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THE KSA I KNOW By Oloye ’Lekan Alabi, D

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Oloye ’Lekan Alabi, D. Litt (h.c)

Agba Akin Olubadan of Ibadanland

Juju music maestro and king of World Beats, Dr. Sunday Adeniyi Ishola Adegeye, MFR, popularly known and called “KSA” was 70 years old on Thursday, 22nd September, this year. The talented musician and stage ace, was celebrated in Nigeria and other parts of the world.

Whereas the actual birthday (22nd September, 2016) was, as expected, celebrated in Ondo town, Ondo State, KSA’s hometown and state, pre and post-event celebrations in form of concerts, lectures, dinners, parties etc were held in his honour in the United States of America, United Kingdom, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Ibadan, Oyo State, Lagos.

As I write this tribute, more KSA’s 70th birthday celebrations are pending within and outside Nigeria between now and December, this year.

KSA continues to receive honour and admiration at home and abroad because of his immense talent as a musician, guitarist and dancer, but moreso due to his business acumen, humility, good cheer and integrity.

I have known and been close to KSA since my years as the entertainment editor of the now-defunct Sunday Sketch, Ibadan in the 1970s. The world’s latest septuagenarian, among his other values, cherishes friendship.

We held the Ibadan-end of the global celebration of the three-time Grammy Award nominee at the Jogor Centre, Oke-Ado, Ibadan on Sunday, 2nd October, this year. The concert titled “KSA The Legend at 70” wherein 15 artistes of different genres of music entertained, attracted the royal presence of Kabiyesi the Olubadan of Ibadanland, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Saliu Adetunji, Aje Ogunguniso 1, and his Oloris, Dr. Yemi Farounbi, a former Ambassador of Nigeria to the Philippines and also a former General Manager of the former NTV Ibadan, Africa’s first television station, now called NTA Ibadan Network Centre, the President of the Gospel Musicians Association of Nigeria (GOMAN) Evangelist Funmi Aragbaye, the Otun Balogun of Ibadanland and former Special Adviser to former President Sheu Shagari, High Chief (Dr) Femi Olaiya among others.

The good fortune of telling the world who King Sunny Ade, the celebrant is, fell on my shoulder at the Ibadan celebration.

Following is the re-cap of my presentation of the above title at the celebration:

“ Three years before KSA’s crowning as the King of music, I, in 1974, as the entertainment page editor of the Sunday Sketch, had conducted a public opinion survey on the social scene in Nigeria. In my review on Sunday, December 29, 1974 published on page 7 of the Sunday Sketch of the said date the people’s verdict was that the then Sunny Ade was “the best dressed musician and his band, the African Beats, the largest crowd puller.” I shall come to this very shortly, but let me quickly attempt the assignment given to me – that of telling the whole world the KSA I know.”

“BIRTH

Born on 22nd September, 1946 in Ondo to the late Pa Samuel Adeniyi Adegeye and the late Mama Mariam (nee Adesida of Akure). Both parents were from royal families in Ondo & Akure respectively. At birth, KSA was christened Sunday Isola Adeniyi Adegeye.

KSA was the last of 11 children of which only the last three survived. Mama Mariam Adegeye had KSA when she was 50. His birth was predicted by a prophet who told his mother that she would bear a son whose fame would put Ondo, his hometown on the world map for good. But the prediction came with ONE condition – it would only be fulfilled if KSA’s parents raised him outside Ondo. In addition , the prophet said mysterious things would happen to the child of destiny every five years until he turned 45. If he survived these mysterious occurrences, said the prophet, his parents should stop worrying about his safety. Thank God, KSA passed the 45 years mark 25 years ago!.

“ EDUCATION

KSA’s parents took no chances and moved to Osogbo. He started primary school education in 1954 at the African (Church) Primary School where he spent four years before moving to Methodist Primary School, also in Osogbo for two reasons – One, many of his friends at the African Primary School had moved to Methodist. Two, the young Sunny had become fascinated with Catholic priests and wanted to become one. The Methodist School was opposite St Benedict’s School owned by the Catholics.

The youngman wanted to be close to Catholics as much as possible. He wanted to attend St. Benedicts, but was not given admission.

By the time Sunny completed primary school education, he had fallen in love with music and had taught himself to play drums. He was admitted into St. Charles Grammar School, Osogbo in 1960. According to him, the admission seemed to be the beginning of some great educational attainment. Hear him: “But, indeed it was the end. After one term, I lost interest, because I had been exposed to the sweet music of Sunday Ariyo (a bandleader) who happened to be our neighbour”.

