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THE WAR OF THE CELEBRITY DESIGNERS: WHY DEOLA SAGOE AND FATI ASIBELUA DO NOT SEE EYE TO EYE…… —– The Poaching of Tailors Scandal That Caused the Cold War Between Them

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The Nigerian fashion industry will ever be agog with the story of how, a couple of years back,  Deola Ade-Ojo Sagoe, the Nigerian born international designer lost some of her tailors to Fati Asibelua, the super-rich Abuja based businesswoman. Deola Sagoe needs little or no introduction. She is the lady who o wns Oodua Creations, the award winning fashion outfit which is situated in Lagos. Over the last decade, Deola has helped to put Nigeria on the world map, through her designs and creations. It goes without saying that she is the most famous designers in Africa today. And she has multiple awards to show for this very lofty achievement. Fatima on the other hand, is an enterprising businesswoman who has vested interest in various fashion ventures. She owns Exquisite Fabric, which is located on IBB Way, Maitama, Abuja. She also has a fashion outfit called House of Momo. Fati once veered into

publishing, and she published Sleek Magazine International, the now rested glossy style magazine, which was easily comparable to any international magazine, in size and quality. She also owns Sleek Studio, a style consulting firm and a grooming label. However, of all her business ventures, Fati is most synonymous with Exquisite Fabric.
Investigations made by us, revealed that what happened between Deola and Fati can best be described as poaching. It is pertinent to add that there is no rule guiding against poaching among fashion designers. Besides, it is not an unusual occurrence within and outside the fashion industry. However, poaching is usually frowned at and it is considered as being very degrading, as it exposes whoever indulges in it to outright ridicule.

A close source disclosed that Fati had had cause to patronise Deola Sagoe on one or two occasions. Moreover, some of her friends do patronize her on a frequent basis. One of her friends was said to have made the contact which culminated in the mass exodus of Deola’s tailors. It was this lady that Fati used to get the tailors to leave their former place of employment. It was gathered that Deola was away abroad, for a fashion show when the poaching activity was being carried out. Quite interestingly, Fati was reported to have dangled mouth watering offers, in luring the tailors, and they could hardly resist these offers. For instance, Fati was alleged to have bought Deola’s Head Cutter an official car, in addition to getting him an apartment in Abuja. She also accommodated the other tailors in as well.

FATTI ASIBELUWA

Interestingly tough, when Deola eventually came back and learnt of what happened, she was undaunted about the whole episode. And within a few days, she travelled down to some Francophone countries and recruited more tailors. Those who are quite familiar with the iconic fashion designer explained that she gets most of her tailors from these French speaking countries, because she believes they are well grounded in the art of designing Parisian oriented couture. Now what Deola has going for her is her creativity. She is known to be the engine room of her labels. She designs all her outfits, and she strives to come up with new creations and innovations as well. And in Nigeria today, it is not so much how good your tailors are, but how much of creativity that goes into the making of the designs.

This is an edge which Deola Sagoe seems to have over most other designers. And quite unlike most Nigerian designers, Deola hardly ever makes the same designs twice. But most designers are always quick to duplicate her designs. Fortunately for her, none of the poached workers is a designer. They were mostly cutters and tailors. Had this poaching act been done on a fashion designer who is not grilled in the rudiment or nuances of the business entails, it would have crashed such business. Predictably, We gathered that just as Deola refused to lose a sleep over the poaching act, so has she lost any sleep over the issue of clientele. Rather, she has been churning out more, new designs. On the other hand, Fati’s fashion outfit, House of Momo, initially, churned out some of Deola’s old designs to her clients, she later adjusted and has made some improvement on her works. However, even after many years since the feud occurred, the two fashion designers have refused to mend fence and resolve their differences.

By: Abeke Olabode

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Full List: Newly Sworn In Lagos State Executive Council And Their Portfolio……

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Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwoolu swears-in the Lagos State Executive Council, today at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa Ikeja.

Here are the executive council and their portfolio…….

Mr. Afolabi Ayantayo – Commissioner for Establishment Training and Pensions

Mr. Jamiu Alli-Balogun – Commissioner for Basic Education

Mr. Gbenga Oyerinde – Commissioner, Special Duties

Mr. Lawal Pedro (SAN) – Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice

Mr. Mobolaji Ogunlende – Commissioner for Youth and Social Development

Hon. Ibrahim Layode – Commisioner for Home Affairs and culture

Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka – Commisioner for Tourism

Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu – Special Adviser, Environment

Mr. Abdulkabir Ogungbo – Special Adviser, Taxation and Revenue

Engr. Abiola Olowu – Special Adviser, Commerce and Investment

Dr. Adekunle Olayinka – Special Adviser, Works (to report to the Deputy Governor)

Mrs. Bolaji Cecilia Dada – Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation

Mr. Idris Aregbe – Special Adviser, Tourism Arts and Culture

Mr. Yakubu Adebayo Alebiosu – Commissioner Waterfront Infrastructure

Mr. Tokunbo Wahab – Commisioner for Environment

Hon. Bola Olumegbon – Special Adviser, Central Business District (CBD)

Dr. Oreoluwa Finnih-Awokoya – Special Adviser Health

Mr. Kayode Bolaji-Roberts – Local Government Affairs

Mr. Moruf Akinderu Fatai – Commissioner for Housing

Mr. Seun Osiyemi – Commissioner for Transportation

Ms. Barakat Bakare – Special Adviser, Housing

Prof. Akin Abayomi – Commissioner for Health

Mr. Gbenga Omotoso – Commissioner for Information and Strategy

Dr. Rotimi Fashola – Special Adviser Agriculture

Mr. Mosopefolu George – Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget

Mr. Tunbosun Alake – Commissioner for Science and Technology

Ms. Ruth Abisola Olusanya – Commissioner for Agriculture

Mrs. Kaosarat Folashade Ambrose – Commisioner for Industries, Trade and Investment

