High Street

Federal Lawmaker in the eye of the storm, Femi Gbajabiamila has revealed why he bought his wife, Salamatu a brand new G- Wagon as a birthday gift. The majority leader of the Federal House of Representatives who suffered great vilification for such a show of flamboyance in an economic era of dire needs defended his action in a statement released on Thursday – May 31, 2018. The subject of recent heaps of abuse claimed the presentation of the multimillion naira gift to his wife on her 50th birthday was meant to be a "family affair". He stated in the statement aimed at stopping the tide of unfavorable public opinion against him "I took the decision far back to present her with a significant gift, she was totally unaware of, to convey in part, the debt of my gratitude for her standing by me through thick and thin," he said. "I could never be half the man I am today without her support and unbelievable understanding." "Truly, the monetary value ...

Agunbiade Emmanuel Ayomide, the gospel singer known as MidePraise has announced his presence in the mainstream music circle with a big bang. He just released a mind lifting musical work labeled "Nu mije mi nu" (wipe my tears). This development comes on the heels of    earlier productions such as "praise medley", "Ojumo Ayo" (Day of Joy), "Bless Our Land", "Oku Ki emi leye" (He died for my salvation).   Nu Mije Minu is the latest effort of the gospel singer who has shared stage with popular musical evangelists such as Tope Alabi, Bola Are, Mama Doctor. A law student – after studying mass communication – Gospel Music chose Mide Praise. In a recent chat, the rising singer disclosed " Gospel music is what I grew up practicing". And he has never looked back amassing incredible skills and rendition along the years. With the vision to transform into a global brand with testimonies of chains loosen, broken hearts m...

The leading Osun State governorship aspirant on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC), 'Kunle Rasheed Adegoke (K-Rad) has congratulated Nigerians home and abroad on the 19th anniversary of the country's return to civil rule. This was contained in a statement he issued and signed in Osogbo to commemorate this year's Democracy Day. It would be recalled that the military government of General Abdulsalami Abubakar conducted the general elections that ushered in a democratically elected governments across the length and breadth of Nigeria which culminated in their assumption of power on the 29th of May, 1999. The country has since then stuck to democracy, in spite of many pitfalls. According to K-Rad, "Nigeria is an extremely favoured country. Even though we are poles away from our Promised Land, yet nineteen years of unbroken democratic experience is no mean feat. Notwithstanding our wobbles, the literal sense of freedom cannot be compared to what o...

There is a big trouble in the Ogun state chapter of the People’s Democratic Party. And it has started wrecking whatever thread holds the party together. Insiders disclosed one of the major consequences of the unraveling development is the recent action of the main financial power behind the party, Ladi Adebutu. The gubernatorial aspirant is said to have ordered the party executives to find ways to generate funds for the running of the party. The development pulls the plug on the funding of the party by the latest financial power behind the activities of the party. Insiders disclosed Ladi’s action has roots in allegations of “disloyalty and lack of appreciation for all he has done for the party since he started single-handedly funding it”. Insiders disclosed rather than to continue funding the party as a whole, Adebutu has opted to support individuals with “clout” within the party. The implication of this development for his gubernatorial aspiration is yet to be confir...

Dapo Oyebanjo the musician popularly known as D’Banj is in a mess. And it all revolves around the claims made by his empowerment platform, Cream. The Talent Hunt Reality show which means Creative, Reality, Entertainment, Arts and Music is doused with damning allegations of making failed promises to those who paid to be a part of it. The development which rocked the Koko Master’s initiative had it agents arrested in Owerri – Imo state. Sources disclosed the arrested team had Baglo a good friend of Dbanj’s manager Frank as the leader. Sources disclosed “interestingly Baglo and his team was arrested over the inability to pay hotel bills, it was at the police station that officers on duty discovered the date on the campaign materials for the reality show they are urging the people to be a part of is past!” a source disclosed. The case turned from failure to pay hotel bills to fraudulent act against the public with Cream. Insiders disclosed that it took “extraordinary plea...

