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Illegal Coronation: Ojoto Community Sues Dennis Okafor, Suspended President General

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Angered by the recent attempt by some individuals to illegally and unconstitutionally install an Igwe-elect for Ojoto town, the Ojoto community in Idemili South Local Council of Anambra State has sued Dennis Adindu Okafor, as well as the suspended president General of Ojoto Akanasato Union, Engr Edwin I. C. Umeghalu, over the illegal declaration of a purported Igwe-elect.

The suit numbered HID/139/17 before the High court in Ogidi, taken out by Arthur Obi Okafor (SAN) & Co, one of the pool of law firms retained by Ojoto community to prosecute the matter, has as plaintiffs the Regent of Ojoto community, Chief Gerald Mbamalu, (suing on behalf of Ojoto Community), Chiefs Jude Orakposim Mbamalu, Patrick Igboanugo, Jude Ezeoba and Gab Akanuno, (suing on behalf of Enugo Village), which has the resident right to select a candidate for the vacant Igwe Ojoto stool.

It would be recalled that Dennis Adindu Okafor had challenged the process of selection of Igweship candidate in Ojoto in court in suit number HID/111/17 on April 27, 2017. However, while this suit was slated to come up on 12/6/17 at High court Ogidi, the said Dennis Okafor reportedly connived with suspended Engr Umeghalu and some jobbers to install himself as purported Igwe-elect on May 13, 2017. This act of bravado elicited condemnation from Anambra State Government, which promptly denounced the installation as of no effect.

In a letter addressed to suspended Engr Umeghalu by the Special Adviser to Governor Obiano on Chieftaincy and Town Union Matters, Barr Ikechukwu Onyeabo, the State Government reminded Engr. Umeghalu of the decision suspending processes aimed at selecting or presenting a traditional ruler/Igwe of Ojoto community. As stated in the letter, “It is in this wise that the attempt by a section of the community to embark on the process on April 29, 2017, was stopped. It is in the light of the foregoing that the State Government views with concern the news that some people in Ojoto led by you (Edwin Umeghalu) purported to have surreptitiously selected a traditional ruler/Igwe on Saturday May 13, 2017”.

“The State Government hereby states that peace in Ojoto community, as in other communities in the state, remains its top priority and will not tolerate any attempt to derail same. The purported selection of a traditional ruler/Igwe in Ojoto on May 13, 2017 is therefore denounced as being of no effect. You are therefore directed to comply with the State Government’s decision on this matter,” the letter reads.

The Ojoto community seeks the following prayers from the court in the fresh suit: “That the Enugo Village, being the quarter, which turn it is to select an Igwe of Ojoto Town is the only body that can present a selected Igweship candidate to its sectional unit, the Ojoto South Development Union for the screening. *Declaration that the 1st Defendant, having not been presented by Enugo village, the 3rd Defendant has no right to pronounce him the Igwe-elect of Ojoto Town.”

The suit is also seeking an order setting aside the purported installation of the 1st Defendant as the Igwe-elect of Ojoto by the 3rd Defendant,while suit No HID/111/2017, supra, is still pending. It’s also seeking for an order restraining 1st Defendant from parading himself or allowing himself to be presented, holding himself out as the Igwe-elect or using the paraphernalia of Igwe elect or Igwe Ojoto.

Through the suit, the community wants the court to restrain the Defendants, either by themselves, their agents, servants or cohorts from selecting, presenting or cause the 1st Defendant to be presented and/or in whatever manner present 1st Defendanbt as the Igwe elect or Igwe of Ojoto Town either to Idemili Local Council of Anambra State Government of Nigeria respectively. A hearing date is yet to be fixed for this suit.

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Nollywood, social media, others fueling get-rich-quick syndrome — First Lady

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The wife of President Bola Tinubu, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Friday, said skewed messages projected by some movies, social media and religious organisations are fueling the get-rich-quick syndrome which is also driving Nigeria’s high rate of trafficking in persons.

Tinubu also pledged her support to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons in the agency’s ongoing fight against human trafficking.

She stated this when the Director-General of the agency, Binta Bello, led the top management of NAPTIP to her office at the State House, Abuja.

Senior Special Assistant to the First Lady on Media, Busola Kukoyi, revealed this in a statement signed on Friday titled ‘First Lady reiterates call for re-orientation for hard work and patience.’

The First Lady, who was briefed on the activities of the Agency, particularly the recent raid on a baby factory in Abuja, where 19 pregnant young girls were rescued, called on youths to stop making themselves easy targets for traffickers and other criminally minded people by embracing the virtues of patience and hard work.

She said, “The get rich quick syndrome is not helping matters. Even our religious institutions are doing prosperity preaching and even the bible talks about work. Social media is also not helping. Nollywood as well.

