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Professor Onitiri Laid to Rest in Grand Style

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Late pioneer Director of the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER), Professor Herbert Maurice Adebola Onitiri (OFR) who passed on December 16, 2016 has been committed to mother earth.

The interment which took place at the highbrow Ebony vaults on Alagbon Close, Ikoyi Lagos marked the end of the funeral obsequies.

It all began with a service of songs in the abode of the late professor in Surulere, on Wednesday January 25th 2017 which was hosted by The African Church, Arch Cathedral Bethel Choir, of which the late icon was a great benefactor.

The day after, a Christian wake and Evening of Tributes took place at the Class Event Center, National Power Training Institute of Nigeria premises where distinguished Nigerian including Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Chief Philip Asiodu and the deceased God-daughter, Ms. Funke Aboyade (SAN) eulogized the late Professor Onitiri.

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The rites culminated in a funeral service at the African Church Arch Cathedral Bethel, along Broad Street, Lagos.

Though a very solemn assembly, the divine enclosure was filled to the brim, spilling into the streets as  the provost of the church mounted the pulpit to give his sermon tagged, “Living the life of eternity with God” in which he eulogized the virtues of the departed guru as someone who lived an exemplary Christian life in love and humility, in spite of his grand status in the society.

He admonished the congregation of the need to have the seed of eternity and the life of God in them in order to see things the godly way and live fruitful and blessed lives.

Prominent personalities present at the service were former Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Musiliu Smith, His Royal Highness, Oba Isotun of Ijesha, former secretary of the Commonwealth of Nations , Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Ambassador Olusola Sani and the first lady of Kwara State, Deaconess Omolewa Ahmed with several professors and other members of the academia also in attendance.

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After the funeral service, a long convoy escorted the remains of the late professor for interment. While praying for the departed soul, the officiating minister poured encomium on him for his ideals, virtues and the noble values he represented, admonishing the living to show love and kindness to humanity as life was transient and only one’s deeds of love would stand at the end of life’s journey.

The highpoint of the ceremony was the burial reception held at the Muson Center, Onikan Lagos where guests, arrayed in different attires for the event, were treated to some of the finest in cuisines and drinks while traditional dance and the Icons Music Band ensured everyone was shaking their bodies to the pulsating beats or doing merry bobs with their heads.

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Son-in-law to the late scholar and President of DBN,  Mr. Osa Sonny Adun, who was one of the chief coordinators of the event, said his father-in-law was an embodiment of humility and kindness, dedicated to everything he embarked on, adding that, he  would be greatly missed.

Indeed, it was a befitting farewell to a great man.

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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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