Salamatu, the wife of Federal lawmaker Femi Gbajabiamila is over the moon. She just got a brand new G- Wagon as a birthday present from her husband. Information available revealed that the majority leader of the Federal House of Representatives presented the automobile to his heartthrob as a 50th birthday present. The manner of the presentation is described as one of the most romantic as possible. The lawmaker battling Re election is said to have staged a surprise birthday dinner in honour of his wife in Lagos. And during the celebration called out his wife and handed over the key to a brand new pink G-wagon decorated with rose flowers. The pleasant surprise of a gift is valued at about N100million. And Golden age Salamatu labelled elated beyond measures over the pleasant surprise. Source: Societynow & papermacheonline

The leading All Progressive Congress (APC) gubernatorial aspirant in Osun State, Kunle Rasheed Adegoke popularly known as K-Rad, has felicitated with the Nigerian children in general and those of Osun in particular. In a comprehensive message issued by the guber aspirant in  Osogbo, K-Rad rejoiced with the children on this year's Children's Day, and emphasised the need for governments at all levels to give children an important place in their plannings.  According to the globally exposed, but home-bred politician: "Children are a vital component of the society who must not be left unplanned for, because, any society that neglects the younger generation in its planning, is merely preparing for its perdition." Reiterating his well-publicised blueprint which he titles 'The Assured Future', by which many people see him as the most prepared gubernatorial aspirant in Osun, K-Rad says his plan for the state's children is well thoughtout. Acc...

Funky King of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi is back in the news. He stormed out of an event he was invited as a special guest over the omission of his picture in the programme brochure. This development is despite the fact that the headline grabber of a monarch got the event 3hours after it started. The event which was the grand finale of the week-long Yoruba community week in Rivers state kicked off at 1p.mm, Oba Akanbi arrived the Civic Centre, Portharcourt venue at 4 p.m. Insiders disclosed immediately the monarch checked the programme brochure and discovered his picture missing, he left the venue. Witnesses claimed he barely spent minutes at the ‘’event’. Interestingly Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams suffered the same fate as Oba Akanbi regarding omission in the event’s brochure. But unlike the traditional of ruler of multiple colors of publicity, he came early and stayed throughout the event to ‘’promote culture’’ and ‘’encourage the organizers to d...

In line with the Bancassurance partnership between Prudential Zenith Life Insurance and Zenith Bank Plc., the company commenced sales in an additional fifty branches from Monday, 21st May 2018.   This builds on the initial launch, which had enabled customers of Zenith Bank to purchase life insurance products in eight pilot branches over the past few months. Prudential Plc., one of the oldest and most capitalised life insurance companies in the world, acquired a majority stake in Zenith Life of Nigeria in July 2017 and formed an exclusive Bancassurance partnership with Zenith Bank in Nigeria and Ghana.  Prudential’s entry into Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy, with a population of over 180 million, demonstrates its commitment to Africa following the launch of businesses in Ghana and Kenya in 2014, Uganda in 2015 and Zambia in 2016. Prudential Zenith Life Insurance has placed highly trained insurance sales executives in selected Zenith Bank branches a...

Demola Adeleke, the Senator who was swept into office based on the sentiments of the controversies concerning his brother’s death – Isiaka Adeleke, the original holder of Osun West people’s mandate – is on the verge of increasing the numbers of his wives. The federal lawmaker who blew his popularity with mindless public dancing – he has been ordered to stop – said to be ardently wooing a 25 year old to becoming his new wife. Adeleke just celebrated his 58th birthday. And he is credited with having three “wives” already. Those who should know disclosed the identity of the lady the Senator appears keen to make his newest wife as “Debola”. “The Senator is obsessed with her” a source stated. Insiders disclosed that Demola is however handicapped by his latest political moves (or rather the step he has been ordered to take). He wants to become the next governor of Osun state (reason he was ordered to stop the mindless public dancing) thanks to elder brother Deji who provide...