“To cut a long story short, Sunny dropped out of school, was arrested by music and early in 1963, he had got an offer from a band in Osogbo led by Idowu Owoeye, to go on a playing tour of Abeokuta. Even though Owoeye’s band had not been invited to play at the coronation of the late Alake, Oba Adesina Gbadebo, there was a chance to make money because the trip coincided with Oba Gbadebo’s coronation. The hope was dashed!

“The band got stranded in Abeokuta. After two weeks of frustration, hunger and desperation, Sunny, who had lied at home that he was going on school excursion to Lagos decided to face his destiny by running to Lagos to join, Brother Ayo, who had earlier abandoned the Owoeye band in Abeokuta to join Moses Olaiya ( the famous Baba Sala) in Lagos.

“After scaling many hurdles, luck smiled on him and he finally joined Brother Ayo and eventually the Moses Olaiya band in Idi Oro, Lagos from where he received the blessing of his boss, Moses Olaiya to form his own band, the former Green Spot band. The rest is history.

“In capturing my relationship with the King of World Beats, KSA, let me state that it started in the late 1960s, when he released the chart – bursting single play titled “1966 Challenge Cup”. In 1963, my late father bought me my first transistor radio set. It became my inseparable companion and an outlet to local and world affairs, especially music. Those were the years of Nigeria’s most- listened-to radio station, the defunct Western Nigeria Broadcasting Service (WNBS) and its sister station, the Western Nigeria Television (WNTV) – Africa’s first television station, opened in 1959. The station was star-studded with giants like Yinka Johnson, Tunji Marquis, Kunle Olasope, Toun Adeyemi, Yomi Onabolu, Anike Agbaje-Williams, Julie Cker, Victor Adeniyi, Adebayo Faleti, George Jobartech, Bola Alo, Bola Barber (now Mrs Ogunlade).

“As a proud member of the “King of Boys Circle” led by our irresistible impessario, the late Chief Afolabi Majekodunmi alias “ King of Boys” ., in the late 1960s, one was a regular attendee of WNTV’s highbrow programme “Come, let’s dance” featuring top bands including Sunny Ade’s Green Spot Band which Later became the African Beats and compered by the late screen goddess-turned-lawyer, Auntie Toun Adeyemi. May her soul rest in peace. I came in contact with KSA then known as Sunny Ade and others like Obey, Okonta, Animashaun, Olorode, Suberu Oni, etc. By 1974, when I had become the entertainment page editor of the defunct Sunday Sketch and writer of the weekly column, “It’s What’s Happening”, my relationship with Obey & KSA notched up.

“The KSA I know possesses some virtues which I now proceed to highlight. He is godly, philosophical, humble, loyal, creative, generous, humorous, disciplined, a teetotaler and non-smoker, natty and wealthy.

In summary, this is the KSA I know. Kabiyesi the Olubadan of Ibadanland, the Oloris, High Chiefs, invited guests, it is my great pleasure to congratulate KSA on his 70th birthday, as I wish him many more seasons of wellness, joy, creativity and contentment. Thank you

***Text of the paper, “The KSA I know” presented by Oloye ‘Lekan Alabi in Ibadan, Oyo State at the concert to honour KSA on his 70 birthday on Sunday, 2nd October, 2016.

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Reactions as Korra Obidi travels to Hawaii for vacation after fans donated $50,000 for legal fee

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Nigerians across social media have begun to slam popular Nigerian-American singer and dancer, Korra Obidi, as she flew immediately to Hawaii in the United States after completing her GoFundMe $50,000 target.

Obidi created GoFundMe on Friday to seek a good lawyer, adding that she wants to overturn the right of her ex-husband, Justin Dean, over their kids.

According to her, she would need money to get a good lawyer, which is why she created the GoFundMe account to meet the target of $100,000.

The account generated over $50,000 raised from over 950 donors worldwide.

“As a mother, it’s time to fight for myself and my kids,” Obidi said. She also shared her GoFundMe account details, seeking the assistance of fans and friends.

However, on Sunday, the dancer, after raising the money, said during a live session on Facebook that she had plans for a vacation in Hawaii.

Her decision has been greeted by outrage from her fans, with many alleging that the main intent of the GoFundMe was never to file a suit against the husband but to lavish on her extravagant lifestyle.

