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Police Investigate Allegations of Fraud, OBT Against Grace Nation Church GO, Chris Okafor

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The police in Lagos have started investigation into the allegations of fraud and obtaining by false pretence made by a businessman and former member of the Grace Nation Church International, Lagos, Michael Omolayo Ibukun against the founder and General Overseer of the church, Dr Chris Okafor.

 

This followed a petition to the Commissioner of Police by Omolayo alleging that Dr. Okafor obtained money from him by false pretence and two of his vehicles totalling N106.178 million.

 

Giving details of how the incident took place, the businessman said as the Managing Director of Blessed Energy Resources Limited, he was introduced to the pastor by one of his friends called Ayobami, now late, in 2021.

 

According to him, the pastor who claimed to be a man of God, brainwashed him with fake miracles and asked him to supply 42,000 litres of diesel valued at N50 million.

 

“After that, he refused to pay me a dime up to this moment and he also brainwashed me by collecting my two vehicles, one Mercedes Benz M-Class with number plate, KRD 575 HH (black in colour) and Mercedes Benz ML350 with number plate, KTU 546 HE (black in colour) all valued at N30 million.

 

“I also transferred N14.378 million into his bank accounts and N11.800 million in cash.”

 

The business man, who claimed that his attraction to the pastor was because he did a contract for Lagos State government but they have continued to owe him huge amount of money, prompting his resort to prayers, also alleged that the pastor warned him not to reveal the secret to any person and that if he does, it will be the end of his life.

 

“To my utmost surprise, a woman, Bose Olasukanmi, used by the pastor for fake miracles to deceive me was arrested by the police. It was then I realised that I have been duped by the pastor and all efforts made for him to return my vehicles and pay my money proved abortive.”

 

The business man who said he was in the protocol department in the church further alleged that the pastor also threatened his life by warning that he should stop demanding a refund of his vehicles and payment of his money.

 

At press time, police sources said one of the vehicles had been recovered from the person the pastor sold it to while frantic efforts were in progress to recover the second vehicle.

 

However, sources said all efforts to invite the pastor failed but he only sent a legal representative to deny all allegations against him.

 

While reacting to the allegations via a statement on Saturday, June 29, 2024, which had earlier been published by SOCIETY REPORTERS, the church said it had no case to answer.

 

A statement issued by the church’s spokesman, Henry Okoduwa, said: “There cannot be anything farther from the truth. For the records, the said cars were willingly given as an offering to God by Ibukun who, joyous and in an expansive mood for the blessings he received from God, decided to drop the car keys on the altar after giving a testimony during one of the church’s services that was broadcast live about three years ago.

 

“Ibukun had particularly been enamoured by the fact that God broke the jinx of no male children in his lineage when his wife conceived and bore him a son following the prayers of Dr Chris Okafor, the church’s head pastor.

 

“That is why we find it particularly strange that the same person who willingly gave his cars with the original documents attached would turn around a few years later to demand that they be given back.

 

“The church is also scandalised to hear him allege that he was being owed N50 million for the diesel fuel he supplied it when in actual fact he was paid all the monies owed him for the few times he transacted business with the church.

 

“It therefore does not need high intelligence for anyone to fault Ibukun’s debt story because it’s illogical for him to have recently gone to Dr Chris Okafor, the church’s patriarch to make a request of a N10million loan when all he needed to have done was demand that part of what was being owed be paid.

 

“He had asked for a loan which he said he wanted to re-inject into his business, and despite being unable to offer the assistance because of the enormous resources that had been sunk into the rebuilding and expansion project the church undertook in 2023, God’s servant, Dr Okafor still sought for a way out by referring him to his bank.

 

“That the bank could not help at the end was not because the man of God did not want to. Mr Ibukun failed to convince the bank that he would be able to repay the loan. They said he was not credit-worthy.

 

“The church authorities also faulted Ibukun in the area of offerings and tithes giving, saying that it does not compel people to give.

 

“Thankfully, we run live telecast of all our programmes/services and our mantra is to always allow people to give what they can afford at any given time. The church does not monetise its services or the blessings derived therefrom, nor does it compel people to give what they are not led to give.

 

“Since we abhor the practice of making altar calls in which members or visitors are asked to drop their cars and landed properties, it is sheer cont

radiction to imagine that Ibukun was asked to.

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Dayo Oketola: Obasanjo to speak at former Punch editor’s book launch

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2 days ago

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September 5, 2024

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The immediate past Editor of The PUNCH, Dayo Oketola, is set to launch a book he authored as his contribution to the development of the pen profession.

The book,  ‘The Catalyst: Nigerian ICT Evolution Through a Journalist’s Lens,’ will be launched on September 17, 2024, at an exaugural lecture to mark the end of his time as an editor and celebrate his nearly 20 years of experience in journalism.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo will be the Special Guest Speaker at the event, which will take place at the Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos, by 10 am.

Oketola, now a senior member of the PUNCH Editorial Board, left as Editor of The PUNCH in June.

While serving as editor, he won the Editor of the Year prize at the Nigeria Media Merit Awards (NMMA) in December 2023. He also led the organisation to win the Newspaper of the Year at the same award ceremony. Oketola, a consistent journalism prizeman, also won  Editor of the Year Award at The Industry Awards 2022. He is a two-time winner of the Zimeo Excellence in Media Awards in Johannesburg 2015 and Nairobi 2016, among numerous awards during his illustrious journalism career.

In a statement, Oketola said, “I am excited to announce the upcoming launch of my book, The Catalyst: Nigerian ICT Evolution Through A Journalist’s Lens, scheduled for September 17, 2024.

