Nigerian physician, politician, and former presidential aide, has died.

 

He passed away at the age of 72.

 

According to sources close to the family, Dr. Okupe had been critically ill in the weeks leading up to his demise.

 

His health had reportedly deteriorated significantly, prompting concern among his loved ones and supporters.

 

A reliable source confirmed that his death was linked to cancer, marking the end of a long struggle with the illness.

 

 

It was reported  in October 2023 that Okupe was hospitalized with prostate cancer and was flown to Israel for treatment.

 

However, it was learnt that his condition did not improve as he and his family expected.

 

Okupe was first diagnosed with prostate cancer 16 years ago and later developed sarcoma in his right shoulder.

 

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Alleged $340,000 Fraud:  Court Adjourns Mercy Chinwo’s Ex-Manager’s Case till May 14

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Justice A.O. Owoeye of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, has adjourned the alleged $340,000 fraud case involving Ezekiel ThankGod, former manager of gospel artiste, Mercy Chinwo till May 14, 2025 for hearing.

 

The Lagos Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC had filed a three-count charge against him bordering on money laundering and dishonest conversion to the tune of $340,000.

 

One of the counts reads: “That you, EZEKIEL ONYEDIKACHUKWU THANKGOD and EEZEE GLOBAL CONCEPTS LIMITED sometime in 2023, directly retained the sum of $260,494 (Two Hundred and Sixty Thousand Four Hundred and Ninety-Four USD) in EEZEE GLOBAL MINISTRY Zenith Bank Plc account number, which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity, the dishonest conversion of the said sum, property of Mercy Chinwo and Judith Kanayo.”

 

The offence is contrary to Section 18(2)(d) and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

 

He was to have been arraigned alongside his company, Eezee Global Concepts Limited, on February 17, 2025 but his absence stalled his trial. The court had also issued a bench warrant for his arrest and ordered him to appear in court today March 6, 2025 either by the subsisting bench warrant or production by his counsel.

 

His counsel, Dr. Monday Ubani, SAN had also assured that he will be in court on the adjourned date.

 

At the resumed sitting on Thursday, prosecuting counsel, Bilkisu Buhari informed the court of the prosecution’s readiness to arraign the defendant who was present in court.

 

“The matter is for arraignment and subject to the court’s overriding convenience, we are ready to commence,” she said.

 

Justice Owoeye, however, held that: “There is an administrative procedure on this matter and I cannot proceed until the determination of the procedure.”

 

The case was thereafter adjourned till May 14, 2025 for hearing.

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Court Dismisses Businessman, Funtua’s Suit Seeking To Stop EFCC’s Probe Over Alleged Fraud

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A Federal High Court in Abuja and presided over by Justice Emeka Nwite has thrown out a suit seeking to compel the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, AGF, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to stop the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, from investigating allegations of fraud and economic crimes allegedly committed by a businessman, Abu Samaila Isa Funtua.

The presiding judge dismissed the case on Monday, February 24, 2025 on the ground that the request of the businessman lacked merit and substance.

 

Delivering judgment in a fundamental rights enforcement suit against AGF and EFCC, Justice Nwite held that AGF has enormous power to take over proceedings in criminal matters but held that such enormous powers are not at large.

Justice Nwite said that under Section 43 of EFCC Act 2004, the anti-graft agency was not under any obligation to take advice from any ministry or agency to drop its statutory powers to initiate investigation into any alleged economic crimes.

The businessman had in his suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2024 sued the AGF and EFCC complaining of unlawful investigation into some business transactions involving him and others.

He alleged that EFCC was biased and mischievous in the ways and manners he was being investigated.

Specifically, Funtua alleged that EFCC was acting the script of his business adversaries to cause investigation against him without telling him the nature of his offence or show any petition against him.

Funtua subsequently asked Justice Nwite to issue an order of mandamus against the AGF to order EFCC to drop the investigation and direct any other security agency of the federal government to take over the investigation.

However, in his judgment, Justice Nwite held that Section 174 (3) of the 1999 Constitution upon which the case was predicated did not confer any power on the AGF to nominate any agency to conduct investigation into economic crimes or financial breaches.

The judge held that in the exercise of its statutory duties, the EFCC was not under any obligation to obey directives from any ministry or government department.

Justice Nwite said that Section 43 of the EFCC Act 2004, has no ambiguity to the fact that the anti-graft agency shall have powers to initiate investigation into alleged economic crimes and initiate prosecution of those indicted in the process.

He subsequently dismissed the suit for want of merit and substance.

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