Dr. Olumide Oluyinka – Commissioner for Physical Planning

Mr. Yomi Oluyomi – Commissioner for Finance

Dr. Jide Babatunde – Special Adviser E-GIS

Dr Afolabi Abiodun Tajudeen – Special Adviser, Political, Legislative and Civic Engagement

Hon. Sola Shakirudeen Giwa – Special Adviser Transportation

Dr Mrs Iyabo Oyeyemi Ayoola – Special Adviser, Central Internal Audit

Mr Ajigbotafe Akinyemi – Commissioner, Weath creation

Mr Nurudeen Lanre Yekini-Agbaje – Special Adviser, Rural Development and Chieftaincy Affairs

Mr Tolani Sule Akibu – Commissioner for Tertiary Education

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EFCC arraigns Lee Fakino Nigeria Limited Director, Emmanuel Ajibola Obakin over N251.6m fraud in Ibadan

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The Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned Emmanuel Ajibola Obakin for allegedly stealing N251,685,000 belonging to a firm, Lee Fakino Nigeria Limited.

The EFCC made these declarations via a statement issued on Tuesday.

Wilson Uwujaren, Head, Media and Publicity of EFCC, in the statement, noted that the commission on Tuesday arraigned the suspect before Justice Ladiran Akintola of Oyo State High Court.

He added that the commission dragged the suspect to the court on a four-count charge bordering on alleged stealing.

It maintained that the suspect, one of the two directors of the company and a signatory to the company’s account, committed the alleged offence in December last year.

The commission, while speaking further, revealed that the suspect allegedly withdrew the money without authorization and consent of the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Akindele Fajemiyo.

The prosecution counsel, Oyelakin Oyediran, asked the court for a trial date.

It also prayed the court to remand the defendant in the correctional facility pending the determination of the case.

But, counsel to the defendant, Ibrahim Lawal, in his remarks, urged the court to admit his client to bail.

Akintola, after listening to the two parties, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N50 million and two sureties, preferably the wife and younger brother to the defendant, in like sum.

The judge then ordered that the defendant provide the court with his National Identification Slip and residential addresses.

He, however, adjourned the matter till 23rd October, 2023 for further hearing.

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Former Managing Director Of NDDC, George Turnah, Two Others Jailed Six Years Over N2.9bn Fraud

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A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has convicted and sentenced George Turnah, a former Special Adviser to Dan Abia and former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, and two others to six years in jail for acquiring money by deception.

Ebis Orubebe and Uzorgor Chidebere, who were sentenced alongside Turnah by Presiding Judge Justice A. T. Mohammed, were also found guilty of money laundering, conversion of funds, and forgery, all in violation of Section 1 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.

The defendants were first arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in May 2017 and re-arraigned on January 25, 2021, on 23 counts of acquiring by false pretense, money laundering, and abuse of office totaling N2,894,500,000.

This was contained in a statement issued on Monday by the EECC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, and made available to newsmen.

The statement said, “They were jailed on Thursday, September 7, 2023, having been found guilty of charges preferred against them by the Port Harcourt Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

“Count six of the charge reads: ‘that you, George Turnah Alabh, Uzogor Silas Chidiebere, El-Godams Global Services Ltd., Turnoil and Gas Nigeria Ltd, Kolo Creek Petroleum Dev. Ltd, Celtic Pride Consult and Events Ltd, Yenagoa Mall Ltd, the Incorporated Trustees of Concerned Niger Delta Initiative, Adaka Boro Marine Services Ltd, Sugarland Integrated Farms Nig. Ltd, Geohan Telecommunication Nig. Ltd and others at large, on or about the 24th day of November 2014, at Port Harcourt, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did take possession of the sum of Seven Hundred and Eight Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N708,500,000.00) which you reasonably ought to know that the money was obtained by a false pretence from the Niger Delta Development Commission purportedly for the purpose of providing quick win jobs for 300 youths and women groups and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under 15 (3) of the same Act.’”

It added, “Count 23 of the charge reads: ‘that you George Turnah Alabh in 2014 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did receive the sum of $1000,000.00 (One Million United State Dollars) (at the exchange rate of N184 to a Dollar) cash from one Umar Lawal of Hakuri Global Concept exceeding the statutory limit without going through a financial institution and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 16 (2) (b) of the same Act.’”

According to the statement, they pleaded “not guilty” to the charges.

It added that the prosecuting counsel, I. Agwu, called several witnesses and tendered documents to prove the case against the defendants.

Justice Mohammed convicted and sentenced them to two years imprisonment each, starting from the date of their arrest.

The 1st defendant was ordered to pay N1,000,000 as an option of fine while the 2nd and 3rd defendants were to pay N500,000 into the Consolidated Revenue Account of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Additionally, the 4th, 6th and 10th defendants were to return the sum of N180,000,000. Other restitutions include, N5,000,000 traced to the 1st convict, N100,000,000 traced to the 6th and 10th convicts, and N50,000,000 traced to Optimal Standard. They are to be forfeited to the NDDC.

Others are N46,760,843.61, N494,371.86, N13,000,000, and N23,500,000 to be forfeited to the NDDC by the 9th, 4th, 2nd and 3rd defendants respectively.

Turnah was the political godson of former President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan.

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