The Lagos State Coroner on Monday delivered its verdict in the case of deceased student of Dowen College, Sylvester Oromoni, saying he died of negligence from his parents and the doctor attending to him.
Magistrate Mikail Kadiri in his verdict on Monday said Oromoni, 12, died of natural cause, but said his death was avoidable.
He said the death of the boy could have been avoidable if not for the negligence of the parents and the medical team who attended to him.
According to him, Oromoni died from sepsis caused by an ankle injury, leading to an infection of the lungs and kidney.
Kadiri added that evidence and the reports of the two experts who performed an autopsy on late Oromoni said he died of severe septicemia (sepsis) as a result of an infection.
The magistrate said he did not believe the version of the family doctor Henry Aghogho’s evidence, saying that based on the preceding, it was clear that the deceased’s health deteriorated in (doctor) PW 3’s care.
“PW 3 did not take proper care of the deceased; PW 3 completely abandoned the deceased for more than 32 hours.
In what can be described as a positive trend, the Naira has appreciated once more to N1000 per US dollar as trading began on Monday in the foreign exchange market,
This surge follows recent reports which indicated the Naira’s impressive performance, as Goldman Sachs ranks it as the top-performing currency for April.
Notably, the Naira gained N60 against the dollar after the Eid-el-Fitr holidays last Friday, signaling a consistent upward trend.
It would be recalled that over the past months, the Naira has steadily appreciated against the dollar, transitioning from N1,900 in February to the current N1000 range in the parallel market.
Despite this positive development, concerns persists among Nigerians regarding the impact on the prices of goods and services.
In a recent report by the National Bureau of Statistics, food inflation surged to 40.01 per cent in March 2024.
In a recent announcement, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) revealed that Nigeria’s oil and gas reserves have surged to 37.50 billion barrels as of January 1, 2024.
This marks a notable increase from the 37.046 billion barrels recorded in May 2022.
Sharing this during a press briefing held in Abuja, the Chief Executive of the Commission, Engr Gbenga Komolafe, outlined the implementation of robust policies that is aimed at enhancing and streamlining oil and gas operations across the nation.
He shared that the gas reserves and non-associated gas reserves now stand at 102.59 trillion cubic feet (TCF) and 106.67 TCF respectively, resulting in a total gas reserve of 209.26 TCF.
He further harped on the importance of addressing issues that concern crude supply regulation and enforcement, particularly in prioritizing feedstock supply to local refineries and resolving grievances from oil producers and the Dangote Refinery within specified timeframes.
This announcement follows reports indicating a decline in Nigeria’s crude oil production during February and March 2024.
According to data from the April 2024 Monthly Oil Market Report released by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Nigeria’s crude oil production (excluding condensates) experienced a second consecutive monthly decrease, dropping to 1.231 million barrels per day in March from 1.322 million barrels per day in February.
OPEC communicated that this decline represented a reduction of 91,000 barrels per day, stressing the need for concerted efforts to address production challenges and maintain stability in the oil market.
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, has been suspended from his ward, Ganduje Ward in Kano State, following corruption allegations.
The Executive Council of Ganduje Ward, led by Haruna Gwanjo, made this announcement during a press briefing in Kano on Monday.
The suspension stemmed from a viral video in 2017, showing Ganduje allegedly receiving bundles of dollar notes as a bribe and stuffing them in his gown’s pockets.
Despite denying the video’s contents initially, Ganduje’s long-standing dollar case was revisited by the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP)’s administration of Governor Abba Yusuf, vowing to prosecute the ex governor.
Ganduje is set to be arraigned in the Kano High Court on charges including bribery, diversion, and misappropriation of funds, involving $413,000 and N1.38bn in bribes.
His wife and six others are also slated for arraignment. The Yusuf administration plans to present 15 witnesses in the case before Justice Usman Na’aba of the State High Court.
Headquarters of Dunamis International Gospel Centre, when Ms Anyim Veronica Nnenna came out to testify of how God helped her graduate from the University, thus making her the first person to attain that feat in her family.
These were the immediate triggers for the said scenario:
First, listening to the testifier’s expressions as it borders on basic spoken English, conveys the impression that the minimum standard expectation of a graduate, especially a graduate of Law was not met.
Second, stating that she studied Law for 10 years begged the question of what her degree actually was.
Third, she was unable to state exactly what the correct degree was for Law which is LLB, rather she said it was a BSc in Law which is largely unknown as a Law degree in Nigeria and possibly globally.
