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.

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.

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).