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Telegraph honour late Capt. Okunbo, Lawan, Sanwo-Olu, Emefiele others.

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Mrs Adesuwa Okunbo Rhodes Founder and others
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In what could best be described as well-deserved service to humanity and Nigeria, the management of Daily Telegraph Publishing Company, publishers of the New Telegraph, Saturday Telegraph, and Sunday Telegraph, on Friday posthumously honoured the late Capt. Hosa Wells Okunbo, as the quintessential philanthropist in 2021.

Other top awardees in different categories include Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Good governance); his Ogun, Kogi, Abia, and Ekiti colleagues, Dapo Abiodun (Digital economy), Yahaya Bello (youth empowerment), Okezie Ikpeazu (filling missing link in SME development), and Kayode Fayemi (Urban democracy on a mission), respectively.

Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele (Banker with a difference), Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Silver (Re-engineering Nigeria’s oil sector), among many others.

Speaking on behalf of the awardees, Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, who bagged the 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award in Politics, said the award was to make the beneficiaries do better in their various fields of endeavour.

The colourful ceremony, which was held at the Balmoral Hall of the Federal Palace Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos, had in attendance the Chairman and Publisher of the Telegraph titles, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, Chairman and Publisher of This Nigeria newspaper, Mr Eric Osagie, and many others.

Earlier in a one-minute silence in honour of the late business mogul, a former Director-General of Nigerian Maritimes Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside, described Capt. Okunbo as a great Nigerian who left impacts on the lives of people he had contacts with.

Speaking shortly after receiving the award, daughter of the late business mogul, Mrs Adesuwa Okunbo-Rhodes, said the posthumous investiture was a huge honour to the family.

She said, “My dad was a lover of people and he always had a listening ear for everybody that came to him with a challenge. It is not only about his resources but also his time which transcended beyond ethnic lines, he was a lover of this Nigeria.

“He taught us a lot about sacrifice and being focused. Amid all his successes he understood clearly that everything he had was from God and that he was a vessel of impact in Nigeria. Giving him this posthumous award means a lot, it highlighted who he was. I know that he will be smiling where he is in heaven at the moment.”

She also advised the younger generation to live a life of impact, adding that they should be intentional about giving.

“It is not about how much money you have in your bank account but the lives that you have touched through acts of kindness and generosity. My dad was a man of impact, generosity, and kindness and I think that is the attributes that we should imbibe and that is what he has left behind. It is not about the wealth he left behind but how we can carry on with that life of empathy, kindness, and generosity,” she added.

Also speaking, the late captain’s younger brother, Mr Bright Okunbo, said he felt proud of his brother and happy that he lived a good life.

“That is what we are seeing again with this award. After his funeral to date, it has been a testimony upon testimony from all the individuals he had contacts with. How he touched their lives one way or the other and that is why this recognition is still going on today because he was a man that lived for the people, a selfless life. His name was the good thing that he left behind for the family. As they say, a good name is better than riches and fortunately for my brother, he had both,” he said.

Similarly, Mr Morrison Okunbo, another younger brother to the late business tycoon, said, “The award goes to show that all we have to leave for in this world is to leave a good name. A good name is far better than riches. My brother was intentional about leaving a good name behind. He never joked with his integrity.

“So far, this is the third posthumous award and I know there are more coming. It tells you that the only good legacy you can leave behind is that good legacy and it is a lesson for everyone. My brother lived a good life.”

Late Captain Idahosa Wells Okunbo was a billionaire philanthropist and Business Mogul who pioneered Marine security with the establishment of Ocean Marine Solutions Ltd with over 50 vessels.

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Seun Kuti Thanks Family, Friends, Lawyers After Freedom

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Seun Kuti
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Afrobeat musician, Seun Kuti, has expressed gratitude to his family members, friends and legal advisers for their support towards his release from police custody.

Recall that the Afrobeat singer, was yesterday (Tuesday), released on bail from Police custody, seven days after he reported himself at the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Panti, Yaba, Lagos, over the assault allegation against him.

Before his release, last night, his lawyers, Mr. Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, and Mr. Kunle Adegoke, had hinted that he would be released, yesterday (Tuesday), having met all the conditions for his bail.

However, after his freedom, Seun, via his official Instagram, thanked his family, lawyers and everyone, who showed him love and support during his moments in the police custody.

He stated, “I be orphan o but family deeeey. I want to say a profound thanks to everyone who showed me all this love. All my friends that showed up. Thanks most especially to my beautiful wife, @chefyeidekuti

“Last but not least. The legal team. Uncle Femi Falana (SAN) Uncle Olumide Fisika (SAN) Uncle Kayode Adegoke (SAN) Barrister Ogunlana. Ade Ademiluyi. And everyone on the team. I owe you my freedom and my sanity. Let’s go,” he added.

Some of Kuti’s friends and supporters were seen jubilating outside the Police station, immediately after he was released.

A viral video showed his supporters taking turns to embrace him when he stepped outside the police station.

Lawyers, supporters protest Seun’s detention

Meanwhile, human rights lawyers and activists, yesterday, kicked against the maltreatment of Afro-beat musician by the Police.

Their reactions came as Kuti’s court hearing over the assault charges, filed against him by the Police before a Chief Magistrate’s Court, in Yaba, Lagos, was stalled, yesterday, due to the absence of the presiding Magistrate, Adeola Olatubosun.

Seun Kuti, son of late Afrobeat legend, Fela Kuti, was in a court ordered detention at the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Panti, Yaba, Lagos, following his arraignment for allegedly assaulting a Police officer.

The court had, on May 15, 2023, after his arraignment, ordered that Kuti should be detained for 48 hours and should be released on bail thereafter.

Upon an application by the Police, the court, last Thursday, extended Kuti’s detention at the SCID by four days to allow the Police conclude their investigation.