Wanda Johnson, a Facebook user, said, “She got y’all’s money, now she’s at the airport. Some of you are so weak to believe her foolishness. She is always begging, scamming, and manipulating.”

“You are gradually becoming a professional beggar on social media,” one Chigoziri Ohochukwu on Facebook opined.

“Mad that she can’t post pictures because without posting pictures she can’t make money. She needs to post pictures of her kids to make money. But she would rather go to Hawaii than see.Her children sickening and people gave her $.Or whatever was on that go find me.People needs to report the go fund me everybody needs to report to get their money back,” a user who identifies as Jennifer Lynn Russell claimed.

Nene Peters stated, “WTF you was just on here crying about you need a lawyer now, you traveling. I’m done with you wow.”

“Two days ago she was crying for donation now she is traveling,” said Hermi Matilya

Meanwhile, Bridget O’Connell said, “Yeah I’m not gonna lie Traveling to Hawaii is crazy after receiving all that money for Lawyer girl! You shoulda did that in silence.”

Also, Mary Monique Napont said, “It’s none of your business lady. She is an influencer, performer, student, and most importantly a great mother. Leave her be. You are a part of the problem. She’s not hurting you in any way. If you don’t like her, don’t follow her. It’s that simple.”

Recall that the divorce and custody battle between Obidi and Dean has been on the public scene lately. Recent developments have granted Justin the right to restrict their two children from featuring on Obidi’s online content.

She posted a plea online, accusing Dean of abuse and “gaslighting” during their marriage, claiming he is now subjecting their daughters to similar treatment.

 

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Police declare Lagos socialite wanted for murder, cyber-stalking

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The Nigeria Police Force, on Sunday, declared a Lagos socialite and blogger, Dorcas Adeyinka, wanted for alleged cyber-stalking, abduction and murder, among others.

The police urged members of the public to “arrest and hand over the suspect to the nearest police station or the office of the IGP Monitoring Unit, Force Headquarters, Abuja.”

The police further described Adeyinka as a married female Yoruba blogger from Ekiti State and Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

She is said to be approximately 1.64m tall with an oval face, tribal marks, pointed nose, wide mouth, full and white dentition, and light-skinned with black eyes.

The police added that she lives in the United Kingdom, and frequently visits Ikeja, Ogudu and Fagba in Lagos State, as well as Otta and Sango in Ogun State.

Meanwhile, PUNCH Online had earlier reported that a Chief Magistrate Court in Wuse Zone 6, Abuja, summoned two social media users for defaming Adeyinka by allegedly sharing her nude photo online.

In the court summons dated Thursday, May 9, 2024, which was obtained by our correspondent, Chief Magistrate Emmanuel Iyanna ordered the two defendants – Tolulope Adeoye aka Abike Jagaban, and Tolulope Odegbami aka Olowosibi – to appear in persons before the court on June 4, 2024, to answer the charges levelled against them by the complainant.

The summons followed a criminal complaint filed by the complainant’s lawyers led by Pelumi Olajengbesi of an Abuja-based law firm, Law Corridor.

The socialite accused the defendants of sharing her nude photo on social media and ridiculing her.

The application partly read, “On March 5, 2022, Abike Jagaban shared the complainant’s nude pictures on YouTube, directing her followers to different online platforms where the complainant’s pictures were/are shared and ridiculed the complainant in the process.

“The video was captioned, ‘Abike Jagaban on Dorcas Adeyinka, aka TMS Blog.’ These actions have exposed the complainant to contempt, hatred and detestation as some people can be seen making disparaging remarks against the person of the complainant in the comment section of the above-referenced post. Abike Jagaban has also bullied the complainant in another video titled, ‘How Abike Jagaban bullied Dorcas Adeyinka,” among others.”

The complainant told the court that the alleged actions of the defendants constituted criminal defamation and contravened Section 391 of the Penal Code.

Meanwhile, in suit number CR/93/2024 with motion number MN/140/2024, Magistrate Iyanna ordered the complainant to serve the defendants with the criminal summons and all other subsequent processes of the court via their social media handles or pages @Tolulope Omolara Ghaba (Facebook) and @Princess Tolulope Ajike Olowosibi (Facebook).

The magistrate adjourned the matter till June 4, 2024, and ordered that the two defendants be present in court on the said date.

 

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Even if arrest warrant was illegally obtained, Bello should’ve appeared in court – Judge

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By Taiye Agbaje

 

Abuja, May 10, 2024 (NAN) A Federal High Court, Abuja on Friday granted the application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for the former Governor of Kogi, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, to appear in court for his trial.

