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Oladips Was Dead For Three Days – Aide Says

Abdulrasheed Opeyemi, the personal assistant of street rapper, Oladipupo Oladimeji, popularly known as Oladips, has spoken about the issues surrounding the reported death of the singer.

According to Opeyemi, the rapper was not breathing for three days until he was revived and by then, his manager had already shared the reports of his death.

Recall that a report of the rapper’s death went viral on the internet on the 14th of November and confirmed on his Instagram page.

His management wrote in a statement, “We are saddened to inform the general public that Oladipupo Olabode Oladimeji, aka Oladips, passed away yesterday, November 14, Tuesday evening, at exactly 10:14 pm. We are still in shock as we speak!

“For over two years, he has kept his battles within himself; his body is now with his family. The family asked that we respect their privacy in this trying time. May God give us all the fortitude to bear this great loss. (amen).”

Abdulrasheed, in an interview with Punch, said, “I don’t know how to say this. It was a misinterpretation with the manager who has access to Oladips’ page. We all thought he was dead because he was not breathing until the third day when he was revived. By then, the manager had already shared the story.

“Even I could not reach him until the third day.”

Asked where the rapper was for the three days, Abdulrasheed responded, “He was with his family.”

Abdulrasheed also revealed that the music outfit has since sacked the manager, whose identity he did not disclose.

He added, “You are speaking with the right person in the label. The manager who shared the story has since been sacked. Oladips will soon address everyone on the issue.”

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Conflicting Judgments of Lower Courts Can Endanger Democracy – Constitutional Lawyer, Bwala

Constitutional lawyer, Daniel Bwala has condemned the conflicting judgements by lower courts in Nigeria.
He called on the Supreme Court to avert anarchy by setting the records straight on the superiority of its judgment on the incapacity of election tribunals to look into pre-election cases.
According to him, the decision of the Court of Appeal to take over jurisdiction in the pre-election matters concerning the Plateau State elections could be a threat to judicial order as it could set a pattern for lower courts to undermine settled law as pronounced by the apex court.
Bwala spoke on AIT’s Kaakai programme on Monday morning while discussing the decision of the Court of Appeal to annul the election of Governor Caleb Mutfwang based on the claim that his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP did not have a structure in the state.
Bwala while putting aside the settled precedence of the Supreme Court that the APC was an interloper by questioning the nomination of candidates by the PDP said the court had already settled the issue of pre-election matters being outside the purview of election tribunals.

He said such pre-election matters according to the apex court could only be determined at the Federal High Court, prior to elections.
He said: “It is important that the judiciary should set the records straight because once the Supreme Court has settled a matter you have no choice, you have to follow it.”
 
“Because there is a precedent, we are saying, how can the Supreme Court say this is it and this court did not abide by the decision of the Supreme Court because we are told that under the doctrine of judicial precedence, courts are bound by the decisions of superior courts.
 
“If the Supreme Court says…once the law is settled by the decision of the Supreme Court it becomes a law that cannot be changed except the legislature in the next legislative cycle passes a law to change it.
 
“That law is binding on authorities and also binding on courts below them and it becomes a final law and any disobedience to that attracts the anger of the courts.
 
“In the days of the late Hon Justice Niki Tobi, they were very jealous in guiding the integrity of their court. That if any court below them gives a decision that is contrary to a precedent that they have made they have not failed to chastise the lower court. That is because they want stability in the legal profession, stability in democracy because if the Supreme Court decides in a certain direction and courts below them decide on another way, it can create a great deal of instability, it can destroy democracy because what it means is that there is no order in judicial precedence in a country”, he maintained.
 
“And it is constitutional and not just a matter of the Electoral Act. Section 287 says that the judgment of the Supreme Court is binding on all courts and the Supreme Court on that issue has settled that pre-election matters cannot be entertained by election tribunals either at the trial level or at the appellate level. They set an example when pre-election matters were brought before them.
 
“Even at the Court of Appeal sitting as a trial court in the Presidential Election tribunal they said they lacked jurisdiction to entertain pre-election matters and when it got to the Supreme Court, the Supreme Court maintained the same position.
 
“So, why should the Plateau be different? He asked.
 
