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Davido Uncle Asks Tinubu To Caution Minister

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Davido’s uncle, the Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, has asked President Bola Tinubu to caution the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, over an alleged plot to create chaos and anarchy in the Southwest state.

At a press briefing on Sunday, Adeleke alleged that his predecessor had instructed the police and the Department of State Services “to effect a non-existent judgement by forcefully taking over the local governments on Monday”.

The governor said, “The bone of contention is the brazen effrontery to return to office council chairmen sacked by a subsisting court Judgment using a different court decision, which has no consequential order.

“Let me make it clear that the Council Chairmen were sacked before I was sworn in as governor of Osun State, contrary to the lies being peddled, that my Executive Order sacked the Chairmen and councillors.

“For emphasis, l want to state that I had nothing to do with the sacking of the chairmen and councillors produced by the Osun 2022 local government polls. The Chairmen and Councilors were sacked by two different Federal High Court Osogbo judgments.

“In a democratic society governed by the rule of law, we all must submit to the law. If we are dissatisfied with the outcome of a court process, we can appeal to the next court to end at the Supreme Court.”

Adeleke urged Tinubu to insist on the rule of law by instructing police and the DSS “not to obey an illegal order from his nephew, Mr Gboyega Oyetola. The Osun State security chiefs should also be called to order”.

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“I call on Mr President to instruct the National Security Adviser and the Attorney General of the Federation to personally verify the fact that the Court of Appeal judgement did not reinstate the sacked local government chairmen and councillors and the fact that there is a subsisting judgement of Court that sacked the Chairmen and Councillors produced by the 2022 local government polls,” he said.

Meanwhile, the state chapter of Oyetola’s party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), in its response, dismissed Adeleke’s allegations as an attempt to evade legal procedures, advising him to approach the Supreme Court if dissatisfied with the Court of Appeal’s judgment.

Osun APC spokesperson Kola Olabisi denied that Oyetola had issued any illegal directives to security agencies, accusing Adeleke of resorting to blackmail instead of legal recourse.

“Oyetola has not instructed anyone, including security chiefs, on how to do their job. Adeleke should know that blackmail or sentiment will not change the court’s decision,” Olabisi stated.

He argued that the APC-led local government officials were unjustly removed in 2022 and had now been lawfully reinstated through the courts.

“The court has spoken, and those affected by Adeleke’s actions have been left in the cold for too long. Now that justice has been served, as the leader of the Osun APC, Oyetola is committed to ensuring the ruling is implemented,” he added.

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Caleb Danladi Foundation donates grains, cash to Muslim community in Kaduna 

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March 27, 2025

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By Amos Tauna, Kaduna

A group, the Caleb Danladi Foundation has donated essential food commodities to the Muslim community in Kwoi, Jaba Local Government Area of Kaduna State, to support them during Ramadan fast.

The gesture was warmly received on behalf of the beneficiaries by religious and community leaders, underscores the foundation’s commitment to unity and compassion, particularly in times of spiritual reflection.

It’s Founder, Captain Caleb Danladi Bako, while presenting the items stressed the need for solidarity and kindness, expressing hope that the donation would ease the burden on fasting families.

Captain Bako, urged them to uphold the virtues of the holy month, emphasizing the importance of unity, compassion, and love, which he noted strengthens communal bond.

Religious leaders, including the Chief Imam of Kwoi Central Mosque and the Chairman of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) in Jaba LGA, praised the foundation’s unwavering support and urged more individuals to embrace acts of goodwill.

Notable stakeholders in the community, Mr. David Tuk and Mr. Monday Gyubok, lauded the philanthropic initiative and encouraged others to emulate such kindness.

They stressed the need for continued support to vulnerable groups within the community, particularly during times of religious observance.

The event also carried an emotional tone as community leaders extended condolences to Captain Danladi over the recent passing of his father, praying for strength for his family to bear the irreparable loss.

With a track record of humanitarian efforts spanning education, youth empowerment, and community development, the Caleb Danladi Foundation continues to strengthen social bonds through acts of generosity and interfaith harmony.

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Emir Bayero cancels Eid-el-Fitri Durbar

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2 hours ago

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March 27, 2025

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The 15th Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Bayero, has announced the cancellation of the Eid-el-Fitr Durbar celebration due to security concerns in the state.

Emir Bayero made this announcement while briefing newsmen at his Nasarawa Mini Palace in Kano on Wednesday night.

He said that the peaceful coexistence of the people takes precedence over the Durbar celebration.

Emir Bayero had initially planned to hold the Durbar celebration, which would have coincided with his fifth year anniversary on the throne.

He noted that respected Islamic clerics, elders, stakeholders, and his council members advised him to cancel the celebration to maintain peace.

Emir Bayero urged the people of Kano to use the Sallah celebration period to visit families and friends and to observe the festivities in a peaceful and harmonious atmosphere.

He prayed for Allah’s blessings and mercy during the month of Ramadan, hoping that the people of Kano would receive forgiveness and mercy.

NAN

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Court dismisses Falana’s fraud case against Zinox boss, Ekeh, others

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3 hours ago

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March 27, 2025

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For the umpteenth time, the court has thrown out a case of fraud filed against the Chairman of Zinox Technologies, Mr. Leo Stan Ekeh, his wife, Chioma Ekeh and 11 others.

The latest is the dismissal of the suit by Justice Akpan Okon Ebong of the FCT High Court who struck out the case filed by Mr. Femi Falana SAN, purporting to act on a fiat donated to him by the Attorney General and Minister of Justice of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi SAN, against the Chairman of Zinox Technologies, Mr. Leo Stan Ekeh, and 12 others.