 

Justice Emeka Nwite, in a ruling, held that the former governor ought to appeared before the court before making any application.

 

He insisted that even if the arrest warrant was illegally obtained, the defendant (Bello) should have still shown up in court.

 

It would be tracked that the judge had, on April 23, fixed today for the ruling on the former governor’s application to set aside the arrest warrant against him.

 

The EFCC’s lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, had, on April 17, moved the ex-parte application for the arrest warrant.

 

But Bello’s counsel, Adeola Adedipe, SAN, on April 23, prayed the court to set aside the arrest warrant against their client

.

He canvassed that the arrest warrant had become unnecessary since their lead counsel, Abdulwahab Mohammed, SAN, had accepted the service of the charge on behalf of the ex-governor.

 

He argued that the arrest warrant order, having been made before the charge ought to be set aside suo motu (on its own accord, without any request by the parties involved).

 

The senior lawyer argued that contrary to the submission of the lawyer who appeared for EFCC, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, that the ex-governor must be in court first before any application could be entertained being a criminal case.

 

He said that the anti-graft agency also made an application on April 18 after the warrant arrest was issued to EFCC on April 17 and that the court granted it.

 

The lawyer submitted that the arrest warrant was issued in favour of the EFCC by the court in violation of fair hearing to their client.

 

He noted that the complainant made an application for substituted service on 18th day of April after the arrest warrant had been issued on 17th day of April and today, my noble lord granted it.

 

“The court must satisfy itself that the defendant (Bello) will not be prejudiced in fairness if the warrant of arrest continues to hang on his neck, having been made before service of the charge contrary to Section 394 of ACJA,” Adeola argued.

 

He argued that justice should be a three-way traffic; that is, justice to the prosecution, the defendant and the public.

 

He said for Bello to appear in court, he must have the notion that he would get justice.

 

Adedipe also argued that the EFCC was an unconstitutional body because its establishment was not ratified by the 36 states of the federation.

 

He said that for the EFCC to become a constitutional body, the 36 states of the federation must ratify the law establishing it as against the current position, that the EFCC Establishment Act was unilaterally ratified by the Federal Government.

 

He, therefore, asked the judge to vacate the arrest warrant against the former governor.

 

But Pinheiro vehemently opposed the application.

 

The senior lawyer argued that for the arrest warrant to be vacated, the former governor must be arraigned and take his plea in compliance with Section 396 (2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.

 

Delivering the ruling on Friday, the judge agreed with the argument of the EFCC.

 

He said that the order of court subsisted until it is set aside, even if there is irregularity.

 

The judge said Yahaya Bello’s staying away amounted to disregard to the sanctity of the court.

 

“Therefore, the application by the counsel for the defendant cannot be moved unless the defendant is present in court.

 

“Bello should come to court in his own not through EFCC for arraignment on the next adjourn date,” the judge declared.

 

Meanwhile, shortly after the ruling, Mohammed, who appeared for the former governor, informed the court of a motion on notice filed on May 9.

 

He said the motion prayed the court to stay further hearing of the alleged money laundering suit filed against Bello until the Court of Appeal decides a pending case relating to same matter.

 

The senior lawyer said the anti-graft agency had, by a motion ex-parte, got an order of the Appeal Court stopping the contempt proceedings filed by the ex-governor against the agency at the High Court sitting in Lokoja.

 

He said the appellate court had already fixed May 20 to hear the case.

 

He said it would be important the Federal High Court, Abuja awaits the outcome before going further with the trial.

 

But the EFCC’s lawyer, Oyedepo, disagreed with Mohammed’s submission.

 

In a short ruling, Justice Nwite refused Mohammed’s application.

 

The judge said that the matter had generated controversy all over the world and was unnecessary.

 

Reacting, Mohammed responded that the former governor was not afraid to come to court but was only afraid of his life.

 

Justice Nwite, however, said that Bello should not be misguided but should be advised to come and answer to the alleged charge.

 

“It is just a charge. It has not been proven. Counsel, it is your duty to bring him and you prepare yourselves.

 

“We thank lordship. We will take your admonition to him because that is just his fear,” Mohammed said.

 

He assured that efforts would be made to contact the former govenor to appear in court in the next adjourned date.

 

Justice Nwite consequently adjourned the matter until June 13 for arraignment.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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