“It cannot be different because the decision of the Supreme Court has to be obeyed.”
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It Is The Annual Salary Of About 3,000 Professors – Peter Obi Slams FG’s Plan to Use N15bn For Construction Of Vice President’s House

Presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP) in the last general election, Peter Obi has lashed out at the Federal Government for budgetting N15 billion for the construction of a new residence for the Vice President.
He said such a move is shocking and disheartening, considering the many challenges facing the nation.
According to him, the N2.5 billion and N3 billion included in the Supplementary Budget for renovating the Vice President’s residence in Abuja and Lagos means that he already has a residence.
Obi frowned against budgeting a total of N20.5 billion, when added together, for the accommodation of the Vice President at a time when more people are falling into poverty and not knowing where their next meal will come from.
In a statement via his X handle on Monday, the former Anambra State governor opined that the country needs leaders who show compassion and wre willing to sacrifice for common progress and development.
He wrote, “Even as I am still studying the 2024 fiscal budget as presented to the National Assembly last week, I cannot wait as I am compelled to ask: what is exactly wrong with us as a country?

 
“I ask this question because it is hard for me to understand some of the recent happenings in our nation in these critical times. The recent news about a budget provision of N15 billion for the construction of a new residence for the Vice President is both shocking and disheartening, considering the many important challenges facing our nation. Just recently, in the Supplementary Budget, the sum of N2.5 billion was included for the renovation of the Vice President’s residence in Abuja, which means that he already has a residence.
 
“Again, during the budget presentation, I heard the sum of N3 billion was allocated for the renovation of the Vice President’s residence in Lagos. If we total all these sums, we would have budgeted the sum of N20.5 billion for the housing of the Vice President at this critical time when we are not just the world’s poverty capital but more people are falling into poverty, with so many Nigerians not knowing where their next meal will come from. Our health facilities have collapsed, and unemployment is skyrocketing.
 
“I am convinced that 99.9% of Nigerians can only dream of living in the current residence of the Vice President. Several people employed in the universities are not being paid. Just to give an example, the salary of a professor in a Nigerian university is about N400,000, which without removing tax is about N5 million a year. What we have budgeted for the housing of the Vice President, who is already luxuriously housed, is, therefore, the annual salary of about 3000 professors! This is the finance needed to develop the much-needed human capital.
 
“The budget of N5 billion for student loans, which is yet to be disbursed, is only a tiny percentage of the cost of the Vice President’s new home. We are projecting to use four times the amount for educating ALL Nigerian indigent students to house the Vice President, and we are being told there is nothing wrong with us. I am sure the major teaching hospitals in Nsukka, Lagos, Ibadan, and Zaria did not receive this much capital vote in the budget this year. We have had leaders that were exemplary in the past.
 
“Most Nigerians may not know that the popular 1004 flats in Lagos were land allocated for the building of a Presidential Mansion for the then Head of State, General Murtala Mohammed.
 
“He sternly turned down the offer and instructed that the land should be used to build blocks of flats for civil servants. That is the kind of sacrificial leadership worth emulating. Our leaders must, therefore, stop the recklessness and insensitivity to the plight of the masses.
 
“We need leaders who show compassion and are willing to sacrifice for common progress and development. Such compassionate and frugal leaders are critical in our journey to the New Nigeria.”
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Kogi Election: Melaye Shares Video Evidence Showing Electoral Official Thumbprint Ballot Papers

Dino Melaye, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 off-cycle election in Kogi has released a video showing electoral officials thumb-printing ballot papers.
According to Melaye, electoral official had to pre-fill the ballot papers in order to give Usman Ododo, the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, the numbers he needed to win the state’s governorship election on November 11.
 