However, when Kuti was taken to court, yesterday, the court did not sit, as the magistrate was reportedly on a training.

The court registrar later informed parties that the matter had been adjourned to today.

Outside the court premises, Kuti’s supporters, in their large numbers, protested against his continued detention by the Police.

They held posters and banners with inscriptions such as ‘End police brutality’, ‘Free Sun Kuti’, among others.

One of the protesters, an activist and National Secretary of Youths Rise Movement, YRM, Francis Mwaba, demanded the unconditional release of the musician “between now and tomorrow.”

He said: “Seun must be released unconditionally between now and tomorrow, or we are going to go back to the street.”

Another activist and member of the Movement of the People, MOP, Kunle Ajayi, accused the police of collaborating with the magistrate to frustrate the trial.

“There have been a lot of collaborations to stop us. Nobody can stop us, because when we rise, we rise. We are watching with our two eyes open in a very painstaking manner,” he said.

In a statement made available to Vanguard, Kuti’s lawyers had expressed optimism that their client will be released yesterday, stating that they have fulfilled all the conditions set for his administrative bail.

The statement reads: “The Court, as you will recall, had ordered that the prosecution of the case must be by the DPP’s office and not by the Police, hence the Police was also ordered to send the case file to the DPP for evaluation and decision as to prosecution.

“The court was therefore to sit today to receive the DPP’s advice, but did not because, as we’re informed, the Magistrate is attending a training course. However, the Advice of the DPP is not ready as the police investigation team is still holding on to the case file.

“Nevertheless, the release of Mr. Kuti on bail, as ordered by the Magistrate, is only waiting for administrative approval. That process has nothing to do with whether or not the court has a physical sitting. We are hopeful that Mr. Kuti will be out today on the bail granted him, having fulfilled the terms.”

Meanwhile, some human rights lawyers yesterday kicked against the inhumane treatment which the Police has subjected Kuti’s to including obtaining an order to conduct a mental test on him.

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10th Senate: Count Me Out Of Senate Presidency Race – Lawan

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Senate President Ahmad Lawan
Senate President Ahmad Lawan
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The President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan has denied reports that he aspiring for the position of the Senate in the yet-to-be-inaugurated 10th National Assembly, saying he is not running for the position he is presently occupying.

In a statement, he personally signed yesterday in Abuja. Lawan urged Nigerians to discountenance such reports, said that he has never told anyone or held a meeting with people to intimate them of such an ambition.

The President of the Senate’s statement read, “I have read some media reports that I have joined the race for the Presidency of the 10th Senate. Ordinarily, I would not have responded to these reports but when lies are not refuted, they have the tendency to create an illusion of truth.

“The truth is that I have never told anyone or held a meeting with anyone that I am running for the Presidency of the 10th Senate. So the public should discountenance the reports.

“The fact remains that I am part of the leadership of our great party, the APC, seeking to find solutions to the numerous issues arising from the contests for the leadership of the 10th National Assembly and I will continue to remain focused on that.”

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Gov AbdulRazaq emerges new Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum Governor AbdulRazaq AbdulRahman of Kwara state has emerged as the new Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum. This is contained in a press statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye Wednesday morning to journalists in Ilorin. According to the statement,the exalted office was bestowed on him by his colleagues. The governor among others pledged to uphold the ideals and vision of the NGF as a most credible, authoritative, influential and effective inter-party platform for consensus building and peaceful resolution and advancement of pan-Nigeria goals, interests and aspirations The statement reads,”I want to thank Allah, exalted is He, for the historic event in which my brother Governors bestowed upon me the Chairmanship of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF). It added that,”The significance and the huge responsibilities of this office are not lost on me. “I hereby pledge to uphold the ideals and vision of the NGF whilst recognising and appreciating the eminent track record of the institution as a most credible, authoritative, influential and effective inter-party platform for consensus building and peaceful resolution and advancement of pan-Nigeria goals, interests and aspirations. “l will ensure regular consultation with all members in order to arrive at consensus on all issues for the advancement and promotion of national interest, peace, progress, and stability of the nation.” “As a body, we will also continue our tradition of maintaining a close and cordial relationship with His Excellency the President, the National Assembly, all Federal and State institutions, the business community, the civil society, media, and development partners. “Finally, l wish to thank my dear colleagues for the confidence reposed in me as the new Chairman of NGF.”the statement ends

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Kwara State Governor AbdulRazaq AbdulRahman
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Governor AbdulRazaq AbdulRahman of Kwara state has emerged as the new Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum.

This is contained in a press statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye Wednesday morning to journalists in Ilorin.

According to the statement,the exalted office was bestowed on him by his colleagues.

The governor among others pledged to uphold the ideals and vision of the NGF
as a most credible, authoritative, influential and effective inter-party platform for consensus building and peaceful resolution and advancement of pan-Nigeria goals, interests and aspirations

The statement reads,”I want to thank Allah, exalted is He, for the historic event in which my brother Governors bestowed upon me the Chairmanship of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF).

It added that,”The significance and the huge responsibilities of this office are not lost on me.

“I hereby pledge to uphold the ideals and vision of the NGF whilst recognising and appreciating the eminent track record of the institution as a most credible, authoritative, influential and effective inter-party platform for consensus building and peaceful resolution and advancement of pan-Nigeria goals, interests and aspirations.

“l will ensure regular consultation with all members in order to arrive at consensus on all issues for the advancement and promotion of national interest, peace, progress, and stability of the nation.”

“As a body, we will also continue our tradition of maintaining a close and cordial relationship with His Excellency the President, the National Assembly, all Federal and State institutions, the business community, the civil society, media, and development partners.

“Finally, l wish to thank my dear colleagues for the confidence reposed in me as the new Chairman of NGF.”the statement ends

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