News
Ooni resolves issues Between Aare Afe Babalola and Dele Farotimi
The Ooni of Ife, Arole Oduduwa Olofin Adimula, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, CFR, Ojaja II in company of about prominent Yoruba traditional Rulers in Ekiti state was at the Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD) last night to appeal to the founder of the university Aare Afe Babalola to forgive the human rights lawyer and activist Dele Farotimi and withdraw the ongoing criminal case instituted against him.
Ooni Ogunwusi arrived Ado Ekiti at about 10:08pm last night into the waiting hands of Aare Afe Babalola himself accompanied by the Vice Chancellor Professor Elisabeta Smaranda Olarinde Bursar Pastor Joseph Modupe Babalola, The school PRO, Deans of various faculties at the university and the legal team of Afe Babalola handling Farotimi’s criminal case.
The Vice chancellor in her welcome speech at the meeting acknowledged Ooni’s love for the school’s founder and the school itself which she described as one of the leading universities in Africa.
The Ooni briefed the journalists outcome of the meeting which was earlier held close door between Afe Babalola and the Ooni accompanied by Ewi of Ado, Oba Rufus Adejugbe Aladesanmi III, Ajero of Ijero, Oba Adewole Joseph Adebayo, the Ogoga of Ikere, Oba Samuel Adejinmi Adu, Alaaye of Efon Alaaye, Oba Dr. Emmanuel Aladejare Agunsoye II and the Olojudo of Ido Ekiti who doubles as Chairman, Ekiti Council Of Traditional Rulers, Oba Ilori Faboro that having watched the scenarios surrounding the criminal case instituted against Dele Farotimi with rapt attention, it has become very imperative to apply Alternative Dispute Resolution method which Yoruba race was known for in the past because it’s a case between father and son.
“We have come today to appeal to Aare Babalola to forgive his son; Dele Farotimi and what we want from him is to withdraw the criminal charges against Farotimi today.
“Aare Afe Babalola, you are an elderstateman, you have seen it all, you are one of the iconic voices in this country, a great man per excellence, you are a rare breed who has excelled in everything you have touched in this life, a very God fearing elderstateman, above all, you are one of the proponents of the Yoruba ethos of Omoluwabi which has been your strongest value that you hold in our country.
This what we are using to bring down the tempo in what has happened between you and your son Dele Farotimi. We have been very proud of you as a great Yoruba elderstateman.
You have done great things for this race and Nigeria such that your name can never be forgotten.”
“We’ve all come together as traditional Rulers to discuss with you on this issue and this gentleman Dele Farotimi is your son and you must forgive him and withdraw the criminal charges against him.
As a father, you have soft sons and you have tough sons, Dele Farotimi is a tough son of yours. You have indeed made a point that your name can not be be messed with”.
“I hereby withdraw the criminal charges against Farotimi” – Afe Babalola.
When given the microphone to respond to the request made by the Ooni and the traditional Rulers, Aare Afe Babalola did not hesitate to accept the request saying he grew up as a child to understand such interventions by the traditional rulers.
He declared he had not only forgiven Dele Farotimi but also will instruct his lawyers to withdraw the criminal charges against him with immediate effect, because of the honour for the Ooni and the other Obas.
“Today is a very important day for me, I’m a Yoruba man and I’m very proud to be one.
Ewi of Ado has come here to meet me on this matter, former president Obasanjo has intervened, same with Bishop Matthew Kukah and a host of other prominent Nigerians to ask for the exact thing you have come to ask for this evening., my answer to them has been “NO” but today my answer is “YES” Your coming is unquantifiable in terms of money, who Am I? When the colonialists came here in 17th century or thereabouts, they found as a fact that Yoruba land was a highly organised society with an advanced systems of government with each town headed by an Oba who was regarded as a replica of God on earth. His words were commands.
“In the middle ages, the Greeks had a saying” the meadow that grow on the bank of a river which obeys the direction of the flood remains strong forever but the meadow that grow that disobey the direction of the flood were broken asunder”.
Aare Babalola concluded his response with a an Adage in Yoruba saying ” Eni ti o ba nI nkan lati se, kii wo elegan rara” meaning “those who change the world for the better do not wait to respond to criticism”
He said he had listened to the Ooni’s advice and he certainly didn’t want to be a meadow by the riverside which disobeys the flood.
I was a lawyer who defended the EFCC law, yes I’m corrupt, I was given an oil block, when I looked at the money and saw that it was too much , I rejected it, yes I’m corrupt, I was offered ministerial appointments twice, I rejected it, yes I’m corrupt because whatever I am, I don’t want anybody to say I made it through corruption.
Look at my books, I’m Chairman, Transparency International based in Germany, I have given lectures against corruption with my papers in many universities globally.
For someone to allege me that I have won my cases through corruption, it’s an attempt to defame me, that was why I rejected all appeals earlier made to me. But when I heard that Ooni was coming, I knew I’m in a fix today.
“Nkan de o”. There is nothing I’m going to gain from his(Dele) imprisonment and there’s nothing I want from the so called damages.
I am not in quest of more wealth, I’m rather concerned on managing the one I have already. Dele Farotimi is hereby forgiven.
On this occasion, I say “YES”.Ooni departed venue of the meeting at about half past midnight for his Ojaja Park in Akure from where he is expected to make his departure to Abuja on Monday.