These prompted the Senior Pastor, Dr. Paul Enenche to stop the testimony immediately as a product of a “lie.” However, relief came when it was later confirmed that she actually graduated from a university.
It must be pointed out clearly here that embarrassing the testifier publicly with the attendant media frenzy was never intended; whatever happened was under the spur of the moment.
The action of the Senior Pastor was rather based on his and the church’s aversion to seeming mediocrity and any appearance of untruth.
While we remain resolute in our passion for excellence, intolerance of mediocrity and falsehood, we wish to reiterate the fact that no harm or hurt was ever intended by the Senior Pastor against Ms. Anyim Veronica. The Senior Pastor feels deeply concerned and had already reached out to her.
As a Commission, we regret every inconvenience, hurt and embarrassment this unfortunate scenario has caused to Ms Anyim Veronica Nnenna. We remain committed to her physical welfare as well as her spiritual growth.
God bless us all.
Sylvester Edoh,
Personal Assistant/Secretary to the Senior Pastor,
The Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) brought a family affair to the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, as Alaba Alakija and his daughter-in-law, Oyinkansola Alakija, faced charges of conspiracy and falsifying documents related to property ownership.
Allegedly, on August 6, 2015, the duo conspired to benefit financially from a property located at No.10, Keffi Street, South-west, Ikoyi, Lagos, using a false document titled “Vesting Deed by Dr. Omodele Alakija and Mr. Afolabi Alakija.
”Both defendants pleaded “not guilty” to the charges.Prosecution counsel, M. S. Owede, requested a trial date and the remand of the defendants in a correctional facility.
Counsel to the first defendant, M.O. Akangbe, SAN, sought bail for his client, emphasizing the bail application filed earlier.
However, counsel to the second defendant, Victor Giwa, requested oral presentation of the bail application, stating the delayed notification and travel distance.
Giwa mentioned his client’s role as a lawyer and her nursing of a two-month-old baby, asserting that she wouldn’t evade bail. However, her husband contradicted, stating their baby was nine months old.
Justice Mojisola Dada granted bail to the first defendant at N10 million, with sureties required to submit their international passports.
The court retained the second defendant’s passport.
Both defendants were released to their lawyers pending bail conditions as the trial is set to commence on May 28, 2024
The premiere of Kayode Kassum‘s new movie, “Ajosepo,” was all shades of beautiful. The theme was owambe, and members of the cast and guests didn’t fail to show up in the Nigerian flamboyant style and elegance. From the flowy agbadas matched with caps to the corset-fitting laced gowns with geles, and the adire asoebi, the red carpet was turned into a runway of stunning native attires.
The movie ‘AJOSEPO’ portrays A young couple on the brink of their dream wedding. Set against the backdrop of a luxurious hotel gathering, what starts as a celebration quickly spirals into a dramatic clash of family secrets, tensions, and shocking discoveries that threaten to unravel their future together. Ajosepo is a Family friendly movie with a lot of drama, comedy and intrigue. AJOSEPO is distributed in UK by EvrotFilms & FilmOne in Nigeria. Watch a few moments from the Premiere night below.
AJOSEPO’S grand opening in the UK April 19th, 2024.
The star studded film premiered in Nigeria first and celebrities gathered for the premiere of Kayode Kasum’s ‘Ajosepo’ on Sunday, April 4, 2024. The theme of the event was aso-ebi extraganvaza, and for sure, many celebrities looked regal. The film was released in Nigerian cinemas nationwide April 10th, 2024. The movie is slated to be released in UK cinemas from April 19th,2024. Below are the lists of UK cinemas that ‘AJOSEPO’ will be showing with full details on the websites of VUE, Odeon & CineWorld across UK nationwide.
List of UK Cinemas ‘Ajosepo’ will be shown in
Odeon Cinemas from 19th April
Streatham
Surrey Quays
Manchester Great Northern
Birmingham New Street
Braehead – Glasgow
Greenwich
Vue Cinemas from 19th April
Croydon Grants
Harrow
Shepherds Bush
Romford
Thurrock
Westfield
Westfield Stratford
Cineworld Cinemas from 26th April
Enfield
Luton
Basildon
Milton Keynes
CAST
AJOSEPO boasts of a myriad of talented actors such as: Timini Egbuson, Mike Afolarin, Tomike Adeoye, Ibrahim Itele Yekini, Kanaga Jnr, Mercy Aigbe, Ronke Oshodi, Bolaji Ogunmola, Muyiwa Ademola, Oluremi Akintola-Samuel, Zaza, Saliuokeola Adewale Ayuba, Pelumi Buari, William Benson, Lizzy Jay and Bisola Aiyeola.
A Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) employee has disclosed how he collected $3m cash for EmefieleThe witness, Mr Monday Osazuwa, on Friday told an Ikeja Special Offences Court how the former apex bank governor,
Godwin Emefiele, on different occasions, directed him to collect three million dollars cash in tranches.Osasuwa, while being led in evidence by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) counsel, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), said he was a dispatch rider in Zenith Bank in 2001 before he joined the CBN in 2014.
Osasuwa said he joined the apex bank as a senior supervisor in 2014.He said Emefiele was the Managing Director of Zenith Bank Plc while he was working as a dispatch rider in the bank.The witness said he knew Emefiele, who was his boss, while in Zenith Bank and that he later joined him at the CBN.
The witness said he was later appointed as a senior supervisor (full time) in recording and filing of documents while working in the CBN governor’s office in Lagos.“I was still working in the CBN governor’s office while I was appointed as a full staff member and we usually communicated through Whatsapp and email.
“I function as a senior supervisor, recording and filing with other official roles.“I recall that in 2020, when he was outside Lagos, he called me that he would give me a number that a man had something I should collect from him and that the man would give me the number of another person.“When I got to the man’s office, I was given an envelope. I counted the money and the man said I should give it to my boss,” he said.
The witness further told the court that the first defendant used to collect money by himself anytime he was in Lagos but anytime the defendant was not around, he would tell him to give the money to the second defendant.Osazuwa added that Emefiele sent him to MINL Ltd. when he was with Zenith Bank.
“This company is situated at Isolo, the first defendant did send me to collect cheques from the company from Mr Monday and when I collected the cheque from Mr Monday, I would give it back to Emefiele and he would lodge the money into Dumies Oil and Gas.
According to him, Emefiele’s co-defendant, Henry Isioma-Omoile, lived in the residence of the former CBN Governor. He stated that when he collected money for his boss, he would take it to his residence at Iru Close, Ikoyi.
“Whenever I received the money and take it to my boss’s residence, Mr Emefiele would tell me to give it to the second defendant whenever he was not at home.“I did not keep a record of transactions because the instruction he gave me was that I should collect the money and bring the money to his house.
“The highest amount I collected was one million dollars all in cash and some weeks later, the businessman also called me to collect $850,000, $750,000 and $400,000 cash in tranches.
“I have never been rewarded, paid or given anything because I am doing it out of faithfulness and he knows it but he has never for once said, ‘take this’,” he said.Under cross-examination by the defence counsel, Mr Abdulakeem Labi-Lawal, the witness confirmed to the court that he had been working with the defendant since 2002.
According to the witness, Emefiele passed instructions to him through the second defendant and that he had been collecting cheques for Dumies Oil and Gas.He, however, told the court when he was made to confront the second defendant during investigation but the second defendant failed to admit it.
“I started collecting cheques for Dumies Oil and Gas when I was in Zenith Bank.“I cannot calculate the exact year I have been collecting the cheques but it all started when the first defendant was the Managing Director at Zenith Bank and I was working at Zenith Bank,” he said.
Controversial cross-dresser, ldris Olanrewaju Okuneye, popularly known as ‘Bobrisky, has been sentenced to six months imprisonment without any option of fine, for abusing the Nigerian currency,(Naira).One can recall that Bobrisky was arrested and kept on remand by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFFC) for abusing and mutilating the Naira notes. Afterwards, Bobrisky pleaded guilty to a four-count charge of tampering with the currency at an event.
However, the High Court judge, Justice Abimbola Awogboro in her pronouncement, said the sentencing will serve as a deterrent to others who are fond of abusing and mutilating the naira note. Also, according to reports, drama erupted in the courtroom when the judge asked about Bobrisky’s gender, and he quickly replied that he was a man.
In the fast-paced and ferociously competitive airline sector, price wars have become like Siamese twins that can not be separated by the actors, as a surviving strategy.
While price wars are a common occurrence in the airline sector, they represent intense competition that sees airlines cut prices in an attempt to snatch passengers from their competitors. The subsequent implication may automatically trigger reduced margins and profitability.