“This is just one out of the many crimes they’re trying to cover. Electoral Officer, Okehi LGA opened his office for thumbprinting of ballot papers for APC Candidate. This was done to enable them to meet up with the figure pre filled on the result sheet.Police over to you,” Melaye wrote.
In the video, electoral officials were seen thumb-printing voting sheets.
Recall that Melaye declined to vote during the election in protest of the claimed widespread rigging that occurred during the state’s election.
Melaye, who claimed that INEC was complicit in the rigging that resulted in his loss in the state governorship election, also stated that he would not contest the election outcome in court.
Watch video below:
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Why I Rejected Record Deals With Olamide, Akon’s Brother – Mr Eazi

Famous singer and entrepreneur Oluwatosin Oluwole Ajibade, aka Mr Eazi has opened up that he rejected offers from Nigerian rapper and CEO of YBNL Nation, Olamide, and ace American singer Akon’s younger brother, Abou “Bu” Thiam, the executive vice president of Columbia Records.
According to him, the duo approached him separately to join their record labels when he began his music career but he declined because he hadn’t figured out what he was doing and also wanted his “freedom”.
Mr Eazi spoke in the latest episode of the Afrobeats Intelligence Podcast hosted by Joey Akan.
He said, “I remember going for ‘Ghana Meets Naija in Ghana. And that was where I met Olamide. He tried to sign me to his record label. He offered me a deal. Somebody else had also tried to sign me. Bu [Abou Thiam], Akon’s brother was the first person who tried to sign me.
 
“I declined because then I haven’t even figured out what I was doing. It was too early to sign. So, I didn’t sign to Bu.
 
“When Olamide gave me a deal, I knew that I hadn’t totally understood the business or what I was even doing so I declined. Everything was just happening so fast. One thing I knew was that I wanted my freedom.”
Mr Eazi also revealed in the interview that Jay-Z’s record label, ROC Nation, wanted to sign his hit song ‘Skin Tight’ but Wizkid “told me to do the deal only if they offer life changing money”.
”In reality to where I was in my life, the money they offered would have been interpreted as life changing money. But to me because of where I thought I was going, I didn’t think it was life changing money. So, I didn’t accept the deal,” he added.
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COP28: Some Individuals Funded Their Trip There But Had To Register As Delegates From Nigeria – FG

The Tinubu-led Federal government has reacted to the backlash it received after it was alleged that it sponsored the trip of 1400 delegates to the ongoing COP28 Climate conference in Dubai.

In a statement released, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, said some people came to the conference on their own but registered as delegates from Nigeria. Ajayi said that Tony Elumelu, BUA chairman, Ijaw Youth Council, media houses and others attended the conference and were registered as delegates from Nigeria.

His statement titled ‘’Nigeria at COP28: Separating The Facts From Fiction” reads;

‘’The number of delegates from Nigeria attending the ongoing Climate Summit in Dubai otherwise called COP28 has generated a lot of controversies and strong social media conversations in the last 24 hours. It is important to set the record straight and provide some clarity. To begin with, the Summit is tagged COP which means Convention of Parties. The ongoing Summit in Dubai with over 97,000 delegates from more than 100 countries around the world is the 28th in the series since the issue of climate change and action took preeminent stage in global affairs. COP27 took place at Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt last year.

When the world comes together to take actions on achieving a common goal and proffer collective solutions to a nagging global concern, there are parties involved from government, private sector, civil society, media and multilateral institutions. The people coming together to advance their different agenda and interests from governments, businesses and civil societies are the parties to the convention who represent various shades of opinions and pushing for various mitigating actions.

In Nigeria like so many other countries, interested parties comprising government officials from both the Federal and sub-national governments, business leaders, environmentalists, climate activists and journalists are present in Dubai. Also participating  are agencies of government such as the NNPC and its subsidiaries, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, NIMASA,   NDDC. Many youth organisations from Nigeria especially from the Northern and Niger-Delta regions whose lives and livelihoods are most impacted by desert encroachment and hydrocarbon activities are also represented. The President of Ijaw Youth Council, Jonathan Lokpobiri, leads a pan-Ijaw delegation of more than 15 people who registered as parties from Nigeria. Among delegates from Nigeria are also over 20 journalists from various media houses.

Their participation is very important. It is not for jamboree as it is being mischievously represented on social media.

It is important to state here that delegates from all countries whether from government, private sector, media and civil society groups attend COP summits and conferences as parties and the number of attendees are registered against their countries of origin. This does not mean that they are sponsored or funded by the government. It must be said also that the fact that people registered to attend a conference does not also mean everyone that registered are physically present.

As the biggest country in Africa, biggest economy and one with a bigger stake on climate action as a country with huge extractive economy, it is a no-brainer that delegates from Nigeria will be more than any other country in Africa.

