Entertainment
Otedola Bridge tanker fire: Dotun Oladipo, Publisher, The Eagle Online, Narrates his escape with wife, child, and car, but lost his mechanic

▪︎Collage of Dotun Oladipo, Publisher, The Eagle Online, (left), and Rotimi Olaleye, the mechanic.
I write this from the point of ‘Pain’ and ‘Gratitude’.
Pain because of the death of a hardworking and honest man, Rotimi Olaleye, who was both a great father, as attested to by his children who he has been taking care of single-handedly since his wife died about five years ago, and an honest and diligent auto mechanic, as confirmed by his clients, including yours truly.
We met less than a week before his death, but he left an unforgettable impression on me, even in death. Gratitude?
I was less than 10 seconds away from where Mr. Olaleye was when the fire that took his life occurred with my wife and first child.
Let me start from the beginning. I met Mr. Olaleye on March 8, 2025, following a need to change my mechanic.
I was introduced to him by the best car air conditioning technician I had ever met, Mr. Akinola Ayeni. We drove the car together on that day.
He spotted some issues, including the fact that the former handler was as careless as not putting the knots that should be holding the connecting ABS wire to the wheel of the driver’s side, by just driving the car.
That was quickly fixed. And he told me, very honestly, that other things had to wait until Monday. That he needed to finish some other jobs. I left happily.
On Monday, I took the car to him. He appeared meticulous. Aside from the fact, that I told him that on completing the work on the Highlander, which my wife uses, I was going to send my car for servicing, he was not in a hurry to declare the vehicle fit. people behind me.
One woman came out of her car and started banging ours: “Move, move.”
She did it a second time and I wound down the back glass, addressing her and my wife who had also become agitated: “We have a man down there. Let’s see if there is still something we can do before we go too far.”
And then his line stopped ringing. My head immediately told me to call Mr. Ayeni. As soon as he picked it up, he asked me: “Have you collected your car? Rotimi has parked by the gate and is waiting for you.”
He did not even hear me saying there was trouble at the workshop until I shouted at the top of my voice.
Mr. Ayeni, who was at Agidingbi, immediately turned back. He, alongside others, discovered the remains of Mr. Olaleye, lying face down. His apprentices who were with him said as the truck crashed, he told them to flee that he needed to “save his customer’s car”.
Meanwhile, his own car was just behind mine. He succeeded in turning the car around to face the workshop. But that was as far as he made it. I cried that night. Something I have not done in several years. I wept bitterly.
In the short period I knew Mr. Olaleye, I learned a lot of lessons.
He left an impact I would never forget. But it was a pity he didn’t pick up my last call, which was to tell him to abandon the car and flee to safety.
His meticulousness on the job was second to none from what I saw in the three days of being with him. He also knew his job. Adieu Mr. Olaleye.
■ SylvaNews
Entertainment
Seven nollywood stars who ventured into politics
Over the years, some of its biggest stars have stepped out of the spotlight to contest elections and take up public office, proving that their influence extends well beyond the screen.

Nollywood is more than just a movie industry, it has become a springboard into diverse careers, including politics.
The Nation reports that over the years, some of its biggest stars have stepped out of the spotlight to contest elections and take up public office, proving that their influence extends well beyond the screen.
Here are seven Nollywood actors who made the leap into politics:
1. Kate Henshaw : In 2014, Kate Henshaw declared her intention to contest for the Calabar Municipal/Odukpani Federal Constituency seat under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). She lost in the primaries.
2. Funke Akindele: Funke Akindele, popularly known in her popular film series, ‘Jenifa diary’, contested in the 2023 Lagos State gubernatorial election as the deputy governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but lost the election.
3. Richard Mofe-Damijo :
Richard Mofe-Damijo served as Delta State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism from 2009 to 2015 under Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan.
4. Bob-Manuel Udokwu: In 2022, Bob-Manuel Udokwu was appointed Special Adviser on Entertainment, Leisure and Tourism to the Governor of Anambra State, Chukwuma Soludo.
5. Kenneth Okonkwo
Kenneth Okonkwo, known for his role in Living in Bondage, joined active politics and became a spokesperson for the Labour Party during the 2023 presidential campaign.
6. Desmond Elliot: Desmond Elliot was elected as a lawmaker into the Lagos State House of Assembly in 2015 to represent Surulere Constituency 1. He was re-elected in 2019 and continues to serve in the Assembly.
7. Tony Muonagor: Tony Muonagor, popularly known as Tony One Week, was elected into the Anambra State House of Assembly in 2011 to represent Idemili North Constituency.
Entertainment
BREAKING: Hilda Baci’s Giant Jollof Pot Collapses During World Record Attempt in Lagos