To thrive amid these price wars, airlines need strategy and competitive intelligence, specifically competitive flight price data to survive.This is what is presently playing out in Nigeria’s air transport sector with focus on international flights since Air Peace, a Nigerian carrier, commenced flights to London Gatwick on March 30, 2024.
Prior to the entrance of Air Peace to the Lagos/London route, foreign carriers had, for many years, not only monopolized the lucrative route, but exploited the Nigerian travelers who were made to pay the costliest fares in the region while neighboring countries like Ghana, Togo and Benin Republic enjoyed very low fares.
The exorbitant fares by the foreign carriers reached its peak following the over $800 million of their proceeds trapped in Nigeria with the mega carriers withdrawing their lowest inventory fares, leaving the highest inventory fares for Nigerians to grapple with.
The withdrawal of low inventory fares by the foreign carriers saw airlines like Virgin Atlantic increase fares on the economy class to N2.353,200 for just a seat while the business class skyrocketed to N5,345,700 on the Lagos-London route.
For Turkish airlines, the economy class ticket for the Lagos-Istanbul route rose to N874,661 while the business class ticket jumped to N1,980,876.
This was the same situation Nigerian travellers experienced with other foreign carriers like British Airways, Delta Air Lines, Lufthansa, KLM/Air France, Air Maroc and Ethiopian Airlines.
Before the foreign carriers ganged up to increase their fares, economy class tickets on the Nigeria-UK route was between N400,000 and N650,000, depending on the booking period while business class was between N800,000 and N1.2 million.
The financial pressure the exorbitant fares inflicted on the Nigerian travelers became so unbearable that those who could not afford it were forced to suspend international trips while some like students shifted their patronage to the neighboring countries where low inventory fares were available.
The rip off continued even after the federal government had paid the substantial part of the trapped funds with the outstanding funds now put around $29 million.Relief however came with the commencement of Air Peace flights to London.
Immediately Air Peace announced its fares which have been found cheaper and more affordable for Nigerians, the foreign carriers, out of fears of losing their Nigerian, passengers to Air Peace have engaged in price wars for survival.
According to investigations, majority of the foreign carriers operating on the Nigeria/London route have conspired to drastically slash fares to the point of charging fares lower than Air Peace fares.
Apart from introducing new incentives and more friendly marketing strategies, the foreign airlines are neck deep in dangerous battles for market share that is capable of sending weaker airlines out of business and equally wreak havoc on profit margins or even challenge the very survival of Air Peace.
A price list sighted by Saturday Tribune showed Air France luring passengers to book between May 15 and June for economy class seat on the Lagos/London route with N907,782 fares as against the over N2 million for the economy it charged before now. British Airways has also slashed its fares on the Abuja/London Heathrow to N1,394,536 as against the over N3 million it was formerly charging.
Now, an economy class ticket on Virgin Atlantic from Lagos to London has been brought down to N980, 654,000 as against the N2.353,200 it used to charge. The ongoing price wars and other gang ups by the foreign carriers which has raised concerns amongst key players have been attributed to the desperation of the mega carriers to push out Air Peace out of the Lagos/London route.
The price war strategy adopted by the foreign airlines has been described as one of the unjust engagement of the use of international Aero politics to frustrate any African carrier they see as competitive like Air Peace.
Many of the foreign carriers are said to be uncomfortable with the presence of Air Peace in view of its capacity in the areas of modern day aircraft in its fleet that can compete favourably with those of the foreign carriers.
The global record of the Nigerian carrier as a carrier that had in the past engaged in flight operations between Nigeria and other countries like China, UAE, Israel Brazil and South Africa during the pandemic seamlessly may have caused sleepless nights for the foreign carriers.
Many key players while reacting to the foreign airlines price wars described the market as extremely agile and impatient. They advised Air Peace to urgently change its game plan by making “the world taste what it means to be a truly Nigerian brand. You could see the presence of intentionality in their campaigns. It shows a clear understanding of the market. They are unleashing on Air Peace products of insights derived from the algorithm in their passengers platforms. They know where these customers are, they have their details, they may even be engaging passengers directly.
”The sudden reduction in the fares the key players said will be for the benefit of the Nigerian travelers who are the brides. They, however, expressed surprise at how the foreign airlines that refused to reduce their fares ab initio suddenly slashed the fares just to get at Air Peace.