Among the delegates from Nigeria are UBA Chairman, Tony Elumelu, Abdul Samad Rabiu, Chairman of BUA group, and other billionaires whose businesses are promoting sustainability and climate actions through their philanthropies. These businessmen and women and their staff who came with them to promote their own business interests are part of the 1,411 delegates from Nigeria.  Their trip to Dubai is not funded by the Federal Government.

United Nations Climate summit, by its very nature, commands attendance of big names from across the world – statesmen and women, politicians, lawmakers, corporate titans,  journalists and activists, etc who promote big global agenda. So, people attend the summit for many reasons. And because climate issue is the biggest global issue of the moment, it is not surprising that over 97,000 people including Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, King Charles of United Kingdom, Prime Minister of Netherlands, Mark Rutte, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, US Special Envoy on Climate Change and former Secretary of State, John Kerry, President Bola Tinubu, United Nations Secretary General, Antonio  Guterres, World Bank President, Ajay Banga, International Monetary Fund President, Kristalina Georgieva, World Trade Organisation Director General, Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Africa Development Bank President, Akinwumi Adesina, former US Vice President and Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Al Gore and almost 100 Heads of States and Governments converged on Dubai for COP28. It is the first of its kind in the history of the summit because of the importance of climate change to global well-being.

After the opening and national statements by Heads of States which began from November 30 when the summit opened and up until Saturday December 2, 2023, the real work of COP28 which are the technical sessions and negotiations, financing, etc will begin from Monday, December 4 till December 12 where agreements will be reached on many proposals for consideration and ratification by the parties.

Those with sufficient understanding and knowledge on climate matters know that issues around the subject have  layers and multiplicity of factors that require experts from various fields. There are lined-up technical sessions on financing climate actions at sub-national levels, regions and local governments. State Governors from Nigeria such as Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, Umo Eno of Akwa-Ibom have been really busy with their officials at COP28, making presentations, speaking at panel sessions and pitching some of their sustainability projects to development partners and investors.

Multifaceted stakeholders from different countries including Nigeria are on ground in Dubai because they don’t want decisions that will affect them to be taken without pushing their own agenda. It is the reason delegates from China and Brazil are over 3000 respectively. China is one of the world biggest polluters and Brazil is at the centre of global climate debate with her Amazon rainforest. These two countries know important decisions that will affect them will be taken and they have to move everything to be fully on ground and ensure they are fully represented by their best brains at every level of discussion and negotiation.

Like former President Muhammadu Buhari and other African leaders who demanded fair deal and climate justice for Africa at previous UN Climate summits, President Tinubu is leading the charge at COP28 on behalf of Nigeria and the rest of the continent, demanding from the West that any climate decision and action must be fair and just to Africa and Nigeria in particular, especially the debate around energy transition. President Tinubu has been unequivocal in his position that Africa that is battling problems of poverty, security and struggling to provide education and healthcare to her people can not be told to abandon its major source of income which is mostly from extractive industries without the West providing the funding and investment in alternative and clean energy sources. President Tinubu and other officials on the Federal government delegation are in Dubai for serious business not jamboree. Our President has been very busy representing our country well. Since Thursday morning when he arrived Dubai, President Tinubu has spent not less than 18hours daily in attending very important sessions, pushing our national agenda whilst holding bilateral and business meetings on the sidelines.

-Ajayi is Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity”

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Don Jazzy Replies Man Who Described Him As ‘Stingy

MAVIN Record label boss, Don Jazzy has fired back at a follower on ‘X’ who described him as ‘’Stingy”.

It all started when Don Jazzy posted on his handle that he was at the club and saw some ‘big boys’’ spraying money. The music producer said he picked a N500 note that fell on him and put the money ‘’in his bra.”

An X-user who appeared to be displeased that he picked the money, slammed him by describing him as a ‘’stingy man” and went on to say ‘’no wonder you are lonely”. Don Jazzy saw the comment and wasted no time to clap back.

See his comment below…

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Lagos Businessman, Dr Akintoye Akindele Arraigned In Court Over Allegations Of Bribery, Theft, And Embezzlement

A Lagos State businessman and investor, Dr Akintoye Akindele has been charged to court over allegations of bribery, theft, and embezzlement.

The philanthropist is accused of deceit and exploitation by defrauding investors and partners.

