News
Fountain of Life Senior Pastor Odukoya dies at 67
The Senior Pastor of Fountain of Life Church at Ilupeju in Lagos, Pastor Taiwo Odukoya, has died at the age of 67.
Odukoya was said to have died on Monday, August 7, in the United States of America (U.S.A).
The church confirmed his demise on its official Facebook page.
In its Facebook post, the church said: “The Fountain of Life Church Family, in total submission to the will of God Almighty, announces the passing unto greater glory of our father, teacher, a great servant of the Most High God, Pastor Daniel Taiwo Odukoya, Founding Pastor of The Fountain of Life Church, who passed unto glory on August 7, 2023 in the U.S.A.
“We are in total submission to you, Lord. We thank the Lord for the gift of a greater leader.”
President Bola Tinubu yesterday expressed sadness over the demise of the preacher.
A statement last night by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, reads: “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu shares in the pain of loss with the family, friends and congregants of the Fountain of Life Church, over the passing of the Senior Pastor, Taiwo Odukoya, 67.
“President Tinubu sends his heartfelt condolences to the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) and associates of the highly revered religious leader, whose teaching, outreach and good work expanded the frontiers of charitable endeavour with particular respect to the education and health sectors.
“The President notes the worthy contributions of Pastor Odukoya to the development of the country, supporting the weak and vulnerable while providing a platform for many to realise their dreams through the teaching of the word of faith.”
There were facts yesterday about how the popular preacher died.
The Nation gathered that the late Odukoya had health issues triggered mainly by personal tragedies.
A source close to the family said: “He really didn’t get over the losses he suffered. He tried to be strong but there is a limit to what a man can take.”
Odukoya, fondly called Pastor Taiwo, lost his wife, Bimbo, in the Sosoliso plane crash in 2005. He remarried and then lost his second wife, Nomthi, to cancer in 2021. In that same year, he lost his twin sister, Kehinde, at the age of 65.
Despite these tragedies, he continued to preach the gospel before his death.
Another source close to the church said: “If Pastor Bimbo’s death was shattering, Pastor Nomthi’s demise was a technical knockout. It knocked Pastor (Odukoya) down and out. He was inconsolable. He was very bothered about what people would say.
“It left him totally lifeless. There was nothing we could tell him. It took something deep out of him and some of us became afraid for him.”
When The Nation visited the church yesterday for the reactions of its members, most of the respondents said the pastor might have died of loneliness.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has clarified its stance regarding the nationwide ban on sachet alcohol.
The Director of the FCT Directorate of the agency, Kenneth Azikiwe, in Abuja on Monday, said the temporary lifting of the ban was only valid until Dec. 31, 2025.
He emphasised that the recent ministerial lifting of the ban was not permanent and urged the public to disregard misinformation suggesting that the government had permanently lifted the restriction.
“There is a ministerial lifting on the ban of sachet alcohol, but it is only temporary and will be reviewed by Dec. 31, 2025.
“After this date, the full enforcement of the ban will commence.“
The minister granted this temporary relief to allow manufacturers and regulators time to collaborate and ensure a more structured and effective implementation of the ban,” Azikiwe stated.
He highlighted NAFDAC’s ongoing efforts to sensitise the public across the country, noting that awareness campaigns had reached every state.
“We have sensitised distributors, and we’ve emphasised that alcohol should not be sold to individuals under the age of 18, which is also clearly indicated on product labels,” he added.
Azikiwe also commended the Distillers and Beverages Association of Nigeria for supporting the awareness drive.
He reassured the public that NAFDAC remained fully committed to regulating alcohol consumption and reiterated that sachet alcohol products containing less than 200 millilitres would be phased out after December 2025.
NAN
News
The Patriots Shift National Political Summit to June
A statement from its Secretariat said that the new date was due to the 26th anniversary of Nigeria’s return to civil rule on May 29.
• Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Leader of the Patriots
The Patriots has shifted its national political summit from May 27–28 to June 11 and 12 in Abuja
A statement from its Secretariat said that the new date was due to the 26th anniversary of Nigeria’s return to civil rule on May 29.
It was learned that among issues proposed for discussions are: provision for judicial adjudication of corruption and betrayal of trust matters, remuneration of members of the National Assembly, remuneration and compensations in the public service, electoral system, political party structures, revenue management format, security architecture, and fiscal arrangement.
Other items on the list are management of resources and revenue, concurrent functional responsibilities, regional border changes and disputes, as well as equal rights among federating regions, basis of state government, status of the federal capital territory (FCT), federal Executive Council, powers and functions of the President, restructuring of states based ethnic homogeneity and other items are contained in the document.
News
Federal High Court redeploys judges
Consequently, there is no need for litigants and/or counsel to apply to the Chief Judge for re-assignment of cases that have been pending before the court,
The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court (FHC), Justice John Tsoho, yesterday announced the redeployment of some judges.
In a statement by FHC’s Director of Information, Dr. Catherine Christopher, Justice Tsoho directed Justice M. G. Umar from Enugu Judicial Division to take over cases presided over earlier by Justice Inyang Ekwo of Court 5 in Abuja Division.
“The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, has effected the redeployment of some judges of the court.
“The general public is hereby notified that all cases pending before Court Number 5 in the Abuja Judicial Division will be attended to by the judge who has been moved to Abuja for that purpose.
“Consequently, there is no need for litigants and/or counsel to apply to the Chief Judge for re-assignment of cases that have been pending before the court,” the statement said.
The Nation
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