“On the same day, I will also be hosting an exaugural lecture to celebrate my tenure as Editor of The PUNCH and nearly 20 years in journalism.”

Speaking further, the former editor described his years in journalism as one that had driven advocacy and impacted different sectors of the economy.

“My 20 remarkable years of stewardship to the nation via media and leadership practices have driven advocacy and impacted areas such as business and economy, ICT, energy, agriculture, social inclusion, anti-corruption, drug trafficking prevention, and nation-building, a testament to the power of journalism in shaping our society,” Oketola remarked.

Other influential guests hosted at the media event are a former Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria, Michael Ikpoki, who will chair the occasion, and the Convener, Centre for Social Media Research, Dr Akin Olaniyan, who will be the book reviewer.  The Minister of Information, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, will grace the occasion as the Chief Host.

Similarly, the Managing Director/ Editor-in-Chief of PUNCH Nigeria Limited, Mr Adeyeye Joseph, is the host, while the President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mr Eze Anaba,  is the co-host.

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Super TV CEO alleged murder suspect Chidinma’s trial resumes Oct 15

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5 days ago

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September 3, 2024

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A Lagos High Court sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square will on October 15, 2024, resume the trial of Chidinma Ojukwu, charged with the murder of the Super TV Chief Executive Officer, Michael Usifo Ataga.

Ojukwu, a 300-level Mass Communication student of the University of Lagos, is being prosecuted alongside her sister, Chioma Egbuchu and one Adedapo Quadri for the murder of Ataga.

The defendants were arraigned on October 12, 2021, by the Lagos State Government.

Ojukwu and Quadri are facing the first to eight counts bordering on conspiracy, murder, and stabbing while her sister, Egbuchu, is facing the ninth count of stealing an iPhone 7 belonging to the late Ataga.

Ojukwu and Quadri were alleged to have conspired and murdered Ataga on June 15, 2021, by stabbing him several times with a knife in the neck and chest.

The incident occurred at No. 19, Adewale Oshin Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.

Society Reporters reports that before the ongoing court’s vacation, the prosecution had called 11 witnesses.

The 11th witness, Dr Richard Somiari, a forensic expert, had revealed to the court that the DNA blood sample found on Chidinma’s red dress matched that of the victim, Ataga.

Somiari, a director and consultant for the Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre, was led in evidence by the Lagos State Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Mrs Adenike Oluwafemi.

He told the court that he had practised forensics for 15 years and had conducted over 500 forensic tests.

Somiari told the court that his office received 21 different items on different days from their DNA centre.

According to him, the items that were received for evidence included a stained red dress, an army green T-shirt, and a DNA sample from Chidinma Ojukwu.

He also told Justice Yetunde Adesanya that other items received were urine, blood, gastric content and byle which were retained for toxicology reports.

The witness said the goal was to create an evidence triangle to link the suspect to the crime scene and the victim.

Somiari said the DNA on the red dress matched that of the victim, Ataga but did not match that of Chidinma and the other suspects, Babalola Disu and Oluwatomi Dada.

The witness during cross-examination by the first defendant’s counsel, Mr Onwuka Egwu, told the court how the result of the toxicology report was forwarded to the office of the Attorney General of Lagos, Commissioner of Police and the Director of Public Prosecutions.

He, however, said not all forensic reports went through such a procedure.

When asked if he questioned the report given by Dr. Andrea Nuhu, in the United States of America, the witness said, “I have already said that I am not a toxicologist. It is a toxicologist that can do such.”

Egwu, however, requested the video of the crime scene to be played and the court granted it.

While the video was playing, he asked the witness whether the samples of blood on the cotton, the wall, the duvet, the white polo the victim was wearing, the chair, and a rug were tested.

The witness answered that the samples were not submitted.

He explained that the markers indicated in his report had nothing to do with the video.

Earlier, Somiari told the court that some samples were in storage but not tested.

The second defendant’s counsel, Mr Babatunde Busari, also cross-examined the witness.

He asked if any DNA sample was taken from the second defendant, Quadri, and the witness said no.

The counsel also asked the witness if he took part in the toxicology analysis which he answered no.

The third defendant’s counsel, Ms C. G. Ugochikwu, said she had no examination for the witness.

 

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Billionaire Businessman, Adebayo Ogunlesi’s son Geoffrey engaged to Meyer, Spider-Man star ex-wife

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5 days ago

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September 3, 2024

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The former wife of Tobey Maguire, known for his role as Spider-Man, Jennifer Meyer, has announced her engagement to Geoffrey, the son of Nigerian billionaire businessman Adebayo Ogunlesi.

Meyer shared the happy news on her Instagram, posting photos from their intimate proposal.

Displaying her engagement ring, the celebrity jeweller captioned the post, “Yes.”

Fans and celebrities have since flooded the comments section congratulating the newly engaged couple.

We gathered that the pair began dating in the summer of 2023 but only made their relationship public in November when they attended the Baby2Baby Gala together.

Meyer first met Maguire in 2003, and the two were married in 2007.

They announced their separation in 2016, and Meyer, 47, officially filed for divorce in 2020.

The former couple shares two children, Otis and Ruby.

Meyer is the founder of her jewellery brand, which has earned her recognition in the industry.

Geoffrey, meanwhile, is the founder and CEO of The Ogunlesi Group, an entertainment and music management company based in Los Angeles.

His firm manages high-profile clients, including Young Thug, CharlieonnaFriday, and Myles Frost.

Tobey Maguire is best known for his role as Spider-Man in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy (2002-2007) and reprised the iconic role in ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ (2021).

 

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