He was first arraigned in August 2023 and the case is set to proceed to the FCT High Court on December 6, 2023.

In August, he was arraigned on one count bordering on bribery. The suit numbered CR/595/2023, had the Acting Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun as the Plaintiff/Applicant.

According to the police prosecution team, the defendant allegedly offered to bribe policemen investigating a case of fund diversion brought against him.

Investors alleged to have fallen victim to the accused are calling for justice as they look forward to the Dec. 6 hearing.

“This date marks a crucial juncture in the quest for justice, where the allegations will be scrutinized in a court of law,” a statement reacting to the coming hearing reads.

The statement adds that: “Reputable institutions who tend to shy away from public feuds or legal wranglings, such as Norsad Capital, were compelled to place Akindele’s Platform Capital into receivership due to a default on a $10 million loan.”

It further stated: “The allegations against Akindele paint a picture of a disturbing pattern of deceit and exploitation. Accusations of stealing from individuals, defrauding his own company, and cheating others out of substantial sums suggest a complete lack of ethical conduct. If proven true, these actions could irreparably damage Akindele’s reputation and have far-reaching consequences for those entangled in his web of deception.

“As the Akintoye Akindele bribery case continues to capture headlines, the eyes of the Nigerian public and the investment community remain fixed on the upcoming court proceedings. The December 6th court date will potentially bring an end to Akindele’s alleged 20-year career of deceit and exploitation. The outcome of this case has the power to reshape perceptions of ethical conduct within the business community and serve as a warning against those who seek to undermine trust for personal gain.”

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Budget: Ex-Presidents, Former VPs, Others Receive N13.8bn Maintenance Allowance

The sum of N13,805,814,220 has been set aside by the Federal Government for the maintenance of former presidents, vice presidents, chiefs of state, Chiefs of General Staff, retired heads of service, permanent secretaries, and retired heads of government agencies and parastatals in the fiscal year 2024.

Former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Goodluck Jonathan, and Muhammadu Buhari are among those who will benefit, as well as ex-vice presidents Atiku Abubakar, Namadi Sambo, and Prof Yemi Osinbajo.

Ex-military heads of state, General Yakubu Gowon, General Abdusalami Abubakar, General Ibrahim Babangida, and a former Chief of General Staff, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe (retd.), are to gain from the windfall.

In addition, N1trn has been set aside for public service wage adjustments for government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (including arrears of promotion and salary increases, as well as payment of severance benefits and minimum wage-related adjustments).

The entitlements of past presidents/leaders of states and vice presidents/chiefs of general staff will cost N2.3 billion, while retired heads of service, permanent secretaries, and professors will cost N10.5 billion.

Severance payments to retiring heads of government agencies and parastatals are estimated to cost N1 billion.

Other fundings include N65 billion for the Presidential Amnesty Programme to reintegrate transformed ex-militants, N1 billion for the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Energy, and N108 billion for unspecified special projects.

The government is also proposing a sum of N40 billion to offset electricity arrears due by all MDAs to power distribution firms.

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Despite Family Privilege, My Life Has Been Unpredictable – DJ Cuppy Speaks (Video)

Famous Nigerian disc jockey, Florence Otedola, who is popularly known as DJ Cuppy and daughter of Nigerian billionaire Femi Otedola, has talked about her life.

She said her life has been unpredictable, despite her affluent background.

She made these remarks at the Women in Management, Business, and Public Service (WIMBIZ) conference in London.

Addressing the audience on the power of uncertainty, DJ Cuppy acknowledged that failure is an inevitable part of life.

She shared some of the setbacks she has faced, including her failed engagement with fiancé Ryan Taylor, challenges in her jewellery business and struggles with her academic pursuits at Oxford University.

Despite these difficulties, DJ Cuppy expressed acceptance of the uncertainties in life, stressing that more days lie ahead for her.

Recall that in 2022, DJ Cuppy announced her engagement to British boxer Ryan Taylor.

Watch the video below:

 

Grateful to share my unfiltered thoughts on the @Wimbiz stage 💕 💭 I know embracing uncertainty isn’t always easy but set yourself free! 🕊️ #CuppyCares pic.twitter.com/DLx23vChWA

— Cuppy (@cuppymusic) December 1, 2023

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