A former Deputy Governor of Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore, has finally dumped the Peoples Democratic Party for the Social Democratic Party where he said he intends to contest the September 22 governorship election in the state. Omisore announced his defection in a statement made available to journalists in Osogbo on Sunday. He said his governorship ambition would be realised on the platform of his new political party, saying he was ready to rescue the state from the ruling All Progressives Congress. The statement read in part, “Engaging and working with like-minded leadership, we have sought for an alternative platform that will assure both credible and legitimacy that will rescue Osun state from its current reckless misrule. Our quest for an alternative political platform is basically in pursuit of a credible political structure that would guarantee that our people enjoy the benefits of accountable leadership at the state level from now. “Notwithstanding my enormous c...

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission will on Tuesday  arraign the immediate past Deputy Governor of Sokoto State, Mukhtar Shehu-Shagari, on an alleged fraud, The PUNCH can report. Shagari, who is a nephew of former President Shehu Shagari, allegedly took part in the sharing of N23bn ($115m) disbursed by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, during the run-up to the 2015 presidential election. The money, the EFCC said, was meant to manipulate the outcome of the poll in favour of the Peoples Democratic Party as the money found its way into the bank accounts of scores of electoral officers who have since been suspended by the Independent National Electoral Commission. The commission alleged in the charge sheet that Shagari, who served as Minister of Water Resources under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, allegedly received N500m from the Diezani fund. One of the charges read that “You Mukhtar Shehu Shagari,  Ibrahim Gidado and Ibr...

Skye Bank customers have expressed delight at being beneficiaries of the bank’s priority account named the Skye Select Account. A statement from the bank quoted one Mr. Sylvester Nwanyawu, an Aba-based industrialist who operates a Skye Select account, as expressing his appreciation to the bank, said, “I was travelling with some of my business associates without knowing that being a holder of the Skye Bank’s priority pass card would give us a privileged advantage.” According to him, “Imagine just hanging out at the general waiting area around the airport gate for eight hours with thousands of other travelers. The wait would have made our stop at Amsterdam uninteresting and tiring.” Another Skye Select Account holder had this to say: “As a frequent flyer,” Mrs. Rashidat Makanjuola, principal partner, ‘Events by Roshie,’ recounted her experience with Skye Select, “I feel pretty excited about the perks my Skye Bank priority pass affords me, especially in creating for me a good ...

Senate President Bukola Saraki just paid a condolence visit to the Kano home of late business and Islamic leader, Khalifa Isyaku Rabiu. Saraki was received by the billionaires children of the departed billionaire, Rabiu Isyaku Rabiu, Nafiu Rabiu and Abdulsamad Rabiu. L- R: Chairman, IRS Airlines, Alhaji Rabiu Isyaku Rabiu; Senate President, H. E. Bukola Saraki and Founder/Executive Chairman of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu during a condolence visit by the Senate president to the family of late Khalifa Sheikh Isyaku Rabiu in Kano on Thursday. L- R: Chairman, IRS Airlines, Alhaji Rabiu Isyaku Rabiu; Senate President, H. E. Bukola Saraki; Founder/Executive Chairman of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu and Alhaji Nafiu Rabiu during a condolence visit by the Senate president to the family of late Khalifa Sheikh Isyaku Rabiu in Kano on Thursday.

Successful businessman and PDP Chieftain; Mr. Cyril Fasuyi has finally dumped the Peoples Democratic Party. Fasuyi, a former House of Reps Contestant and leader of the party in Ido/Osi Local Government Area made this known to reporters at a well-attended meeting of prominent leaders and stakeholders of the party last weekend at the Olojudo's palace in Ido Ekiti, Ekiti State. According to information made available by media consultant Niyi Ojo Fasuyi led other party stalwarts like Hon. Taye, Olatunji, a Commissioner in Ekiti SUBEB, Chief Olatuyi, former State Secretary of the PDP and thousands of their teeming followers and supporters out of the party in reaction to the imposition and conduct of a carefully manipulated gubernatorial primaries which produced Prof. Kolapo Olusola Eleka as the PDP Gubernatorial candidate in Ekiti last week. The announced their immediate resignation from the party and promised to soon make official, their next destination. Amidst cheers from t...