She pledged her support to the agency, starting with interfacing with wives of State Governors to assist in enhancing awareness and advocacy about its activities.

Earlier, the Director General of the Agency solicited the First Lady’s support for NAPTIP’s renewed campaign against human trafficking and GBV.

Bello explained that it is top of the agenda of the agency, as the trend of trafficking is getting alarming.

“Trafficking in persons is the second largest transnational organised crime in the world after drug trafficking.

“It is also a huge menace in Nigeria and it requires the buy-in and active engagement of critical stakeholders to fight it,” she stated.

She pointed out that despite the agency’s string of successes including the recent rescue of 21 young victims taken from Niger State, en route Republic of Niger, gaps in resources mobilisation and legal frameworks are some of the challenges confronting the operations of the agency.

She highlighted skills acquisition, awareness advocacy, provision of adequate shelter and safe homes, and legislative and policy support as some of the areas of intervention needed from the First Lady.

The First Lady also gave an audience to the new national executives of the National Council for Women Societies of Nigeria, led by its new National President, Princess Edna Azura.

The delegation was in her office to thank her for her motherly support to the council, especially after the passing of its immediate past National President, Lami Lau.

While commending them for working together in unity, the First Lady encouraged the council to do more for their members by taking advantage of the Renewed Hope Initiative, RHI programs at the subnational levels.

Tinubu reiterated her commitment to building better families through the Renewed Hope initiative.

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Ex-minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye joins Nollywood

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Former Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye has joined the Nigerian movie industry, Nollywood.

Kennedy joined Nollywood a few months after being sacked by President Bola Tinubu.

SOCIETY REPORTERS reports that Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye was appointed as minister in August 2023, and removed alongside four others in a cabinet reshuffle on October 23, 2024.

The 51-year-old politician has now shifted her focus to filmmaking barely four months after her removal from the cabinet.

Announcing her acting career on her X handle, the former minister shared a video of her latest project.

Kennedy who is also a lawyer and entrepreneur, joined the All Progressives Congress, APC, in 2015 and emerged the party’s first female presidential aspirant in 2023, before ultimately withdrawing to support Tinubu.

 

 

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Alleged N1.3bn Fraud: Police Withdraw Charge against Obanikoro, Adegbenro and Others…

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The Nigeria Police Force has withdrawn the alleged fraud charge against Mr. Gbolahan Obanikoro, the son of Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, and four others, over alleged N1.3 billion fraud involving Access Bank.

 

Gbolahan alongside, Adejare Adegbenro; Balmoral International Limited; M.O.B. Integrated Limited; and DDSS International Company Limited were billed for arraignment before Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa of the Federal High Court in Lagos on February 27.

 

However, the police in a Notice of Withdrawal brought under Section 108(1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, has informed the court of its desire to withdraw the charge against the defendants.

The document dated February 4, and signed by a Chief Superintendent of Police, J. I. Enang read in part: “Take notice that the prosecution hereby withdraws the above mentioned charge against the defendants herein.

 

 

However, no reason was given for the withdrawal of the charge.

 

In the suit marked: FHC/L/902c/2024, the defendants were accused of conspiracy, obtaining by false pretences, and involvement in a N1,356,057,330.43 fraud.

 

The Inspector General of Police, had through the Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) in Ikoyi, Lagos, accused all the defendants of conspiring between May and September 2013 to fraudulently obtain the sum of N1,356,057,330.43 from Access Bank Plc (formerly Diamond Bank).

 

 

They allegedly misrepresented themselves to the bank’s staff and officers, claiming that they were involved in the business of importing cars from Dubai for sale in Nigeria and that the money was needed to finance the importation of a set of brand-new cars for resale.

 

 

The defendants were also accused of converting, transferring, retaining, or taking possession of the funds, knowing or having reason to know that such funds were proceeds of unlawful activity.

 

Additionally, they were alleged to have unlawfully converted the sum of N1 billion belonging to the bank for personal use.

 

When the matter came up last month, the prosecutor, M.Y. Bello informed the court that the matter was scheduled for the arraignment of all defendants.

 

However, he requested a new date to allow all the defendants to appear in court and take their pleas.

 

 

Counsel for the 4th defendant, Joshua Abel, told the court that most of the defendants, who were directors were not in the country, adding that only the companies named in the charge had been served with the charge sheet.

 

He, however, assured the court that all defendants would be present at the next adjourned date to take their pleas.

 

In light of the submissions, Justice Lewis-Allagoa adjourned the matter to February 27 for the arraignment of all the defendants.

 

Meanwhile, there were indications that the hearing for the case to be struck out might hold tomorrow, Friday.

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