News
Tinubu Names Yari, DG Presidential Campaign Council
President Bola Tinubu has constituted the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 elections, with himself as chairman and Vice President Kashim Shettima as vice chairman.
According to a State House statement released on Saturday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President (Information and Strategy), former Zamfara State governor Senator Abdulaziz Yari will serve as Director-General of the campaign. Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State is the secretary.
APC National Chairman Professor Nentawe Yilwatda will also serve as vice chairman. National Secretary Senator Ajibola Bashiru and Hadiza Bala-Usman are deputy and assistant secretaries respectively.
The council’s body of advisers includes Chief Bisi Akande, Chief Segun Osoba, Senator Rochas Okorocha, Senator Abdullahi Adamu and Senator Florence Ita Giwa.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas and Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni have been named deputy directors-general for the South and North. They will work with Senators Bamidele Opeyemi and Jibril Barau in the two zones.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole is deputy director-general in charge of mobilisation, while the President’s Chief of Staff is deputy director-general for administration. James Abiodun Faleke returns as deputy director-general for election planning, coordination and monitoring.
Zonal directors under Faleke are: Senator Olushola Adeyeye (South West), Dr Ngozi Olejeme (South South), Senator Uche Ekwunife (South East), Muntaqha Rabe (North West), Ahmed Muhammed Ketso (North Central) and Senator Sani Danladi (North East). Stella Okotete, Engineer Abdullahi Garba Ramat and Audu Maikori are secretaries of the election planning directorate.
Muiz Adeyemi Banire heads the legal directorate, with Dr Liman Hassan and Babatunde Ogala as deputies. Other members include Prince Lateef Fagbemi, former governor Ibrahim Shema, Worgu Boms and Dr Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh.
Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris Malagi will coordinate the media and strategic communication directorate alongside Dele Alake, Bayo Onanuga and Lanre Issa-Onilu. Coordinating deputy directors are Tunde Rahman, Sunday Dare, Daniel Bwala and Felix Morka. Abdulaziz AbdulAziz, Temitope Ajayi, Arabinrin Aderonke and Frederick Nwabufor are coordinating secretaries, while Segun Dada returns as Director of New Media with Solomon Arowolo as secretary.
Five spokespersons, led by Dele Alake, have also been appointed: Alwan Hassan, Ayobami Oyalowo, Kemi Asekun-Shittu and Adamu Fanda.
President Tinubu charged members of the council to work tirelessly for the party’s victory in the January 2027 elections and urged directors to involve other party members not formally listed.
“We have delivered on our campaign promises and set our country on a path of economic progress. We are definitely out of the dark tunnel and are now at the cusp of reaping the benefits of a prosperous economy that will benefit all Nigerians.
As we march into the campaign season, we have many achievements to trumpet—let us confidently showcase our record and inspire hope in every corner of our nation. Let us soundly defeat all those forces who plan to take our country backwards,” the President said.
News
BREAKING: ICPC Uncovers Another Fake Agency Operating Inside SGF’s Office (Video)
President Tinubu Orders Arrests, Suspends Permanent Secretaries
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has uncovered another fake agency operating from within the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).
According to sources familiar with the investigation, the illegal entity was discovered during an ongoing probe into fraudulent government structures. The so-called agency allegedly functioned under the cover of the SGF’s office, raising serious questions about internal oversight and possible collusion by senior civil servants.
In a swift response, President Bola Tinubu has ordered the immediate arrest of all individuals linked to the fake agency. The President has also directed the suspension of the Permanent Secretaries connected to the matter pending the conclusion of full investigations.
The development marks another high-profile case of institutional fraud being exposed by the ICPC within the Federal Civil Service. Officials say further details of the operation and the identities of those involved are expected to be made public as the probe intensifies.
The Presidency has described the discovery as “unacceptable” and vowed that those found culpable will face the full weight of the law.
News
Enugu Air: NSIB releases preliminary report
The preliminary report is available for download on the NSIB website for members of the public and the media.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has released the preliminary report on its ongoing investigation into the accident involving an Embraer ERJ 170-100LR aircraft with nationality and registration marks 5N-ENR, operated by Enugu Air Limited.
This was disclosed on Friday by Mrs Funke Adebayo-Arowojobe
Director, Public Affairs and Family Assistance, NSIB.
The accident occurred on 23 July 2026 at about 14:55 h during a scheduled passenger flight ENU4264 from Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, to Oba Akenzua II Airport, Benin, Edo State.
The aircraft, which had five crew members and 63 passengers on board, landed on Runway 05 at Oba Akenzua II Airport and subsequently overran the end of the runway, entering the unpaved area beyond the runway.
The aircraft struck approach-lighting installations and two fixed concrete structures associated with a decommissioned localizer installation.
All 68 occupants were evacuated without injury using the emergency escape slide.
The preliminary report presents the factual information gathered so far, including information from witness statements, flight recorders, air traffic control communications and a preliminary inspection of the aircraft.
The investigation remains ongoing, and further technical examinations are underway.
The preliminary report also contains four immediate safety recommendations, A-2026-039 to A-2026-042, addressed to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, concerning the runway-end environment, control tower line of sight and the availability of meteorological information.
The preliminary report is available for download on the NSIB website for members of the public and the media.
As part of its commitment to public transparency and the communication of safety information, the NSIB has also released a preliminary flight path recreation video based on data available at this stage of the investigation.
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