The other defendants are Mr. Chris Eze Ozims, Oyebode Folashade, Charles Adigwe, Obilo Onuoha, Agartha Ukoha, Anya O. Anya, Femi Dosumu, Nnenna Kalu, Admas Digital Technologies Limited, Technology Distributions Limited and Zinox Technologies Limited.
In the suit No. FCT/HC/CR/985/24 filed in November 2024, Falana on behalf of his client, Benjamin Joseph, the CEO of Citadel Oracle Concept Limited, an Ibadan-based computer firm, filed charges against Ekeh, 9 other individuals and 3 companies before the Federal High Court in Abuja for allegedly diverting N162,247,513.80 being payment for laptop supply contract at the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Headquarters which Technology Distribution ltd (now TD Africa), the biggest tech equipment distributor in Sub Saharan Africa supplied on behalf of Citadel in 2012.

However, in the certified true copy of the judgment dated March 20, 2025, Justice Ebong ruled as follows: “It is my conclusion based on the foregoing that this charge (No. FCT/HC/CR/985/2024, Federal Republic of Nigeria v Leo Stan Ekeh and 12 ORS) constitutes a gross abuse of court process and is liable to dismissal. I accordingly hereby dismiss it.”

Before arriving at his judgment which has put a final nail on the coffin of a case that other courts had dismissed in the past as dead on arrival, Justice Ebong had considered the outcome of previous cases and petitions filed by Mr. Joseph none of which was in his favour.
Justice Ebong said: “One intriguing aspect of this matter is that none of the law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation of the nominal complainant’s (Mr. Joseph) numerous petitions has found merit in any of his allegations against the defendants. When called upon before Senchi J. (Justice Danlami Z. Senchi) to prove his said allegations to the court, he failed to turn up in court. One then wonders on what premise he wants to maintain this campaign of persecution against the defendants.”

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Previous judgments on the matter had established that rather than being the culprit, Ekeh and the 12 others were actually the victims of a failed money diversion scheme plotted by Mr. Joseph and Citadel.
When contacted, one of the defendants, Mr. Chris Eze Ozims, a lawyer, said: “This ruling truly reflects our consistent position on the allegations, and it is good that we have been vindicated, once more, by a competent high court.

He asserted that the judgment of Justice Ebong was consistent with the position of the defendants and in tandem with the ruling of other judges who had earlier adjudicated on the same matter in the past.
Chief counsel to the defendants, Mr. Matthew Burkaa SAN, described the judgment as victory for integrity and the rule of law.
Court papers showed that Falana’s suit was based on the same claims which various courts had in the past dismissed as falsehood and baseless. The case arose from a contract between Citadel and Technology Distributions Limited over the supply of computers to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), a project fully funded by Technology Distributions and has no bearing whatsoever with Zinox and its promoter, Mr Leo Stan Ekeh.

It will be recalled that Mr. Joseph had lost the case and its adjunct suits at different courts in the past. In his petition to the police in 2013, it was discovered by police authorities that Mr. Joseph provided false information to the police, prompting the Inspector General of Police to charge him for false information in charge no.CR/216/16.

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In another case filed by the EFCC at his instance against his partner, Princess Kama, in charge no. FCT/HC/CR/244/2018,  Honorable Justice Danlami Z. Senchi of the FCT High Court (as he then was), dismissed as false all the allegations made by Benjamin Joseph, and imposed the sum of N20 million as damages against him for false petitioning in relation to these same allegations.

Earlier court papers showed that Joseph had in his statement on oath in suit No:LD/4335/2014 in the High Court of Justice, Lagos State, dated 28 June, 2019 averred  that his company, Citadel, did not execute any contract with FIRS and that he was not aware that a contract was awarded to Citadel.

In his deposition under oath, Joseph claimed that Citadel “did not at any time execute any contract for the FIRS and neither did the 2nd defendant (Princess O. Kama) who is its agent in respect of the contract it bidded for with the FIRS deliver/release any documents to the Claimant (Citadel) indicating that the contract it bidded for or any other contract was awarded to it by the FIRS or any other body.”
However, a letter from the FIRS addressed to the chamber of Afe Babalola & Co dated 11 February 2014 (FIRS/PD/GDS/2559) and signed by one Idrissa Kogo, Head Legal Department,

stated: “Contrary to your client’s claim that they knew nothing about the execution of the contract awarded to them and that they did not receive any payment for the execution of the contract, our record reveals otherwise.

“Your client instructed FIRS through a letter dated 13th December 2012 to deal with Princess O. Kama (Your client’s agent) in relation to the contract. Through three separate letters dated 20th December 2012, your client instructed FIRS to pay to the client’s account with Access Bank plc. Please note that FIRS acted in compliance with your client’s instruction and with due diligence,” the FIRS letter stated.

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The FIRS letter was a response to inquiry by Afe Babalola Chamber, lawyers to Citadel Oracle Concept Ltd and its MD, Mr. Benjamin Joseph, at that time.

The current charges filed by Falana on the basis of a fiat from the Attorney General is the third in a row as Mr Joseph had earlier filed charge no.CR/469/2022, which was struck out by Honorable Justice C. O. Oba of the FCT High Court, by an order dated 8th November 2022.

Determined to push through his case, Mr Joseph  filed the same charges before Honorable Justice A. S. Adepoju of the FCT High Court, and the charges were, once  again, struck out by the Honorable Court on 19th March 2024, with Honorable Justice Adepoju holding that: “This matter was brought in dead, extinct and should be confined into the dustbin of history…I hold that the instant suit is an abuse of the process of court and it is hereby struck out accordingly.”

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