MTN Nigeria is taking over Nsukka today, Thursday, April 17th 2018, as a team of top executives will be making a courtesy visit to the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The Chief Operating Officer of the company, Mr. Muhammed Zia Siddiqui, will spearhead the delegation of executives who are to meet with the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Benjamin Chukwuma Ozuma and other key members of staff. The team is also slated to meet with the student body of the institution at the Prince Alexander Auditorium. Last year, the brand also embarked on a visit to the University of Lagos, Akoka where the COO pointed out the fully equipped e-library MTN Foundation, and that various students were beneficiaries of the MTN Foundation’s Science and Technology Scholarship scheme but still the brand would work with the school’s leadership to support more developmental projects among other things.

A Kogi State High Court in Lokoja on Wednesday granted bail in the sum of N10m to Senator Dino Melaye, who was arraigned on gun-running charges. Justice Nasir Ajana, in a ruling, said he was inclined to granting Melaye bail in view of his health condition. The judge said he was convinced by the argument of Melaye’s lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), that keeping the senator in custody would jeopardise his health, which, according to the lawyer, was already “deteriorating.” The judge said he was also convinced by Ozekhome’s argument that Melaye would not abscond if granted bail. Melaye was not in court on Wednesday. His lawyer said he was still on admission in the hospital in Abuja. Apart from the gun-running charges in Lokoja, Melaye is facing separate criminal charges before Justice Olasunbo Goodluck in Abuja. Source: Punch

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested the lawmaker representing Akwa Ibom North-East senatorial district, Senator Bassey Akpan,  for allegedly receiving vehicles worth N303m from oil magnate, Babajide Omokore, who is under trial for alleged fraud. According to an EFCC report, Akpan while serving as a Commissioner for Finance under the government of Senator Godswill Akpabio, allegedly gave contracts to Omokore worth billions of naira. The vehicles were believed to be kickbacks. It was learnt that Akpan was arrested by the anti-graft agency on Tuesday. The EFCC Spokesman, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed the arrest to our correspondent via a text message. On when the senator was arrested, Uwujaren stated,  “Yes, he was brought in yesterday (Tuesday).” An EFCC report revealed that the vehicles Akpan allegedly received from Omokore ranged from Range Rover luxury cars to campaign buses and trucks that were bought with the proceeds of fraud. The re...

Justice Daniel Longji of the Plateau State High Court in Jos has ordered that a former Governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang, be remanded in the prison custody till Thursday, May 24, when the court will rule on his bail application. Also ordered to be kept in prison was a former cashier in the office of the Secretary to the Plateau State Government, Yusuf Pam. Jang and Pam were arraigned on Wednesday before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission The 12 counts filed against them border on alleged misuse of some special funds released to Plateau State by the Central Bank of Nigeria. The EFCC claimed that they committed the offence few months to the end of Jang’s tenure as governor in 2015. The defendants were brought to court in an unregistered hummer bus, at about 9.30am on Wednesday amid tight security. On hand were a host of their supporters, who cheered them as they arrived the court. Inside the courtroom, Jang, who dressed in a white Babaringa wi...

Foremost governorship aspirant in Osun State under the aegis of All Progressives Congress (APC), 'Kunle Rasheed Adegoke, popularly called K-RAD, has felicitated with Muslim faithfuls as they welcome the holy month of Ramadan urging them to increase in piety and love for one another. This was contained in a press statement personally signed by K-RAD and made available to journalists in Osogbo on Wednesday. According to the statement, K-RAD extolled the virtues of the holy month of Ramadan and enjoined Muslims to utilise the month to seek for Allah's mercy and tranquility especially at this period when Osun is stepping nearer to another governorship election. "Ramadan is indeed a blessing from Allah to mankind as it entails great benefits especially the night of destiny where it is established that with prayer and total submission to the will of Allah, a hitherto bad destiny will be changed to good. I, therefore, enjoin our Muslim brothers an...