A dramatic twist unfolded at the Gino World Jollof Festival with Hilda Baci on Friday night as a massive pot designed for a Guinness World Record attempt collapsed during weighing, halting the proceedings and sparking concern among attendees.
The event, held at Eko Hotel and Suites, was aimed at setting a new record for the world’s largest pot of Nigerian Jollof rice. It attracted thousands of fans, food lovers, and celebrities, including actress Funke Akindele and rapper Falz. Hilda Baci, who became a household name in 2023 after breaking the record for the longest cooking marathon, led the effort.
Over 20,000 people had registered for the free event, with large crowds forming outside the venue throughout the day. Security personnel worked to manage the surging turnout as excitement built for the record attempt.
At the heart of the event was a custom-built pot measuring six metres in both height and width, originally planned to hold over 22,000 litres of rice. However, Baci later revealed that the target was scaled down to 4,000 kilogrammes—approximately 200 bags of rice—for logistical reasons.
To officially verify the weight, a crane was brought in to lift the pot onto a scale. But as the process began, the pot gave way under its own immense weight, collapsing and causing brief panic among spectators. No injuries were reported, but the incident forced organizers to suspend operations immediately.
Videos of the collapse quickly spread across social media, drawing both concern and support from fans online.
A spokesperson for Baci’s team confirmed that safety was the top priority and that they are working with officials to determine the next steps.
Though the fate of the Guinness World Record attempt is uncertain, the event once again demonstrated Baci’s star power and her ability to rally mass support around Nigerian cuisine.
Hilda Baci became a national sensation last year after cooking non-stop for over 93 hours, setting a Guinness World Record that earned her international acclaim.
Entertainment
Bauchi Hisbah prohibits DJs, women from attending male social gatherings
“The Fulani traditional activity known as Sharo or Shadi and Garaya is prohibited. Cultural traditional activities known as Kauyawa day, DJ, Gala, Aloba, etc, are prohibited.”

• Islamic police/ Fb
The Hisbah Command of the Bauchi State Shariah Commission has issued strict guidelines regulating social gatherings in the state, further ordering adherence to the guidelines.
In a statement issued by the Permanent Commissioner Hisbah, Barrister Aminu Balarabe Isah, dated July 16, 2025, and titled “Guidelines Governing the Conduct of Marriage Ceremonies and other Festivals in Bauchi State”, the command said that there have been complaints from the general public on the increase of social vices and the breach of public peace during marriage ceremonies and birthdays.
Hisbah prohibits DJ, women from attending male social gatherings in Bauchi By : Rauf Oyewole, Bauchi Date: 27 Aug 2025Share :Hisbah[FILES] HisbahThe Hisbah Command of the Bauchi State Sharia’h Commission has issued strict guidelines regulating social gatherings in the state, further ordering adherence to the guidelines.In a statement issued by the Permanent Commissioner Hisbah, Barrister Aminu Balarabe Isah, dated July 16, 2025, and titled “Guidelines Governing the Conduct of Marriage Ceremonies and other Festivals in Bauchi State”, the command said that there have been complaints from the general public on the increase of social vices and the breach of public peace during marriage ceremonies and birthdays.
The statement said that Hisbah Command “is left with no option but to set the following guidelines: Mixing up the opposite sex is highly prohibited.
Dancing with the opposite sex amidst infants and children is highly prohibited.“Buying and selling of toxicants of any kind and their consumption are highly prohibited.
A person in possession of weapon(s) (of any nature) should not be granted entrance.“Seating arrangement has to be in accordance with gender considerations.
Any act capable of inciting the general public is prohibited.
“All activities must be suspended during the stipulated prayer times.
Traditional dressing code should be adhered to. Using blasphemy or abusive language against an individual or constituted authority is prohibited.
“All activities organised by females should only be patronised by females and vice versa.
“The Fulani traditional activity known as Sharo or Shadi and Garaya is prohibited. Cultural traditional activities known as Kauyawa day, DJ, Gala, Aloba, etc, are prohibited.”
The command also prohibited gambling of any nature, saying prostitution in all its ramifications and other immoral acts are equally prohibited in all centres, clubs, hotels, houses and recreational centres.
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