Believe it or not, MorounRanti Ashabi Alebiosu is an inspirational individual with several years of experience in the marketing communications industry. What she brings to any organization is captured in her favourite strapline: Building Teams, Motivating Excellence and Achieving Results. She is a relationship driven sales and marketing professional who encourages and inspires her team to deliver bottom line results. MorounRanti is a progressive business driver who while at Insight Communications played a major role in the awareness campaign and launch of the One Thousand Naira (N1, 000.00) note into the Nigerian economy, she was instrumental in the launching of the Heineken 60cl into the Nigerian Market as well as the re-launch of the Amstel Malta brand. Due to her exemplary dedication to work, she was recommended for and awarded double promotion at work, a first in the company’s history. She served as the director of communications in the pre-election campaign of His Excellen...

The untold story of Emzor Pharmaceutical has surfaced. And it reads From managing a retail pharmacy business, Emzor Chemists Limited, between late seventies and early eighties to founding a pharmaceutical manufacturing company, Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries Limited in 1984, Dr. Stella C. Okoli, OON has steered the growth of her company toward a single goal: provide high quality pharmaceutical products and services to the Nigerian people at prices that are not only affordable but represent value. And along the way, she’s blazed the trail on providing products that are leading brands not only in Nigeria but across Sub Saharan Africa. It all started in 1985 when the company commenced pilot production. And by 1988, it had become a popular brand especially with the introduction of Emzor Paracetamol. From the modest beginning with four products in 1987, Emzor now manufactures in its factory a wide range of products in the analgesic, anti-malaria, vitamin/haematinics/multivitamin su...

Renowned Kano businessman, philanthropist, leader of Islam’s Tijjaniyya movement in Nigeria and patriarch of the famed Isyaku Rabiu Family, Khalifa Sheikh Isyaku Rabiu has passed on yesterday in a London Hospital. He was aged 93 years before his death and would be buried according to Islamic rites on Friday, May 11, 2018. This was confirmed in a statement released by the family. Khalifa Sheikh Isyaku Rabiu is survived by his wives, 42 children amongst whom are his first son, Nafiu Rabiu; Founder & Chairman of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu and Chairman of IRS Airlines, Rabiu Isyaku Rabiu amongst other notable offsprings. He is also survived by hundreds of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Condolence registers have been opened at IRS & BUA Group offices nationwide. A Profile of Khalifa Sheikh Isyaku Rabiu Born in 1925 to the family of prominent Islamic scholar, Muhammadu Rabiu Dan Tinki, a Quranic preacher from the Bichi area of Kano State who led his own Qura...

Information available to societynow.ng has it that financial institution Skye Bank remains in charge of 361 - room five star hotel, Intercontinental. The lender took over the mega investment through a May 14 2017 court order which granted the bank’s prayers in an ex parte filed against Milan Industries Limited. The bank had appointed a receiver manager, Kunle Ogunba to oversee the operations of the hotel as part of it’s loan recovery step. The bank had dragged the investors to court in attempt to recoup crippling loans hanging on their necks. Skye Bank posited – in court - that it granted loan facilities of $29.8m and N3.8bn to Milan Industries Limited which had ballooned to over $100Millon(US Dollars) to construct the hotel and also raised an overdraft facility of N500m in favour of Milan Industries Limited “to urgently fund payments to contractors and importation of material required for completing the hotel project.” The bank’s lawyer, Mr. Divine Obinna, had informed the ...

The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission has preferred three charges against the suspended Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Mr. Mounir Gwarzo, The PUNCH can report In the charge marked CR/185/18, which was filed before a Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, the ICPC accused Gwarzo of committing the fraud in June 2015. The commission also preferred two charges against the SEC Executive Commissioner, Corporate Services, Zakwanu Garuba, for allegedly conniving with Gwarzo to commit the fraud. According to the anti-graft agency, Gwarzo received over N104m as severance benefit less than a month after his appointment. The suspended SEC boss was also accused of receiving over N10m as a ‘car grant’ contrary to Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000. The charges read, “That you, Mounir Gwarzo, on or about June 2015, while being the Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Comm...